Winter 2002 Logbook

Recollections of Large's Winter

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December

Pathetic!! That sums up the weather thus far. I left for the Christmas Holiday's with a few cm's on the ground. Not even a thought of riding or of any of the big lakes freezing. The situation was the same in Sudbury. Worked on my sled in Vildis' garage on Dec. 28, 29th and put one mile on in Kusk County as a crew was out ice fishing from Rantanen's new pad. I believe Black Lake froze on Dec. 27th. Penage didn't freeze until Jan. 17th or 18th -> might be a record.

January

We got about 10 cm's twice around the15th/17th in Kanata, and on Friday the 18th, Ed, Mike and myself decided to give the trails a try. Nothing was offically open around here, in fact Timmins only opened on the 17th. Managed to put on 110 miles around Carleton Place, Ashton and Richmond. Trails were groomed once in most places. Trucked down to Smith Falls but there was even less snow there. Got the itch out of the system anyhow and had a few socials @ the Ashton Pub.

Jan. 28th, played around on the Misissippi, was like a March Sunday, sunny, no wind and around 0. Sled seen 115 mph, best I have ever got it going. Weather is still the shits!

February

Took a run Feb. 3rd with Mike and Carter to Lanark, awesome new golf club house there, lots of wood, etc. Trails were pretty good for the lack of snow. Did a Wednesday night run with Dave, Dave and Woody to The Prior and up through White Lake. Trails mainly good and we put on 84 miles that night.

Rod, Daren and Shithead came down Friday the 8th. I took the day off and we did the same run to Lanark on Friday with less snow than the previous week. It was a great sunny morning but it was snowing by the afternoon as Daren's sled melted down while was crossing a road with it. Headed to Tim and Marsha's later in the evening after trucking his sled back, and headed to the Breakaway Pub in Kemptville that night. Into the Detroit game Sat. and to Kim's party afterwards. Not much sledding but enough boozing to keep a smile on the face.

Was supposed to go into Quebec Sat. the 16th but Dave backed out and it was +6C, so I worked, hear that, worked on my own accord for the third Saturday of the new year, pathetic! Snowed about 10 cm Sat. night but I just watched the Daytona 500 on Sunday. Mike and Tracy said the trials were pretty good with the new snow.

Headed up north Friday the 22nd @ 5:53 am due to the lack of snow here. Rode to Truckers via Long Lake to watch the Canada-Belarus game. Then headed out to Kiviaho's to break trail to their cabin. Next I broke trail through the Reserve via Simon Lake to Clear lake and Whitefish Lake.... took an hour because of all the snow and downed trees.... where the heck are the locals to break these trials? I have to drive 500 km to open them up....what the hell? Had a few drinks @ The Lodge and ended up crashing @ Vildis'. Power was off still from this past weeks storm in many places.

Sat. morning, headed to Rantanen's with Nick bright and early but Rod and Daren's sled were both out of comission. Daren had hit an ice ridge with Stump driving and Rod blew a chain or bearing. Met up with Trucker @ Jay and Sara's new pad and headed out to the snow cross races @ Sudbury Downs. All trails where great. Met up with the cops, took them a good 10 minutes to go through the papers as Trucker's numbers where slightly off. Headed back via Vermillian Lake to Fairbanks, stopped @ Hammel's uncle Kim's for a few and then back via the ungroomed trackbed to Nairn. The King George was having its grand opening, so we supported the cause for a few hours. Headed to Penage through Wabagishik as the new trial was not groomed for some unknown reason. Stopped at the West End Lodge and then The Lodge. Made it back to Kusk County where the night finally ended in a drunken haze with people spread all over the floors. Ran home the next day as it was very warm, like plus 6. Then I headed back to Kusk County to watch Canada beat the USA 5-2 for the Gold. The festivities here lasted too long, ended up home around 11.... damn Vilgren and Stump had something to do with this! 250 miles for the weekend, not bad but nothing special. Headed for Nepean @ 7:30 am, Monday morning, guess I was a bit late for work.

Picked up Mike on Wed, Feb 27th @ 7 am to start our real trip for the year. Met Ed in Arnprior and unloaded in North Bay around 12:30. Lots of snow and good trials for about 30 miles out of the Bay. Trials got worse and worse. By Martin River there were shit. We tried to run Hwy. 11 to Martin River but the coppers didn't like this idea and turned us back about 2 km out of MR. Took us a full hour to get that last 2 km by the f'n trail!! Trials contuned to be shit right up through Temagami. Met a groomer but that only helped for a few km's. Made into The Waterfront Inn in New Liskard about 7:30, weary after a hard 165 miles. Had late dinner, our waitress was a 1050 T-Cat drag racer, not your average young lady, nice setup!

Up early and off on perfect trails for about 40 miles. Trails were then so so, then great, then shit in Elk Lake. Better near Kirkland Lake but bad again all the way to Timmins via Val Gagne. 250 mile day, another rough one. Headed to the Mattagami for only three drinks as we had to get up early Friday to head south. Sledders everywhere you go all through the north, definetly big $ being spent.

March

-26C Friday morning in Timmins, March 1st. Trial was freshly groomed right to Shining Tree. On the snow @ 8am, in ST about 12:30 after gas and a beer about 45 miles north of Shining Tree. 3 Bears in ST was packed, about 50 sleds there, most heading north and saying the southern trials sucked... great! From here the trials when for a shit through Thor Lake and until we turned off the C trial and onto the Onaping trails to Cartier. Gassed up in Cartier @ sundown and headed to Fairbanks and then ran roads to Penage. @ the Lodge @ 8pm, 12 hours of riding and 278 miles later!

Went to Black Lake for a clean up Sat. morning, ran to The Shop for a headlight, then back out to the Darby. Snow had started by now, as 30 cm was to fall by Sunday morning. Had a few @ the Lodge, a few @ Mr. Cranston's ice hut and then went to the weigh in after another quick trip to the Lodge. Pretty sure I did not see a fish all day. The crowd @ the Lodge was very lively as it was similar to high school reunion, the people you see ever few years, get their stories, have a laugh sort of thing. I can recall the night up to about midnight I would say, but the thought process of deciding to leave eludes me. I do though remember being on Kusk Lake about 2AM lost in a white out thinking I may just sleep out here. Luckly, there was one light I could see and it happend to be the one I wanted. Sunday, I woke up to a whole pile of snow. I sold my sled to Kim Hammell and bumed a ride with him to North Bay. Mike and Ed got Mr. Cranston to give them a ride. We ordered a pizza in the hotel room about 10pm, by the time we got to the place to pick it up, we were so close to Fanny's we had to stop for one dance, gotta support the enconomy you know. You should have seen the atmosphere there for a Sunday night, man what a show, and the girls, oh my god!! We have to put Fanny's higher on the priority list next year! Anyhow, trip is over, did about 800 miles dispite the truck ride to North Bay. Came home to Kanata, had been +8 with rain past few days, very little snow south of Deep River.

Another year is over early (March 3rd). 1450 miles and the 99 XC 600 is sold @ 8770 miles. A great sled!

- Large

March 7, 2002