I hate being cold and since I live outside Chicago, I am at a huge disadvantage. It seems that when winter arrives, it comes in with a vengeance. This typically would send me running for the nearest airport and the first flight south. Well, this year is going to be different. I have resolved to try new things and embrace the world around me.
This weekend, we loaded up and and headed approximately 6 hours north of Chicago to St.Germain, Wisconsin for a snowmobiling adventure. When old man winter comes calling, the top activity in St. Germain is snowmobiling. In this and numerous other quaint northern Wisconsin towns there are over 25,000 miles of meticulously groomed trails running through spectacular scenery. For snowmobiling, Wisconsin has become one of the Midwest’s premier winter destinations since the snowmobile was invented just down the road in Sayner in 1924.
The views are absolutely spectacular. From the vast expanse of the frozen lakes to the tree lined trails with soft snow is heaped within the branches, the world took on a whole new feeling. It was an experience I typically would have missed, not venturing out into the frozen wilderness.
For the weekend we rented a lake front cottage. There are a variety of both lake front and wooded options in the area. We selected Cedaroma Lodge due to the proximity to the lake as well as the general layout. This location offers 9 cabins, 6 of which are availability in the winter, accommodating from 1-16 people and ample parking. The cabin we selected featured three bedrooms and one bath. With its wood lined walls and gas fireplace it was a cozy place to come back to at the end on the day.
Honestly, I was not totally convinced that this was going be the the winter activity for me. (Again, I hate the cold.) Fortunately, I planned ahead and purchased appropriate attire. There was a bit of an investment but trust me, you’ll thank me later.
First, I had a “crash” course in how to operate my sled, as they are called by enthusiasts, we headed out onto the lake. I had to get used to the idea of riding this machine over the frozen water but after seeing trucks and shelters in the middle of the ice for fishing, I was a bit more comfortable. After becoming confident, we took to the trails. These particular trails were wide enough that as a novice, I didn’t feel intimidated by the close proximity to the trees or other riders yet they were challenging enough for the experienced rider.
Over the course of a long weekend, I spent approximately 10 hours on the snowmobile. Would do it again? Sure. Would I go back to St. Germain? Absolutely.
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