The Revelstoke Snowmobile Club is hosting its first ever Vintage Snowmobile Ride this Saturday, April 7. Vintage, in this case, being snowmobiles more than 15 years old. Organizer Dusty Veideman said he is hoping to get some truly vintage models to come out. The ride will start at 9 a.m. at the Boulder Mountain parking lot (or nearby, depending on snow levels at the trail head) and go from there to the cabin, where there will be a show and shine and poker ride. It is $30 to enter, which includes a trail pass and your first poker card.
Pictured above is a Revelstoke Museum and Archives photo from the Earle & Estelle Dickey collection that appeared in the museum’s recent Reflections book, which is available for sale at the Revelstoke Museum. The caption read: Qualified Approval of Louie Bergen’s new motorized toboggan is given by Angus Beaton, old-time dog-team driver. He is shown wishing Bergen luck at start of 100-mile trip over snow-swept Big Bend Highway to reach his auto camp at Boat Encampment, north of Revelstoke.
Earle Dickey took promotional photos and wrote promotional photos on behalf of the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce. The following story from 1948 in the Vancouver Sun was the result of his efforts to promote Revelstoke through the media:
Mechanized ‘Dogs’ Put Louie Ahead. Special to the Vancouver Sun.
Revelstoke, February 21. The hazards of winter motoring can’t stop Louie Bergen. Louie, who runs the auto camp at Boat Encampment, 100 miles north on the snowed-in Big Bend Highway, couldn’t wait for reopening of the road this spring, so he started out Thursday on his new 25-horsepower motor toboggan.
Joe Findler, a logger, braved the journey with him on the 12-foot toboggan which gives no protection from the weather except a windshield. Barring snowslides or unforeseen difficulties, they expected to reach Boat Encampment without trouble.
Berger bought the auto camp in 1946, and stayed there that winter with his wife. During their sojourn in the winter wilderness they had an occasional visit from trappers, but saw more moose and caribou than humans, one day witnessing the killing of a moose by a wolf.
Now they have the toboggan for emergencies, they anticipate spending winters at the camp again. Local trappers and prospectors have been viewing the mechanized toboggan critically.
Angus Beaton, who drove dog teams along the Skeena River near Hazelton during the Grand Trunk construction days, says he would rather ride behind a team of dogs.