The Rock holds hidden snowmobile treasure

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/02/2003 (8330 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There is a little hidden secret out on the East Coast that will make any snowmobiler want to hop on a plane and take in some raw back country nature, elegant accommodations and tons of fresh snow.

When we think of Newfoundland, we picture rocky ocean fronts, fishing boats coming in from sea and quaint villages full of friendly people ready to chat it up with anyone.

Few imagine what it would be like in the dead of winter.

Eagle Mountain Lodge is about 55 kilometres north of Deer Lake. Locked in by wilderness, the lodge is only accessible by snowmobile or helicopter in the winter. Located in the Main River Basin, it provides access to beautiful winter trails leading to the fjords of Gros Morne National Park.

“The area has been featured in National Geographic several times,” Lesa Pike office manager says. “We give access to a UNESCO World Heritage site.”

Last week, five extreme snowmobilers from the United States called the Slednecks, were shooting a video in the area and using the lodge as a home base. The lodge’s guides, who have been in other extreme snowmobiling videos before, are scheduled for an appearance in this one as well.

Owner Brad Chaulk runs an engineering company. He found business slowed in the winter.

He loves snowmobiling, so he built the lodge to enjoy the sport with his friends and family. Two years ago he added a new two-storey building with eight rooms. The original lodge has three rooms. The lodge can accommodate up to 26 guests.

The main lodge has a wall of windows that face the scenic valley. The timber frame design is revealed in the main lounge area, which is decorated with comfortable leather sofas and chairs. This area is open for groups to socialize until 11 p.m.

It serves as a quiet area where people can just sit around and have a glass of wine and chat. The conference room is housed in its own building. Groups wanting to party after 11 p.m. can go there. Guests bring musical instruments and have jam sessions that go on until morning.

The food is cooked by two resident chefs who provide for breakfast, lunch, and supper. A trail lunch is prepared for snowmobilers going for a guided day tour. If there is anything that is not on the menu, they’ll bring it in.

“There was a group the other year that wanted to have their formal sit-down dinner on the mountain top, lobsters and all.” said Pike, “We can do that if the customer wants. We haven’t found a request that we have not been able to fill.”

Prices for this Newfoundland snowmobile experience start at $105 per person weekdays, and $125 per person on the weekend, all meals included. The guided back country tour is an extra $225 per group. Owner Brad Chaulk, his son Bruce, and Brad Beattie are the resident guides and love to show off Newfoundland’s hidden snowmobilers paradise.

The season goes until May. You can check out their Web site www.emlodge.com or call them toll-free at 1-877-634-6614 for booking and information.

boris.minkevich@freepress.mb.ca