Winter 2008

March, 2011 West Coast Trip: (24 Photos)

24. Keeping the tradition alive for another year, some of the Shed-Headz crew headed out to the west coast for a week of frolicking in the snow while the rest of us headed to Whitbourne for the Annual Winter Cabin Trip. Friday morning under sunny skies French, Bill, and Mike Pollard loaded the sleds and hit the highway, destination Hampden Junction the drop off point for Big Falls Tourist Lodge. This Lodge located in Cormack is owned by Sterling and Irene Pittman (who also own White Hills Tourist Lodge on Route 430).

23. Parked at the Western Petroleum Station in Hampden Junction, the guys unloaded the sleds and followed behind Sterling as he towed their gear into the lodge. Later that evening the guys took a quick run on the sleds travelling as far as B&R Cabins, stopped into a friends cabin on Taylor's Brook Road, then headed back to the lodge.

22. This was Bill's first real ride on his new 2010 Yamaha Nytro X-TX, and he was breaking it in properly as per the factory recommendations. French was riding his 2009 Yamaha Nytro XTX, and Pollard was also riding a 2009 Nytro X-TX he purchased last year from Justin.

21. Saturday morning brought snow and blowing snow so the guys had a late morning start. They spent most of the day running trails and playing in the hills in the general vicinity of Big Falls.

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17. Sunday the guys left the lodge and headed towards the Gregory's, but the further they travelled into the country the deeper the fresh snow became. They were breaking trail in 3-4' of fresh drifted powder.

16. Since French carried extra gas in his Tour Buddy tank, he did a lot of the trail breaking as this burns much more fuel. Needless to say, they didn't make it to the Gregory's, when the gas gauges started to drop below 1/2 tank they turned back towards the lodge having enjoyed an awesome day of fresh powder riding.

Monday the guys left the lodge and headed towards Taylor's Brook Road, turned onto Silver Mountain Trail which is a new trail for the crew. Once again this path was covered in fresh untracked powder, the guys broke trail running fresh drifts all the way in, Pollard got stuck but was quickly freed.

15. Next they crossed the barrens over to White River Road stopping at the Warm Up Shack for a break and a chance for Bill to dry his boots. Leaving the warm up shack they headed across Coyley's Trail and ran as far as Wiltondale on Route 430. The boys gassed up the machines at Coyley's Gas Bar then continued on to the Jackladder for a coffee. They ended their day running a woods road across country back to the lodge.

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13. Tuesday morning the guys left the lodge and took the groomed trail to Deer Lake and then on to Steady Brook where they stopped for gas.

12. At Pasadena they met up with a couple of fellers who offered to take them on a new scenic backcountry route with an awesome view of Grand Lake. Glover Island located in the middle of Grand Lake is large enough to hold a pond which also has an island with a pond in it. This is apparently quite a rare occurrence in Canada and around the globe.

11. After a dandy tour the crew returned to the groomed trail and parted company with their guides, and headed towards Corner Brook passing Marble Mountain. They looped back across country to Hughes Brook, to Tower Road, and onto the groomed trail to White River Road, finally returning to the lodge.

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9. Wednesday the guys made another long distance run from the lodge to Pollard's Point and back.

8. Their last day of riding was Thursday morning. They left the lodge under overcast skies and snow flurries, headed across Taylor's Brook Road, then across country to Eagle Mountain Lodge breaking trail most of the way.

7. They continued on to Main River Safari where they stopped and enjoyed tea, coffee, and awesome sweets. Leaving Main River they headed back towards Big Falls and stopped at B&R Cabins to top up their gas tanks.

2. Another West Coast Trip on the books. Personally I haven't made a trip out that way since my 2005 trip to Roddickton, who knows maybe next year will mark my return!

1. It was by all accounts an awesome time, the guys logged over 1300km on the sleds, Bill got his machine broken in, and no one broke anything. This story has been written as was relayed to me by Mark French, so I put any mistakes or lack of clarity in describing the rides squarely on him! LoL

Cheers, MIKE