WILLIAMS LAKE’S FIRST LADIES RIDE IS MORE THAN A MEETUP - ITS A MOVEMENT
photo: Billy Stevens
POWER YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU HAD, LANDSCAPES YOU’LL NEVER FORGET
That’s the promise behind the Williams Lake Powder Kings Snowmobile Club’s first official Ladies Ride — a full-day celebration of confidence, camaraderie, and Cariboo Chilcotin snowpack, happening Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Yanks Peak — one of BC’s most surprising (and most underrated) mountain playgrounds.
For years, Williams Lake has flown just a little under the radar in BC’s sled scene. But this season, three women — Laurie and Maryclaire Snowball and new club director Kendra Drebit, — decided it was time to flip the script. Time to show the province what’s possible when women come together in a stretch of mountains built for progression, empowerment, and flat-out fun.
photo: Williams Lake Powder Kings
WHY WILLIAMS LAKE? BECAUSE IT’S BUILT FOR GROWTH
If you’ve never ridden Yanks Peak, here’s the quick pitch: it’s the kind of terrain that opens doors for new riders while giving seasoned sledders room to level up.
Wide-open meadows. Mellow rollers. Play zones that let you practice skills without pressure. And when the confidence kicks in? Technical pockets where you can push yourself in a safe, supported environment.
A fully groomed loop trail wraps the mountain — a rarity in BC — giving riders the freedom to explore without losing their bearings. And at the heart of it all sits the Yanks Peak cabin, a warm, fire’s-on, gear-drying, story-swapping hub with views that remind you exactly why you’re here.
photo: Kendra Drebit
THE VIBE: ENCOURAGEMENT, LAUGHTER, AND ZERO EGO
The organizers are clear: this ride isn’t a clinic, and it’s definitely not a competition. It’s a day built intentionally for support, belonging, and growing at your own speed.
Riders will be grouped by ability (thanks to a quick sign-up questionnaire), with two to three experienced mentors in each group. The pace stays comfortable, the coaching is organic, and the energy is all about lifting each other up.
“Confidence and empowerment come from trusting your skills, trusting your crew, and riding with people who take safety seriously but still know how to have a good time,” says Kendra. “When that clicks, you stop second-guessing. You start enjoying the ride.”
And because the mountains echo louder when women ride together? Expect plenty of laughter, stuck-stories, big wins, and new friendships forged over shared miles.
photo: Williams Lake Powder Kings
APRES THE CARIBOO WAY
Lunch happens at the cabin with a fire, games, and time to mingle with riders from other groups. After the sleds are parked, the party continues at the Likely Lodge with dinner and a silent auction supporting upgrades to the Yanks Peak cabin — a space the whole community relies on.
It’s sledding, social connection, and community impact rolled into one.
WHY THIS RIDE MATTERS
Ask any woman who rides: the sport changes you. It pushes you. It reveals strength you didn’t know you had. One organizer shared a moment of being tested on steep, technical, treed terrain — getting stuck, getting frustrated, wanting to quit — until support from a trusted partner helped her ride out the other side stronger.
“That day shifted how I see my abilities. It reminded me how powerful it is to ride with people who lift you up.”
That’s the heartbeat of the Ladies Ride — not just miles and mountains, but mindset.
photo: Williams Lake Powder Kings
FOR THE WOMEN WHO ARE CURIOUS BUT HAVEN’T TRIED A LADIES RIDE YET
Start with your local snowmobile club. Join a ride. Ask questions. Show up exactly as you are.
Because this isn’t just about horsepower — it’s about finding your own power, and doing it in a region where the #sisterhoodofsled runs deep and the mountains feel like home.
EXPLORE MORE
YANKS PEAK
Soaring to 6,200 feet, Yanks Peak offers a chance to ride the same routes once navigated by miners in the 1860s. Easily accessible from Barkerville Historic Town via the Proserpine Trail or from Keithley Creek in Likely, this family-friendly area boasts impeccably groomed trails and hosts vibrant winter events each year. It’s the perfect starting point for your Cariboo Chilcotin snowmobiling adventure.
photo: Billy Stevens
MORE WAYS TO RIDE WITH WOMEN AROUND BC
Looking to connect with more women who ride? The #SisterhoodOfSled is alive in every corner of BC. From Cariboo pow laps to Kootenay tree lines, clubs across the province are hosting women’s rides all season long.
