Al Breitkreitz is the president of the Northern Lights Snowmobile Club in Barrhead, Alberta, and he has been riding now for 20 years. Over the last few years, he said, the Barrhead club has grown and has been successful in connecting the Trans Canada Trail as well as adding more kilometres to existing trails.
When asked to share a memorable day of sledding, Breitkreitz recalled a day in late March on the flatlands around Barrhead. The snow was deep, the sun was shining and it was only -6 C. Breitkreitz and his brother-in-law Henry decided to take their Polaris Rocky Mountain Kings for a ride and they headed out towards a field that Breitkreitz had permission to enter about seven kilometres away.
“We had awesome snow last winter,” said Breitkreitz.
Breitkreitz described the snow conditions that day. On a landscape of big hills and rolling terrain, the snow was about four feet deep on the surface and six feet in the hollows. In fact, he said, the machines even got stuck here and there—something that happens more frequently with mountain sledding.
“This was a pretty challenging day just close to home,” said Breitkreitz.
The two men played until they ran out of fuel and had to head home; it had been a rewarding day—and one that stands out in Breitkreitz's memory.
