In addition to signing and grooming snowmobile trails, many snowmobile clubs also maintain snowmobile trail shelters. Snowmobile trail shelters provide a great place to rest during a snowmobile trip, shoot the breeze with riding pals and enjoy the winter scenery. After resting our bones at a few shelters over the past few weeks, this week’s 5 List is five ingredients of a great snowmobile trail shelter.
1. 3 Walls And A Roof — OK, you might think that we mis-counted the “5 Ingredients” part of this story right off the bat by saying a great snowmobile trail shelter needs three walls and a roof, but, collectively, those four things are the actual shelter, so it only counts as one. It’s a simple design that provides protection from the wind, cold and snow while allowing everyone who’s resting inside to comfortably look out and enjoy the view.
2. A Scenic Site — There’s nothing more relaxing than resting with friends on a winter day at a scenic snowmobile trail shelter. Nestled down low among trees near a babbling creek or river is a good place to be when you’re surrounded by the snow-covered landscape, hopefully under sunny skies.
3. Fire Pit, Stocked With Firewood — Now that you’ve arrived at this awesome place out in the woods, heat from a fire would be soothing, wouldn’t it? Or perhaps you want to roast hot dogs and enjoy a trailside snack. On days when the trails are expected to be busy, some clubs even put a few packages of hot dogs at their shelters for riders to cook and eat. A stack of old newspapers helps to get the fires started, and who doesn’t like reading old headlines?
4. Weatherproof Trail Map — Snowmobile trail shelters are often near trail junctions, so a snowmobile trail map posted on a wall for riders to study is an important feature to help them determine which direction to point their sleds. Some snowmobile clubs mount a mailbox or other weatherproof container and stuff it full of trail maps for riders to take.
5. Interior Decorations — In addition to a trail map, the walls inside a snowmobile trail shelter should be adorned with antlers or horns from a four-legged beast, a beaver pelt or stuffed rabbit that used to hop through the woods, and notes carved in the walls to read and provide entertainment. You know, stuff like “For A Good Time Call 218-681-9799,” the classic “J.T. + M.O. – 1993” or the priceless “Your Loud Silencer Is Cool — Nobody.”
Does your club have snowmobile trail shelter? Brag about it in the ‘Comments’ section below.