This one is for you Ronzo!! Left the house in a snowstorm a little before "0" dark thirty. Arrived at the Mooselook for breakfast around 6:30, had bacon and eggs served up quicker than a bagel you'd get at Dunkin Donuts.. Parked behind the North Concord Store this time and there is so little snow there that the parking lot has never been plowed this season. The lot is just nicely packed snow. Rails really showing on the RR tracks too. We were advised to avoid Miles Mountain (no suprise there) so we headed across the street and found nicely groomed trail all the way to 2/5, plenty of snow very little dirt showing. It was obivious that this area has seen little traffic as the snow hadn't sugared up and appeared fresh still. Very pleasant suprise. 2/5 was beautiful in both directions, we never got down towards East St J. but it looked like very few sleds came up from that direction. I wanted to take the Yellow Bucket up from Burke area to the upper elevations so we took 54 towards Burke, it was perfect till the logging operation then awful so we turned around and went back up 2/5 to the Pipeline, took it west and saw that the Yellow Bucket trail was gone from the intersection with the Pipeline. The Pipeline itself has large areas of dirt showing here and there but had been groomed by the Thunder Riders recently and was very passable. We had to head towards Burke on 5 to the next Yellow Bucket trail. The trails in and around Burke are a total disgrace as usual. What ever club is responsable for that area should just give it up. The Yellow Bucket trail had been groomed and had dirt in a couple of spots down lower. We took the usual several right hand turns till we got to the 1 loop, guess what? fresh groomed untracked at 9am!!! took the southern section easterly and then up 102A under the powerlines, it was beautiful all the way, we were advised to avoid 102 north from this point so we looped up 98 and it was great all the way to VT105. Banged a right on 96 and headed up 106, WOW the East Branch was perfect all the way, smooth as glass, plenty of snow too. I forgot that the northern section was closed due to logging and didn't figure it out till I got to the intersection with 97, OOPS! We went across 105 to Averill for fuel 105 was better than usual. the plowed road to the store was nicely covered all the way. Headed back to 97 across to 96 which was awsome all the way south to 102. Headed up 102 to 102A under the powerlines, I recomend you avoid this trail as it is as much dirt as snow but passable if you must go that way. We then headed down 114 to 2000 to the overlook and back to 102 south all the way across VT105 again. 102 is showing signs of wear but I've passed over it a lot worse. Back down 98, still sweet, my boy was getting tired and wanted to head back to the rig so we didn't hit the northern section of the 1 look but it looked nice. Plenty of snow in this area. We continued south on 102 a pair of sleds ran my boy off the trail in a corner but no damage done. They just kept going. 102 south of 1 has seen very little traffic, probably due to the fact that the southern facing areas of 102 are mostly bare we just motored right over them no problem. When we got to the pipeline we headed west to 2/5 again The pipeling has a logging operation ongoing after you cross the river bridge, it looks worse than it is, just motor over it and soon you will be on 2/5 and it is great all the way back to the cutoff to the store. Still mostly untracked all the way back. You know the trails must have been good when a 12 year old can do 200 miles on a 15 year old 340. Go early you won't regret it. DT

thanks DT

Thanks Mike!! Excellent as usual. I am heading up earlier than "O dark thirty" now!!

Ronzo

Great report DT. Because I had done three weekends in the NEK, I decided to try Pittsburg again this year. It was nice in the morning but the sun did alot of damage up there. I can't belive that it's the first weekend in February and there is such a lack of snow around.

You can check pictures out from Pittsburg HERE

Hey DT I had a great weekend in the NEK also on friday we started at 7 and got in 240 miles but did not get back to our house till 10pm becuase i threw a stud and it hit the heat exchanger and we had to wait to get pick up from 2 till 7 but then the dealer nevercame to pick us up so at 7 i rode doudle on my dads sled back to the house and got the truck and trailer and went back to get my sled on saturday i used my moms sled because she wasnt up there this weekend so we went 220 miles that day then this morning we went for a short ride 45 miles up to a senic overlook and back some trails had a little mud but everywhere above danville was good except a trail 114 from 1 mile outside of island pond and then above islandf pond was excellent except into Canaan 96 was bare inbetween the x-mas trees
We went to canaan on friday and saturday had lunch and camme back
overall it was a great weekend and the trails should be much better next weekend with snow during the week and colder temps for the end of the week and the weekend

We rode on Saturday. Left Westmore on 5N over the mountain to 58 to 114 not too bad at all. 114 into IP to gas up across the lake to 114N to 111B to 111 to 105. Some of 105 was dirt but passable. Just outside of Averill lots of snow, took 106 to 97C to 97 to 96 then to 106 then to 102. Should have avoided 102 but it was rideable. 102 to 114C to 114 back across the lake then 114 to 58 more bare spots back over the mountain to Westmore. 140 miles overall VG conditions. Bare spots are growing. Did not rise the trails on Sunday. Just a couple of runs down the lake (35 mph or less) packed up and headed home. Was well worth the trip. Weather was great for being outdoors.

Mike....thanks again for the report. Did 175 miles on sat.....followed your route and found mostly very good conditions. Parked outside of IP near the airport and went north in the am...did the 114's, 102, 105, 96, 97, etc and stayed out of the towns. Anything facing south was done.....the powerlines were real bad.....just like you said. Got into bloomfield for lunch.....trails into the store were fine. Headed south and did the 98 and 1 loops in the afternoon. You know the seasons in trouble when rte 1 is showing bare spots! Overall, had a great day....back to the truck by 5.

I hate to say but its going real fast.....if they dont get some snow soon it will be done....

Ronzo

Sounds like everyone made the best of it. Here are a few shots from friday. DT

Mike, I hope you don't mind, I made these all visible here.

the rest:

ouch.... some places don't look so hot...

Thanks Jay, as you can tell I am not very computer savy. DT