Snowmobile Hobby Now A Tour De Force

When Bill Orton started tinkering with his snowmobile in the garage, he never expected his mechanical aptitude to grow into a business.

“After the mines folded I had more time to ride, but I had to keep my own sled running. I didn’t have enough money to keep taking it to the shop,” said Orton, 39, who worked underground for Hecla Mining Co., Asarco Inc. and several other mines for more than a dozen years.

A Wallace native, Orton began snowmobiling with his older brother, Duane, at age 7. But not until he turned 35 did that passion become a full-time winter career.

“You fix your own equipment, then the people you ride with ask you to fix theirs … after enough time, it has a snowball effect,” he said.

By the winter of 1993-94, Orton had a full-blown snowmobile repair business, and decided to move his base of operations from his Osburn home to its present location in Wallace. Orton’s 2 Cycle offers guided tours, snowmobile rentals, and services all major snowmobile brands.

“You take your money, gamble, and see what happens. It’s worked out pretty well,” he said.

The same year, he took another step to expand his business by approaching the owners of the Lookout Ski and Recreation Area about providing snowmobile tours.

“They were more into mountain bike and horseback riding at the time. But after we started talking, they realized the market,” Orton said.

Orton proceeded to become a licensed, bonded outfitter and guide. He worked for the ski area, providing snowmobile tours for two winters, then became the area’s representing agent - its liaison with the Forest Service for issues relating to snowmobile tours.

If you don’t find him at the shop, Orton’s up on the mountain, escorting customers on any one of several trips. He’ll schedule outings any day of the week, but weekends are busiest. And he’s had some pretty busy weekends since winter began.

“This year is my best ever,” he said. “It seems like a big blast of early snow gets people motivated.”

Compared to other areas, the Silver Valley’s trail system is “extreme,” explained Orton, a fact that appeals to a certain breed of snowmobiler.

“Our mountains are mashed tight together. The grades are steep. Most other places are more rolling.”

Another attraction is the area’s lack of restrictions.

“In Yellowstone, for example, there are speed limits, and you don’t go off the trail. Here it’s kind of unrestricted. You can go where you want, do what you want.”

The relative freedom makes him stress the need for mature behavior all the more.

“I run a nice, quiet tour. Nobody gets out of hand. Restrictions or no restrictions, you’re always 100 percent responsible,” he said. “You’ve got to keep that in mind.”

But he admitted there’s something about a powerful machine, fresh snow and a beautiful landscape that brings out the 7-year-old in a person.

“I guess I’m kind of an adrenaline junkie. As long as I’m out there running around, I’m happy.”

, DataTimes MEMO: Bekka Rauve is a free-lance writer who lives in the Silver Valley. Panhandle Pieces appears every Saturday. The column is shared among several North Idaho writers.