Snow Fun
Recreation | November 2008
Exploring the North State from a Snowmobile
Story: Melissa Gulden
Photos: Courtesy of The Fun Factory
SWOOSH! SWISH! Fresh powder underneath a powerful Polaris 600 snowmobile can feel as though you have the whole world underfoot. Just you and the woods, a synthesis of snow, speed and the simplicity that comes with nature. There are many ways to achieve this feeling, but only one licensed operation can put you in the driver’s seat of such a machine: The Fun Factory. Michele Valdez, who owns the snowmobile and watercraft rental business with her husband, Daren, says her sole purpose is to teach people and help them have fun. The Fun Factory gives renters the chance to tour more than 250 miles of groomed trails in the Klamath, Modoc and Shasta Trinity National forests. The Valdezes have owned their business since 1995, when they moved to Fort Jones from the bay Area. “I couldn’t ask for a better place to be,” says Michele. “My dreams and ambitions came true up here.”
And Valdez says she “couldn’t be happier” teaching families how to be safe while enjoying the mountains. They teach all of their renters about safety on the slopes. That way, says Valdez, people are able to have their own adventure, rather than play “follow the leader.” With thousands of acres to explore, renters can go deep into the back country of three national forests, which is one of the reasons respect for nature is as important as safety. “On a trail, on snow, nothing gets messed up,” says Valdez. “everyone leaves the place looking even nicer than before.”
Besides respecting nature and others, other tips for snowmobiling include traveling responsibly, educating oneself by obtaining maps and regulations, and avoiding sensitive areas such as meadows, lakes and streams. “Take care of your fellow snowmobilers,” says Valdez. “We’re all a big family.”