When it comes to sledding vacations, Bert VanTongeren has done them all. The Lower Mainland native left the big city 23 years ago to take over the Mile High Resort 25 kilometres east of Logan Lake, and he gets out on his 2010 Ski-Doo XP 800 every chance he can.
He loves the rolling hills, wide open spaces and extensive trail system in and around Logan Lake.
“I like the freedom to go in the backcountry and accessing the alpine areas throughout B.C.,” he said, “and the camaraderie.”
VanTongeren’s children started sledding around the age of seven and spent many years riding snocross and hillclimbing competitively. Being able to snowmobile as a family, he said, is another draw to Logan Lake’s smooth trail system.
“It’s good to be able to go out for night rides too and not have to worry about the terrain,” he said.
VanTongeren and his wife have been members of the Summit Seekers Snowmobile Club since leaving the Lower Mainland, and with the group they take trips throughout B.C., the U.S. Pacific Northwest and California.
“We’ve been all over B.C.,” he said. “We’ve spent time in Sicamous, Revelstoke, Hunter’s Range, Enderby, Merritt Mountains and the Coquihalla. We’ve also been doing a lot of riding at Crowfoot.”
As soon as December rolls around, VanTongeren is busy entertaining sledders, ice fishers and cross-country skiers from all over the country and the U.S. Sledders making up 90 per cent of his business.
