Ron Fowler, president of Smithers Snowmobile Association, can’t say enough about the amazing rides of the region and works tirelessly to promote Smithers and snowmobiling safety to riders from across the country.
He lives in the Hazeltons, 85 kilometres from town, and loves to sled at the Harold Price Range because it’s midway between his stomping grounds and Smithers.
“We discovered the area about 15 years ago and a bunch of us here got in there exploring,” he said.
The area is shared with the local cross-country ski club thanks to an agreement hashed out between the clubs establishing motorized and non-motorized boundaries.
“There are basically six areas to ride around Smithers, so if there is inclement weather in one valley there's a good chance that some of the other areas are better,” he said.
It’s been 35 years since Fowler got on a very dependable four-stroke Yamaha Nitro and took his first ride. He was immediately hooked. He covered a lot of ground on his first sled, a Yamaha Bravo 250.
“I was involved in exploring and finding new areas to ride in the steep ‘n’ deep terrain,” said Fowler. “Due to industrial accidents I am now relegated to the groomed trails.”
Fowler loves Smithers’ diverse selection of riding areas, from family-oriented meadow riding to the “turbos-only steep ‘n’ deep stuff.”
Smithers gets a lot of traffic from Vanderhoof, Alberta and Saskatchewan riders who head to Valemount or McBride with their big mountain sleds, but come to Smithers later in the year to ride the endless glaciers.
“I've often thought about riding the Pemberton Icefields,” Fowler said of his dream ride, “but scratched that off my bucket list. I'm too damn old now!”
