Snowmobiling purely for sport. It’s a concept not fully understood by many die-hard ice anglers, trappers and shed antler hunters who use snowmobiles as a means to a different end. But every year, thousands of folks make their way into the far northern reaches of the state of Maine with fancy new snow machines worth many thousands of dollars to burn some fuel riding the trails.
Though most of my snowmobiling excursions involve activities beyond the basic joy ride, I thoroughly enjoy being out on a sled, and as I get the chance to ride on nicer sleds in different territory, I’ve begun to understand why folks ride just to ride. But it’s not just riding, really. There’s an entire subculture in the snowmobiling game, and nobody understands that more than Roderick Fraser, author of the new book “Confessions of a Snowmobile Enthusiast”.
Fraser is a die-hard snowmobiler and Massachusetts resident who grew up in the great State of Maine and returns here to ride on a regular basis. He’s joined by a core group of family and friends who are always looking for new trails to ride and old ones to revisit.
“Confessions of a Snowmobile Enthusiast” is a collection of thoughts, observations, tips and advice from Fraser based on his many years in the ever-evolving sport of snowmobiling. Rod writes for American Snowmobiler magazine, and much of the book’s content is based on articles he’s written in the past.
“Confessions” packs a lot of information into a tight little 100-page package. Fraser includes information on purchasing a snowmobile, what to bring on a trail ride, safety on the trail, comfort and proper clothing and personal stories of memorable rides he’s experienced.
Several popular snowmobile destinations in Maine are described in the book, including the Katahdin Iron Works, the Allagash Trains, and a B-52 crash site. Also included are rides in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, among others.
Many of the books I’ve reviewed here make for great winter reading, but let’s be honest. Die-hard snowmobilers have no time to read in the winter. Luckily, “Confessions of a Snowmobile Enthusiast” is a short read, and you always have those couple of non-winter months to catch up on the important reading.
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