A Picture is Worth a 14 Hour Drive…

Here’s a guest blog from Brandy Floyd. Brandy is a snowmobile shredder, avalanche educator and avid rider from Washington State. You can check out her web site at this link: http://www.brandyfloyd.com/   A picture is worth a 14 hour drive? It all started the morning of Friday May 27^th with a photo posted on Facebook of the Dutchmen Snow Park in Bend, OR. The ripple effect of said picture reached me, sitting in my office in Bellevue, WA. Before viewing this picture I had plans to remain home and pout over our lack of sunshine locally. The vision of fresh snow set in motion a frantic night of packing up sleds, gear, food in preparation for a 5am departure and a 7 hour drive to Bend. Our household wasn’t the only one affected by the picture! Friends of ours outside of Eugene, OR had already taken their sled deck off the truck and put sleds away for the summer. This picture prompted the immediate re-installation of the sled deck, loading of sleds, gear and people and a 3 hour drive to Bend to meet up! On our drive over we encountered January like winter conditions on passes which made us question “Is this really the end of May?”   Upon arrival at Dutchmen we were greeted with fresh snow on the trees and many smiling friends who quickly helped us unload to go play. We head out to the first meadow carving and jumping like mad men and women! A few hours into our day the sun came out turning an already great day into an amazing day in the heavy powder.     The day ended a little earlier than we had hoped with a mechanical breakdown of my sled, which has been named Naomi. This required a tow out of Naomi and me riding double with another friend.   We did not let this put a damper on our weekend! That night around a campfire we were blessed with yet more new snow, a firework show and a buddy offered up his sled for me to ride the next day.       Sunday morning we leave the parking lot with a group from Idaho, Oregon & Washington. Many miles travelled to enjoy this new snow! The day consisted of more carving, jumping, smiles, adventuring into untouched areas and not to be forgotten more fresh snow!   Everyone came home on fumes that day and while this was the last ride of the year for some, there are many of us who will be hitting the snow clear into July.