Snow Warriors, DAV host Moonlight Fun Run

A brief but intense snowstorm blew through the Lincoln Valley Saturday afternoon, dropping about a half-inch of new snow across the landscape just a couple hours before the Ponderosa Snow Warriors and the Montana Department of Disabled American Veterans kicked off their joint Moonlight Fun Run Saturday, Feb. 27.

Ponderosa Snow Warriors President Forest Mercill said they expected at least 75 people to take part in the ride, which coincided with the full Snow Moon.

"We double hippy planned it out," Mercill joked.

Kevin Grantier, the state commander for the Montanan DAV and a member of the Snow Warriors, was glad Lincoln finally received the snow that had been lacking for most of the season.

"We were wondering if it was gonna happen. We had such a terrible January," he said. "February's always our big snow month in Lincoln, so we were glad to see it come, that's for dang sure."

Grantier, now in his second term as the DAV state commander, said this is the second year the veterans organization and the snowmobile club have coordinated on a fun run to benefit both organizations.

For the DAV, the event raises money for their transportation program, which helps veterans, including those in rural areas, access health care at the Veterans administration hospital at Ft. Harrison.

Money raised for the Snow Warriors goes toward maintenance costs. including repairs for the club's groomer, which went down for repairs last week but was expected to be back in action this week.

"The community has been really good. The community donated $600 added purse," Grantier said.

Grantier said they get a lot of veterans who take part in the rides they host in Lincoln and do their best to identify them and thank them for their service.

Mercill said this snowmobile season has seen a renewed interest in the club from some of the younger members. "We're having great turnout. We've had a lot of new membership. The kids are loving the sled hill. They've been raging that; that's been good."

Snow Warriors secretary Bonnie Christian reported a total for 425 hands sold for the fun run, with many of them beings sold at local businesses. "Downtown Lincoln rocked on sales! Great Turnout!," she wrote.

Bud Hagen won the Fun Run's high hand, with Jeff Farrel taking the second highest hand.

Tara Grantier won low hand and donated $100 of her winning back to the DAV.

Although the fun run brought more people to Lincoln's trails last weekend, Mercill said, in general, Saturday's have once again become a "big deal" at the clubhouse, with volunteers staffing the facility for riders. He said volunteers have signed up to keep the clubhouse open for the remaining Saturdays of the season and hopes to find volunteers for Sundays as well.

Looking ahead, Mercill said the snowmobile club will be voting for the board during their March meeting. He said the vote will be held by mail so members don't have to attend the meeting in person.

Snowmobilers with vintage sleds will have another chance to hit the trails around Lincoln this weekend with the Bootlegger Inn's 4th Annual Snowmobile Vintage Show & Fun Run.