Here is a little more info on the ride in:

• The two main reasons for this ride in is to get fans of JohnDee.com together to meet each other and have as much fun in the snow up here as possible as well as to raise funds for the Make A Wish Foundation. In the past 3 years we have been able to directly help 2 children fulfill their wishes. In the past 4 years, this event has raised over $27,000. 

• Persons attending the ride in will be responsible for making their own lodging arrangements. The backcountry rides as well as the handing out of the shirts will be done at the Ramada Inn in Hancock MI. This hotel has direct trail access for snowmobiles and is located right next to the Portage Lake Lift Bridge between Houghton and Hancock. You need not stay in this hotel to partake in the ride in and can stay anywhere in the area that you would like. Special lodging rates are being made available to SnowFest Attendees at both the Super 8 Motel in Houghton and the Best Western Copper Crown in Hancock. Rooms at these two motels will be $60 per night, that is a 28% savings off the regular lodging price. Be sure to mention that you are attending the Make A Wish Ride In to receive the discount.

• Registration is mandatory to be able to attend the banquet (sort of like RSVPing for a wedding, we need to know you are coming so we can set a place for you!). You can Register here.
• There is a cut off dates for registering. It is January 15, 2009. 
• The events at the ride in are:
  • Guided Backcountry Snowmobile Tours- Hook up with one of our guides for a guided tour of the backcountry of the Keweenaw! The tours will be a full day ride from around 10 am until 4 pm. No special equipment or sleds are required, but riders should be competent in their snowmobile handling skills. In the event that there are more riders than we have guides for, there will be a lottery to determine who will be able to go on these backcountry rides. 
  • "Poker Run" - Riders travel to different businesses in the area, collect points from each business that will equal a playing card given out at the banquet. Teams with the highest hands win!
  • The event closing banquet at 6 pm Saturday January 30. This is the main gathering for the ride in. It will be held at the Michigan Tech Memorial Union Ballroom (MUB). Dinner, soft drinks and coffee will be provided (as well as a cash bar). There will also be door prizes, a silent auction and a raffle at the banquet. Click Here for a Map of the MI Tech Campus
  • Live Entertainment by Award Winning Singer / Songwriter Randy VanVooren  (BigVin) 
    BigVin accolades include: 
    2007 SOWI (Songwriters of Wisconsin International) SONGWRITER of the Year. 
    3 time First Place SOWI Song of the year winner 
    Multiple Top 5 placements in recent SOWI award categories
    Member of Nashville Songwriters Association International
    Have had songs demo recorded by #1 recording artist Jeff Carson
    Currently have songs being considered by: Brad Paisley,  Gary Allan, and Tina Turner
    Had 3 songs played Nationally on GAC's  VJ Chris Conn's syndicated radio show "The ConnMan Show" for an unprecidented 3 straight weeks
    Have Opened for .38 Special, Sawyer Brown, The Oak Ridge Boys, BlackHawk, Montgomery Gentry, Ricochet, Jeff Carson, Little Texas, and MANY others
    Currently Hosts "BigVin's RockPile" from 10am - 2pm on Rock 96-3 (Menominee,  MI)
    AND "The BigVin Show" from 2pm - 6pm on Cat Country 103.7  (Menominee, MI)
• For those not being able to attend the ride in, but still wanting to make a donation, you can send a check made out to "John Stachler" and mail it to John Dee at PO Box 182, Mohawk MI 49950.
• This event registration is non-refundable unless the event is cancelled due to poor weather conditions.  If the event is cancelled due to poor weather conditions the price of the banquet dinner will be refunded, Event T-shirts will be mailed to those registered, and the donation portion of registration fees will still be sent to the Make a Wish foundation.

I sure hope to see you all up here for this years event as this is something that is very special to my heart and is a great way to meet me and give something back to the community from the snowmobile community!

-John