[arcticcatmatt]

Well it was either ride alone or don't ride so off I went from Berkshire today - 2-28-10
I am not a fan of riding alone because safety but ride or hide baby. Oh well, riding alone allows me to do my style of stopping and riding so it works out. Townships include Berkshire - Newark Valley - Candor - Speedsville. Report contains pictures and panoramic shots. I have a boring 10 min helmet cam video but as I said.. boring. Just a couple deer run out while it was recording. I won't waste my time posting that. This is not a mile gathering boring truck trail flat and fast ride. This is adventure riding on trails and places I have not been creating smiles not caring about miles.
This is one of my more elborate reports as this was about 7ish hours of riding. Should take you 20 mins to read it all.

When clicking a picture.. look at the button at the bottom of the picture all the way to the right, arrows in the corners of it. That shows it full size if you want to see it in better detail.

First I went and hung a sign to prevent others from making my same mistake in my last report

I headed out around some local trails for a bit

and decided to head up to cross creek cabin on C2 in Berkshire to see what was up. On the way up I meet the groomer for the club I am in and help out.. the DCdrifters www.dcdrifters.net . This snow is a bear to groom as today was wet and 38 degrees. He had a hard time getting up the hill but he got it.

I had a change of plans and decided to head to Maine NY to eat a diner I passed awhile back on another ride. Since I was riding solo today I could stop where I wanted to and check out some stuff.

To Be Continued below...

 

[arcticcatmatt]

Left Berkshire on C2 then south on C5B. I encountered a few guys drinking a beer up on the hill that informed me that it was great riding down to Maine, they just came from there. Just don't go past the BP station as it was bad and low snow past that. Boy did I get bullshitted While I was sitting there we watched a Doo and a PooRush blast by standing up (I'll see them later).
Started out great

Good scenery

Then I hit some crap in the woods and all the corners (and there are alot of corners on this trail) turned to this garbage thanks to the throttle jockeys

I have zero tolerance for conditions like that. I bailed on my plans and turned around in Newark Valley and headed back north on C5B.
I had a close call here with an F7.. I came slowly around the corner and a guy was moving pretty good and about to take the corner, he shot off the side of the trail with the brakes locked up. He didn't hit nothing and proceeded. I am starting to think I should have stayed home [lol8]

To Be Continued Below (after nhriders post)....

 

[nhrider]

I always enjoy reading your trail reports Matt, they are very interesting. It was quite warm where I was riding today aswell.

 

[arcticcatmatt]

I arrive back in Berkshire and take a picture of the trail way in the distance
Far Away

Close up with 10x optical zoom

To be continued below...

 

[arcticcatmatt]

I decided to take some panoramics from now on since some of you seem to enjoy the scenery we have. When you click the picture click the button on the picture all the way to the right to view it full size. If you have a widescreen monitor it rocks.

Well now what? I am still hungry so lets go up to Lou's Cross Creek Cabin to get some food. He is only open on weekends, snowmobile access only, donations only, runs off generator.

Look at this 96 ZRT that was up there. Pretty beat up and someone painted its hood green. That is the 3rd ZRT I have seen this season.

I had that food and a pepsi and some conversation with strangers. I threw 10 bucks in the donation bucket and off I went. Where too now? Lets go check out Candor. Lets try to stay away from the throttle jockey areas.
West on C2 from here is twisty.. lots of this

To be continued below..

 

[arcticcatmatt]

After 6 miles or so I pop out on a decent view.. another panoramic

The rest of these are just pictures from heading towards Candor on C2

Beautiful riding thru there but straight and boring.
I came out at the Mccormic correctional facility. I believe this is for kids that are in BAD trouble.

As you can see I am now in snow/fog

Here is something I am semi proud off. I have been known to be quick on the trigger. I seen two deer up ahead and got my camera out (not a small camera either folks) and snuck up on them slowly to get a picture.. but as I took it a kid on a skidoo was coming at them and not slowing down. I think he was very shocked to see me with a camera taking a picture.

And right behind him was a rush.. both riding fast and no hand signals of course. If you remember back in the beginning these are the two I seen in East Berkshire.. quite a ways away. Got a picture of him after he went by me. I shot this from my moving sled so sorry.

Last panoramic.. Loved this area. State land

I am now on a trail with a cliff on the right hand side.. wowzers is that a ways down

So I stop and take this wonderful picture of my sled there

Yep looks like I get to take another!! Damnit!

A very kind man and his son stop to chit chat for a minute and he gives me a quick hand lifting her out of the hole and I am outta there
After that it was miles and miles of this below

I had a quick conversation with the man and his kid before they continued on. He informed me I was just 2 miles short of down in Candor. I had 1/2 a tank left and didn't need to go down there so I just turned around and headed home the same route I took to bring you this report. While we were sitting there some other guy got stuck and we had to get him out real quick haha. The guy who helped me out asked what website I was doing my report on and I gave it to him so if you read this buddy thanks again and feel free to post up
Had to take this photogenic shot of this sled I've made. I love this picture full size. Almost as good as the panoramics

3 feet of snow.. just got to relax in it a bit. You ever find yourself just pulling over from time to time and hanging out in the middle of nowhere? I do it all the time when riding solo. Weather it be in the woods or up high somewhere with some great view.

To be continued below...

 

[arcticcatmatt]

I then arrive on the scene of the DCdrifter groomer stuck again. Poor guy. This snow sucks for grooming. Snowman snow. It was bottomed out.

I talk with him for 20 mins or so while help comes to pull it out.
I took this picture on the way home for you skeet shooters. The local rod/gun club calls this bad boy the war wagon. I hear the shooter stands in the middle while they all fire in different directions and he has to shoot shoot shoot.. very sporadic haha. Bet it sounds like "war".

Well I went home and changed and got my truck and some shovels and such and headed back up to the groomer to help get him out. We shoveled some and the tractor did not work to pull it out. A dumptruck then came and yanked him and out she came. I didn't take anymore pictures, I got a few glares after taking the first one [lol8] but hey, he will laugh about them in July.. I was there to help.

Thats it! Hope you all enjoyed another report of riding and conditions.

Till next time...

 

[RAMROD]

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.....you mean to tell me, that groomer just happened to get stuck there by the road?? Almost doesn't seem right...

your supposed to get them stuck miles from civilization....lol

 

[cat-sass]

Is it just me, or do most of your mis-guided adventures
involve getting something to eat[] Damn, midnight and now
I want a burger, LOL

 

[arcticcatmatt]

I always enjoy reading your trail reports Matt, they are very interesting. It was quite warm where I was riding today aswell.

Thanks alot there bud.. I appreciate it.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.....you mean to tell me, that groomer just happened to get stuck there by the road?? Almost doesn't seem right...

your supposed to get them stuck miles from civilization....lol

No doubt. We (club) got lucky as a pig in $$%^

Is it just me, or do most of your mis-guided adventures
involve getting something to eat[] Damn, midnight and now
I want a burger, LOL

Mans gotta eat brotha []

 

[ACG]

Is it just me, or do most of your mis-guided adventures
involve getting something to eat[] Damn, midnight and now
I want a burger, LOL

That was the most memorable picture for me too...Laying in bed, see an awesome burger with perfectly cooked fires and now I am starving...Thanks Matt.

 

[sno700]

Could they not disconnect the drag from the groomer? Man ive stuck probally 6 times this year..luckly when disconnecting the drag i could pull out of it. After that i used the plow to push the snow away from in front of the drag..back up, connect and on my way. And very nice post btw

 

[sledneck1978]

I'm trying to picture you sitting over that food with your camera. Wonder what others were thinking LOL! They probably thought it was your first time eating in a week LOL...Just jokin

 

[arcticcatmatt]

^ They gave me a WTF look and I told them I do online reports and reviews for other peoples entertainment and travel plans.

Could they not disconnect the drag from the groomer? Man ive stuck probally 6 times this year..luckly when disconnecting the drag i could pull out of it. After that i used the plow to push the snow away from in front of the drag..back up, connect and on my way. And very nice post btw

He did not want to disconnect it for some reason. I know the groomer had a few hydraulic lines that just broke and a flat tire in the track. That is why he was up on that bank because the line to drop the wheels was not working. Thanks for the props on the report.. glad some people are liking it. Takes alot of time to do reports.

 

[Freebyrdjason]

I'm trying to picture you sitting over that food with your camera. Wonder what others were thinking LOL! They probably thought it was your first time eating in a week LOL...Just jokin

Hahaha, now that is funny!! Matt those pics and the reporting were both great! I like that! Reading a little bit from back home really helps out the time being stuck in no mans land for 8 months! Hahaha... I already can't wait for next season to come! I'm so excited, but there's a long stretch in between. I'll be heading back to the states in October, then I'm going to be following the weather after that to make sure that there is very nice riding in NY when I come to visit! I'm thinking Jan/Feb time frame we'll see! Anyhoo, keep up your style I like it! [thumb]

 

[Rock]

Matt....You should never ride alone.Nice pics though.Good write up.

 

[arcticcatmatt]

Thanks Jason! Where is your "back home"?

Matt....You should never ride alone.Nice pics though.Good write up.

I know right.. Me of all people.
Well my usual riding friends will either not ride down to my town ever.. or they trailer out to ride flat straight groomed stuff. I tried another local friend but he said it was too warm for him (38 degrees). I want to ride and wasn't riding 25 miles each way (dryden) north alone for the 4th time in a week to meet people to ride lol.. so riding alone was my only option to ride. Nature of the beast till I can meet/add some new local riding friends to my option list.

Thanks Rock

 

[Freebyrdjason]

Matt, back home originally is Baldwinsville, NY just outside of Syracuse by about 20 min. My wifes family is all on or near the North Shore of Oneida Lake in Cleveland, NY and Camden/Parish area. I am in the Marines stationed in North Carolina, however right now I just got over to Afghanistan to help out on all this political propeganda bs! Anyways, thats that for right now! Hahaha

 

[TRICKPaint]

How long does it look like you will have trails Matt. I know we have a warming spell coming this weekend, but then it looks like it gets cold again. You think the trails will hold up into mid March or more!?
I would like to get one more trip iin, so I'm weighing my options now.

Looks like some fun riding out there.

Rick~

 

[OldCatRider]

Not likely that I will be riding much more this year as the ol' cat decided to die on me Sunday.
Total loss of any electrical power to any system.

I might be able to make a ride or two if I can use Scott's spare T660 that he is leaving at my place. (actually both of them are there)