BUTTE — Butte volunteers are grooming the way for the arrival of riders taking part in the Trans-Montana Snowmobile Charity Ride.
Riders came all the way from northern Montana for the ride raising money for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
“The emphasis at NAMI is for prevention of veterans and teen suicide in the state of Montana, and as you know teen suicide we’re very high in the nation,” said Mike Patterson.
Members of the Jackpine Savages Snowmobile Club spent the day groom the trail for the more than 50 riders, which will hold their convention in Butte this weekend. The volunteers like to keep the trails groomed for all riders.
“The retired guys go out five days a week, Monday to Friday, usually 8 to 12 hour days,” said Patterson.
Well, I’m driving the groomer right and they’re going to do 25 miles of trails up Divide Creek. It’s going to take them a good 8 hours to do this, and hopefully the trails going to be really great for the snowmobilers coming into Butte
“Snowmobilers are just like everybody else, where it be outdoor recreationists that like to hike and backpack, being out in the wild, being able to go where you want on a snowmobile, the power, being in the mountains and enjoying Montana,” said Patterson.
