ISSA Summer Campout 2011

It was a good turnout for the Raccoon Valley Snow Chasers (RVSC) hosting of the Iowa State Snowmobile Association's (ISSA) annual "Summer Campout" at Springbrook State Park the weekend of July 22-24. Around 100 hard-core snowmobile enthusiasts from all around Iowa converged on Springbrook for a weekend of camping, socializing and entertainment capped off by a Saturday evening cookout and music concert by the band "Clutterbilly." Temperatures and humidity were on the high side during the weekend, but attendees were unfazed. "If we can ride our snowmobiles when it's 10 below zero and still be comfortable and having a great time, we are certainly not going to let a little typical Iowa summer heat and humidity stand in our way," quipped one happy camper at the event. Board members of the ISSA even managed to get a little budget and administrative work done in between the various activities of the weekend campout. "Our club was very excited to host this event for the first time," said Eric Chrystal, RVSC club president. "Judging from the feedback we have received the event was a big success. We not only got to showcase our local community and Springbrook, but also had the opportunity to impress upon state snowmobile officials, local elected officials and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources the positive economic and recreational impact our sport creates at the local level." The annual Summer Campout, sponsored by the ISSA and hosted by local Iowa snowmobile clubs, has been held for the past three decades at various locations around the state. See below the photos we took at the event.