Newswriting 5

Nick Schreiner has had a growing passion for snowmobiling since he was just 4 years old. His dad had got him involved and always brought him on his sled before Nick had his own. He finally got his own snowmobile for Christmas: a Polaris 120 in the color red – his favorite. The rest is history. Nick is now currently 19 years old and has not stopped riding. His adventures on his sled have taken him being one of his favorite places to ever ride. 

Nick and his dad made plans for a winter trip to visit Cooke City along with his lake neighbors. His neighbors have been visiting and riding in Cooke City for over 20 years so they were the perfect guide. They drove the 800 miles from Kindred, ND to Cooke City, MT with their snowmobiles in tow. At the time, Nick was driving a Polaris 800 Switchback Assault in the color red – of course. On a Wednesday morning, they arrived at their Super 8 Hotel excited to experience the mountains. 

Hidden in the heart of the mountains, Cooke City is a historic city with small town charm. It was fist established in 1880. They have a year-round population of 75, but is a high traffic area due to having a Northeast entrance to Yellowstone. The town is only a few blocks long, but has great restaurants and lodging in rustic looking cabins. Often times, Cook City is described as “the most scenic drive in America”. The city being located at an elevation of 7,600 ft. makes this a perfect location for snowmobiling with the average snowfall being 202 inches. 

When asking Nick to describe Cooke City, his eyes light up with enthusiasm. He says there is the most beautiful scenery, and it is completely different than riding back home. Not only does it look different, but you have to be much more technically aware. It is a completely different style of riding. You have to learn what to do and what not to do. The consequences are detrimental. One wrong move and you could set off an avalanche. In order to ride in Cooke City, you need to be trained in avalanche safety. It is an eerie feeling and one condition to riding in the mountains. 

Nick had one frightening experience in the mountains, but luckily it did not involve an avalanche. He was going down the mountain with his neighbors. They were warned about this area but still wanted to give it a try. All of a sudden, Nick hit “something” abruptly. His helmet flew half-way off blocking his vision. As he attempted to fix his helmet, he saw one of his neighbors fly off his snowmobile in the air at least 10 feet. Nick’s other neighbor almost crashed right into him. During this ordeal Nick sprained both of his wrists. He describes this memory as “a train-wreck”.

Although dangerous incidents like this can happen, Nick still believes it is worth it. He loves the adrenaline rush and concentration riding in the mountains requires. He still has a rock he grabbed from the highest point they rode in Cook City. It is a memory of his dad and friends he holds dearly. His passion for snowmobiling began when he was just a little boy, and he plans on passing this hobby down to his own family. 

Works Cited

Cooke City. (2015, April 27). Retrieved February 05, 2019, from https://www.visitmt.com/places-to-go/cities-and-towns/cooke-city.html

Staff. (2014, February 06). Cooke City and Silver Gate, MT - Yellowstone's Northeast Gateway. Retrieved February 05, 2019, from https://www.yellowstonepark.com/road-trips/cooke-city-montana

Wilson, S. (2018, March 19). Even in snowy Cooke City, it's been decades since locals have seen it piled this high. Retrieved February 05, 2019, from https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/even-in-snowy-cooke-city-it-s-been-decades-since/article_bd6b5cce-c8d4-5042-80e0-ccffe8948bbc.html

Kay, M. J. (n.d.). Cooke City, Montana . Retrieved February 05, 2019, from http://www.colorado-west.com/cooke/