Sand, snow and water

Powerboaters from across the country put into Saratoga to take part in an Egyptian themed night of fun at the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort the last weekend of January.

Michael "Doc" Janssen, owner of the Resort, puts on the event every year which starts on a Thursday and ends Sunday. Janssen reached out to this group of powerboaters some years ago to attend the event, and many come return year-after-year.

From Power to Powder

Power boating describes activities performed in a motorized boat. Generally, a power boat has a high power-to-weight ratio and a hull design, which allows for higher speed and improved handling. The shape of the actual boat is usually very streamlined, which minimizes air resistance and drag, therefore increasing speed. Power boats are used in yachting, waterskiing and wakeboarding. Powerboating is generally considered to have begun in 1863 when Frenchman Jean Lenoir used a petrol engine in the small boat. The first major race took place in 1903 across the English Channel and the sport appeared as an event in the 1908 Olympics.

It would make sense that people who enjoy powerboating would appreciate driving snowmobiles.

For this winter activity sponsored by the Resort, people pay a flat fee and from there everything is included. Since its a poker run, cards are pulled throughout the event. Awards and prizes are given for the best poker hands. This year approximately 85 people went out snowmobiling in the mountains.

Funding for finding

Part of the proceeds of the weekend are donated to Search and Rescue and various other fundraisers. Last year Janssen said he donated $30,000.

To Janssen, Search and Rescue is very important. He said it is common for an accident to take place every weekend in the winter in the Valley.

This weekend was no exception.

Shannon Sawtell, who is from Florida, went snowmobiling with the group for the first time. She went off the trail and ended up burying her sled in the snow.

"The snow is waist deep, so I went over a little powdery hill and then went over a little bit of a cliff, then hit a little tree. But luckily, I was OK. I didn't hit my head or anything," Satwell remembered. "I was nervous, I couldn't see the trail at all, the snow was so deep."

Sawtell had to dig and climb her way back to the trail. Luckily another of the group was a slow driver and found Satwell, taking her to safety. Several of the guys in the group went back to dig out the sled.

Sawtell isn't sorry about traveling to Saratoga even if she had an incident.

"I'm so grateful my parents are able to take us out here," Satwell said. "I'm honestly happy to be here and happy I didn't get lost out there today".

Sawtell works with an organization called Unlitter that focuses on not only cleaning up the environment but uncluttering your mind as well. They encourage youth to go out into nature, get off their phones and experience the world instead of just watching it go by on their social media pages. She wishes more youths could experience Wyoming. "Being out here, really absorbing the kind of freedom nature gives you, really lets you be able to see the full circle of things," Satwell said. "I've been out West quite a bit now and honestly this is probably one of the coolest places I have been. People are all so friendly, its such a great community."

Most of the guests at the poker run enjoy Saratoga and the Valley. Some of the ladies that don't like to go sledding with their husbands, venture out to go shopping.

Enjoyment seems to be the common denominator when guests talk of the event.

"They put on a heck of a deal," Billy Alan said. "Some of the ladies venture out during the day, shopping and utilize the establishments in town, which is really cool."

Alan has been to the event before.

"Last time I was here we went out to a few different places. Its just a cool town, the old town part of it, you know-the rustic stuff," Alan said. "I like everything about it. We're from Des Moines, so it took 14 hours to get out here and it is worth it every time."

Alan races an offshore boat and just won the world championship this December. He said he brought some of his people out here just to have a good time.

Janssen said they really don't have many accidents at the event because most of the guests at the poker run are used to driving in some of the most extreme conditions in the world. They race cars or boats.

Janssen puts on the poker run because he likes to give back to the community while showcasing the Resort.

Party like an Egyptian

Jennifer Heuer suggested the Egyptian theme and designed the jerseys for the event. There were choices of costume for a special dinner and costume party. Heuer said she wanted to make the event Egyptian because it is her heritage and she just wanted to have fun with it. According to Heuer, the ankh, a sort of cross with round top, is the symbol for eternal life and because the guests were all power boaters and do extreme sports. Egyptian deities adorned the poker run jerseys along with the ankh.

The celebratory dinner was an array of delicious Egyptian foods ranging from shawarma to carved leg of lamb with baklava for dessert. After dinner, the guests enjoyed dancing and a costume contest. It was hard to determine the winner as all donned elaborate and fun clothing. Eventually, the contest was called off and everyone reveled in the evening.

When asked, what is one word that ties the Egyptian theme to Wyoming, Heuer said "kingdom.

"Egypt is a desert kingdom and Wyoming is the mountain kingdom," Heuer said. "Saratoga is a very small kingdom but that is why we come here. It's beautiful, the people are always nice. I have always felt welcome."

The best place there is

"This is the best place there is. I have looked at many business plans; one wanted to turn this into a drug and alcohol center which would have an exclusive retreat. Didn't happen. We created the Resort that is here now. I enjoy doing things like this for people and this place is perfect for it," Janssen said. "I think we have 80 employees and I just love the people that work here. They all are part of this community, so for me its about the relationship of having great people working here and empowering them."

Janssen not only believes in helping the local community here in the Valley. He likes to help the global community as well. Janssen is one of the founding members of AO Fellowships which provides surgeons from around the world an opportunity to study with specialists so that when they return to their countries, they are able to better take care of their own patients.

Doctor Fabrizio Russo is from Calabria, Italy is an example. He went to medical school and got his PhD in Rome. Russo said he could have picked anywhere in the world to study but he wanted to learn from Janssen. According to Russo, Janssen is one of the best spinal surgeons there is.

The fellows study with their mentors for three months.

Janssen said that he also likes to give these surgeons a cultural experience as well, which is why he invited Russo to Saratoga.

"I have never been snowmobiling. Apparently, I'm kind of good at it, I'm just having such a good time." Russo said. "People here are amazing. It's so good to meet people from all over the U.S. I get to talk to them and know what they do, just chat with them. There are interesting people all around, it's so much fun."

Russo was also impressed with the beauty of Carbon County and the Valley.

"It's amazing. Saratoga is amazing. The views are just gorgeous. It's so wide open. " Russo said it has been an experience of a lifetime. "I have never seen so much snow in my life. The powder here is crazy."