Ride report for 2/17/20 Millinocket to Presque Isle. #'s 5&7. 155 miles. Departed Baxter Park Inn on trail @ 8:30am arrived at Presque Isle Inn at 3:15pm with a stop for lunch and the Bonanza for a 3,200 calorie salad bar and beef stew.
#5 averaged just over 14mpg and #7 averaged just over 16mpg. Trail conditions were judged to be 8.5/10 overall. Plenty of snow coverage good traction but loose in some corners from the recent snowfall. We used trails ITS 85 and 114 into Shin Pond just to top up, then onto 81/85, 88 and 83.
3-5" expected in Aroostook County for tomorrow, Tuesday. The plan is use 88, 81, 90, 83, 105 into Van Buren and then see if we can cross to the west.
With the pool calling #7 it was decided to stay in and keep rested for day 2 riding. Who knows what mileage we will make with snowfall expected to be heavy as the day goes on. With any luck we will be riding fresh groomers all the way back on Wed.
Over and out for now.
#5
Day 2 Presque Isle to Ft Kent
The day began with -15 degrees and two guys stalling and waiting for the temps to rise back to zero. We had a long breakfast and we suitedi up in the room. With the two of us planning on returning to the Presque Isle Inn that night, we did not need backpacks. We set our first destination directly north to the small town of Van Buren. My face was freezing around my rubber mouthpiece in my helmet. We hit some nasty bumps along 88 north and kind of lost the trail as we crossed a paved bridge. We actually drove on the road much further than we planned until we found the trail again. We found a few really fast rail beds along route 83 to 105 to Van Buren clicking off our first 50 miles before 10am. The grooming was not as good as day 1 but the views along route 81 along the St. John River (natural Canadian border) were spectacular. This is where the riding really got great with elevation changes, twists and turns. We took a little time to figure out our route when a group of 6 or so came by and told us the 81 to 83 loop to Madawaska was just ok. It was some of the best riding of the day. We found a gas station in the neighboring town of Frenchville. The owner of the store came out to greet us and tell us how he was requesting more signs at the next town meeting. I found the Aroostock County people to be friendly and glad to provide local information. Riding west with #5 leading the entire day we made our way to Fort Kent. We decided we wanted to get some lunch. When we came into town, I recognized the rail station and rail crossing that we hit 19 short years ago. Its cool how that town has a trail that goes right through all the businesses. I saw a sign for Mooseshack. #5 said do you want to go to some place called the Whistle or the Mooseshack? Easy choice for me. We pushed through the McDonalds parking lot to the rustic Shack. We got in there and unfortunately there were no customers. This place had handmade tables with slabs from giant trees. It was beautiful. We were there an hour and back on the sleds by 2pm with a destination of the Allagash 34 miles away down ITS95 before we would head back to Presque Isle. We did not know if the green local trail 120 was even open. Dusk was upon us as we found that the route was open but not groomed for several days. We were back on 85 south headed for the small town of Portage where we found a general store/gas station. We filled up and spoke to some guys who had come from the direction we were headed. They said it was rough and we should have a beer and wait for the groomer to get 15-20 miles down. No dice. We were headed back looking at an hour and a half ride back to Presque Isle after dark. The bumps and the war of attrition was wearing us out, but this was a great day of riding. We kicked in the afterburners and we were fortunate enough to find a rail bed for some quick miles. It was getting really cold at this point, but with just 2 of us we were making pretty good time. We found route 90 east toward Presque Isle and south on 105 to the intersection of 88. I saw this big sign and said "we were here yesterday". It was dark cold and absolutely delightful to know the way home since we had already ridden for over an hour in the dark with dropping temps. We blasted the last 10 miles back to Presque Isle Inn on a familiar route and we were home. 243 miles of great riding. We were belly up to the bar and pouring beer and margaritas down our throats within 30 minutes. Tremendous day of riding. It was also the day I was looking most forward to. Great job by #5 leading all day. He had the GPS and we used the map as our second source of information. You really need both.
The members that could not come on the trip for different and important reasons were sorely missed.
#7
Day 3 Ride Report - Presque Isle back to Millinocket
With temps back in the normal range, #7 and #5 had sunny skies and 4-5" of fresh dry powder on their sleds to clean off. This of course made #5 very happy and I dusted and cleaned all the snow off my machine. We topped up and the dealership next door and got clarification that to access 83 south was just across the street from the hotel. It was neat to head out in a new direction from the last two days of riding. As expected, although the trails underneath were hard pack and well established, the new snow was piled heavy on top as we rode on sometimes one, two and maybe three previous sled tracks in the new snow. There was lots of track spin and corners needed to be negotiated rather than attacked.
We were following signs towards Mars Hill, but there was a particular section of trail we both wanted to hit which was 70A. It was a green trail that looped west off the ITS trails and then back again, it just called to us on the map. So we made good time in the bright sunshine piling up the miles southbound on the familiar flat straight superhighways of the red trails. When we got to the 83/81 split it was decision time. We both already knew what we wanted to do but we were trying to determine fuel as the gas stations were not clearly marked on the map, we had to make some assumptions about where we could refuel. Of course we "determined" that we would be okay and headed north on 81 until we got to the trailhead we were looking for. Our dedication would be rewarded.
We had been following a group of about 5 locals out for a day of riding, they were breaking the trail and we were slip sliding around behind, until we got to the 70A junction. They carried on straight away and I came to a full stop. I looked at the trail, unbroken, pristine, virgin, beautiful, perfect. I looked at #7 and made a motion like please don't make me turn away from this. I got the thumbs up. I turned my sled onto the picture perfect trail and began to weep in my helmet. This might just be the most perfect 17 miles of trail I have ever ridden on a snowmobile. I was not riding, I was floating. The earth fell away and I was flying through the wilderness. Billions of sparkling diamonds in the untouched snow, framed by the heavy snow laden branches of the evergreens to the left and right. For a moment I thought of offering #7 to lead but I was too selfish and couldn't give it up. This was pure bliss. Thanks #7 for letting me have that. It made my trip.
When we popped out the other end the trail had been rerouted/detoured so there was some confusion of how to connect back to the route to get gas. I was confident we had enough to get to Houlton so I wasn't concerned there would be fuel there. This would come to haunt us later. Marking the milestones as we neared out target, somehow we arrived and then passed straight through the area where we needed to make. Now we had to figure out where we would head. We found a sign that read Granny's Restaurant and gas ahead 1 mile. We were good. But after 1 mile, then 2 miles, no gas. Pushing a little farther, I looked back at a sign for the other direction and saw it said gas 2 miles ahead. I was miffed. Discussed with #7 and my pride and stubborness got the better of me "hey, we can make to this next place that says there's gas, after several miles of pushing on, I second guessed my decision.
I stopped the sled and walked back to #7 and said brother I am second guessing myself, and I don't want to screw us. He agreed and we heading back towards Granny's/gas. When we came to an intersection "in town" I looked back at him and he shrugged, then he looked up and pointed. Sure enough, there we were, right behind a large commercial building that had an awning out front. It was gas. We weren't really at risk, I put 7.5 gallons in and he put 6.5 gallons in. But our minds were put at ease. I [very politely] told the guy to put an arrow or a cone or anything out on the trail to indicate gas as it was not easy to see, he agreed and said he would get it done. The town was Linneus btw. We were off.
This made our next stint that much better not having to worry, we knew we had enough for the final push now. A little further along 83 and we picked up 60A around Pleasant Lake. This turned out to be a fun natural area as well on a green trail. Note that we need to target green trails next time we are here. Lots of elevation and switchback through this wonderful area. Back on 83 on the other end we tried a 3rd green trail for the day - I guess we went to the well one too many times. 112 proved to be ungroomed but heavily traveled as the lack of grooming beat us up good on this one. Onto 81 south we decided not to take the 2nd 112 section and just stayed on the freshly groomed ITS superhighway. Boring but we needed to get some miles south at this point. The day was getting long. So 83 to 85 and blasted back to Millinocket. One last stop at a junction close to the hotel to make sure we chose the right way. Once I remembered that I set the gps to "north up" on the display, I apologized to #7 for a stupid moment and agreed he had the right way. Shortly after, we found signs to Baxter Park Inn with miles to go bringing us right back to the truck.
We celebrated with a trip to the Scoodic Inn restaurant highly recommended by the owner, the whiskey and IPA's went down smooth as we toasted another successful annual trip. Many thanks to #7 for his great companionship and teamwork. I will echo his sentiments from the day 2 ride report - many members were thought about and missed on this trip. I don't know if this is a dying tradition, but it sure felt great to me. I'll be in for next year's trip unless circumstances dictate otherwise. Cheers WPR!!!
#5
