single digit members start the 2020 riding season
#5, #7
All credit goes to #7 for promoting the day and doing the extra driving required to get to the club local region. He was 8 minutes early at 5:07am and #5 was ready with truck running, trailer open and tilted, and lights ablaze. Unexpectedly, loading up had the first drama of the day. Evidently #7 has gone to the #388 school of snowmobile loading - missing the ski guides didn't stop him from deciding this was a one shot deal. The ski drifted into the innocently waiting Polaris and his ski somehow submarined under mine which was tied down. Poor #7 had to work hard to get his sled unstuck and moved onto the tie down position. With this small episode behind us, we were off once confirming everyone had their glasses.
With a Rush themed drive up (RIP Neil - God's speed brother - thank you for sharing your gift with us all - The Bell Tolls for Thee...) we registered at Foster's Crossroads and made the in transit decision to drive to Diamond Pond area based on grooming reports. Dropped at the Swift Riders warming hut we made our way onto the trail. With the generous help of #2 getting #5 set to navigate by gps, this was going to be the blind leading the blind. In a way it was a blessing in disguise because we had no preset strategy in terms of route planning other than to chase the trail conditions and give what the day offered. It's easy not to get lost on the way out when you don't have any specific destination, getting home is another thing. Like the saying my business professor taught me: "when you don't know where you're going - every road takes you there!!" We knew the best snow almost always lies to the east. The going was pretty much as expected with bullet ice underneath and plenty of lose packed powder on top. No real grip you could count on to rail the corners but plenty of snow to cool the machines and provide lube for the slides.
We headed out on Corr. 5 and it was a bit bumpy, not terrible, with a very slight tinge of snirt mixed in, you could see it on some corners and up hills. Then, unexpectedly, after only about 5-7 miles in, we passed the groomer going in the other direction. Always a welcome sight!! The trail was now flat and evenly covered with snow. It turned out that we rode fresh groomed the next 2 solid hours and made good distance as the trails clicked off: we broke east on 20, then north on 137, to 143, had to jog onto 112 south for just a bit before rejoining 143 and climbed up the Dixville Peak trail, such as it is now, where we took a short break to take in the magical atmosphere of this mid-winter scene (see pics). The snow you see actually appeared to be brine ice as evidence from a fierce wind.
I need to mention that temps were extremely cold we set out from the truck at 5 degrees, and at elevation the air was what I call pinchy cold (pinches my skin). Could not remain still long so off we went, continuing farther up 143 where upon descent I had to do a full cross-up braking maneuver to avoid being swallowed up in a sled size washout; only 1 of 2 encountered all day. So without stopping at every junction, we ended up at the Maine boarder where a large sign read 'You must have a ME reg to go on'. Fine Maine, be that way. We'll see you soon enough!
Flipped around and made our way to 144 north and then 145 west, and then north again to the junction of the spur trail that goes up to the Canadian boarder. Declining to shoot up, we headed over to 141 where we connected over to 147 to head back south again. As we made our way back towards the Pittsburg area, we were at about 75 miles so I mentioned to #7 we either have to make our way back or plan to make a fuel stop. Fortunately, because of the way we were riding, we were near the gas station across from the Arctic Cat dealership on Rt. 3. We topped up and grabbed a water at the warm restaurant there. That is where #7 left the WPR mark as graffiti seemed to be encouraged here.
We then grabbed 142 south and conditions started to deteriorate rapidly. I guess I should have expected this near the road and services, but the conditions were so good all day that I became complacent. I stopped at one point to see if I could find another way using 131 but I didn't have confidence and knew we still had a 4 hour drive home, and that's 5 hours for #7. However, we went another 1/4 of a mile and voila, fresh groomed again! We made good time on the flat open trail, met by oncoming sleds maybe 3-4 times all day. However, we came to what could have been an ugly scene once we were back on 20 east. A Ski-Doo faaaar down into a ditch on its side and a couple standing looking down at it. I asked if everyone was okay, which was the case. Then several more sleds came upon the stopping to help. About 5 of us manhandled the wifey's sled out of the ditch and back onto the trail. #7 almost experienced this same fate earlier in the day but his years of ditch banging experience he rode that Doo like a rented mule out of harms way!
Now only miles from the truck I began to smile broadly inside my helmet that another season is upon us as we squinted into the late afternoon sun. The trail we were on was groomed fine enough but now I was turning onto a newly completely untracked groomed in both directions all to myself. Like an unwrapped Christmas present I proceeded to ride apex to apex head down and ears pinned back. GODDAM THAT IS FUN!!!!!!!!
Back to trucks only loading left to do. This time I held the trailer bed down and motioned to #7 to load up. He proceeded to again miss the ski guides and slide on up using more or less the middle of the trailer. Whew, glad I I gave him the whole thing this time! Sorry #7, you knew you'd have to hear about it. Pres, I think we need to have a club training night on how to load a snowmobile onto a trailer. Mandatory attendees so far are #388 and #7. In fact, I say they are both on "trailer loading probation". Hey, I had to serve it for hillcliming after a humiliating failure - with laughter and jeering caught on film no less - and I think I came off it in a most glorious way [harken back to the hill climb to Magalloway Fire Tower after others on my sled type at the time said "he won't make it"]. Yes! Sorry for that brief moment of self indulgence.
Okay, sorry for rambling, it was a good day and a good precursor for the season we are going to have. With supposedly 8 people already stating attendance to the annual trip this year, it is shaping up to be a hum-dinger!
#5