Friday wasn’t the most pleasant day for a ride with persistent mist and drizzle.
But I wanted one more Speculator ride before the heat wave. At this point, who knows whether we’ll recover enough in mid-March after the lakes and trails get baked to glass?
I think the gloomy weather kept some of my competition away. Not many throttle jackals out there.
Leaving Indian Lake
Town of Indian Lake groomer had rolled past the compound, leaving its mark.
C8/Sabael trail didn’t receive that fresh groom. But it wasn’t bad either.
Indian Lake and Lewey Lake were plush crossings, not much slush on the drag strips. Campsite trail was lumpy and bumpy.
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Two Miles from Hell
BEYOND AWFUL! Section from parking lot to north end of Perkins Clearing was especially painful on my first pass through. Almost became an involuntary organ donor.
For the return trip mid-afternoon, the whole thing had become a sawtooth studder-chop and hump-back mogul torture chamber. Rougher than Charlie Sheen after a 3-day coke bender.
Surprised I wasn’t PISSING BLOOD after 2 Miles of Hell chewed me up and spit me out TWICE.
If I’ve had a WORSE ride through there, I can’t recall. It was THAT BAD.
Perkins Clearing
Perkins Clearing Road was lumpy-n-bumpy for stretches. Old Military Road/Jessup River Road toward Big Brook trail was only marginally “not-as-bumpy.”
Back end of Jessup River Road to Spruce Lake trailhead was nice!
Carpenter Hill Road and LP9/Nichol Vly Trail were SWEET!
Perkins southern bypass trail had been chewed thin in spots. Other than a few short studder stretches, vast majority was enjoyable riding.
Tree Farm into Speculator
Hatchery Brook trail got Friday’s gold star. SIMPLY AWESOME!
Elm Lake Road and Cave Hill Road were OK.
C4 through River trail was loaded with mashed potato bumps. Inner Speculator village trails were holding up for now.
Lunch
Did something different and hit up The Village Social for lunch. It’s located at the former Sunrise Diner accessible just off the village trail through Sunmount parking lot.
Had The Buffalo – Fried chicken tossed in Buffalo sauce, lettuce and tomato on Ciabatta. And side of fries. GOOD SANDWICH!
After lunch, I introduced myself to Phillip Collinge (the owner) and chatted with him for a while. Phillip follows the ilsnow Facebook page and invited me to stop by.
Glad I was able to get in before this snowmobile season closes out!
The Voyage Home
I messed around in upper Tree Farm after I rolled out of Speculator village. Silver Hill trail, Wolf Hill Road and back end of Elm Lake Road were all nice riding.
Was sure to hit Hatchery Brook trail again to double my pleasure through that avenue!
Once back into Perkins Clearing, I went back-n-forth over LP9 Nichol Vly trail and Carpenter Hill Road to pad happy fun miles before engaging in my next bare-knuckle street fight with 2 Miles from Hell.
Indian Lake and Lewey Lake showed more slush on the return trip.
C8/Sabael trail by late-afternoon was brownish and studdery in places, but remained a serviceable pathway. Main C8/S86 drag in Indian Lake was brown and tattered in places with icy corners, but holding up OK for now.
After a back-n-forth rip on S85/Ski Hut trail, I got back to the compound with 115 miles for Friday’s ride.
No need for a Victory Lap, escaping 2 Miles from Hell with BOTH of my kidneys and spleen was victory enough!
Ride map
Bottom line
Monday through Friday, 5 rides for 763 miles. I’ve been following my advice to bang out the midweekers!
While it’ll disappoint me to sit out the 2nd week of March with the upcoming thaw, I’m not prepping my sled for off-season storage yet!
Weekend Outlook
ilsnow land is not Save-the-base-istan. Ride it while we still GOT IT! Nobody should shame you for that.
Start early Saturday and grab as much as you can before narrow, woodsy trails get trashed under spring warmth and weekend snowmobiling traffic. Of course, the seasonal road snowmobile trails will survive better – but will probably get bumped up under heavy traffic.
For the ilsnow nation,
Darrin
