Tracks To Pence!

My back aches. My shoulders ache. My right thumb is numb. It’s been a long time since I muscled an Alpine over a narrow snake-trail through the hardwoods; but thanks to a couple of Rangers using old school techniques, there are now tracks on Uller from Weber Lake to Pence.

It always surprises me how warm a body can get steering and leaning a machine through uneven terrain trying to set a best line. It was -15º when we started and probably about -8º when we shut things down; but we were on the edge of sweating most of the trip.

I can honestly say we’ve used every piece of equipment we own now. Today’s gear included a ‘93 Skandik, an ‘89 Alpine, an ‘80 Gyro Groomer and the New Evolution Track Sled my son and I built during the low snow year of 1995.

The new section is a perfect example of what Uller looked like from 1980-2012. The trail bed is sketchy, the tracks are a little funny looking compared to what we can do with our Gator and in some places it is very narrow; but it’s a darn good trail through some interesting country.

The Hoyt - Pence project was perfect for the winter we’ve had. We got most of the work done before the snow got way too deep. All that’s left to do is find some good flagging, add some reflectors to the flags and hang a couple of signs out there and it will be skiable in any condition (even at night, if one’s caught out there after hours).

Feels good. I promise to take the flat drag through there and take out some of the undulations and side hills. Give us another 15cm of snow and it will be awesome.

Now to groom some alleys in Pence... Weber Lk to the end of #4 Rd in Montreal!

You ski freely, eh? Z