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card , and they told us to go out and check out these riding areas and report back and tell them what would be some good destination places .”
Decker said he was amazed by all that he found , and he pondered about how great it would be if he could share the experience with others . With that thought , a tour business was born . The Deckers sold their dealership , moved to the Wisconsin Northwoods and opened a snowmobile touring and rental business , starting with tours to and from Copper Harbor – just like this Snow Goer Great Escape tour in 2010 that retraced most of the same route with a fresh group of riders .
“ The machines and the trails [ when they started in 1980 ] weren ’ t like they are now , I can tell you that ,” Decker said with a laugh . “ But we had a good time , and we didn ’ t know any better .”
Thirty years later , Dick was still spending most of his winter on trails , leading tours from coast to coast – and beyond – while Audrey served as the primary support truck driver , handling a big diesel dually attached to a 48-foot trailer in conditions most men would fear .
Dick and Audrey ’ s business card list some of the places they ’ ve led tours – it includes 14 states , from Alaska to New
Mexico to Maine , four Canadian provinces and the countries of Russia , Iceland , Sweden and Finland .
Miles ? Dick figures he snowmobiles about 6,000 to 10,000 miles per year . His favorite spot ? Iceland . How long will they keep it up ? Dick said 10 more years , or as long as he can get a leg over the sled .
“ I always tell people that doing this has got working beat all to hell ,” Dick said . “ It really does .”
Catching Up To Today
Since this story was first published , the Decker family operation has changed quite a bit . The family sold the Eagle River Derby Track to a group of snowmobile insiders in September of 2018 , who renamed the facilty the World Championship Complex and continue to hold events there in Eagle River , Wisconsin . They did not buy the Decker Sno-Ventures Tours operation , however : That is now predominantly run out of Alaska by Dick and Audrey ’ s oldest son , Steve , though no planned tours have been posted for this winter . Audrey Decker passed away in 2019 at the age of 86 after a brave battle with Parkinsons Disease . Dick Decker has overcome some health problems of his own and continues to ride . He turned 89 in September .