Wyman Pond Racing

Well I couldn't take it anymore..I had to ride and decided to head up to Fitzwilliam,N.H for my maiden voyage for 2011.  I got things loaded up on my new and improved ramp specifically built for the Nissan.  Unloading was a dream and I only saw 1 truck parked besides me.  I warmed up the sled and proceed North on the RR bed towards Troy.  The trail was ungroomed and only had 1 set of tracks in the fresh snow since the storm.  I was a little dissapointed it had not been groomed but it wasn't too bad as far as bumps.  I rode straight through and stopped at the convience store where # 5 and I had register last year.  While I registered this year the clerk had an extra reg stick to mine.  Being the honest WPR member I am, I kindly returned it.

My kind guesture soon turned into a beautiful site...the trails from here were freshly groomed!  Groomed that is to the troy gas staion just a mile up the trail????  Oh well.  I stopped for gas and filled up.  I then proceeded all the way to the end of the trail in Keene by the bridge.  The trail now ends here as it is illegal to go any further and cross by tire warehouse.  I knew this but wanted to get as many miles as possible.  I turned around and headed south until I reached the junction off the main rr bed hooking up to the Little Monadnoc Club Trails.  Again, only 1 set of tracks had been on this trail.  By now it was snowing and the 1 set of tracks had pulled off towards a local home.  I now had the luxury of riding "virgin" snow for the next 40 miles.  It was heaven and I was riding on a pillow the whole way.  The signage is very sketchy for these trails...it amazes me that the club can't afford a new "sharpy" pen instead of what looked like they used a erasable dry marker?  How about taking it one step further and using a club map and simply putting a "You are here" and laminating it?  Either way I wa having a blast and worked my way towrds Richmond where I believe they have linked to the main corridor trail which gets you through Keene and beyond. 

It was nw snowing pretty steady and the main trail intertwined thrrough the powerlines.  The trails where in great shape...did I mention I was having a blast?  I reached a parking area at the end of the powerlines and found a sign pointing to richmond and beyond.  The only problem was that the trail vanished across the main road?  It looked like it had been plowed in, so I finally made my way around and proceeded up a steep powerline trail with about 2 feet of untouched snow.  It didn't take long before I realized I wasn't going to make the ascent and soon found myself buried.  This was a perfect place for #3's sled and to break a path, but I was alone and gave it my best...a place where my sled does not shine.  I spent 15 minutes digging myself out and turned around.  The ride back I decided to try all the loops I saw and started to get lost.  My Garmin Rhino helped my find my way out and I was heading back at a comfortably faster pace now that I could trust what was under the snow.  I finally hit the main RR bed and headed back to the truck.  I seem to remember seeing 3 bars left on my gas guage and didn't feel like stopping.  I crossed Rte 12 and headed towards Rindge.  Cruising along I noticed a bright yellow light and saw that my gas guage now showed 1 bar?  Hmmm, I new about Foggs Gas station and was closer to there than my truck.  Unfortunately the access was blocked because of the plowing and I couldn't get over there without driving a mile down the highway...new carbides weren't ready to become toast just yet so I slowly headed back to the truck.  The Apex sipped the fuel and I made it back safely.  I used my new ramp and loaded perfectly.  I was soaked from the warmer temps and light snow.  I totalled 106 miles and would consider this a great first ride of my season.  Can't wait to ride again and hopefully revive the "old" southern NH night rides.  #388