In our family, the adventure begins as soon as we leave the driveway—and despite the weather warnings, this was one adventure that my son, Matt, my daughter, Tasha, and I were not going to miss.
We got the call from our little buddy Liam Francis to go sledding in Revelstoke in early March. Ever since Randy Swenson of Yamaha Canada and the Krazy Canadian (both of the Thunderstruck extreme sledding video series) took a shining to Liam, we have been gathering in Revelstoke to hold Liam’s Sleigh Ride for Kids. This being the third year of the ride, Liam—who is afflicted with general dystonia—had invited a couple of his buddies to come riding. Drew Derosier of Revelstoke has cerebral palsy, and Bronson Ward of Kelowna has spinal muscular atrophy. A day on the mountain with family and friends is something us Rakaches can’t refuse.
Work before play
Arriving early gave my crew a chance to restock the firewood supply for Liam’s Auntie Val and Uncle Wullie, and to get equipment ready. Val had arranged a full schedule of events to keep us busy before the ride. Because I had grown up with the Francis clan, they knew me all too well; I overheard them muttering something about “idle hands.”
The Friday night highlight was family bowling at the Cabin bowling alley, where everyone teamed up to play a little five-pin and torture the alley’s hardwood. After some fine dining at The Village Idiot in downtown Revelstoke, the crew headed back to Val’s for some backyard fireside relaxation and storytelling. Anticipation was mounting for the next day’s ride.
A perfect day for sledding
Saturday greeted us with heavy snowfall, which miraculously stopped as we got set up at the Boulder Mountain parking lot. The snow gods gave us fresh snow and seemed to be in cahoots with the sun gods—it was a spectacular day. Everyone arrived to a parking lot full of new sleds provided by Yamaha Canada for our use, and after some organizing and orientation we were off up the mountain.
As in the past, the Snowmobile Revelstoke Society ensured we had smooth trails and the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club provided drivers for Liam’s guests. We arrived at the Boulder Cabin and, much to our delight, Herb Shaede came out of retirement to do the cooking for us, serving his famous Herbi Mountain Burgers.
After filling up our bellies with burgers, there was no containing Liam, Drew and Bronson as the excitement of driving a sled weighed heavy on their minds. The meadow was the perfect place for the boys to take charge of one of the Yamahas, and with the assistance of an adult riding shotgun, ride they did.
This also provided my son, Matt, with the opportunity to hang out with two of his sledding heroes, Randy Swenson and Krazy Canadian. With his family in tow, Krazy Canadian took Matt farther up the mountain for some mano-a-mano sledding, which definitely gave him some bragging rights back home in Sundre, Alberta.
Although the grins never faded, the day finally did and it was eventually time to head back down the mountain. We arrived back at the parking lot with three pooped-out boys—just the way it’s supposed to be.
Gifts and thank yous
To end the day, the boys received some gifts from the Yamaha Canada and sled club guys, as well as handshakes and hugs all around. The sleepy-eyed boys were piled into warm trucks and we all waved our goodbyes. Thanks to the merchants of Revelstoke for holding onto our bookings for the group and for putting up with us.
Thanks also to the Yamaha Canada guys and their families, Krazy Canadian and his family, the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club, the Snowmobile Revelstoke Society and, most of all, to Liam for thinking up this great excuse to go sledding.
