YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - Montana and Wyoming - page 495

The World Snowmobile Expo ( www.snowmobileexpo.com ) is the largest snowmobile
exposition in the West. All the major manufacturers descend on West Yellowstone in the
early spring to unveil their latest and greatest. The show is combined with racing and even-
ing events.
The Yellowstone Rendezvous Race ( www.rendezvousskitrails.com or
www.rendezvousrace.com ), a one-day cross-country ski competition, is the largest event of
the year. It usually takes place in early March, and 600-900 skiers come to participate. Six
races are held concurrently, based on age and ability, over distances of 2-50 kilometers. The
Youth Ski Festival is a newer event held right after the Rendezvous Race. To encourage
families to stay after the race, there are a series of ski events (including a relay race, an
obstacle course, and even musical chairs) for children ages 13 and younger. The Equinox
Ski Challenge is the final ski event each winter, held on one of the last weekends in March.
Skiers can participate as individuals or in relay teams of up to eight people and compete to
see how many laps they can complete in the time allotted. There is a 24-minute Kids Race
and 3-hour, 6-hour, 12-hour, and 24-hour races for adults. A potluck and bonfire are held on
Saturday night to mark the midpoint of the 24-hour race. All proceeds are donated to local
charities.
In addition to the Janet Clarkson Memorial Triathlon (406/646-9328,
www.janetstriathlon.org ) , the Annual Mountain Bike Biathlon (406/599-4464) also takes
place in June. There are two divisions, and first-timers are welcome to participate. The
Match Class is for participants with experience and their own rifles; the Sport Class is for
novices. The race covers 7.5 kilometers with two bouts of shooting. If you'd like to get
some practice in before the event, you can sign up for the Biathlon Shooting Camp (406/
599-4465).
The Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo (406/560-6913, www.yellowstonerodeo.com , $15
adults, $6 children) is another summertime event that runs June-August. Shows begin at
8pm and are held three times each week.
RECREATION
Fishing
The fishing around West tends to be as plentiful as it is phenomenal. In addition to the big-
name rivers like the Madison, Firehole, Yellowstone, and the nearby Henry's Fork across
the border in Idaho, there are all sorts of small streams and beautiful lakes of all sizes. He-
bgen Lake and Quake Lake are two favorites for year-round fishing.