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.

First Ride in 2010

Riders: MB, Bill and Gregg

Miles: 145

Saturday was the best day of 2010 so far. We finally got on the snowmobile trails for our first ride of the 2010 season. We didn't get as much snow as they got in Burlington, VT (30"+) or as much as we have in the city but there was enough to ride so I was happy.

I was even more happy about being able to ride the Peacham trails which have been closed for about 3 seasons now. There has been some dispute that has kept the trails closed and cut us off from the trails northeast of us. I'm so excited they are open now and we can easily get to Danville and points north.

Bill and I had a quick breakfast at P&H and then drove to the Butterfield parking lot where we planned to meet Gregg. We got there a few minutes early so we took the trail to Gregg's house to pick him up. We rode out of Groton, through the old/new Peacham trail, up into Danville and over into East Burke where we had lunch at Cole's Filling Station.

It was really cold with the temps only in the single digits but that didn't stop us from riding 145 miles. We stopped at Marty's Pit Stop on the way home and got some steaks to grill.

The trail conditions were decent but we definitely need more snow. There were a few water bars and some holes to maneuver around but no major obstacles. The few roads we had to scrape down where covered with a bit of snow so it wasn't bad at all. Bill and I both have new Bergstrom carbides on our sleds so I wasn't worried about damaging my skiis and had really good steering control.

I was pretty sore the next day which usually happens after the first day of riding. I could barely lift my arms but it was a good sore feeling. I would have gone riding again on Sunday but Bill is still recovering from being sick so we decided to take it easy and just hang around the camp.

I can't wait to ride again. Pray for snow!

All Work and No Play

Bill and I spent the entire summer working on building an addition to the camp so I thought I would show you the fruits of our hard labor. When I say we built it I don't mean we paid someone to do the work, I mean we physically built it by ourselves with a little help from Bill's Dad, Mother, Sister and Brother-in-Law. It was really hard work but it will be worth it when we can sleep on a real bed instead of a mattress on the floor.

Construction will resume after snowmobile season ends.

Check out the slide show of the camp addition here.

First and Last ATV Ride

I'm sorry I neglected this space all summer. I planned on writing about our ATV riding but we haven't had any time on the trails. We spent all summer building an addition on the camp a/k/a snowmobiling headquarters. We planned on going on the annual ATV ride up Mt. Washington in early August but our units wouldn't start (long story) so we never made it.

We finally got on the trails last weekend on the day before the end of our vacation. The club was out taking the signs down for the season and we were on our first and last ride. We spent a couple of cold hours around Hart's Hill and Topsham area and didn't get nearly enough miles on the ATVs to make it worth the money we spent on registration and trail passes. I'm hoping we'll be able to get our money's worth next season.

We woke up to a couple of inches of snow one morning this past week and as much as I love the snow and want tons of it this winter I just want it to hold off until we get the roof on.

I'm looking forward to getting on my snowmobile soon. I can't wait to ride.

Trails Close Early

Today is the day the trails were supposed to close. Unfortunately, we had too many warm days and not enough snowfall. We probably could have gotten out for one more ride in the higher elevations but we would have been confined to a very small area and the conditions would have been really bad. I don't like abusing my sled riding down muddy roads and over rocky trails to find what little snow is out there. The season is short enough so when the snow melts early and the trails have to close down it is very disappointing.

Practically everyone I know is excited about the warmer weather and looking forward to summer. I'm counting the days until I can ride again. It is such a long wait (December 15th).

We are deep into mud season in the Northeast Kingdom so it's pretty drab and dreary looking. It wasn't even a very good sugaring season either as they didn't have many warm days and cool nights which are the best conditions for a good sugar run. Not that we use much of it but maple sugar prices will be up this year.

We had some great riding this season but I didn't get nearly enough. I really wanted to get over 2,000 miles. I was close but didn't quite make it. I want more snow and a longer riding season. Maybe we need to think about moving to Canada or Alaska. I hear they have better snowmobiling conditions there.

I'll be posting about our ATV riding soon but I don't love it as much as I love snowmobiling. Riding the ATV is muddy and buggy and just not as much fun but you're welcome to come along for the rides.

Spring has sprung. I'm counting the days until I can ride again.