Posted by David Sherman on Monday, December 25, 2006 at 20:46:15 :
In Reply to: Re: I just want Santa to bring me some snow posted by Paul (in NY) on Monday, December 25, 2006 at 16:14:08 :
So far, I haven't gone farther into the "back country" than my cabin, which is 10 miles from the end of the paved road. The spot where the picture was taken is Moon Pass, which is a the main snowmobile trail, groomed by the county groomer, and has lots of traffic. I always take snow shoes or skis in case I end up having to hike out, and so does whoever I go with. A lot of people would like to go for rides, but I don't want to be responsible for getting them out if we break down way out in the snow some place. I took my time about shaking out all the bugs in a machine that probably hadn't been used seriously for a long time. The worst was the carb heat riser stuck in the "summer" position that caused it to ice up real bad on my first two excursions. Now, I think it's finally in good shape mechanically, though there's a lot I'd like to do to make it more comfortable.
When I start going serious distances into the wilderness, that is, farther than I can hike out on snowshoes in one day (about 5 miles in bad conditions), I will have to take more survival supplies and I would definitely not do it alone, nor would I do it with someone that wasn't in good shape to either stay out a long time in the dead of winter or hike out. For now, I just take a grain scoop, chain saw, axe, basic tool kit, ether, a few spare track sections, a short pipe clamp for changing track sections, snow shoes, and winter clothes. On a more adventurous trip I'd take a spare charged battery, sleeping bags and blankets, tarps, and more flashlights and fire starters.
Some day I'd like to try a winter trip up the headwaters of the St Joe, past Red Ives past Heller Creek, through Chamberlain Meadows, Fly Hill and down to the Clearwater. I don't know if I'll ever do it, but it's wild and lonesome enough out there in the summer. It would be incredible to do it in the winter. Another good winter epic would be the Magruder Road between the Selway-Bitterroot and Frank Church wilderness areas. That would could be a little dicier due to a couple steep sidehills well into the trip that would likely be drifted over. For now I'll just gradually work my way further out from town in the country I already know. The only thing that still concerns me about it is the starter tends often not to engage when it's cold. I suspect it's just cold grease on the soleniod, but I'll need to pull the starter and clean it all up and make sure that's all it is before I count on it to start way out in the boonies. There's no way to push-start a Tucker.
Follow Ups: