Now we know what they mean by BITTER COLD!
We got on the trail about 7:00 am Wednesday morning and the
temperature was at 26 below zero! At these temps you take no
chances or it could be a bitter end. The guys make fun of all the extras I
carry on the trail but by days end they were all wearing one
piece of extras I brought along. By the time we hit Twin Lakes that morning on
trail 3 Fred Sr. had frost bite on his cheeks. We warmed up and I gave him and extra
helmet liner and some three fingered cloves for his hands.
Trail 13 and then 3 north through Rockland, Greenland, Mass City
and Winona is just a great ride with some spectacular views from the bridges over
Firesteel River Valley shown above.
Then Trail 109
down the east edge of the Sturgeon River Wilderness Area is another fine ride
through tight winding trails, over quaint bridges and down a wide smooth forest road.
The sleds were all running well, the snow was plenty and the groomers had been out the night before.
Other than the frigid cold air the conditions could not have been finer!
At the intersection of 109 & 8/15 we turned back north and jumped off the trail at
George Cut Off and onto Plains Road south east until we hit the Sturgeon River
Bridge. I then back tracked to a two track on the left I remembered from last fall.
We took the second left again and through a clearing into the woods where it turned
into a narrow trail. We followed it along a steep ridge to where I felt it was
no longer safe and just below us was Tibbets Falls.
We climbed down and walked around the river but again there was not much showing.
After a bit of exploring we got back on the trail and headed east. After 10 hours in the cold It felt good to get
back to Michigamme with a warm bed and a very hot bath waiting. It was -14°F at 5 pm.
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