For Rick Dolezsar and his family, riding a snowmobile comes as naturally as breathing. “My three children all grew up learning to ride at a very early age and carried it into their teens,” he said. “We all have an active interest in snowmobiles; it’s just a way of life for our family.”
In a sledding town like Hudson Bay, it’s a way of life the Dolezsars share with countless neighbours. Local families often head out together along the trails, and snowmobiling is a highly social event, complete with hot chocolate and a wiener roast. (Moose sausage is a local favourite worth a try.)
Dolezsar’s preferred route in the Hudson Bay trail system leads into the Wildcat Wilderness Area.
“The snow is always really deep up there; we usually have five or six feet up in the hills,” he said. “It’s also a very pristine area. There isn’t any other development other than the snowmobile trail.”