Hill Climb Weekend

Last weekend was King of the Hill Snowmobile Races here in Jackson. We suited up, rode the chair lift, and skied over to the coarse to get a close up look. I've always had a hunch, but now I'm quite sure these racers are absolutely nuts! Here is a picture of the crowd gathered at the starting line.

And here's looking up the hill - it's much steeper than the picture portrays.

You can just see him thinking, "that's totally crazy!"

Taking it all in.

This year the track received a new foot of snow around the first day of the race. The machines chewed through it and the existing base till they were almost in a tunnel.

Makin' his way to the top. I have to admit, there is something pretty exhilarating about watching these guys. And something pretty breathtaking about watching a runaway machine come careening end-over-end down the mountainside, parts flying everywhere, while volunteers run out, risking life and limb to try and stop it!