The 2021 Vintage Snow Cat Clowder is a go.
When: The first Saturday in February is 2/6/2021,
Where: Bessemer MI.
Host: Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort, N11375 Powderhorn Road, Bessemer, Michigan 49911
Why: Snow cats! Over the snow play.
The Midwest Vintage Snow Cat Clowder is an event Held in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The event is centrally located Just off the shores of Lake Superior. The event is attractive due the number of vintage Snow Grooming machines in the area. Track Inc reports in excess of 500 current working tuckers between Sault Ste. Marie and Duluth. Imagine 50 years’ worth of individual snowmobile club grooming programs and how many other brands of over the snow equipment is deployed to maintain snowmobile trails. Wisconsin (birth place of the modern snow mobile) is host to 22,000 miles of snow mobile trails with in excess of 200,000 snow mobiles registered annually. Over the snow transportation is not a one-off hobby, it is the very fabric of midwestern life.
The Midwest event is centrally located attracting enthusiast from the east and west respectively. We technically don't have a golden spike to celebrate the meeting of the East and West coast over the snow enthusiast, but I bet I could find a COPPER one.
So Yes, the invite To attend the Vintage snow cat Clowder is a standing invitation, happening on the first Saturday in February.
The event rules are minimal.
( well technically that is a false statement, we only have one rule in the By-laws as set forth by our host.
Rule one: there are no rules. should you decide to create rules, you will be tolerated as opposed to welcomed here ).
As details come in they will reside here in this thread, as well as a community supported Face Book Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1832505470380520/
NO Big enhancements are in the works this year, Due the Kooty Craze.
This year’s event will be a respectful socially respectable event. When we are at the host facility we will respect the State mandates as well as the common sense. If you are super concerned about your well-being the YOOP might not be the place for you. Anticipate hand shaking, back slapping and life to happen, with shared meals and Random Get togethers happening spontaneously throughout the event.
so, to recap for Newer members or those not wanting to over think the Get together.
The clowder is technically a one-day event that takes four days to fit it in.
Day one
is a Forest trail ride organized by the folks based on who is in town and what they want to experience (ranges from wild to mild) The Black river Pub is a popular gathering spot after a fun day of touring and over the snow catting or skiing.
Day two
Typically Friday is the main snow catting day. We depart from the only Ski FLYING hill outside of Europe (Copper Peak https://copperpeak.net/ ) The Friday trail day is a little more organized family experience based around a mid-day Campfire lunch stop, families and smiles dictate the navigation and duration of the day and to some extent the destination. Time for Mountain biking, skiing and snowshoeing at the turnaround overlooking the Lake Superior shore line is encouraged...... (past participants please expand) a Friday fish fry and Old Fashioned on the docket for dinner. The Caribou lodge with live entertainment at the gun barrel lodge and Local VFW in Bessemer are popular destinations.
Day three
Day three is geared towards our host. 8-12 am the cats are on public display and most folks are enjoying the amenities of big powder horns complex. (some have been known to repair broken equipment )
Sau-na (rhymes with cow-na)
pool,
cross country ski,
downhill ski and boarding
Off site options
Local microbrew tours
shopping trips
Lake superior ICE CAVES (weather permitting )
Ice Climbing frozen water-falls
industry tours of various manufacturing venues arranged if requested
At 1pm (in the Midwest it's known as after-Lunch) there are snow cat games scheduled and crowds form quick. Great opportunity to share the machines with folks that have never considered snow cats as a Hobby (perhaps better stated snow cats as a: Habit.)
So as the games settle down and the winners beam with pride [usually around 4 (Dusk)] there is a driver meeting and the snow cats are prepared for a sunset cruise of the facility. The cats are warmed up and driven up out of the powder horn village to the ski lodge where crowds of people can see them up close and personal. If you have an empty seat consider offering a ride for the sunset cruise. Many great photo opportunities are provided on the way to the top of the Big powder horn Mountain. After the sun sinks into Lake Superior the clowder (Group of Cats) Heads to the lodge for a short dinner program and networking event.
this dinner program is a great time. putting a face to a username and building community is very enjoyable, many find it almost as much fun as the snow cats. Of course, there is associated teasing and awards and gift sharing. (the Cit-iot award has become popular)
Ironically the City Idiot went to a Farmer last year but Nelson-cat came expand on that himself.
Swag:
there is various swag offered for sale, T shirts sweat shirt and even hats have been created and shared Priced to break-even on the expense of creating them....
It is a great event with something for everybody
lift tickets, ski and or board rentals are at an steeply discounted rate The host ( Coot Bruce ) is very generous I highly recommend getting a lift pass for the whole family.
Lodging packages are a tremendous value, and you are able snow cat to and from 90% of them.
Heated shops available for repair
Plug ins about everywhere for those pampered diesels from temperate climes.......
so that is enough for now stay tuned for details and make plans to attend.
any questions PM me for my phone number and Call me.
Search snow cat Clowder 2015,2016,2017,2018,2019 as review the content on social media and here in the forums......
This year is Going to happen, Covid doesn’t know what to do with snow catters and their ability to find fun in cold winter weather. This group naturally face covers and refrains from coughing.
When: The first Saturday in February is 2/6/2021,
Where: Bessemer MI.
Host: Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort, N11375 Powderhorn Road, Bessemer, Michigan 49911
Why: Snow cats! Over the snow play.
The Midwest Vintage Snow Cat Clowder is an event Held in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The event is centrally located Just off the shores of Lake Superior. The event is attractive due the number of vintage Snow Grooming machines in the area. Track Inc reports in excess of 500 current working tuckers between Sault Ste. Marie and Duluth. Imagine 50 years’ worth of individual snowmobile club grooming programs and how many other brands of over the snow equipment is deployed to maintain snowmobile trails. Wisconsin (birth place of the modern snow mobile) is host to 22,000 miles of snow mobile trails with in excess of 200,000 snow mobiles registered annually. Over the snow transportation is not a one-off hobby, it is the very fabric of midwestern life.
The Midwest event is centrally located attracting enthusiast from the east and west respectively. We technically don't have a golden spike to celebrate the meeting of the East and West coast over the snow enthusiast, but I bet I could find a COPPER one.
So Yes, the invite To attend the Vintage snow cat Clowder is a standing invitation, happening on the first Saturday in February.
The event rules are minimal.
( well technically that is a false statement, we only have one rule in the By-laws as set forth by our host.
Rule one: there are no rules. should you decide to create rules, you will be tolerated as opposed to welcomed here ).
As details come in they will reside here in this thread, as well as a community supported Face Book Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1832505470380520/
NO Big enhancements are in the works this year, Due the Kooty Craze.
This year’s event will be a respectful socially respectable event. When we are at the host facility we will respect the State mandates as well as the common sense. If you are super concerned about your well-being the YOOP might not be the place for you. Anticipate hand shaking, back slapping and life to happen, with shared meals and Random Get togethers happening spontaneously throughout the event.
so, to recap for Newer members or those not wanting to over think the Get together.
The clowder is technically a one-day event that takes four days to fit it in.
Day one
is a Forest trail ride organized by the folks based on who is in town and what they want to experience (ranges from wild to mild) The Black river Pub is a popular gathering spot after a fun day of touring and over the snow catting or skiing.
Day two
Typically Friday is the main snow catting day. We depart from the only Ski FLYING hill outside of Europe (Copper Peak https://copperpeak.net/ ) The Friday trail day is a little more organized family experience based around a mid-day Campfire lunch stop, families and smiles dictate the navigation and duration of the day and to some extent the destination. Time for Mountain biking, skiing and snowshoeing at the turnaround overlooking the Lake Superior shore line is encouraged...... (past participants please expand) a Friday fish fry and Old Fashioned on the docket for dinner. The Caribou lodge with live entertainment at the gun barrel lodge and Local VFW in Bessemer are popular destinations.
Day three
Day three is geared towards our host. 8-12 am the cats are on public display and most folks are enjoying the amenities of big powder horns complex. (some have been known to repair broken equipment )
Sau-na (rhymes with cow-na)
pool,
cross country ski,
downhill ski and boarding
Off site options
Local microbrew tours
shopping trips
Lake superior ICE CAVES (weather permitting )
Ice Climbing frozen water-falls
industry tours of various manufacturing venues arranged if requested
At 1pm (in the Midwest it's known as after-Lunch) there are snow cat games scheduled and crowds form quick. Great opportunity to share the machines with folks that have never considered snow cats as a Hobby (perhaps better stated snow cats as a: Habit.)
So as the games settle down and the winners beam with pride [usually around 4 (Dusk)] there is a driver meeting and the snow cats are prepared for a sunset cruise of the facility. The cats are warmed up and driven up out of the powder horn village to the ski lodge where crowds of people can see them up close and personal. If you have an empty seat consider offering a ride for the sunset cruise. Many great photo opportunities are provided on the way to the top of the Big powder horn Mountain. After the sun sinks into Lake Superior the clowder (Group of Cats) Heads to the lodge for a short dinner program and networking event.
this dinner program is a great time. putting a face to a username and building community is very enjoyable, many find it almost as much fun as the snow cats. Of course, there is associated teasing and awards and gift sharing. (the Cit-iot award has become popular)
Ironically the City Idiot went to a Farmer last year but Nelson-cat came expand on that himself.
Swag:
there is various swag offered for sale, T shirts sweat shirt and even hats have been created and shared Priced to break-even on the expense of creating them....
It is a great event with something for everybody
lift tickets, ski and or board rentals are at an steeply discounted rate The host ( Coot Bruce ) is very generous I highly recommend getting a lift pass for the whole family.
Lodging packages are a tremendous value, and you are able snow cat to and from 90% of them.
Heated shops available for repair
Plug ins about everywhere for those pampered diesels from temperate climes.......
so that is enough for now stay tuned for details and make plans to attend.
any questions PM me for my phone number and Call me.
Search snow cat Clowder 2015,2016,2017,2018,2019 as review the content on social media and here in the forums......
This year is Going to happen, Covid doesn’t know what to do with snow catters and their ability to find fun in cold winter weather. This group naturally face covers and refrains from coughing.