Journal file photo Two snowmobilers catch some air at the 2023 River Valley Dutchmen Snowmobile Club Hillclimb Side By Side Drags at Golden Gate Campground. The event begins at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The hills around Golden Gate Campground will be alive with the sound of revving snowmobile engines Saturday.

After two mild winters with lack of snow, the River Valley Dutchmen Snowmobile Hillclimb Side By Side Hill Drags return to 30170 Golden Gate Road, several miles north of Sleepy Eye.

“It’ll be good. We hauled in snow. I’m hoping for a good turnout. It’s supposed to be a beautiful day Saturday,” said River Valley Dutchmen Snowmobile Club member Chuck Effenberger. “The nice thing is the hill faces north, so the sun doesn’t hit it much. We had six to eight inches of snow at the bottom of the hill that he hauled to the top.”

He said veteran snowmobile racers Tim Stadick of New Ulm and Scott Haala of Sleepy Eye plan to compete in several classes each. along with their sons Brody Stadick and Tucker Haala.

Effenberger and Steve Gieseke of New Ulm plus Andy and Nancy Lilleodden of Hanska plan to race.

“I have one racer entered in 10 classes. Many racers will enter two or three classes. Many of the racers are our club members,” he said.

Side by side, double elimination hill drag racing with jumps starts at 10 a.m. Racer registration check-in is 7-9 a.m. Saturday. Racers are asked to register online by noon Friday at RVDSC.org.

Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for kids 12 and under. Food and beverages will be available on site. Hillclimb proceeds support snowmobile club activities, youth snowmobile safety training and the Brown County snowmobile trails system.

-The River Valley Dutchmen Snowmobile Club works with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on the grooming and upkeep of 200 miles of Brown County snowmobile trails.