“Let’s GO Mr. Rob, Get this snowmobile started” These were the words from James, a new friend of the Glendale Lake Snowmobile Club.
On February 23 the club received a facebook message from a friend of Dawn, mother of James. The message was a request for someone to take a 19-year-old autistic person for a snowmobile ride. He stated that James has a huge interest in snowmobiles and watches a lot of youtube videos and would love a ride on a snowmobile.
The message was quickly responded to and within a day we were arranging a time and meeting place. It was decided to meet at one of our clubs’ trail heads within Prince Gallitzin State Park. This was an ideal spot because of the heated bathroom and plowed parking lot.
One of our members was unable to attend but offered his 2up sled with backrest and heated seat and hand grips. I took him up on the offer, grabbed his machine and headed out to meet Dawn and James. We were unloaded and ready by the time they arrived. A few other members were there showing their support and a couple rode along on their sleds.
When Dawn parked her vehicle, James leaped out and ran to the sled and hollered down, “Let’s Go Mr Rob. Get this snowmobile started.” We greeted each other and after a change into snowmobile clothes and a safety briefing, we were ready to hit the trails. We had a quick ten-minute ride and was back at the trail head for some high fives and pictures. As soon as we stopped James jumped off the machine and ran to the front to see if the headlights were the bright white ones like he sees on the youtube videos. James asked for another ride, so we went back out for about a 20-minute ride and back to the parking lot. James had so much enthusiasm and excitement about his ride. He and his mom thanked us numerous times. Later Dawn submitted an article in the local newspaper expressing her feelings of how the Glendale Lake Snowmobile Club helped her and James. https://www.altoonamirror.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2021/03/mother-appreciates-kindness-toward-son/
I’m not sure who was most satisfied with the ride, but all of us had big smiles on our faces knowing that this guys dream had just come true.
Rob Housley, GLSC
