For many in Northern New York, snowmobiling is a way of life and one Jefferson County woman is proving just that as she rides more than 4,000 miles from Michigan to Alaska. Our Katie Gibas spoke with Sandy Bliven and tell us just what motivates her to make this journey.

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"Freedom, being outside, actually seeing things in the winter that most people don't get to see," said Bliven.

Bliven, 64, has been snowmobiling for 30 years and now she's taking her sport to the next level. Bliven will join 70 other people who will ride their snowmobiles 4,000 miles from Michigan to Alaska to raise money for diabetes research.

"I am so ready. Going through the states is a lot of marked trail and trails that we've been on before. But once we turn into Canada and start across the intercontinental Canadian trail, we're going to see a lot of things. We cross the Rocky Mountains. Just a lot of area we've never been on before and things we've never seen before," said Bliven.

Bliven says this trip to Alaska is all about the love of the sport and for the past five years, a 2,000 to 3,000 mile snowmobile trip has become somewhat of a tradition for her.

"Everybody has something they do to relax and unwind and kind of up them for the next year's worth of work. And this is my release. It's kind of my big adventure every year," said Bliven.

"Extremely adventurous. She spends a lot of time on the snowmobile. She goes out during the week. She goes up on Tug Hill. She rides around here. She's the first one out there to be working hard at getting the trails ready," said Greg Huck, the TI Snowmobile Club Trail Coordinator.

Bliven leaves for Michigan this Thursday and her intercontinental ride begins early next Monday morning.

Donations can be made at the Duck Stop Diner in Chaumont or by Calling Sandy Bliven at (315) 649-5359.

To track the ride, visit http://michcanska.com.