We've actually ridden this area on bikes on day 2 of our Jay Peak ride. When we rode around Lake Willoughby, after we went east of 91, then south on 5, and just as we took a hard 120 degree left to go back up 5A to get on the eastern shore of the lake, that was East Burke village. You could see the mtn as we rounded the corner.
There is a fantastic Inn in the village, in fact called The Inn at Burke Village, that is only $109/night including homemade breakfast, that caters to outdoor activity including mountain biking, snowmobiling and motorcycles.
I have never seen so many rigs in this parking lot, there was really no where to park. #10/#2 found a snow bank and I paralleled another rig without blocking him in. We unloaded and geared up. It was great to be on the trail with #10 again, it had been waaaaay too long! Sunny skies and enough snow to get out, we weren't sure what to expect. Headed east on 28 up to Cow Path Rd intersection, the snow was in great shape, no washouts like last ride 2 weeks prior.
The day was warming up but the snow had great structure so it stayed in place. Grooming was also very good, a little bit of stutter bumps on trails but not bad for spring riding. Because we weren't sure what to expect for conditions, we kept our plan open to advice on where to ride. This bit us in the butt a little bit as we headed toward the Swift Diamond Riders Club House to top up tanks with only 50 miles in. After waiting in line for waters, #5 and #10 both made rookie errors and rode off without closing zippers and putting on glasses, respectively. After about 4 miles in poor #10 was picking up my laundry all over the trail.
When I was feeling bad about losing my security cable and siphon (we did not wait in the gas line to fill up after all) #10 said you're not alone, and explained his glasses were gone as well. Feel like such a dope. Ah well, no harm done, replaceable things, we were all right and out riding.
The riding was really good all afternoon as we looped around here and there, we decided we did not need to gas up as we had a good 100 miles behind us and so plotted a track back to the trucks calling it a good day. Ended at 122 miles and loaded up. We closed the season with dinner at JL Sullivan's in Lancaster before splitting up for the ride home. #2 and #10 headed south but #5 headed west into VT for a day of AT skiing at Burke Mtn.
Just a post ride report report - be warned when driving in the Northeast Kingdom that Google doesn't care that the 18 mile road it wants you to go on is a gravel road and it is mud season!! What an adventure - in 4WD the whole way slipping and sliding pulling the snowmobile trailer. BUT - it was a gorgeous route passing several snowmobile trail crossings (trail looked good) and then arriving at the back side of Burke mountain before reconnecting with civilization on the other side.
Thanks for another great season, now it's time for spring maintenance and put them away ready for next season. Pull the dirt machines out if you got 'em!
