Get your trot on
Courtesy photo Participants head down the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes during the 38th annual Turkey Trot.
ENAVILLE — The Snake Pit has historically been known for many things.
In addition to always having their famous “Rocky Mountain Oysters” on the menu and giving customers several interesting curios to look at as they wait for their food, the establishment also does its best to keep traditions alive.
One such tradition that continues Thursday morning is the Snake Pit Turkey Trot.
Started by the late former owner, Joe Peak, the Turkey Trot has been a Thanksgiving tradition since its inception for many in the Silver Valley.
This being the 40th year of the event, current Snake Pit owner, Tom Richards, is making sure that everyone has fun and still keep the spirit of the event alive.
“We don’t want this to ever become something like Bloomsday where you have to sign up three weeks in advance, and numbers, and all that,” he said.
“People just show up and you run as far as you wanna run, or you sit here (the Snake Pit) next to the fire place and drink a bloody mary (made with sake)!”
Roughly (emphasis on the roughly) starting around 9 a.m. Thanksgiving morning, the Turkey Trot will have participants taking to the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes to not only get some exercise before that big turkey dinner later on at home, but also to raise money for a good cause.
“We’ve tried to get a little bit more deliberate about the fundraiser aspect of it,” Richard said when comparing this years event to ones past.
All funds raised from the not-required registration fee and sold T-shirts will go to the Shoshone County Food Bank.
This is on top of any other donations of money or nonperishable food items brought in that day.
Participants can purchase a T-shirt the day of the event and it will come in the following week.
Following the run (or walk…or neither), biscuits and gravy and drinks will available.
It is also recommended that participants bring a prize if they would like to be part of the potluck/gift raffle.
With such a rich history behind it, Richards is happy to keep events such as the trot going.
“I really like the fact that this, and ride-the-wall, and the free Christmas dinner...are still going on,” he said.
“Those are the three biggies that Joe started.”
The next Snake Pit traditional event is the free Christmas diner on Dec. 21.
Visit www.snakepitidaho.com for more information on the establishment and other upcoming events.