The second annual Gateway to the North Snowmobile Rally is over and, as our main fund-raiser, it was a big success. The businesses that supported us certainly deserve the year-round support of all snowmobilers. The prizes, the draws, the huge pot available in the poker derby would not have been possible without the generous donations from the merchants in The Pas/OCN and surrounding area. Friday evening started out with the “Meet & Greet” where people got to talk sleds, brag about great rides and take a look at the display of fabulous prizes and draws. It was appropriate that the first gas draw of the rally was won by a lady from Thompson who ran out of gas just north of the Tolko turn-off. Saturday began with a pancake breakfast and then it was off on two guided trail rides. One ride was led by Doug Sangster on a 240-km route that headed north to Fidler’s for lunch and then over the ungroomed Egg Lake road across to our trail that runs south from the Goose River and returning to The Pas on the Big Bend trail. Rob Vipond led a second group on a slightly longer trip that took them across Goose Lake, through Fidler’s and then into Mike’s at Wanless for lunch. We received many compliments on our beautifully groomed trails so all the hard work put in by the volunteers is worth it. The day was capped off by a dinner and dance. Chef Gemmill and his crew from UCN put on a prime rib spread that was so outstanding I am certain it couldn’t be beat by the highest class restaurant in Winnipeg. And it took some doing, but Zeke’s Muzik got the over-stuffed patrons up on the dance floor and fun was had by all! During the evening, there was a never-ending stream of prizes being won, silent auction items purchased and the high-lite – a hotly-contested live auction for a Yamaha quad.
Sunday saw 61 riders out for the poker derby all vying for the huge guaranteed prize money. The route took snowmobilers north on the main trail to the second checkpoint at our Big Bend warm-up shelter. From there riders continued north and then east into Wanless on the beautiful Atik trail to the third checkstop at Mike’s. At that point, the route turned back south to the fourth stop at our Halstead warm-up shelter on the loppit trail. And then it was back to The Pas for the final tally. It was a great day for snowmobiling and everyone seemed to have fun.
Next year Thompson will be hosting the rally at the end of February which should guarantee some good fifty below weather. However, the Kelsey Trail Sno-Riders have decided to have a dinner/dance and poker derby again next year, but we will be moving it up to the first weekend in February which will, hopefully, preceed some of the hockey and curling events. Meanwhile, it is business as usual – the groomer operators put in five solid days of grooming following the rally and the trails are all back in ship-shape. It looks like there should be a couple more weeks of good snowmobiling conditions, so get out and make fun of the end of winter.