Schroon will be buzzing with the sounds of dozens of sleds in a just a few short days, with two BIG Snowmobile events.

Schroon  -- and its superior trail system  -- will host the annual Schroon-North Hudson Snowmobile Club’s Annual Poker Run, and the Schroon Lake Fish and Game Club’s annual Mark Heinzelman Snowmobile Poker Run, now in its 7th year.

Both events happen on Saturday, February 18.

Usually the events are separated by a week or two, but some date changes this year means both happen simultataniously Jim Robbins, from the Schroon-North Hudson Snowmobile Club told Schroon Laker.

“There’s going to be one big party at the Fish and Game Club where each ride ends, “Jim said.

Mark Heinzelman lost his battle to cancer a few years back. He was a good friend to many, and loved sledding. Now his family and friends hold the ride to honor him and raise funds for a local charity or cause.

Registration for the Snowmobile Club run starts on Friday at Flanagan’s Pub and Grille, from 5pm to  9pm. On Saturday registration starts at 8 amto 11am at the Timberwolf Pub. The run starts after registration on Saturday.

For the Mark Heinzelman run registration starts on Friday night, beginning at 6pm at Sticks and Stones. On Saturday, registration continues at the Fish and Game Club from 9am  to 11am.

Tracy Hanchett describes this year’s Mark Heinzelman event as “a poker run/Valentines party”.

There are about 12 stops on each run and it's $10 a person per run. Drawing of the hands starts at 4:30pm at the Fish and Game Club, followed by dinner and a live band.

Jim says there will also be treats catered by Flanagan’s and desserts provided by the fine bakers of the snowmobile club.