Short and Sweet

Riders: MB and Bill

Miles: 65

We didn't ride too far on Sunday but the riding we did get in was good. We stopped at P&H for a quick breakfast again before trailering up to Groton. The trails were a little beat from Saturday but still in decent condition. We rode up through the hills of Topsham and out towards Barre before heading back. Hope the trails can take the warm up they are forecasting.

Ride on!

Sunshine, Freshly Groomed Trails, Whiteout

Riders: MB, Bill, Gregg

Miles: 162

Gregg's fire damaged sled is still in the shop but he got the dealer to give him a loaner Nitro so he made it out on the trails with us on Saturday. We got over 2' of snow over the past couple of weeks and nobody got out and broke in our feeder trail so we ended up trailering up to Groton to ride.

We had a quick bite at P&H and then met Gregg up at the heights. The weather was perfect and the trails were groomed out and covered. We hit a stretch of trail that was freshly groomed and we all took turns making first tracks. It was sweet.

We rode out of Groton, through Peacham, hit Marty's in Danville, rode up through Burke and got to the outskirts of Island Pond before heading back. We stopped at Marty's on the way home to get some lunch and steaks for dinner.

By the time we were coming back through Peacham it started snowing really hard and it was dark so it was hard to see. There were almost whiteout conditions and it was slow going but we all made it back safely. WooHooo!

We loaded up Gregg's rental sled on the trailer and left our sleds at his house while we drove down to Lucky's in a blizzard to pick up Gregg's sled and drove off the rental. We probably only got up to 45 mph on 89 because the snow was coming down so fast.

The trails are getting better and better. It's shaping up to be a decent season.

Ride on!

Conditions Improving

Riders: MB, Bill and Tate

Miles: 70

We rode out of base camp again on Saturday. We only got about 6-8" since the last time we were up. We still don't have nearly as much snow in Vermont as there is in Boston but the conditions are improving. It's nice not having to waste time trailering the sleds down the road. We usually try to get out early but we planned a later start because Tate had to get his hand warmers fixed even though he really didn't need them.

Bill and I had a quick breakfast at P&H and by the time we got back and got geared up Tate was ready to go. Going through the open fields was a little bit of a challenge for me but once we got on the groomed VAST trails it was pretty decent riding. Very few surprises in the trail and hardly any ski chatter or ice. Up in the higher elevations the conditions were actually good. We took the route 5 trail into Topsham, Corinth, stopped at the radio tower and headed back around through Groton. The railroad bed down to the Grill was probably the worst part of the ride because it was bumped up from all the traffic.

When we got out in the morning the sky was blue and the temps were warm (upper 20s/low 30s) but on the way back it was a whiteout with snow coming down in steady sheets. The snow was coming down so haard it was difficult to keep my shield clear.

Let's hope the next big storm goes far enough north so we can keep improving the trail conditions.

I'm happy to say it was another good ride without incident. WooHooo! We're on a roll now.

Ride from Base Camp

Riders: MB, Bill, Tate

Miles: 97

About 5 years ago we got stuck on our access trail where a small bridge got washed out and we have been trailering our sleds down the road ever since. This weekend our neighbor, Tate, showed us how to access the new trail so we were able to ride right out of our base camp. It was only 10 miles from the camp to the main trails at CA 1. It wasn't a bad ride through the woods but there were a few fields we had to get through that were ungroomed and tough to navigate.

The conditions weren't great. There wasn't much coverage in most areas and there was lots of ski chatter and icy spots. We rode through Groton, into Cabot (why??), then into Danville. We stopped at Marty's to have some lunch and pick up steaks for dinner.

The ride back was sloppy and slushy but any day of riding is good riding, well, unless there's a fire or something. ;)

Still waiting for some good snow in the North East Kingdom.

Still waiting for good conditions.

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.

Short Rough Ride

Riders: MB and Bill

Miles: 42

Bill and I fueled up ourselves and the sleds at P&H early and got out on the trails. I was hoping for better conditions today since we got some flurries last night but it wasn't enough. There was lots of ski chatter from the icy conditions just under a light layer of fluffy snow. We didn't ride very far today because of the ice and thin cover. It isn't worth it when you think of the cost of new skis or the wear and tear on the track.

We did run into the law at the parking lot off of 232 but we had already gotten our safety check the week before so we were able to quickly get back to our ride.

The forecast is promising some snow for the coming week but Bill has to work next weekend so we won't be able to ride again until the following week. I hope the snow sticks around until we can get back up north.

Mother Nature, more snow PLEASE!

Thin Cover

Riders: MB, Bill and Gregg

Miles: 117

We ate a quick breakfast at the camp, topped off the gas tanks at P&H, stopped at Absolute Power for oil and headed up to the Butterfield lot to meet Gregg.

We knew our riding would be limited since we hadn't really gotten any more snow since last week. The trails were decent in the park and in the higher elevations but everything in between was pretty bad.

It's unbelievable how quickly the conditions can go from good to terrible in just a few miles. The photo above was taken as we were leaving the Ledges area but then we were quickly back to bare spots, ice and thinly covered trails.

Still praying for snow.

Valentine's Day Ride

Riders: MB and Bill

Miles: 72

My favorite Valentine and I took a short ride from Groton to Joe's Pond today. The trails were actually in slightly better condition than they were yesterday. It even started snowing pretty heavily in the mountains while we were out. Where's the snow?

Happy Valentine's Day!

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.

Long Day of Riding to Beat the Rain

Riders: MB, Bill, Gregg and Jason

Miles: 195

WOW! We had a great ride today but I am sore. I have a big blister on the palm of my left hand and a serious case of throttle thumb aside from the usual muscle aches. I think I'm going to have to give up my favorite pair of gloves because I have worn a hole through them and now have a big blister. Ouch.

They are forecasting warm temperatures and lots of rain in the coming week so we were anxious to get out and put some miles on the sleds before what little snow there is melts or gets washed away.

Bill and I decided to save some time and money and eat breakfast at the camp before heading out to meet Gregg and Jason at the Butterfield parking area in Groton at 9:00 a.m. We got up early, ate and were making great time until we tried to hook up the trailer. The trailer lock was frozen so Bill put the torch to it to warm it up only to then break the key off inside the lock. UGGHH! Bill worked his usual McGyver magic and got the lock cut off and we were on our way.

We made it to the crowded Butterfield lot right on time and met up with Gregg and Jason. We set out through the state park and stopped at one of our favorite spots to take a quick break off the groomed trail. I had the guys ride in front of me to break the trail going in but I got sucked off the trail heading back out and can't believe I didn't get stuck. I was trying to maneuver my sled back uphill to the trail in 2'+ of powder when I realized I wasn't going to make it without hitting a big mound of snow which I assumed was a rock so I headed back down hill around the rock only to come up to a big tree with lots of hanging limbs. I ended up riding through the hanging tree branches, avoiding a pole and using all the strength I had to pull the sled to the right and up an incline to get back on the broken in trail before hitting a wooden sign pole.

Bill and Gregg were riding in front so they didn't see any of it and Jason thought I was just having fun blazing my own trail. It was so crazy and my heart was pounding but I was very happy I didn't have to have the guys come back and dig me out of the powder.

We rode hard and fast up into Danville, stopped at Marty's to gas up and then headed up through Burke into Island Pond. We stopped again in Island Pond for gas, a quick snack and hot drink before heading back out on the trail. The conditions were variable depending on whether we were in higher elevations or high traffic areas.

I only got to take a few pictures early in the day before losing all battery power. Of course I had back-up batteries but all EIGHT batteries were either too cold to work or not charged. I was disappointed because I missed out on some great photo opportunities. Oh well, next time, right?

We left Groton at 9:00 a.m. and didn't get back to the parking lot until 8:30 p.m. As usual, we were the last ones out of the parking area after a spectacular day of riding.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't get too warm and the rain doesn't wash all the snow away. I hope we get to ride next weekend.

Think snow.

Last Ride ?

Riders: MB and Bill
Miles: 82


It was only 11 degrees when we left the camp this morning so the dirt roads were frozen solid instead of muddy. We stopped at Lyndonville Diner for a quick breakfast and then drove up to Island Pond to get what was left of the trails. We were only the 4th truck to park in the back lot behind the lake but it filled up to capacity before we unloaded and got on the trail.


The trail was pretty bad and scratchy when we first headed out. We met up with the State Troopers at the first intersection. The same troopers we saw last week that hassled us about our insurance card being expired. They said the groomers were out last night and the conditions were pretty decent considering the warm temps the past week.


We rode in circles around trails 114, 102, 96, 97, 98, the Skidoo trail and finally the 2000 trail where we met up with the State Troopers again. The trails in the higher elevations were pretty flat and in decent condition, probably better than last week. We had to turn around a few times when we started heading down into the valleys where there was more and more dirt, grass and mud patches. The icy corners weren't as bad as last week but there were definitely more bare spots to dodge.


We tried to convince Gregg to come with us but he just wanted to ride local. He said the conditions were poor in Groton, his sled overheated a couple of times. It was definitely worth the trailer ride to get up to Island Pond for the better conditions. I'm still hoping it's not the last one. Think snow.

Spring Conditions

Riders: MB and Bill
Miles: 55


The trail conditions didn't look too good in our area so we decided to head up to Island Pond. We got to the backside of the pond parking area and it was packed. We went to back the trailer in the last space and some guy pulled up on his sled and said it was taken so we had to turn around and park down the road at the fish and game boat launch.


The pond was complete covered with smooth ice with not a speck of snow for traction so it was a slippery ride onto the trail. Good thing we didn't have to go the whole length across, we just cut around the back corner and got on the trail. My sled kept wanting to spin out and if I slowed down or sped up too much I just spun my track.


The snow was a little thin until we got a few miles up in the higher elevations. We didn't want to do any long road skips so we just circled around the Skidoo trail, the 2000 trail, 114 and 102. I could almost forget it was spring once we go up in the hills but I couldn't stop thinking this could be my last ride.


We didn't stay out very long, only 55 miles, but I'm hoping we'll get another couple of rides in before it turns to mud. We still have snow at the camp but the driveway will be mud by the next time we get up there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some heavy spring snowstorms to keep the trails going 'til the end of the riding season. The forecast doesn't look promising. Think snow.

VACATION - Day 8

Riders: MB and Bill
Miles: 80

I thought it was going to be too warm to ride today but a cold front must have moved in. It was 19 degrees when we got up so we decided to go for a short ride. Bill cooked me breakfast at the camp and we got out pretty early. We stopped at All Around Power in St. Jay and ordered the screws to fix Bill's belly pan and then stopped at Northeast Ag to pick up the bracket for my mirror.

We tempted fate again by parking in the lot on Rt. 114 in Burke where the tailgate got stolen. Luckily everything was still there when we got back. We rode Rt. 5N to Rt. 114 up to Island Pond. Leaving Burke was icy and slushy but the conditions got better in the higher elevations. We hit quite a few mud patches and icy spots but it wasn't too bad.

I spun my sled around again on Island Pond. The pond was totally iced over with no snow on top for lubrication and my sled loves to spin on that ice. I thought it was going to flip if I tried going over 35-40 miles per hour so I had to take it slow.

We got gas, a quick bite to eat and a hot drink at the Mobil. It was much colder today so we didn't want to take too many breaks out on the trail. We rode behind the pond and came back down through the power line (Rt. 102S). It was hard and flat but sections were so icy in the corners with lots of "surprises" on the trail. The steep parts of the power line were mud and ice. The pipeline was in much better shape so we were able to pick up the speed coming back down into Burke.

We definitely had variable riding conditions all week. I'm glad we were able to ride every day, even in the rain. I wish I had another week to ride. We're not going to be able to come back up for two weeks so hopefully they will get more snow and the conditions will improve.

We got back to the camp early, started packing the truck and getting things straightened so we can head back to the city first thing in the morning. I don't want to leave but I need to go collect those paychecks. I'll have to start planning the next vacation so I have something to look forward to.

Thanks for coming along for the ride. I'll post some vacation pictures soon.

VACATION - Day 7

Riders: MB and Bill
Miles: 98

I can't believe it is Friday already. The week went by so fast. The forecast is calling for warm temps and rain this afternoon so we got out on the trails early. We had breakfast at the Grill and rode from Groton, all the way up the railroad bed, through Cabot, into Walden. It must have been really windy last night because there were lots of downed branches and debries in the trail. We even had to ride over a 40" tree that was at least 10" round that was down across the trail. We rode over the top side of it on the side of the trail.

We were almost into Danville when Bill lost the underbelly cover off his sled. He knew he was missing a bolt under there and it probably would have been ok if he didn't try to back up on the trail. Snow got pushed up under the cover and it got ripped off. Bill spent about a 1/2 hour taking it off and putting the front plastic piece back on. Good thing it was really warm on the trail so we weren't cold standing around fixing his sled. Bill rigged the plastic piece under my storage bag on my sled so it looked like I had a racing fin on it but it was the only place it would fit.

It was 34 degrees when we got on the trail with the sun trying to peak out but it stayed overcast most of the day and the trails were surprisingly firm considering the temperatures. We did hit a few water bars and a couple of mud patches around the tight corners. The coverage was a little thin in the deep woods but overall the conditions were decent.

We finally swung around to Marty's in Danville to pick up some steaks for tonight and get gas. As soon as we left Marty's it got extremely windy and started to rain heavily. The first 70 miles of the ride were like good spring conditions and the last part was the bad side of spring conditions - rain.

I only had to wear one layer and no neck gator, it was nice not to have to bundle up so much. The last 28 miles of the ride were rainy, wet and slushy. It was a little better riding back through the state park but the trails will be done if we have another couple of warm days without more snow.

We lucked with the big storm the beginning of the week but it is melting just as fast as it came down. I was hoping to get a short ride in tomorrow before we head back to the city but it may be too warm and rainy.

I wish I had another week off to ride. I can't believe it is Friday already. This week went by so fast. I don't want to go back to work .... The worst thing about a great snowmobiling vacation is you never want it to end.

I still want to ride ...

VACATION - Day 6

Riders: MB and Bill
Miles: 110


So far it has been a great week for snowmobiling. The trails were in near perfect condition today. We parked at the Grill and had a quick breakfast before heading out on the trails. The railroad bed through the park was freshly groomed so it was flat and fast. We headed out towards Barre-Montpelier on the 302 trails, Rt. 2, and Rt. 14 towards Hardwick and circled back around into the park after hitting a few loops.


The temps were in the 30s so we didn't have to gear up with lots of layers and could break without being cold. Some trails were a little bumpy but for the most part we were on flat groomed trails the whole day. We went back to the Grill around noon to have a hot drink and then down Rt. 5 south, stopped at Christie's lean-to and around into Topsham and back down to 302. We stopped in the campground on the way back and hit the loop and the 2004 trail before heading back to the truck.


The few road skips we had were rough as the snow on the side of the road had melted off but we stayed around the park and the higher elevations where the cover was excellent. I hope it doesn't warm up too much. They are forecasting rain tomorrow so I'm not sure if we're going to be able to get out. I think we're going to try to get out early and get a few miles in before the rain starts.


I can't believe it's Thursday already. The week never goes by this quickly when I have to work. I hope we can get one more ride in tomorrow or Saturday.

VACATION - Day 5

Riders: MB and Bill
Miles: 125


Today is our fifth straight day of riding. I'm not sure I've ever done that before. We stopped at the hardware store for a lock for the trailer on our way to a quick breakfast at Lyndonville Diner. We parked at the lot in Burke and we made sure to lock the tailgate before leaving.

We rode the pipeline to the power line on relatively flat trails. We didn't hit any groomed trail but the 20+ inches they got on Sunday has been beat down so it was a good ride heading up. We came in the back side of Island Pond and took a break to gas up and take a break. We headed up to the spot on the hill overlooking the lake where we stopped yesterday so Gregg could call Shannon. I tried calling him from there today but couldn't get any service.


The power line and the pipe line was bumped up on the way back and the trails were really loose and wishy-washy. When we got back into Burke I wanted to try to get to the field where we could see Burke Mountain so I could take a picture but after a few road skips and a bumpy twisting trail we turned back and headed back to the truck.


Another great day on the trail. Wooo Hoooo! I love vacations!

VACATION - Day 4

Riders: MB, Bill and Gregg
Miles: 65


What a difference a day makes. The riding today was SWEET.

We had to check out of the cabin by 11:00 so we drove our gear down to the truck on our way to the Inn for the Continental breakfast. The truck and trailer was snowed in and blocked by a 1/2 dozen sleds but we were just loading the truck so we could get out on the trails.


The access trail from the Inn got beat down a few times from the guys last night so the riding was much easier than breaking trail yesterday. Once we got out to the main trail we hit a stretch of groomed trail that was like glass. I was in the lead and the trail went left but I kept following the groomed trail, it was so nice. We turned around and headed towards Derby.


It was such a winter wonderland today, everything was covered in a blanket of fresh power. The mountain views were spectacular, the sun was out and the skies were bright cobalt blue with puffy white clouds. It was pretty chilly, probably around 18 degrees. We tried to take a break at an intersection out in an open field but it was so windy we had to move into the tree line.


There was less snow west towards Derby today than there was yesterday east towards Island Pond. Some of the fields were still pretty deep. Going across the Salem Lakes and some open fields was just as blinding as yesterday with all the deep drifts. We rode by Al's Snowmobile and out to the gas station in the center of Derby. We made a pit stop, got gas and a hot drink and got back out on the trail.


On the way back to the Inn we came up to a road crossing just as a group of three were going in the opposite direction. Bill stopped at the road on a pile of snow at the road and after all three sleds passed he took off with a huge rooster trail and pounded the girl's back with icy snowballs as she was riding past us. I felt so bad, she ducked like she was getting hit by bullets from all the snow Bill was shooting at her. Gregg and I got the full show; Bill didn't even realize he did it.



The conditions were so good I didn't want to stop riding when we circled back around to the Inn. We planned on leaving around 3:00 but got back early and decided to pack up. We had a hard time figuring out where to load my sled on the truck with the huge snowbanks everywhere. They got it on ok but Bill dropped it out of the truck when he backed up to the trailer. It would be so much easier with a 3 or 4 place trailer.


We got on the road after taking a drive around the lake the long way to the Evans Mart so Gregg could get some gifts for Shannon (moccasins) and Ethan (wooden trucks). He couldn't wait to get back to see Ethan's new teeth. He didn't even want to drop his sled off at his camp so he just unloaded it at our place.


I wanted to take a hot shower tonight but our tub is frozen so now we have to fix that. It is always something here at the Love Shack.

VACATION - Day 3

Riders: MB, Bill and Gregg
Miles: 60

POWDER!!! POWDER!!! POWDER!!!

We got dumped with snow last night. I think I prayed a little too hard for a snowy vacation. You really do have to be careful what you wish for. I wanted snow and I got it. I never thought I would say we got too much snow but we got too much snow (at one time).

We went down to the main house and had a quick Continental breakfast and then got right out on the trail. The plug for my visor was frozen over from being uncovered all night so Bill (a/k/a McGyver) heated up a fork with a lighter and stuck it in there to melt the ice. He's so good like that, you can give him a piece of bubble gum, a piece of string and a paper clip and he'll be able to fix something.

We had to break trail through 12-24 inches, powder flying right in our faces. Gregg had icicles stuck to his beard. We had to muscle the sleds everywhere just to stay out of the deep snow drifts. The snow drifts were so deep in the open fields - it was insane. It was a total white out.

I had my sled full throttle up some of the steep hills and it was just swaying in all the powder. I couldn't even see the tracks in front of me and I was right behind Bill and Gregg. I was ready to turn around after the 2nd time I got stuck in the powder but the guys convinced me to keep going after a group of 5 guys went by us breaking the trail.

We rode from the cabin to Island Pond (Rt. 58, Rt. 114) in the crazy deep snow. When we got out on the lake I didn't know which way to head, the wind was whipping the snow around and covering the deep tracks of the sled in front of me. We stopped to get gas and Bill went across the street to the snowmobile dealer to see if they could fix his visor cord. It kept fogging up on him and he couldn't see a thing. The powder getting up and under it didn't help but it doesn't work as good as mine. Gregg rides with his helmet open with sunglasses on. I don't think I could ride like that. By the time we got back our gloves were iced over on the tips and our pants were soaked through.

I lost count of how many times I got stuck today and I didn't even have to go off trail to do it. The road crossings were up to 4 feet high from the plows so you had to fly just to jump up and over the steep banks. I always hit it at a bad angle when it's that steep and I end up tipping it on its side.

I'm so happy we got this snow but I think I'm going to wait until the trails get beat down or groomed out. The conditions are so extreme. It looks like the storm is passing now. We can finally see the Lake from the cabin now. I'd hate to pay for the lake view without getting to see it.

Bill and Gregg were wringing out their pants and gloves in the sink before putting them in the dryer. They dried their gear and went back out. I'm hoping they stop at the store to get some provisions for tonight so we don't have to leave the cabin.

The snow is falling very lightly and the trails are probably beat down a little better now but I decided to skip the ride this afternoon. I'm still beat from breaking trail this morning and getting stuck about a 1/2 dozen times. I hope the groomers get out there and flatten the trail so I can ride without getting stuck tomorrow.

Getting stuck in all that powder wasn't fun but it was still better than a day at the office. I'm so happy I'm on vacation.

Update: Bill and Gregg got back to the cabin around 8:30. They said the trails got groomed and were so much better than they were this morning. They both got stuck in the deep powder and Bill hurt his knee when he tried to do his turn around spin maneuver and caught a small tree on the side of trail with his ski and flipped his slid on its side. Looks like he'll have a little bruise but otherwise they got back in one piece.

VACATION - Day 2

Riders: MB, WildBill, Gregg
Miles: 90

It was great to wake up to fresh powder on our snowmobile vacation. We shut the water down at the camp and packed up for our two night stay at the Willough Vale Inn on Lake Willoughby. Gregg met us at the Love Shack at 8:00 and we trailered north. We stopped at All Around Power in St. Jay for oil and Lyndonville Diner for breakfast. We got to the Inn and took the tour of the main house and then geared up for a ride while we waited for check in time.

We unloaded Bill and Gregg's sled off the trailer and then disconnected it so we could get my sled off the truck. Bill and Gregg pulled it off and flipped it over on its side and broke my right mirror (d'oh). I wasn't happy about it but we taped it up with some electrical tape and got right on the trail.

We rode north along the Canadian boarder and then down to Island Pond. Just as we got to the pond we passed two state troopers on sleds. I usually blast across the lake at 70+ but I didn't want to open it up with the cops right behind us. Bill flew across and Greg and I hung back with the cops on our tail. They followed us over to the gas station where we stopped for a snack and bathroom break. It was 3:20 when we got there and we had to be back by 5:00 for check in. We rode fast to make it back in time to get the keys to our cabin.

We got the Peregrine cabin at the top of the hill right on the trail. We left the truck in the lower parking lot and carried our bags up on the sleds. We unloaded our stuff and then hit the trail again to get some dinner. We didn't have to ride far - Robin's Roost was less than a mile down the trail. We met our neighbors who were up from NJ with 8 kids (wow), had a quick dinner and headed back to the cabin.

Bill and Gregg took another quick ride down to the lake but I was done for the day. I'm not a huge fan of night riding. I love the views and unless it's a full moon you can't see much on nights like this. The storm has moved in and it is snowing pretty heavy. They are now predicting 8-12 inches tonight and tomorrow. I can't wait to get up and ride.

I hope the groomers get out there tonight and flatten out the trails. It was pretty bumpy around here but the further east we went the better the conditions got. I'm not sure where we're riding tomorrow but there should be plenty of snow wherever we go.

Stay tuned.