Riding At The Lake 5th Addition!!!

[roadtech]

Hi Folks
Well like most areas in the northeast we received about 6 inches of feathers, the temp. change this weekend will help build the base we need
because right now you will never see the rock that will ruin your day and remove money from your wallet.
I will get a chance to do a little grooming on Sunday so maybe I'll see you out there.
See you on the trails
Don

 

[roadtech]

Hi Folks
Well two days of grooming and all I have done is the first 10 km,
We received almost a foot of snow in the last few days. Oh well it will have to do.
Here's a couple of pics from today


FORGOT TO MENTION ON LAST NIGHTS POST, THE WHOLE NORTHEND IS TOP WATER, AND I MEAN TOP WATER
I WILL ASSUME THE ENTIRE LAKE IS BAD, BE CAREFUL
Don

 

[DDrake]

Hi Folks
Well it stopped at about 4 inches, not bad for the first dump, I got the packer out for it's maiden run I still remember how! The Rhino is running great and will be tracked up tomorrow.
The area is looking like a post card with the fresh blanket of the white stuff, every year at this time I start thinking of putting a snowmobile club together and then I slap myself and then I feel much better. But this year I will do something I haven't done for quite awhile, and that is offer guided trail rides on the groomed trails and beyond once a month. during the winter. It will be open to the masses, family riding, no booze, wiener roast at one of the local trappers cabins, yes ladies there will be a biffy, I'll do my best to keep it in the 100k range, we will leave by 1030 and be back to the Lake by four. There is always questions on this type of ride and I will answer it here, the speed will be around 30 to 50 km/h so the little kids will ride with mom or dad, -15 is the min temp, make sure your machine is serviced, and yes the poor guy at the back will eat a lot of 2 stroke smoke, so we spread out over a good distance and have a couple of qualified riders with radios to run mid and tail end. I've seen as many as 40 plus machines on one of these rides, the more the (merrier) or crazy. So we will see how the fall progresses and go from there.
Have a safe Day
See you on the trails
Don

Hey Don me and the family would really like to join you on one of your guided trail rides. Will you be postin on here when your havin these rides and where thestaging area is going to be?

 

[snochuk]

Hi Folks
Well two days of grooming and all I have done is the first 10 km,
We received almost a foot of snow in the last few days. Oh well it will have to do.
Here's a couple of pics from today


FORGOT TO MENTION ON LAST NIGHTS POST, THE WHOLE NORTHEND IS TOP WATER, AND I MEAN TOP WATER
I WILL ASSUME THE ENTIRE LAKE IS BAD, BE CAREFUL
Don

Great news on the snowfall Don.
For a one man team you do an incredible job. You need to start a club so maybe you can get some financial help. What you do is no small undertaking - usually the job of a group. There should be lots that would join right at the park, I would join for sure. I usually am about 8 miles south in the valley so don't get the pleasure of your groomed trails but could make the occasional trip in that direction.

 

[roadtech]

Hi Snochuk
I see our Snow and mud Guru Slederglen agrees with you on the club idea. Maybe some day.
Anyway this weekend has been a good one, I sat in the Rhino Friday Saturday and today grooming, and because we received too much snow it will take me another
three or four days to finish. I'm sure everyone knows how rough the first km is, not anymore it's smooooth!! and after about twenty passes it should be. My thanks again to those hard working men that helped remove the rocks this fall, but you know we missed ONE.
Had a mechanical issue today with the Rhino so I shut down early, I drove over a grader mound which was too steep and broke the track trailing arm bolts off at the wheel hub, not too big of a deal but limped home at two pm instead of giving it to my planned six o'clock, oh well there's always next week.
Now folks there is a lot of Top Water as I have said already, if you don't need to travel on the lake stay off, I have groomed a trail along the main road, use it for now, and it will also take you to the fire break cut line as well, use that cutline to go south or west and please stay out of the Park.
Do you remember the old saying "You Meet The Nicest People On A Ski Doo" well that still holds true, to the riders I met today, thanks folks!
So two nice days and we will be back into the deep freeze again, that's ok the snow out here dropped about 6 inches with the wind and the warm temp, it will be the start of a good base.
I think it's time for a well deserved one.
See you on the trails
Don

 

[roadtech]

Hi Folks
Remember, All I want for Christmas is Two Feet Of Snow!!
Well here at the Lake, you got your wish, and my prediction sure went out the window.
Now I spent the day grooming the trails, and will need one more day to finish up before al the lucky
folks come out for Christmas.
here's a couple of pics from today
And a BIG Merry Christmas to all
See you on the trails
Don

 

[roadtech]

And another one

 

[Cat401]

How much snow along the trails Don?

 

[roadtech]

Hi Cat
The close in trails are at about a foot and a half, I will make it to the pipe line tomorrow
but there was way over a foot two snow falls ago, the riding will be better than average Christmas riding
this year.
Don

 

[roadtech]

Hi Folks
Well all the trails are groomed, I put 75 km on today and now you have to do your part, get out there
and have some fun riding the trails at the Lake

See you on the trails
Don

 

[roadtech]

H0 HO HO Folks
Well It rained here for most of the day, the snow level dropped a few inches
which is a good thing, the snow on the trails is quite soft so this will help build the base,
all good here at the lake except for all that water laying under the snow(TOP WATER)
It's only a couple of inches but could be deeper at other areas of the lake.

See you on the trails
Don

 

[snochuk]

Out breaking trails last night after the rain stopped, put on about 30Km with the kids following. Awsome snow and snowed another 4" at the farm before I left today - going to be an awsome winter out there if it keeps snowing like it has been.

 

[roadtech]

Wow folks are we getting the snow!
You know I'm having a hard time packing the trails let along even thinking about
putting the blades down to cut the moguls out. Can we say AHHHH, the trails are soooo good, put up with cold and get out here and ride,
that will also help me in the grooming department, the more you ride, the trails pack and it makes it easier for me.

NOW PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE TOP WATER, IT'S EVERYWHERE AND DEEP!!!
I went out with the groomer today where I have been packing for a month and went down about 6 inches just off the shore between blk 11 and 12 the pucker factor went to 10 and I thought I was heading to the bottom so be care full out there.

See you on the trail
Don

 

[snochuk]

Wow folks are we getting the snow!
You know I'm having a hard time packing the trails let along even thinking about
putting the blades down to cut the moguls out. Can we say AHHHH, the trails are soooo good, put up with cold and get out here and ride,
that will also help me in the grooming department, the more you ride, the trails pack and it makes it easier for me.

NOW PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE TOP WATER, IT'S EVERYWHERE AND DEEP!!!
I went out with the groomer today where I have been packing for a month and went down about 6 inches just off the shore between blk 11 and 12 the pucker factor went to 10 and I thought I was heading to the bottom so be care full out there.

See you on the trail
Don

Water is an issue this year and it seems to be evrywhere. Cousin hit a lot of top water on South Cooking lake and yesterday I sank a little. Was crossing a muskeg slough at the farm and was churning yellow water and some skeg so thinking not frozen as top water should be clean. Fish pond had water on it also so had to tell the kids to stay off all of the water holes especially the muskeg ones as they are just deep muck holes with no bottom.
Even with the cold weather some areas not freezing so ya be careful what you cross and have a sled that can plough trough a little slop if you are doing some crossings. Would have been ugly crossing our skeg swamp on a fan cool with a 3/4" lug track.

 

[roadtech]

Hi Folks
I need a favour from all the folks that ride the trails at the Lake.
If those who have a small hand saw, machete, etc could start carrying it and cut the over hanging Willows and saplings
it would be a big help to me, It slows me down if I do it and I don't want anyone getting smacked with one across the Chops.

Now get out here and have some fun riding at the Lake

See you on the trails
Don
Oh Ya Happy New Year everyone

 

[roadtech]

HI Folks
There is quite a bit of dead over hanging brush this year I'm going to build an
arm that will clip them off, it will be attached to the groomer side, off to the UFA in Athabasca, too
cold to ride today anyway
See you on the trails
Don
P.S.
A HUGE thanks to all that have donated to the grooming fund this year.
My annul cost for fuel and parts is in the thousands so this sure helps my wallet
Thank you

 

[roadtech]

Hi Folks
Well are we going to get the January Thaw tree weeks early this year so plan on getting out to the Lake and enjoy the beautiful countryside.
I will be grooming the trails tomorrow from 9 to 5 so they will be ready for a great weekend of riding. So no excuses now pile the family in the truck and come to the Lake, the ski hill has about 5 inches of fresh powder and the fish will be biting on just about anything, the lake has top water under the snow so please don't drive your truck out there it will just wreck your day.

See you on the trails
Don

 

[roadtech]

Hi Folks
They are Done!
Too much snow, going to need to turbo the Rhino


See you on the trails this weekend
Don

 

[roadtech]

Hi Folks
Well it's been a busy fall and winter for me in the grooming department, and since 1982 when we started riding here at the Lake that I had my first ride of the season on the11th of January. WOW I must be getting old because I like the speed of the groomer which is about 10 to 15 km/h. Now my mountain Apex is a beautiful ride but it doesn't have a heater, radio, cup holders, and a heated seat. Well enough of that , the groomed trails are great, I have to blow my own horn, I do a nice job, HaHa and I like to ride on groomed trails, but the other area's are better than I have ever seen out here for this time of the year. Watching the news this morning it's suppose to be plus 8 next weekend, I don't know what to say when you hear that temp in mid January.
Will be back grooming the front end this afternoon
See you on the trails
Don

 

[roadtech]

Well it was another great day in the forest,
Wish you all could make it out here.
See you on the trails
Don