Women from five Midwestern states, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Missouri met in Eagle River, Wisconsin, January 26, 28, and 28, 2007 for Women on Snow. Women on Snow is a weekend of snowmobile trail riding through Vilas and Oneida counties. For the second year, the Wild Eagle Lodge was home base for the 21st annual weekend held in the Snowmobile Capital of the World.

Check-in began Friday at noon, but many of the gals arrived a day early taking advantage of the Wild Eagle Lodge’s fine hospitality. The effects of the cold temperature were warmed with greeting friends from past years and meeting new ones. There was just enough snow to promise us good riding all weekend. Each woman was pre-registered for one of six riding groups designated by color– Red, Blue, Yellow, Pink, Green, and Purple, and received a weekend agenda, a name tag, and year bar for their hat. Of the 108 women attending the WOS weekend, 21 were first-timers, who we call funewgees.

At 2:30, the ladies met with their group leader and received some last minute instructions. By 3:00, the groups began departing in different directions to experience some of the finest trail riding in the world. Bev Dittmar who leads the Green Group headed for a pit stop at Bauer’s Dam and then for dinner at Club DeNoyer. Judy Pacanowski, the “Leader of the Pink” also went to Bauer’s Dam, except the long way, and then headed back south to the Chanticleer Inn for dinner. Laurel Frank leads the Yellow Group and rode to Holiday Lodge and then to Sweetwater for Fish Fry.

Edie Kukanich’s Blue Group stopped first at Club DeNoyer and then traveled to Twelve Pines for dinner. The Purple Group of Sally Ayers rode to Vinchi’s Hillside, and then to Lanny’s Fireside for dinner. The Red Group, led by Phyllis Atchison, stopped at the Oneida Village Inn before dining at Rhinelander’s newest hot spot, Cross Country. All groups returned to the Wild Eagle Lodge for door prizes, and singing and dancing in Boondocker’s Lounge.

On Saturday morning, the groups began leaving after breakfast. Everyone was on the trail by 8:15. The Pink, Blue, and Red groups headed for the Phelps area for a pit stop at Club 45, while the other three groups headed toward Sugar Camp for Rummy’s. The morning’s ride would end at the same place for lunch, the Whitetail Inn in St. Germain. After lunch, each group started heading back for the Wild Eagle Lodge, making a last stop at another area establishment, if time permitted. The Pink Group made a short stop on Little St. Germain Lake to watch some ice drag racing. All planned on returning by 4:00 so that the gals could get ready for the banquet. This year’s theme was the Roaring 20’s.

By 6:30, the inside of Boondocker’s Lounge resembled a speakeasy. The girls went all out this year with their costumes. After a great dinner, everyone laughed at stories about the weekend as told by the group leaders, and some lucky winners won special door prizes. Magnum provided the music for the rest of the evening.

Most of the women chose to go for the final Sunday morning ride. Marie Simmer, the Pink Group tail, led members of the Pink, Purple, and Yellow Groups to Sportsmen’s Chalet and then to Eagle Waters Resort for brunch. The others went to Pitlik’s Sand Beach Resort before riding to brunch. After brunch, everyone made the short ride back to the lodge to pack up and head for home. The gals rode about 220 miles that weekend, and the trails were great! The Women on Snow Board Members hope that everyone had fun and will return next year.

THE CHATTER BOX
News from Women on Snow

• For the first time, three generations of women rode on the weekend at the same time-- WOS founder, Bev Dittmar, her three daughters, AND her granddaughter.
  
• The March 2007 issue of Illinois Snowmobiler featured an article by Dorothy Deer on the 2006 event.
  
• Women on Snow made donations to the clubs responsible for grooming the trails we rode on all weekend. They did a great job all season with the little snow we had in the Northwoods. The clubs are SnoEagles, Eagle River; Conover SnoBuddies; St. Germain Bo-Boen Snowmobile Club; Phelps Snowmobile Club; Sayner/Star Lake Barnstormers; Three Lakes Snowmobile Club; Sugar Camp Snowmobile Club; Northwest Passage Club of Rhinelander; and the New-Tom Snow Fleas of the Lake Tomahawk area.
  
• Twenty women rode on WOS Tour 2007 this year. The group put on over 250 miles during their trip to Silver City, Michigan. The gals stopped at The Bear Bar in Winchester on Tuesday night, stayed for dinner, and became “Babes in Bunks” in their bunkhouse that night.
  
• Four women joined the tour group for this first time this year: Meghan Calzavera, Carol Neumann, Josie Kolzow, and Sandy Voight. Another first time were Laurel Frank and Joan Crawford riding in the support vehicle. And they all did a great job!
  
• Women on Water, the summer weekend get-together, is being planned by Marie Simmer and Patty Calzavera. The dates are July 13-15, 2007. Women on Snow 2008 will be held January 25-27, 2008; the tour will follow January 28-30th.