Wyman Pond Racing

I do not see trip stats posted for the Friends and Family - Spring Break trip done by #2, #5, #19 and #43.

This was a crazy trip, I would have NEVER guess in a million years that we would need to worry about snow coverage in mid-March in Coos county, but that certainly was the case.  The only reason we were able to get so far from the trucks on day 1, was because of the liquid water rooster tails that were being put up behind each sled to keep them cooled and lubricated in the 40 degree sunshine.  I honestly don't know the route I was so focused on making sure the two junior members were riding okay.  Turns out I didn't need to worry about the youngest member, it seems he's a better, albeit less experienced, natural rider than his old man, that would be me.  We went up 5 for a little bit, then made our way to 20 which was rough as hell.  We wanted to try for the group of 14X trails but we couldn't find enough snow to have any confidence so we ended up using 112 basically straight into town.

We couldn't even get to the Buck Rub, that's right, could NOT get there, zero snow, dirt trial left to right, it wasn't happening.  We made it to Happy Corners, tired and muddy, and it was closed after 3pm.  the rain started to fall harder and for one of the only times I've ever felt this way on a snowmobile I got slightly depressed.  We gassed up and bought groceries at Young's Store.  This I would have to say ended up being the highlight of the trip.  We packed frozen dinners, chips, jerky, the always trusty Combos, drinks, beer and cookies into any spot we could find on our sleds, jackets and backpacks.  It was a good proof of where there's a will there's a way.

Arriving at Cabin #3, no soap or shampoo.  We layed our slightly wet clothes out and fired up the heat and the oven.  In no time at all we were all scoffing down decent food and lounging about the cabin getting life back into our hearts.  Soap was delivered and we were good watching the news about the Primary returns coming in mixed with news of the Coronavirus taking over the world.  Even way up in northern NH within miles of the Canadian boarder, they were feeling the affects.

The next day would test our mettle.  Temps dropped overnight and the trails froze bullet ice solid.  There was no chance for the older sleds.  #2 and #5 can be held accountable for not have scratchers mounted on the older machines, this would change the course of the day.  Both machines took turns overheating in just 9 miles from setting out.  After crossing Rt. 3 and another red light on the dash a decision was made to turn #19 and #43 back towards Young's and wait.  #2 and #5 would drop the scratchers and turn on the afterburners and race back to the trailers.

We went as direct as we could I think we used 134 and 5, there was no snow for such long stretches, I had to watch the corners my control on the ice was limited, #2 seemed to have better control and was riding much faster than me.  We did hear conditions were better in the Diamond Pond area and that turned out to be very true, the riding was actually quite decent and they were even out grooming!!  That section of trail was actually quite fun.  We didn't stop and made 90 miles in about... let's see... I think we left them at 9:20am and we were loaded up into #2's trailer and rolling by 12:45pm.  I thanked #2 for his leadership and he took my machine and headed south and I headed north with an empty trailer to collect my boys and the machines.  I arrived at 2:25pm and they and one machine had made it to Young's.  Barely, but they were in good spirits.

We crossed Rt. 3 and went up the access road by all the small cabins, forget the name of the road, then I made a tactical error.  Where that drive ended I kept towing using 4WD straight onto the trail.  I knew it wasn't long to the road and we turned out just as two sleds were oncoming.  The brand new BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A's earned their keep, better traction up the trail than my sled.  Whew.  I parked and we walked into the trail about 1/2 mile to get to the black XC sitting pathetically on the side of the trail.  Refilled the coolant reservoir with bottled water and rode that puppy like a rented mule out to the trailer.  We were on our way home.

What I bizarre trip.  Felt sorry for the boys but they said they had fun riding day 1 and spending the night at the cabin.  Love positive spirits.  That's what snowmobiling does.  It's hard to have a bad time.

That will be the end of the season for me - I won't temp fate twice in the same year!!  

Thanks for a good season - we'll do it again next year.  Oh, one last thing - after riding my old trusty XC for many of the miles on this trip, I made a vow that it was getting sold, I will not ride that machine again.  It served me well, I will always cherish it, but I cannot ride it any more.  #2 said he's made the same promise for a couple years now - let's see who is able to pull the trigger for next year!!

#5