Thunder rolls in the distance and a gray blur appears on the horizon. As the thunder draws closer, the ground begins to shake. A flash of light shoots out of the growing form. It's not a storm; it is the Mountain Warriors, riding information on an assortment of motorcycles.

The Mountain Warriors form a riding club that meets on Fort Drum. Membership is made up of Soldiers, Family Members, retirees and Department of the Army civilians. They hold weekly ride nights during the season, which can vary at Fort Drum, but generally consists of early April to late November.

"(The riding season) is not comparable to warmer posts, but it's not as bad as people make it out to be," said Robert Foster, assistant director of the Mountain Warriors.

"My philosophy is if there is salt on the road, I am not taking my bike out," said A.J. Pellerin, a member of the Mountain Warriors.

"Rides are not exclusive to membership," Foster said. "We are open to anyone who has access to drive on post."

Above all else, the club promotes safety. Riders wear all Army regulated safety equipment on every excursion.

"A lot of Soldiers are young and want a Hayabusa, then crash it right out of the store; we mentor them," Foster said. "Our main goal is to promote safe riding."

There is no rank in the Mountain Warriors; members vote on and decide everything as a group. The group's web site has forums that members use to communicate between rides and meetings to discuss events and the next ride.

"We decide where to go and have a before and ... (after action review)," Pellerin said.

The Mountain Warriors riding club is not a motorcycle club. Motorcycle clubs have an internal rank structure, patches must be earned, and they tend to be territorial, according to Foster. Riding club members just ride for the enjoyment of it.

"The difference is like between an Elks lodge and people at a bar," Foster said. "The lodge is very organized, while the people at the bar are just there to enjoy themselves.

"But the motorcycle clubs don't have a problem with us," he continued. "We have a lot of support from the outside community."

The club is not restrictive on who can join. Members will allow individuals with any type of motorcycle to ride with them. Experience in a group is not necessary either; the club will teach people how to ride in a group.

In the off season, members keep their skills sharp and stay close by holding meetings and organizing events. Most recently they gathered at the Engagement Skills Trainer for a day of practice on the motorcycle simulators.

The simulators offer several different programs to test an individual's skills as a rider. Conditions such as weather, time of day and traffic can all be adjusted, among other things. The simulators are open to all Soldiers - active, reserve and National Guard - as well as Family Members and DA civilians.

For more information on the Mountain Warriors, you can go to their web site at www.Mountainwarriors.org. There you can talk to members on the forums and find out about upcoming events.