By Jessianne Wright EBS Contributor
March 10 and 11 the Upper Yellowstone Snowmobile Club will host their largest event of the year: the 21st annual Hog Roast Fundraiser, which raises money to support snowmobile trail grooming in Cooke City.
The fundraiser begins with a two-day snowmobile Poker Run, where participants stop at nine designated locations in order to receive nine playing cards to make a poker hand. At the hog roast dinner, the highlight and close of the fundraiser, participants with the best two poker hands will win a major portion of the proceeds raised from the entry fees.
One stop along the way is the Round Lake warming cabin, where participants can partake in a bonfire and hot dog roast, as well as visit with Forest Service Snow Rangers. The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center will set up a beacon park at Round Lake so interested parties can learn about avalanche danger, interpret snow conditions, and practice using beacons, probes and shovels.
“The poker run [and] all the other events provide an opportunity for all winter enthusiasts to come together, be sociable and enjoy the beautiful snow here,” said Mona Abelseth, owner of Cooke City Motorsports and member of the UYSC public relations committee.
Evening activities include wine tasting, a silent auction and live music on March 10, and the hog roast dinner and auction will conclude the event on March 11.
New this year, the club is presenting the Best of Snow show. As an opportunity to show off their rides, participants can enter their snowmobiles or bikes and vote on their favorite.
This fundraiser comes on the tail of the recent club purchase of a new groomer, which is used to groom trails throughout the Cooke City area. With that purchase the UYSC is the second nonprofit in Montana to own and operate a club groomer.
To participate in the poker run and/or attend the Hog Roast Dinner, contact the UYSC’s public relations committee at (406) 838-2231, or visit Cooke City Motorsports or the Cooke City Exxon.
