Last Ride - Die Hards Only

Riders: MB and Bill

Miles: 34

I can't believe it is the second week in March and the trails in the Northeast are closed or are closing. Bill and I were waiting to get some good snow so we could take a snowmobiling vacation but it never happened. I'm glad we didn't book an expensive cabin and then not be able to ride.

We decided to go to the Upper Valley Grill for breakfast. We knew it wouldn't be crowded with sleds since the trail to the store has been closed for a while. We were debating whether we were going to ride the loop and the gore trails when a group of guys we know came in and said they were going for their last ride. We were just finishing our meal and decided to beat them out on the trails before it all melted.

We geared up at Gregg's camp where the sleds have been staying all week. I hate leaving them outside in the elements but it was nice to just jump on them and ride instead of having to unload and load them on the trailer.

It was below freezing overnight so the trails were really stiff. It made it hard to steer out of the tracks on the trail. After an hour or so it started loosening up and getting really wishy washy. We screamed around the heights, did the loop, the 2005 trail and 302C. We rode as far as we could towards Washington and then headed back around and did the loop again.

This season has been such a disappointment. I'm just starting to come to grips with the fact that I won't be able to ride again until December. Even if we get some snow now it won't be enough to get a base and the warm days will melt it away too quick.

I had hoped to put record miles on this year but ended the season with a mere 830 miles. The sugar is running fast and mud season is here. I'm going to have to start the countdown until next season. Only 9 months to go.

Last Ride?

Riders: MB and Bill

Miles: 48

Since I'm out of work and have the time I was hoping to put record miles on my sled this season (2000+) but it looks like I'm not even going to break 800 miles.

It was below freezing overnight so we decided to get out early and get a few more miles in while we still can. It was nice to be able to just get on the sleds and ride out of Gregg's camp instead of having to unload them off the trailer. I wish our camp had direct access to the trails. We are so close but not close enough.

Once again we were confined to riding in the state park. We stopped by Buzzy and Betty Eastman's weekend long bonfire on the way back and got to personally thank them for all their hard work. They do so much to keep the trails in great condition and we really appreciate all of their efforts. I can't believe I didn't take any pictures while we were there but we didn't stay very long since we wanted to take advantage of what was left of the snow.

It was a beautiful sunny day and the snow was quickly melting right before our eyes. I can't believe it isn't even the middle of March and the trails are almost bare. I'm hoping we get enough snow in the next couple of weeks to be able to get out a few more times before the end of the riding season but it doesn't look likely.

Limited Riding

Riders: MB, Bill and Gregg

Miles: 68

I can't remember a season where the trail to the Upper Valley Grill has been closed due to lack of snow this early in the season. What is going on with the crazy weather? Tons of snow down south but none in Canada or the Northeast Kingdom.

We did a lot of running around to get our sleds to the trail today. Our truck with the victim of a hit and run last Tuesday night so it's in the shop being fixed and we don't have a vehicle to tow the snowmobile trailer.

Last night we made arrangements to borrow my father-in-law's truck, drive it to the camp, pick up the trailer, drop the sleds at Gregg's camp, take the truck back to my FIL at the farm and then drive back to our camp.

On the way up north we realized that my FIL did not have a hitch on his truck so it wasn't going to do us any good. We ended up calling our VT neighbor, Glenn, and arranging to borrow his truck so we could get the sleds to the park. It was easier for us since we didn't have to drive so far out of our way. We had to gas up at P&H and get down the road to Gregg's without lights on the snowmobile trailer since Gregg's truck didn't have a plug for lights. Good thing we didn't run into the law and there weren't many people on the road.

The riding was limited to the high elevations in the park and the snow was melting by the minute. The snow conditions in the heights was decent but as soon as we started to get into the lower elevations it got muddy and bare. We turned around three or four times when we got to some dirt roads we would have had to skip down. We did ride down one road and went the wrong way and ended up riding about a mile in the mud. That part wasn't fun but we were able to get back on the snowy trail and wash all the mud off.

We rode out towards Washington and saw one of the groomers that lost its track stuck off the side of the trail.

On the way back we saw a group of guys there trying to get it out before it got any warmer and they would have had to leave it there until next winter. We didn't have to wait long for the crew to move out of the trail and let us pass by. They didn't need our help and we still had riding to do before all the snow melted.

It was worth all the hassle to get the sleds to Gregg's so we could ride this weekend since it looks like it may be our last.

We had to leave our sleds outside in the elements at Gregg's camp until we get our truck back so we can trailer them out of there. At least, for now, they are sitting on snow.