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Low Gas Prices Renew Hope for Strong Sledding Season

January 28, 2009 - SNODEO, RANGELEY -- Snodeo 2009 begins at 6 tonight with a chili and chowder cook-off at the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Clubhouse, and continues through Saturday. When the annual festival was in the planning stages, organizers were a bit uncertain. Now, with gas prices at their lowest in years, there is renewed hope.

"Last summer we were very nervous about planning the snodeo because of the price of gas. But club membership has climbed dramatically," said Sandy Dumont, secretary of the club and a festival organizer.

"It was dismal last summer, because we had only 100 memberships, but now it has climbed to over 320 memberships. Trail maps have been selling wonderfully, so that is a good indication that people are really interested in snowmobiling in the area."

The Snodeo has been held for more than 20 years, and in that time has evolved into a family-friendly event that even attracts people who have never ridden on a sled. There is a gingerbread making and decorating activity for children on Saturday at the Gingerbread House Restaurant in Oquossoc. Last year, more than 30 children took part in the event.

"Come up just to have a good time, and you don't have to have a snowmobile to take part in many of the activities. You can do the poker run with a car, and there are two pig roasts," Dumont said. "During these rough economic times, this is something that can really cheer people up. You would be surprised at the number of people who come out in the cold to have a good time. It is a break from the recession."

Events include radar races, a raffle for a 2009 Artic Cat F5 LXR, snow sculptures, turkey bowling, dancing, music, snowmobile demonstrations, special children's activities and a snowmobile parade down Main Street with fireworks to conclude the festival.

"A few years ago, we had only one man take part in our snowmobile decorating contest because of all the rain," Dumont said. "He got his sled decorated with Christmas lights all over the entire sled, and his kids were on the trailer. He asked if he won anything and since he was the only entrant, he won first and only place."

B-52 MEMORIAL RIDE, GREENVILLE

At 1 p.m. Saturday, all snowmobilers are invited to take part in a 12-mile ride up Elephant Mountain to the site where a B-52 crashed 46 years ago. This is the 30th year that the Moose- head Riders Snowmobile Club has taken part in the event.

"The crash site is something that has really taken on its own personality up here," said Tom McCormick, the president of the Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club.

"I think people are impassioned about supporting our troops and anything that is military related."

The snowmobile club, game wardens, Air National Guard of Bangor and the American Legion Post of Greenville all participate in the memorial service at the site where the B-52 crashed on Jan. 24, 1963.

The U.S. Air Force B-52 out of Westover Air Base in Massachusetts was on mission flying extremely low to the ground – an average of only 500 feet above tree tops and granite cliffs. The assignment was to practice low-level navigation to avoid the newest Soviet radar at a time when the Cold War was really heating up.

When the B-52 encountered turbulence, the plane crashed, killing seven men. The pilot, Lt. Col. Dante E. Bulli and navigator, Capt. Gerald J. Adler, ejected from the plane before it crashed and survived. Bulli and Adler spent 20 hours in temperatures that reached 30 degrees below zero before they were rescued at 11 a.m. the next day and airlifted to a local hospital.

"Last year, we had about 30 people take part in the ride. Snow is no problem this year, as we have plenty of it for the ride," McCormick said. "This year the trails are phenomenal and there is great riding, plus, gas is cheap."

Before the ride begins, there will be a ham lunch at 11 a.m. at the clubhouse for anyone interested. There is no cost for the luncheon, but donations are accepted. The clubhouse is located on Scammon Road as well as ITS-85.

For more information about Snodeo, visit: www.Rangeleysnowmobile.com

For more information about the Commemorative B-52 Ride, visit: www.mooseheadriders.org

For more information about upcoming snowmobiling events, visit the Maine Snowmobile Association Web site at www.mesnow.com.

CATHY GENTHNER, Portland Press Herald, January 22, 2009

Cathy Genthner is a registered Maine Guide and licensed by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to guide snowmobile trips.


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Regions: Rangeley


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