SnoWest Magazine

October 2012

Volume 39, Number 5

Features

18  Most competitive Mountain Class Ever

The 800 class rocks the mountains. Nothing really comes close to these sleds, which is why they’re so much fun. But who is tops?

By Lane Lindstrom

26  Snowmobile Clothing Showcase

We want to be dry and we want to be warm—but not too warm when we go snowmobiling. Here are some of the newest products on the snow for next season, including bibs and jackets, boots, helmets, gloves and goggles from some of the biggest players in the market.

42 Intermountain Snowmobile Show Just Weeks Away

Finally, it’s snowmobile show season. And we can’t wait to see the new sleds, new products and see old friends.

46 Sweet Riding Near Bitterroot Valley

Montana’s Sapphire Mountains might just be one of the state’s most overlooked riding gems. We spent a couple of days riding there last winter and had a great time. By Lane Lindstrom

Departments

  8 White Out & Wide Open By Steve Janes

10 Letters To The Editor

12 Fronts & Forecasts

14 Gear Box

38 Product Review: Belt Test: OEM vs. Goodyear

52 Advertiser Index

54 Snow Dust

Cover

The new Ski-Doo Summit X 800 is sure to shake things up in the mountain 800 segment next season. Ski-Doo has its sights set squarely on the Polaris 800 Pro RMK, which has set the standard for the mountains. Photo by Ryan Harris