The weather has been the same for about a week now, sunny, and the temperature has been in the high 20’s. In general very mild days. We got a late start, so we all decided to ride from Eagle Lake south on ITS 85, to 85D, the Allagash Loop, up to the Diboullie Loop, to Allagash, then cross the St John river, and head to Escourt, Maine. Along the way we stopped to play at the old Irving Air Strip, and pose for some staged photos. We did some powder slalom, powder racing, basic goofing around, and also took a break just to admire the scenery.
During our trip today, RS Venture broke a milestone of 19,000 miles.
The sled is running really well and hope it will keep it up.
Heading to Escourt, Maine
Crossing over the snow bank to go down to the Allagash river crossing.
My brother playing in the snow.
Our buddy T.J.’s turn to play.
Brother playing near the old Irving Air Strip Fire House.
RS Venture in the snow.
Sled slalom.
In Fort Kent, Maine at the end of the day.
RS Venture miles.
To date, I have 7,073 miles complete for the season and the TY Mileage Fun Contest.
Tomorrow, we are taking a 300 plus mile trip to Bowlin Camps, west of Patten, Maine, near the base of Mount Katahdin.
I am looking forward to visiting with old friend I haven't seen in a couple of years who is the current owner, and operator of Bowlin Camps.
Bowlin Camps is the oldest, continuosly operated sporting camp in the State of Maine. Henry David Thoreau spent many days at Bowlin Camps formulating material, and documenting his experiences in the North Maine woods. He then wrote about his experiences in his novels around the mid 1800's. Photo opportunities are plentiful. It should be a fun trip.
Friday, afternoon thru Saturday afternoon, "The County" is forecast to receive 8 - 15 inches of snow. Bring it on!
During our trip today, RS Venture broke a milestone of 19,000 miles.
The sled is running really well and hope it will keep it up.
Heading to Escourt, Maine
Crossing over the snow bank to go down to the Allagash river crossing.
My brother playing in the snow.
Our buddy T.J.’s turn to play.
Brother playing near the old Irving Air Strip Fire House.
RS Venture in the snow.
Sled slalom.
In Fort Kent, Maine at the end of the day.
RS Venture miles.
To date, I have 7,073 miles complete for the season and the TY Mileage Fun Contest.
Tomorrow, we are taking a 300 plus mile trip to Bowlin Camps, west of Patten, Maine, near the base of Mount Katahdin.
I am looking forward to visiting with old friend I haven't seen in a couple of years who is the current owner, and operator of Bowlin Camps.
Bowlin Camps is the oldest, continuosly operated sporting camp in the State of Maine. Henry David Thoreau spent many days at Bowlin Camps formulating material, and documenting his experiences in the North Maine woods. He then wrote about his experiences in his novels around the mid 1800's. Photo opportunities are plentiful. It should be a fun trip.
Friday, afternoon thru Saturday afternoon, "The County" is forecast to receive 8 - 15 inches of snow. Bring it on!
Attachments
Well it took two days, but we finally got'er done.
05 RS Venture, and I rolled 20,000 miles in three seasons.
It was really funny, the best laid plans always need to be modified when "mother nature" gets involved.
Yesterday, it stayed below zero all day, with an overcast, and the wind blowing about 30 mph, it seemed like the wind chill was off the charts.
My brother, and I rode about 50 miles, and decided to call it a day.
Today, was a much better day. The temperature hovered around 6 above zero, with a little less wind in some spots. We spoke with some riders at the Eagle Lake gas station that had ridden from Caribou, across ITS 90, and up ITS 85, from Portage Lake to Eagle Lake. Both riders had nothing but good things to say about the grooming efforts, and the condition of the trails.
After filling up our tanks, we went down ITS 85 South, to Portage Lake.
True to the report the trail was absolutely "super" with the exception of a reported quarter mile section that looked like a snow cross track. I don't quite know whats up with the "non-grooming" in one particular short section?
Never-the-less, I was impressed with the condition of ITS 85 South, to Portage Lake, ME.
The last few miles of ITS 85, runs across Portage Lake, to town.
From Portage, we took ITS 90 East, where I roll 20,000 miles on RS Venture. We hit the 105 rail bed, rode to the 83 North power lines to the turn off going to Lake View Restaurant.
A view from the Lake View Restaurant.
Since my brother was buying lunch, we decided to celebrate 20,000 miles with a Lake View dessert.
From the Lake View, we proceeded to Fort Kent, and looped around back to Eagle Lake for roughly a 214 mile ride.
RS Venture miles.
To date, I have completed 8,113 miles for the season, and the TY Mileage Fun Contest.
05 RS Venture, and I rolled 20,000 miles in three seasons.
It was really funny, the best laid plans always need to be modified when "mother nature" gets involved.
Yesterday, it stayed below zero all day, with an overcast, and the wind blowing about 30 mph, it seemed like the wind chill was off the charts.
My brother, and I rode about 50 miles, and decided to call it a day.
Today, was a much better day. The temperature hovered around 6 above zero, with a little less wind in some spots. We spoke with some riders at the Eagle Lake gas station that had ridden from Caribou, across ITS 90, and up ITS 85, from Portage Lake to Eagle Lake. Both riders had nothing but good things to say about the grooming efforts, and the condition of the trails.
After filling up our tanks, we went down ITS 85 South, to Portage Lake.
True to the report the trail was absolutely "super" with the exception of a reported quarter mile section that looked like a snow cross track. I don't quite know whats up with the "non-grooming" in one particular short section?
Never-the-less, I was impressed with the condition of ITS 85 South, to Portage Lake, ME.
The last few miles of ITS 85, runs across Portage Lake, to town.
From Portage, we took ITS 90 East, where I roll 20,000 miles on RS Venture. We hit the 105 rail bed, rode to the 83 North power lines to the turn off going to Lake View Restaurant.
A view from the Lake View Restaurant.
Since my brother was buying lunch, we decided to celebrate 20,000 miles with a Lake View dessert.
From the Lake View, we proceeded to Fort Kent, and looped around back to Eagle Lake for roughly a 214 mile ride.
RS Venture miles.
To date, I have completed 8,113 miles for the season, and the TY Mileage Fun Contest.
Wondered where the hell you went...should have guessed! Thanks for all the great pics - my "snowmobile pics folder" probably has 30 of these shots. I grew up in ME, and have ridden a lot around betweem Greenville, Jackman, Portage, etc....this brings back some good memories - can't wait to get back up there someday.
Grats on your riding accomplishments this season, hope to see more!
Grats on your riding accomplishments this season, hope to see more!
Thanks for the acknowlegement silversurfer,
After winter break, the recent snow storm, and the CanAm dog sled races, the groomers have the trails in absolutely fantastic shape.
There is still alot of riding left up here.
Thanks again,
After winter break, the recent snow storm, and the CanAm dog sled races, the groomers have the trails in absolutely fantastic shape.
There is still alot of riding left up here.
Thanks again,
holy*&%# thats alot of miles for one season,you must be retired
Yup,
Semi... and retarded, for riding all those miles. LOL...
It's really funny, all the older retired guys in Northern Maine that enjoy the sport are able to put on "Mega Miles" each year!
It's pretty easy when we have access to over 24,000 miles of trails in the U.S., and Canada.
I love riding my Red, Three Holed, Iron Pony!
Semi... and retarded, for riding all those miles. LOL...
It's really funny, all the older retired guys in Northern Maine that enjoy the sport are able to put on "Mega Miles" each year!
It's pretty easy when we have access to over 24,000 miles of trails in the U.S., and Canada.
I love riding my Red, Three Holed, Iron Pony!
Today, in Northern Maine, much of the day was overcast, with a high of 42 degrees F.
An occasional teasing snow shower would move through the area from time-to-time, however with such warm temperatures the snow will not last very long on the trails.
The snow is so thin in areas there are bare spots in many of the corners.
Winter is coming to an end.
A couple of days ago, my brother made a crude groomer out of an old ski-boose, and two 6 foot 2x6’s. Our little groomer works surprisingly well.
We decided to groom the trail leading to the house, and turn my back field which is on the slope of a hill, into a ski slope. We had some fun with this little groomer, and also put a few miles on the sleds.
With a little "tweaking", we are going to have one heck of a groomer ready for the yard next year.
Homemade groomer works well even in wet snow.
We had some fun with this little gadget.
Welcome to Hondo’s ski slope.
RS Venture miles.
To date, I have completed 8,330 miles for the season, and the TY Mileage Fun Contest.
An occasional teasing snow shower would move through the area from time-to-time, however with such warm temperatures the snow will not last very long on the trails.
The snow is so thin in areas there are bare spots in many of the corners.
Winter is coming to an end.
A couple of days ago, my brother made a crude groomer out of an old ski-boose, and two 6 foot 2x6’s. Our little groomer works surprisingly well.
We decided to groom the trail leading to the house, and turn my back field which is on the slope of a hill, into a ski slope. We had some fun with this little groomer, and also put a few miles on the sleds.
With a little "tweaking", we are going to have one heck of a groomer ready for the yard next year.
Homemade groomer works well even in wet snow.
We had some fun with this little gadget.
Welcome to Hondo’s ski slope.
RS Venture miles.
To date, I have completed 8,330 miles for the season, and the TY Mileage Fun Contest.
hondo said:Yup,
Semi... and retarded, for riding all those miles. LOL...
It's really funny, all the older retired guys in Northern Maine that enjoy the sport are able to put on "Mega Miles" each year!
It's pretty easy when we have access to over 24,000 miles of trails in the U.S., and Canada.
I love riding my Red, Three Holed, Iron Pony!
More nice pics. I'm certainly not in a rush for the next 15-20 years of my life to go by, but I do envy you. I'm looking forward to buying a place up there some day and doing the same....that is if we still get snow at that point. lol
Sometime in the next few years I'll have to bring my friends up there and you can give us the grand tour.
Let me know when you are in the area silversurfer, and we'll put on some miles.
Northern Maine, "The County", is a great place live, and ride, as well as have access to both NB, and Quebec, Canada.
We have met many riders from all over the East Coast, and Canada who truly enjoy the sport of snowmobiling.
Heck, If there is no snow here, we will just have to continue North.
My brother, and I have recently toyed around some ideas to ride Gaspe, and the North Shore of Quebec, using Viking Professionals, while trailering some additional provisions.
Sleds are a great vehicle that enable us to reach out a bit further in search of adventure!
Northern Maine, "The County", is a great place live, and ride, as well as have access to both NB, and Quebec, Canada.
We have met many riders from all over the East Coast, and Canada who truly enjoy the sport of snowmobiling.
Heck, If there is no snow here, we will just have to continue North.
My brother, and I have recently toyed around some ideas to ride Gaspe, and the North Shore of Quebec, using Viking Professionals, while trailering some additional provisions.
Sleds are a great vehicle that enable us to reach out a bit further in search of adventure!
hondo said:Let me know when you are in the area silversurfer, and we'll put on some miles.
Northern Maine, "The County", is a great place live, and ride, as well as have access to both NB, and Quebec, Canada.
We have met many riders from all over the East Coast, and Canada who truly enjoy the sport of snowmobiling.
Heck, If there is no snow here, we will just have to continue North.
My brother, and I have recently toyed around some ideas to ride Gaspe, and the North Shore of Quebec, using Viking Professionals, while trailering some additional provisions.
Sleds are a great vehicle that enable us to reach out a bit further in search of adventure!
I'll take you up on that someday.
Yeah, it's the sense of adventure - and the speed - that I love. Were it not for that, I'd probably buy a jet-ski and never think about this sport again.
The good, the Bad, the Icy, the Rough, and the Ugly...
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