Saturday, February 13, 2010

Mixed Signals

Riders: MB, Bill, Gregg
Miles: 109

I didn't have high expectations of getting good riding conditions during our drive up to Vermont. There was hardly any snow on the side of the road and the fields were bare. It didn't look good.

Bill and I ate breakfast at P&H truck stop and then headed up to the Butterfield lot to meet up with Gregg. We rode out of the state park which was in surprisingly good shape. We hit some bare spots and one cornfield in Peacham where the trail was totally gone and we had to ride through hay and frozen dirt for about a mile or so but that was the worst of it.

We made it past Marty's and up to the Ledges where we hung out by the bonfire for a while and took a break. We rode back the same way we went because we knew the conditions weren't that bad and we didn't know if we would have any long road skips or bare trails going a different route.

It's really important to signal other riders when you are snowmobiling so when there are three of us riding the lead person will hold up 2 fingers to oncoming traffic indicating there are 2 more riders coming, the second person will hold up 1 finger indicating there is one rider behind and then last person will hold up a fist indicating that they are the last rider.

I like to ride in the middle of the group because I can ride faster when I can see the sled in front of me going over bumps or turns in the trail. I had been riding really fast to catch up to Gregg who was in the lead and I was signaling 1 to all the groups we passed until I noticed another sled behind Bill. I thought another rider had come up on us and was looking for a place to pull to the side so they could pass us even though I thought Gregg was still in front. It was so funny when I finally pulled off the trail and realized Gregg was behind Bill. He pulled off the trail and hid behind a tree line so I rode right past him without even noticing. He did the same thing on the way back too. I felt bad for giving other riders the wrong signals but it was really funny that I didn't even notice him pulling off the trail.

All and all it was a good ride but we desperately need more snow.

3 comments:

  1. Interesting about the hand signals and a good safety rule as well.

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  2. sounds like all in all it was a good trip, I do hope that the conditions improve, if that is at all possiable this time of year. Most people at this point are thinking spring, this is not on your calendar, I do hope that you can have a long season ahead of you. The best way to sum up you trip is
    AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL......

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  3. Mom: No worries - safety always comes first.

    Dora: February and March are usually the best riding conditions so there is hope for this season. I'm hoping spring takes its time getting here. Yes, good times!

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