3 WINTER 2025 VOL . 06 / ISSUE 01 SNOWGOER . COM

4

FEATURES

GOIN ’ IDAHOAN

A late-winter ride near scenic Coeur d ’ Alene properly puts the potato in its place . Idaho should be known for its dramatic mountain scenery and great riding , not spuds !

SOLVING SNOWMOBILE CLUB PROBLEMS

From financial struggles to volunteer shortages to the ever-evolving challenge of maintaining trail access and more , snowmobile clubs are stressed , stretched thin and need your support .

THE UNFORGETTABLE MARITIME

Canada ’ s largest Atlantic province provides surprisingly excellent , deep-powder snowmobiling conditions in a charming setting with a dynamic landscape .

GREAT TIMES IN GRAND MARAIS

An impromptu trip leads to excellent riding , some onthe-fly firefighting and lasting memories when touring Minnesota ’ s Arrowhead region via snowmobiles .

DEPARTMENTS 4 FROM THE EDITOR 55 READER SURVEY

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION 21 VACATION GUIDE DIRECTORY

EDITOR / PUBLISHER : John T . Prusak

NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR : Mark Rosacker 763 / 383-4433

ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE : Laura Kiesler 763 / 383-4430

ART DIRECTOR : Nicole Siewert

DIGITAL SOLUTIONS MANAGER : Nici Lawson

BRAND ACCELERATION

CEO : Marion Minor

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR : Bernadette Wohlman

SR . VP , AUDIENCE MARKETING & ENGAGMENT : Joanne Juda-Prainito

SR . VICE PRESIDENT / SALES : David Voll

SNOW GOER ( ISSN # 1056-4209 ) is published five times per year – January , February , October , November and December – by EPG Brand Acceleration , 7760 France Ave S , Suite 810 , Bloomington , MN 55435 . Periodicals postage paid at Plymouth , MN 55441 and additional mailing offices . The annual subscription rate is $ 26.97 per year in the United States . U . S . funds only . Printed in U . S . A .

POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Snow Goer , P . O . Box 96 , Port Jervis , NY 12771 .

CUSTOMER SERVICE : Visit SnowGoer . com , e-mail to customerservice @ epgacceleration . com or write to Snow Goer , PO Box 96 , Port Jervis , NY 12771 . Snow Goer is a registered trademark of Brand Acceleration © 2024 . All rights reserved . Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited unless expressly authorized by publisher . For reprints , visit epgacceleration . com / marketing-services and click on “ get in touch ” or email to info @ epgacceleration . com

BY JOHN T . PRUSAK / EDITOR

At holiday gatherings when I was young , I remember my father and two of my uncles having rather entrepreneurial conversations after dinner . Each was successful in their own way , yet each also liked to identify opportunities in their respective work worlds – great ideals for someone willing to get off the proverbial couch .

The term that often came up was “ You know , a guy really ought to …” Whether that “ guy ” ought to start an auto body parts supply business , buy and lease-out a fleet of dump trucks or create a handy service for traveling businesspeople , they ’ d toss ideas back and forth , pondering the possibilities of striking it rich .

“ Yep , a guy really ought to , but the problem is none of us ‘ guys ’ ever will ,” my father deadpanned once . The three of them then chuckled together . Isn ’ t that just the way it is with so many things in life ? We all have things we should do or could do . But then one day stumbles into the next , and pretty soon days turn into months , months into years , and those ambitions quietly fade away unfulfilled .

A perfect example for some people I know is snowmobile travel . Plenty of folks dream of riding in the Montana , Ontario , Maine or some other notable destination , but only a select few actually make it happen .

To solve their “ a guy really ought to ” problem , one group of Pennsylvania riders I know commits to specific dates to take off work each year for a snowmobiling trip . They may not know until 10 days before they leave whether they ’ ll be trailering to Upstate New York , Michigan ’ s U . P . or even Colorado . But they all know that the second week of February their sleds will be loaded in a trailer , and that trailer will be pointed toward snow !

Another group of riders I know sets a hard deadline : By Labor Day , they must have lodging reservations locked in for the following winter . Those reservations essentially force them to follow through with the trip . That ’ s another solid approach .

But far too many riders fall into a different category : They talk about wanting to ride elsewhere but keep kicking the can down the road year after year . They never lock in a decision and , unfortunately , they eventually quit riding or die before ever getting to experience the majesty of Quebec , the wondrous trails of the Wisconsin Northwoods or incredible scenery of Idaho , for example .

My mission to you : Don ’ t be in the last group !