There is no other feeling like being in the middle of a powder turn on a snowmobile. It takes the coordinated effort of throttle control, balance, and counter steering to pull it off and ride out of the turn. My mind always captures these mid-turn moments and ruminates on them when I need something positive to think about. The snow hits the front of your snowmobile and creates a wave-like pattern with the snow barreling over the side of you. Forces of gravity pull you to the ground but the power of the machine gets the upper hand and propels you forward, all while you must keep your center of gravity vertical in order to not fall over. Many people attempt to get into these turns by ripping the throttle and forcing the sled to its side but they will fail. The trick is to counter steer in the direction you want to turn at the precise moment of feathering the throttle and shifting your balance. If your feet are further forward on the sled you can achieve a tighter turn while if further back you will be able to take a wider turn. These simple days provide me peace with the mountains and perfecting each little turn.
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