FINNDIAN Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 For those who are interested in what's involved in opening a trail, I took a few pics this time. Since I had an extra day off with New Years, I figured it was a good oportunity to have a little spare time to open the D trail to Halfway Haven. Dec 31 I headed out in the afternoon to pack the Rocky hill heading up from Mcphail Dam with the Br 180. Then I returned to the groomer garage and picked up the Tucker and drag and groomed all the way to Anjigami and back to McPhail dam where I left it for the night. About 6 hours invested and it would be easy going as far as Anjigami the next morning. Jan 1, -25c Pack up my gear like I'm going winter camping and once the sun comes up at around 830, off to load up with a load of pallets and a few cans of fuel. NOticed lots of tracks on the road in the fresh snow overnight. A large pack of wolves traveled about 5 miles on the road. their still there. And both units started. Just warmed up the Br so it might start later.(not a good cold starter) More Tracks A cow and calf checked out the groomer not too much after I left as the trail hadn't hardened yet and was rock hard now. Clean all the brush off and get ready to pile on the pallets. I try to work slow when its cold out so I don't overheat but took a break when all 13 were loaded on And I'm off 10:30 am. Makin good time on the trail I groomed the night before. The trail is set like concrete and sparkling like diamonds in the sun. The first water hazard after Anjigami. I was pleased to see the pond had gone down on the far end and was frozen solid. A few strategically placed pallets and it's a trail I think there are 10-12 obstacles like this on the South D trail. I took pictures of a couple. This is one that needs some time plowing snow into. Probably 6 feet deep and 15-20 ft across. smoothed over YOu really gotta know where the trail goes as it's hard to tell sometimes looking back looking forward A few more The driveshaft always looks cool when it's cold out. This was a shoddy ATV bridge that partially collapsed. Not too pretty but the next pass on the way home improved it a bit. A little more snow and it'll dissapear too. There were a few more after that but it was dark. Arrived at halfway around 8pm at -25c Some great food, a few beers and a good nights sleep and 365liters of fuel later and it was time to head back. A lot less work on the way back just laying down a nice hard trail A sucessful trip and arrived back around 8 pm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 For those who are interested in what's involved in opening a trail, I took a few pics this time.A cow and calf checked out the groomer not too much after I left as the trail hadn't hardened yet and was rock hard now. YOu really gotta know where the trail goes as it's hard to tell sometimes I went out w/ 1 of the Paudash groomers a couple of weeks ago when they broke 1 of the trails. Pretty slow going in spots. We also saw fresh moose tracks on our trail about an hour after we turned around & were headed back. It walked quite a ways on our trail. The operator normally didn't groom the trail we were on so I had to help him a bit on the the hydro line as to which side of the ROW the trail went. Finally, great pics. I think TOP D south of there is on our "to do list" some year. We rode in to Wawa from Manitouwadge last winter & back up to Hornepayne the next day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomo Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Thanks for posting! Great pictures and story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildbill Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Thanks Jonesy a great job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muskoka Man Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Excellent Pics , your hard work will be enjoyed by all , I would like to make it up your way once this winter to run that hydro line Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 What great pix! Really appreciate the time you put in as well as letting us see the massive amount of work needed so we can enjoy the ride - thanks! Haven't been able to make it to your area for a few years but are hoping for a March ride this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sledjunk Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Great Pics and story. Sure drives the point home. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowTouringGuy Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Some interesting information in there (365 litres one-way) and some nice pix, too, of a trail I thoroughly enjoyed riding. Thanks for sharing your day with us. After a round trip to HH, what kind of maintenance is required on the equipment ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irREVerent Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Great Pics and story. Sure drives the point home. Thanks. Ditto...thanks for your hard work, Jonesy. We're finally going to make it up to wawa this season, so I'm looking forward to that leg of trail between Halfway and Wawa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinjin Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Great story and pics, Gord. Can't wait to ride the trail, we arrive in Wawa in 5 weeks. That long distance pic of the ribbon of trail going through the power lines makes me drool. Much thanks to you and the other volunteers that put so much work into some of the best trails in Ontario. It is one of the main reasons we make a 11 hour each way drive every year to ride your area. Always the highlight of the season. Can't wait to be back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 A wonderful story. Also looking forward to returning. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FINNDIAN Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 Some interesting information in there (365 litres one-way) and some nice pix, too, of a trail I thoroughly enjoyed riding. Thanks for sharing your day with us. After a round trip to HH, what kind of maintenance is required on the equipment ? It just had a major service recently so not too much maintenance I dumped in a few cans of fuel when I left but was probably 30-40 liters from full, so actually was realisticly 330-340 liters used. The snow was deep for most of the way and was hard going so I did burn a lot of fuel. Only used about 260 on the way back. I brough it in the shop when returning so it could melt down and spent a few hours yesterday checking it over. Air locker line broken from too much ice build up (always breaks when you need it) Crack in blade (plowing rocky sections on powerline near HH to fill holes) One blown idler wheel seal (use lots of these) No damaged idler wheels $500 a pop and we blew a few last year. replace some melted switches that I had bypassed previously. all in all, made out pretty good. She just headed back out on the trail to groom D north to Dubreuilville. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domino Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 Some interesting information in there (365 litres one-way) and some nice pix, too, of a trail I thoroughly enjoyed riding. Thanks for sharing your day with us. After a round trip to HH, what kind of maintenance is required on the equipment ? It just had a major service recently so not too much maintenance I dumped in a few cans of fuel when I left but was probably 30-40 liters from full, so actually was realisticly 330-340 liters used. The snow was deep for most of the way and was hard going so I did burn a lot of fuel. Only used about 260 on the way back. I brough it in the shop when returning so it could melt down and spent a few hours yesterday checking it over. Air locker line broken from too much ice build up (always breaks when you need it) Crack in blade (plowing rocky sections on powerline near HH to fill holes) One blown idler wheel seal (use lots of these) No damaged idler wheels $500 a pop and we blew a few last year. replace some melted switches that I had bypassed previously. all in all, made out pretty good. She just headed back out on the trail to groom D north to Dubreuilville. All from one run.....is it a Polaris? :poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 She just headed back out on the trail to groom D north to Dubreuilville. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildman Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 great job Jonesy, thanks for all you do. About the fuel, does your club truck your own fuel in to halfway, or do they bring it in for you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FINNDIAN Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 great job Jonesy, thanks for all you do. About the fuel, does your club truck your own fuel in to halfway, or do they bring it in for you? Halfway actually has a fuel truck deliver fuel there. Must be quite the delivery, I think they have to put chains on it. Halfway also donates some fuel to the club to make the trip less painfull for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Reg Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 did you try to stick your tongue on it.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildman Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 great job Jonesy, thanks for all you do. About the fuel, does your club truck your own fuel in to halfway, or do they bring it in for you? Halfway actually has a fuel truck deliver fuel there. Must be quite the delivery, I think they have to put chains on it. Halfway also donates some fuel to the club to make the trip less painfull for us. I knew they trucked in gasoline, but if he is trucking in fuel, that is pretty cool........I'm sure that run's on diesel, correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Louis Dave Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Incredible Gord. You should post this as a ride report on ADV... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CjGaughan Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Awesome pics and story..loved it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathangarber Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 thanks for all the hard work gord. i can vouch for your pictures as we rode some of d south this weekend. the trails were as good as they look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ox Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 great job Jonesy, thanks for all you do. About the fuel, does your club truck your own fuel in to halfway, or do they bring it in for you? Halfway actually has a fuel truck deliver fuel there. Must be quite the delivery, I think they have to put chains on it. Halfway also donates some fuel to the club to make the trip less painfull for us. I knew they trucked in gasoline, but if he is trucking in fuel, that is pretty cool........I'm sure that run's on diesel, correct. The whole joint is off the grid (and under the hydro ) so a fuel delivery is never far off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildman Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 The whole joint is off the grid (and under the hydro ) so a fuel delivery is never far off. well that shows how bright I am, I was sittin here racking my brain trying to think what they would use diesel for. They probably run a diesel genny eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildbill Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 great job Jonesy, thanks for all you do. About the fuel, does your club truck your own fuel in to halfway, or do they bring it in for you? Halfway actually has a fuel truck deliver fuel there. Must be quite the delivery, I think they have to put chains on it. Halfway also donates some fuel to the club to make the trip less painfull for us. I knew they trucked in gasoline, but if he is trucking in fuel, that is pretty cool........I'm sure that run's on diesel, correct. The whole joint is off the grid (and under the hydro ) so a fuel delivery is never far off. Have you ever been under a hydro line ? I wonder if they could induct some hydro ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ox Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Have you ever been under a hydro line ? I hope your not asking me this? I wonder if they could induct some hydro ? {Just trying to git this thread onto a second page so that I don't hafta wait 30 seconds each time while all those pics load... :poke: } I have heard/tell that you can stick one end of a flourescent bulb in the ground under a big hydro such as that and git it to light up. To what degree I don't know? But they say that it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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