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| Snow-mobiling |
| Monday, March 03, 2008 |
This weekend was one of those super fun weekends. DH wanted to go Skiing in Lake Tahoe. February and March are the months we go skiing, or try to learn to ski, as this is the time when there is snow, but the weather is not bad enough to cause horrible road conditions that might hinder driving on the mountains. But I somehow was in no mood put on those heavy boots, and fall over and over, and sprain all parts of the body. So, I bribed DH and talked him out of skiing. We checked the weather in Tahoe multiple times since it was predicted to be cloudy. I wanted to do something fun, hiking or something we have not done before. A little browsing, and we reserved a snowmobile tour.
We got ready at a super slow pace, left home at half past ten. We arrived at the Resort, just in time for our 1:30 tour. There was a big crowd, waiting to get checked in. The folks in front of us actually made small talk with us. They were from Pennsylvania. I never knew people came all the way from East Coast to Tahoe for winter activities. Us, living so close, never bothered to give the respect or importance this beautiful place really deserved. Whenever we visit Tahoe, we start late in the morning, sometimes at noon, spend a few hours and return back the same night. Last year we didnt even come to the Lake, we skied on the slopes a good 20 miles before the lake and returned back.
Once we were all dressed up for the activity, with snowpants, snow shoes, jackets , gloves and helmets, we got into the bus that took us to the place were the trailheads started. This resort was actually in Nevada, we found the folks to be very helpful and very friendly, unlike the California folks. I think Californians are the most snobbish folks in all of the States.
There were about 100 snowmobiles. There were many tours starting at the same time, with different guides. We got the instructions on how to operate the vehicle. It was not a big deal, Start switch, throttle to accelerate and a Brake to stop. The difficult instruction to understand was, we had to tilt our bodies to the side while turning. the vehicle itself is huge, it is supposed to weigh about 800lbs. I remember seeing these snow mobiles in front of homes in Barrow, in Alaska. Snowmobiles are an actual mode of transportation like we have bikes, in Alaska. How cool! All the more reason to be excited about driving this mammoth of a vehicle.
There were about 20 mobiles in our group. I sat behind DH, he drove first, we thought we will take turns. The first leg was pretty scary. DH was very cautious and drove slowly, mostly because the trail was curvy, and going up the mountain. Although not too steep, it was a considerable drop below, if we were to swerve off the trail and go down the slope. We were instructed to keep in a single file and follow the mobile in front of us, keeping a few cars distance in between. But we lost some lead in the beginning and then we were moving slowly while DH was getting used to the vehicle and the controls, the throttle. At one point, we went almost to the edge of the road, almost like falling down. It was scary. The guide at the end of the group came to our rescue and got us back on the trail. The second leg was a little okay, there was enough shoulder room on the sides, incase we went off the trail, but there were trees all through the sides of the trail. But apparently we were too slow. The guide came and told us, if we continued to be slow, he would have to have each of us drive with one of the guides :--( That was not good. We felt like kids being reprimanded for not doing well in an exam! But by this time, our confidence level had increased some more. DH accelerated quite a bit, not minding the bumpy ride. I kept encouraging DH to go faster, and that it is okay, and I was not scared. ;--) The truth was I was clutching my handrails so tight, with all the bumps, my arms have been aching since then. Everytime a turn came, both of us leaned towards the turn to make it easier for the vehicle to make the turn. It is so difficult to lean toward a turn, you almost feel like falling off. If you can see how the mobile looks, the front of the mobile are like skis. You know how difficult it is to turn on the skis. As we went up, it started getting colder and colder. My nose became pink. I know it is impossible, but it did. We stopped at a lookout point. We looked down below at the Carson Valley. There was no snow in the valley. We know how Nevada is. Barren dry land mass.
Now DH was pretty confident of the driving. We sped a lot more, kept close heels to the lone also-first-time rider in front of us. Sometimes there was so much snow on the trail, the mobile trudged along, paving its own path, making us jump some more. Sometimes it was like riding a horse I should say. I found a real use for the visor on helmets. It protected the face from the strong cold winds.
Finally after an hour or so of driving, we reached the summit, the top of the mountain, with a beautiful view of the lake.
Now thats a view I have not seen in the many times I have been to Tahoe. For the umpteenth time, nature never fails to amaze me. I was humbled by the beauty, the serenity, and the majestic look. We took some pictures.
While taking in all the beautiful scenary around me, there was a nagging doubt in my head. Will I be able to ride the mobile as well? If DH was asked to drive better, whatever would become of me? Upon DH's insistence I went to the Guide and meekly asked him if I could take a turn and drive as well, and also informed him that I might be a little slow, as it will be my first time as well. He said he will let us know when it is time for me to drive.
We were on our way back after spending a few minutes at the windy summit. I was just about beginning to feel the cold through the snowpants and jeans. My hands were already numb with the cold, the gloves were no good.
The next leg was a super windy leg, DH was an expert by now. I started looking around me instead of the trail to see how DH was driving, at the pine trees, the beautiful glistening white snow. We stopped in the middle of nowhere, according to me, for a cuppa hot chocolate. Ah! To sip the hot beverage when your hands and legs are numb with cold. It was heaven. I drink hot chocolate often at work in the afternoon, but nothing can come close to this one drink amidst the snow in the bitter cold.
We saw some kids playing the snow, and immediately we wanted to play too. The snow was pretty deep, I have no clue how many inches of snow the place had accumulated. We played snowballs for sometime, it was fun. I was reminded of Calvin and his snowball duels with Hobbes. :--)
And then, it was time for me to drive. I slowly took the vehicle and gave the throttle, it chuckled and made a lot of noise, and finally moved. I was scared of the turns, but I made it. I realized we didnt have to lean our body everytime we turned, it only helped, but it is not essential to make the turn. I had my share of turns on the slopes with a drop below as well, I am happy to say I handled it pretty well. I stayed within viewing distance of the mobile before me for the most part, which is an achievement in itself. I was so much concentrating on the driving, enjoying it too, that I never realized when we arrived at the trailhead, end of the tour. Bah, all good things have to come to an end.
Overall, it was a superb one of a kind experience, atleast for me. And I think DH will agree that it was worth forsaking a day of skiing. ;--)
The bus took us back to the city, and it was 5PM by the time we were out of our snowmobiling wear and in our car. Our stomachs were crying for some food. We went to Harveys, one of the casinos at the Stateline dividing CA and NV. We ate and then hit the casinos to blow away some more of our hard earned money at Roulette and Slots.
It was dark as we drove back. Listening to Jodhaa Akbar at high volume, I watched the huge pieces of rock loom out and hide behind our headlights, looked out yonder, into the darkness, 'I know you mountains are there hiding in the dark', I said to myself. Driving the curvy roads was like playing a car game on the computer, only crashes are much fatal in real. Heart was content, and happy and relaxed. Wouldnt you agree it was a perfect day? |
posted by SK @ 7:50 PM  |
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| 10 Comments: |
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Wow! Driving the snowmobile & seeing the beautfiul scenery around sounds like fun :) A perfect day indeed! ;)
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Good for you!! Hmmm.. Its been a while since we went on a trip like this.. Have to plan one
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Ai SK. I have a job for you. Why dont you sing "Do dil mil rahein hai...".
-Ok
P.S. Snowmobile a? I have seen it only in Bond movies? What you have become one Bond girl a?
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Hi.. nice pics and nice description.. seems u had a blast...
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Aparna,
Yes it was beautiful!! :--))
Lone Star, Yes you should, now that summer is here, all the more reason :--))
Ok,
Hehe Is this song from Pardes? I will try, its soo difficult to get karaoke versions. Yes, me a Bond girl :--P btw in which movie does Bond drive a snow mobile?
Sankar,
Danke! Yes we did! :--)
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The last one that had Brosnan as the Bond.
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im alwayz 2 left feet so no attemptin skiin n all frm me...n ofcourse, bein in chennai, skiin is lika dream tat may never come true ;) hehe...
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Ok, Ah I think thats die another day - havent seen it.
Preeti, hahah :--) true!
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Well, snowmobile sounds like fun. I have had no luck in skiing than the fun I had in watching ppl fall down ;)
Nice 'detailed' description there :)
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Arun,
hehe yes I had a lot of fun pointing and laughing at those who fell as well, when we went skiing :--))I suppose the desc was a little more detailed than warranted. :--D
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Wow! Driving the snowmobile & seeing the beautfiul scenery around sounds like fun :) A perfect day indeed! ;)