ATV Ride: More TCT

Small frozen lake

Early this afternoon I decided I would go for a ride on the four wheeler. I wanted to check the condition of the TCT which I did not ride on when I was out two weeks or so ago. I zipped west along the Loon Lake Rd. for six kilometers then north on a connector for several more. Once I picked up the TCT I proceeded west again toward Ogden. At first I thought the surface was in good shape, nothing at all to worry about but as I proceeded I came to a few places (between MacAllister’s bridge and Ogden bridge) that were tricky, maybe a bit more than a person by themselves should be tackling. I thought to myself that conditions like this must be something of a liability concern for the Trails Association.

I crossed the road at the Ogden bridge, saw the forestry machines had not done any work on that side and turned around. When I crossed back over the highway I saw two small signs indicating the trail was closed. Ah! Now ya tell me! What about signage for all the major access points? Why not erect some barriers? I came to it via the Loon Lake Road which is the way riders from New Harbour or Goldboro would be likely to use as well. I didn’t know the trail was closed until I had already crossed it. And I had to retrace my way since I had no alternative to use to return home.

Anyway, I churned up some mud but had no serious difficulty. My big complaint about the ride was the cold. The thermometer on the deck said minus four. I didn’t think too much of that since it will soon be much colder, but after an hour I certainly did. My hands, and oddly, my knees, were numb. Most of the rest of me was fine. However, if even a relatively small part of my anatomy is cold my brain tends to focus a disproportionate amount of its attention on those grievously affected areas. I did my best to tolerate the discomfort.

I explored a few roads. As always I was hoping to shoot some photos but being cold didn’t work in my favor. I just didn’t want to bother fussing with the camera and tripod. I could be annoyed with myself for this but I am not fretting or dwelling on the negative. I got out. I enjoyed being away from the computer and the house. It didn’t go quite as well as I might have wished but that’s OK, that happens. Being out for a few hours was great, no frostbite, no need to be towed out of a hole (with so many trees removed I don’t think my winch cable would have reached anything but air had I gotten hung up).

I was told the Trails Association has money to fix the surface so the current condition of the trail is temporary. The cold, which they aren’t responsible for, is likely to last, more or less, until spring.