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| SUMMIT PHOTO BY CHRIS TODD
Tim DeWaard and his son, 5-year-old Tyler, enjoy a snowmobile ride in Forest City. |
Snowmobilers couldn't have asked for better Dec.
By Chris Todd
Of the Summit
While most people in Forest City and Winnebago County are cursing and fussing as the snow flies this winter, members of the North Iowa Sno-jammers Snowmobile Club are celebrating.
They advise people to embrace winter weather rather than constantly dread it.
“For heaven's sake, find a winter sport like snowmobiling or cross country or downhill skiiing,” said club member Matt Swanson. “It's a great time to enjoy the outdoors.”
Club president Mike Isebrand of Forest City and his buddies Tim DeWaard and Swanson were outdoors Sunday afternoon on a short run that took them to near Garner, Britt and back through Pilot Knob State Park and Forest City.
“It's a little icy right now, but from the time we got the snow in early December until it started raining last week, the snowmobiling was great,” Isebrand said. “It's great to have this early snow, because we haven't had a lot of snow the past couple of seasons.”
Even though snow conditions weren't optimal Sunday, the experience of riding through Pilot Knob on a sunny, fairly temperate winter day had its rewards.
“We saw all sorts of deer,” Swanson said. “We also saw some wild turkey and lots of pheasants, which was kind of cool.”
The Sno-jammers schedule fun runs throughout the winter season, and travel to various towns to sample restaurants and lounges there. According to Isebrand, there are close to 150 members in the club.
The club maintains and and grooms its own trails throughout the county, which are funded by membership dues.
Also during the season, the club has charity runs to benefit the Spina Bifida Foundation.
That's clearly something Isebrand is proud of.
“We're one of the largest contributors to that organization in the area,” he said.
The Snowjammers also take a group trip to scenic Hayward, Wis. each winter, where about 40 to 50 riders take part.
“That's really some beautiful country around Hayward,” Isebrand said. “It's a real highlight for our club each winter.”
Both Isebrand and DeWaard picked up snowmobiling from their fathers. Now they are passing it on to their children.
Along with DeWaard Sunday was his 5-year-old son Tyler.
“I think Tyler's main goal at this point is to someday own an Arctic Cat sled,” Tim Dewaard said with a chuckle.
“But snowmobiling is really a family-friendly sport,” he added. “I'm going to start my two-year-old daughter Alyssa on the sport soon and I'd like to get my wife invovled as well.”
Dewaard's wife, Angie, still isn't fully convinced she wants to take part.
“I guess I just don't like cold weather,” she said. “I don't think the guys will quit trying to get me on a sled until they actually do.”
“Once they get on that snowmobile, they're hooked,” Isebrand said. “Which is pretty much true with most people.”
Story created Dec 30, 2008 - 14:40:55 CST.
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