February 23, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Snowmobiling
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We try to spend as much time outside as we can in the winter and since we get so much sunshine here in the Peace River Country, the cold doesn't seem to bother us.
Our friends invited us to go snowmobiling with them. I hadn't been on a snowmobile since I was in elementary school. The machines certainly have changed since then.
We met up at the entrance to the Bear Mountain Wind Park and spent the whole day exploring back trails.
I couldn't believe how fast we went. It was very exciting! There are a lot of places to ride around here. In addition to the oil and gas pipelines and back trails, the ditches along the highway are really wide in a lot of areas and you can go for miles and miles with ease. You have to have your own machines because there is not a business that rents them.
We weren't the only ones on the ridge that day, we heard and saw several other groups of people.
Our friend packed some kindling and small firewood along and we stopped along a trail that had a panoramic view of the valley to the east of Dawson Creek, built a small fire and roasted hot dogs. Thermos' of hot coffee and chocolate made the day perfect.
We had one problem right near the end when we crossed a field and were met by a farmer who was out plowing snow on his tractor.
We stopped and he told us that being on the fields was not allowed unless we asked permission and then it depended on the crop. Apparently it packs the snow down and can damage the crops. He said our two little trails wouldn't do much damage, but groups roaring around on a field can really affect it.
If you are visiting our area with your snowmobiles, make sure you have permission to be on private property.