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Pam Carpenter Is A Backcountry Snowmobiler
Pam Carpenter demonstrates an Avy Pack that is a critical piece of safety equipment for backcountry snowmobiling where risk of avalanches can be high. [Photo by Jack McNeel]
By Jack McNeel When avid snowmobilers Pam and Terry Carpenter ride, it is into the backcountry and away from the trail groomers and other riders. They spend about 50 days each winter and early spring on their machines, enjoying the scenery and wildlife that wild country provides. They moved to Coeur d’Alene from Redding, California in 1995 looking for better work opportunities for Terry, who worked for Peterbilt Trucks. But, the idea of snowmobiling wasn’t part of their considerations. Pam is a nurse and Terry is someone handy at many things so jobs weren’t a great concern. Pam had been an ATV Safety Institute instructor in California, initially with 3-wheelers and later with 4-wheelers. She was teaching every weekend, focusing on safely maneuvering a course designed by the Institute. “We were really heavily involved with 4-wheelers and riding the sand dunes a lot in Coos Bay which is only a 6-hour trip from Redding,” Pam explains. Their first Christmas in Coeur d’Alene, shortly after moving into their new house in the low hills east of town, brought an unexpected realization. “It was snowing like crazy and we were looking around and wondering what we were going to do for fun,” Pam says with a laugh. “This snow thing was kind of new to us. “ One of their neighbors suggested snowmobiling and Terry’s reply was, “What’s that?” They bought a couple of snowmobiles and Pam discovered the Coeur d’Alene Snowmobile Club. She suggested they get out and explore a little on their machines. “When we got out we realized we had the wrong kind of snowmobiles for the riding they were doing. We rode the trails, but it was kind of boring. We changed snowmobiles and over the years, it’s evolved for us – we’ve been through many snowmobiles! “It became a real passion for us, and we’ve been snowmobiling since ’96. We ride mountain sleds like the Ski-Doo 800s, long-track 154s, and 800 cc. These are big horsepower, lightweight, long-track sleds. Back country riding is mainly what we focus on.” The Coeur d’Alene Snowmobile Club is composed largely of men. “I’m always trying to recruit girls,” Pam says. “The guys really get into it and they’ll go out and buy their wives a really nice sled and all the gear. The wives may ride three times and say, ‘I hate this.’ It’s not a sport for the faint of heart. It’s too much work and they don’t like it. You have to muscle the sled and if you get stuck, you have to dig out. But the girls who do ride are very committed to hanging right with the guys.” (Continued on page 18)