We left from the turn out on Nordale Road, just north of the Chena River for a 10:00 AM departure to Chatanika Lodge. The plan was to run the Winter Trail to the Connector Trail at 10 Mile CHSR and then head up Adventure Road to Iowa Dome, down Hillbilly Hwy to the Alpha C trail to Cleary Summit and then on the Margaret’s Trail to Chatanika Lodge.
Tony, our leader for the day, arrived on time. I have to point this out as it is an exception to the rule :<) So we actually left at 10:00 AM as planned. The first part of the ride was a bit rough going through the trees and along the power line to the Winter Trail, which in itself was pretty smooth and fast. [flagallery gid=94 name="Gallery" skin=StylishGrey]
Once we hit the Connector Trail and 10 Mile CHSR it got a bit rough ditch banging along CHSR and over all the piled up hard pack from the driveways we crossed. Ridding through the lower portion and up through the trees towards Iowa Dome was excellent, fast and smooth. Until we got to the road that goes around Iowa Dome, seems the miners are trying to get an early start this year and bladed it down to gravel. So we had 2 miles of ice and gravel to ride over.
Once we hit Hillbilly Hwy the snow was again in great shape, lots of powder and fast. Jake, for some silly reason decided to follow Jason off the trail. Now I like my Cat’s, but that Prowler Jake rides just isn’t a powder buster and not meant to keep up with a Crossfire 8 on off trail riding, but he did pretty good and got back on the trail just before the big dip that I’m pretty sure would of got that trail sled stuck like an arrow in a tree.
We rode up to the mine area and again hit some plowed road way, of course this time is was our own fault for not following the main trail but diverting a bit. No biggie, we got back on the trail and had a good jaunt until Tony hung a left when he should of gone right just past the over look. So it was one U turn and a couple of stuck sleds :). Nobody laughed at my tank (the Bearcat) as she just cruised on over to help.
A few minutes of getting folks unstuck and I took the lead and got us up to Cleary Summit and then across the Steese to the power line and down into the Chatanika Valley along Margaret’s trail. Have to say running Margaret’s trail was excellent, fresh powder and a nice curvy trail to make sure you stayed awake, miss a turn and you’d be running down hill through some steep and deep with little options to get back up, just made it all the more fun. Of course I did notice a lot of “Oh S-it” holes in the snow that I assume were from Chuck and company opening the trail up. Thanks Chuck, we appreciate the work and sweat you all put into it.
So lunch was good as always at the lodge and we decided to take the old trail back and follow the Fairbanks / Circle trail as far as Fairbanks Creek Road. Once we got to Fairbanks Creek Road we discovered that the miners had also plowed this down to the dirt, so a short 2 minute run up the edge of the road and I jumped off on the old utility trail which hadn’t seen much use this winter. Was a blast riding the powder all the way down to the turn off which didn’t look like it had been run all season.
At this point Bret took the lead and did a good job opening up the trail for me to follow and pack down for those short tracks to run. Had to keep them on the packed down trail so they wouldn’t get stuck, hey Tony and Stoney :<) We actually missed a turn and Bret made a new track along the hill side and down in the valley, of course the rest of us back tracked and rode the proper trail onto Bear Creek after Bret opened it of course. Then the fun began watching a couple guys blast up the hill and hit that big block of ice (that I narrowly missed) and get thrown off to the side, Ooops. Second try and everyone made it up to the Alpha C and no injuries. After a short break we headed for the rigs and home. Bret turned off close to CHSR while Tony and Stoney took the river, and had, from what I hear a great ride home from there. Another good ride ends and I’m not sure how many more local ones were going to get, but if we’re lucky we have at least one or two more weekend. And if not, then it’ll be the mountains while the snow still around. So ride while you can, the days are numbered for this season.
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