Small Town News

Snowmobilers on epic journey pass through Turtle Mountains

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When you get lemons, make lemonade. When you get lots of snow, make an adventure of it. That is the philosophy of over 70 snowmobilers who are in the middle of a very long trail ride.

The 2010 inaugural MichCanSka is a 4,000 mile journey across beautiful but sometimes very rough terrain. That journey took the first of three snowmobile groups through the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation and Rolette County recently.

Dave Low, an 82-year old "young" man, clapped his hands outside the Sky Dancer Casino and Hotel urging everyone to pick up the pace so he can hit the trail before daylight. Low, a man who appears amazingly fit for a man who has spent more than eight decades on Earth, was one of the most energetic and enthusiastic riders of the lot.

"1 love it. I live for waking up to doing something like this, and time's a wasting. Let's hit that trail," said Low to his snowmobiling comrades. A second man with a white beard chimed in while he was sitting at his table in the casino restaurant. After quickly wiping off subtle remnants of breakfast from his chin and trademark beard, MichCanSka President and founder Bill Bradfield practically yelled out, "Give me that throttle! I'm ready to go!" Brad-field is the man in charge of the historic ride, who now finds himself on the threshold of a dream.

The MichCanSka began as a dream but is now an exciting reality. Bradfield has been a lifelong snowmobiler, but after being diagnosed with Type 11 diabetes last year, the Michigan man decided to organize a charitable event with long-distance riders through the northern part of Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, much of Canada and into Alaska. A tough-as-nails ex-Marine and Vietnam veteran, Bradfield exhibits an air of authority and leadership, which is needed on such a challenging trip as the MichCanSka.

"When I first started out, I came up with a motto of 'Dream it, Plan it, Do It,' Right now, we're definitely in the 'do it' phase," stated Bradfield. "This has really gained the attention I wanted thanks to a lot of great media. So far, we've raised over $60,000 at this point for the Diabetes Research Institute. All of our riders are very happy about that. We have over 28 million people afflicted with diabetes in our country and that's eight percent of our entire population."

Ironically, the MichCanSka trail went right through the heart of a community that has reached epidemic proportions in diabetes. The Turtle Mountain Chippewa diabetes rate per capita is more than three times as high as the rest of the country.

The first of the three groups of riders (24 per group) left Sault St. Marie, Michigan on February 16, and Bradfield hopes to average 200 miles a day, so the duration of the trip is estimated to take 20 days. The MichCanSka riders, who are from Michigan, Ohio, Texas, New York, Indiana and Canada, all attended the 42nd Annual International 500 Snowmobile Race in Sault St. Marie. After the race, the MichCanSka expedition team members all mounted their sleds for one lap around the track as they headed westward on the first leg of their long ride.

"We have a crew of people who are dedicated to a good cause. This is a way to raise money for diabetes research and give all of the riders a chance to live out an adventure of a lifetime," Bradfield added.

The entire trip is being filmed, to be made into a television documentary by Snowtrails TV. There will also be a 40-page book printed that will show highlights of the historic snowmobile ride.

"I would like to thank the North Dakota Parks and Recreation, especially Eric Deitrich, who escorted us into Belcourt after we hit the North Dakota border. Now we have a couple of guys from the parks and rec locally who are going to bring us up to the Peace Gardens, and from there the Canadian provincial authorities promised to help guide us through their territory." said Bradfield.

Deitrich emphasized that he and his colleagues at the state parks and recreation department were very honored to assist the MichCanSka riders in a good part of their journey through North Dakota.

"It's just phenomenal what those people are doing. I can't imagine riding over 4,000 miles on a snowmobile, and I see that the average age of the riders is 64 year old. That is just too amazing, and I have to say one of the greatest things I have been part of in my work," said Deitrich.

Each of the three groups of riders are equipped with medical supplies and a state-of-the-art defibrillator in case of medical emergencies. But Bradfield believes the spirit of the ride and good energy will protect them.

According to Bradfield, after the actual 4,000 mile MichCanSka concludes in Tok, Alaska, an even more courageous group (including Bradfield) will travel northward through the Yukon territories and over the top of the world.

"Several of our more seasoned riders are planning on traveling from Tok after we have a short rest and head up to Dawson City, Alaska, which was the first big gold mining town in the Yukon. It's where they first discovered the big gold deposits. We'll spend a night there before we get on the 'top of the world highway'. That is going to be an experience," Bradfield explained about the added leg of the adventure. Bradfield said he can hardly wait to ride in the pure white Yukon with the "Northern Lights" dancing above his head.

One rider named Carole was standing outside the Sky Dancer Hotel waiting for her husband, Ken. to finish getting ready to head to the Canadian border as the eastern sky began to lighten up.

"Looks like we're about set to go. You know, my husband wanted to give me something special for our 50th wedding anniversary -- and this ride is it. I don't know if I should thank him yet or not. We'll have to wait and see about that, I guess," she said with a smile, as she walked to the waiting convoy. "Not exactly a limousine waiting for me, but Ken and I are doing it for the love of snowmobiling and the cause to find a cure. 1 hope everyone who hears about this ride will become more aware of the diabetes epidemic we're facing in the United States. That is what will make this the perfect anniversary gift for both of us."

At press time on Friday, Brad-field's first group was already through Saskatchewan and deep into Alberta.

They will travel west this week through British Columbia and straight into Tok, which is located about fifty miles north of Anchorage.

For more information, updates, and how to donate to the Diabetes Research Institute or the MichCanSka, go to www.michcanska.com.

"The legend of the MichCanSka will live on for many years and become known as the Iditarod of snowmobiling after this year's ride," Bradfield predicted.



Copyright 2010 Turtle Mountain Star, Rolla, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 Turtle Mountain Star Rolla, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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