Flat tops Minnesota (and Italian) style

Scenery (click for large)

Epic day up on the Flat tops with Benjamino, Justino, Zacharino, Sarah the Tsunamy, Simone and Christophero. We all got Italian names for the day due to Sarah and Simone from Italy. Rough trail going up and coming down but it was doable. Went WAY north this time and saw some brand new stuff. Lots of pictures. Sarah the Tsunamy was trying out a new fast photo feature on her camera. She had 385 pictures, Justino had 190 and Chistophero had 10. We did seventy five total miles. I blew one belt. Sarah hit a rock. Two rolled snowmobiles. Benjamino took a handlebar to the head. Simone almost hit all of us at one time or another. That is why we wear helmets and he doesn't. Nice soft powder and lots of jumps. Click on any of the photos for full size.

Sarah

Simone "no casco per me" (no helmet for me)

Christophero

Simone going for lift off of the space shuttle Columbia

Going for distance

The Ball and Chain

Simone tries to take out the photographers on each jump



Zacharino

Rolled snowmobile number 1

Rolled snowmobile number 2
(therefore Simone inspects his track)
and Benjamino just shakes his head

Justino

Benjamino

Another Tsunamy carve

Benjamino again

My neck will be sore

Is this Italian trying to get OFF or ON his snowmobile?

On the way home

We are burnt out

Moyer jumping

Do I dare say it? We are a little burnt out on snowmobiling. Perhaps because I don't think we have taken even one weekend off from the sport. It's a lot of work. Having fun but perhaps we need a break. We did 70+ miles up on the Flat tops on Tuesday and the trails were a bit rough. We found some decent soft snow but it was more of a super long tour for the day. Todd Moyer pulled us into some brand new areas. He showed us some new ways to get around and we scoped out some new play areas. Worth the trip but the trail up and down was just too rough.

Route finding (click for full size)

"Sugar Snow" Moyer doing some cliffs
Good Scenery with "Sugar Snow", Tsunamy, and Sludge

"It's a tough life, being a snowmobiling wife"

Cleaning up after the ride
"It's a tough life, being a snowmobiling wife"

Above was the quote of the day from Sarah. We had a wonderful time and great snow but our energy level is low. We've been simply doing so many things. Went skiing to Snowmass, CO with Dave Langer from College and Sludge on Tuesday. We also met Jake and Emily. Wonderful skiing but cold that day. Tons of great cruisers. Today (Wednesday) we went up and took Sarah to some "secret" spots. And no one had been there. We took our time and had a blast, with lots of breaks.

Someone is sleeping



Another break, but pretty smooth trails


Sarah works on her jumps

"Simone! , is this how I counter steer?"

Feb 26, powder with buddy Pat

Short day but great powder. Surprised by perhaps 6-8 inches of powder. Did some jumps and had a lunch at Piney Ranch. Smooth trails. Fun day with one big stuck by our friend "Pat" from MN.

Pat, puts it in the creek

The boss

Pat on Vacation

Sarah gets stuck on a climb

Jumping again

Showing off for the camera

Feb 20th with the Brother up on Red and White

Day after the big ride up on the Flat tops, the Brother myself and Sarah went up on Red and White. No big powder but we had some fun. The trails had been groomed quite well so we put on a few miles for sure. Went out to the over look above Edwards.

Benjie stops moving on a hill, (click for full size)

Someone is tired and needs a nap

Sarah and Benjie checking out the view

New Castle Flat Tops Feb 19

We all made it. Long day
Sludge, Benjie, Chard, Peaches, Conville, Baker, Moyer, Ratz and Sarah
[a.k.a. Tsunamy and the Sledneck Gang... for her Minnesooota fans!]

Crazy day. Long Day. 9 people up to the Flat tops via New Castle. Good trail going out, then a bit of boondocking, but then some rough trails to get further out. Tough to find some decent play areas. Just some big, big meadows. No injuries. But Moyer's sled broke some steering mechanism thingy about 30 miles out. Rough ride for him getting the sled all the way back. Good snow when we were WAY out. Some jumps here and there. Long drive. We would only doo it again if we had some fresh, but still a fun day.

Moyer before breaking his stearing (click for full size)

Some Good blue skies (yep, click it for full size)

Adam Baker checks his suspension (oh yes, better click it)

Some of the group taking a break

Oops

Sarah Joins in on the fun

Hmmm, is it soft?

Benjie on Vacation

This guy is named "Peaches"

Lounging around

A Short video of Sarah

"Sugar Snow" Todd Moyer

Conville wheelie

Benjie gets some powder

Yikes!