Pandemic leads to uptick in snowmachine rentals

“This Saturday and Sunday, we are booking 100 percent and expect it to continue to be strong as March moves along but we are facing the possibility of a quick warmup next week so after this weekend we will continue to play it by ear,” he added.

He mentioned there positively has been an uptick in new clients.

“We are discovering persons are not touring (to far-off locations) as they usually would so they’re staying nearer to dwelling and on the lookout for out of doors enjoyable,’ mentioned Scontas, previously of Eastern Mountain Sports and now working for Terry MacGillivray at Northeast.

His feedback have been echoed by Peter Gagnon, proprietor of Northern Extremes Snowmobile of Bartlett and Bretton Woods (nxtsnow.com; 603-374-6000).

“It’s been record demand — but not a record season, because it was such a late start,” mentioned Gagnon.

“But once the snow did hit, we have been sold out every day since Feb. 1,” he said.

As MacGillivray and Gagnon have noted in the past, it’s all about getting outside to enjoy the great mountain scenery.

“We get people to places in winter that they otherwise would not have a chance to get to physically,” mentioned MacGillivray. “We take people to the top of Black Cap (behind Cranmore in North Conway), which would otherwise take a long time, and they would never get there.”

Added Gagne, “It’s a great opportunity to explore the outdoors. It’s an alternative to skiing for folks who might not normally venture outdoors in winter. Some like the feel of the power in the machine. Most of our customers are non-skiers, families who want to go out and see the wilderness.”