McClaren Lodge Ride
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McClaren Lodge Ride |
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Updated on 03/18/08 Ride is Full
Ride Leader:
Barry Maijala, (aksnoflake@gci.net),
907-677-0944 Ride Update I apologize for the lateness of this final information for the ride. Conditions have been changing daily and until a couple days ago, it wasn’t clear as to whether we would still be able to depart from L. Louise, or have to switch to Cantwell. We will be leaving from L. Louise as planned. Several riders have made the trip in the last week or two, and the trail is finally confirmed open and marked. It has taken lots of digging for information and specifics, but I finally have a pretty good picture of what to expect. It will be rough in the middle, due to lack of snow, but both ends are marked, the north end is groomed and there is lots of powder in the Maclaren Valley. There are new reports of good powder as far south as Nipple Mountain and Tyone R. The Wolf Pack just confirmed that they will be permitted to continue with their plans to improve the trail route through the controversial moose habitat zone, so it will be a better route in the future. The Su River currently has heavy overflow and locals strongly recommend having a gas cache in place at the halfway point on the rivers when trying that route. We will not be entertaining the river route for the return trip this year, due to the warm weather we’ve had. The total distance one way will be 48 miles of groomed trail from Eureka Lodge to L. Louise Lodge, then 22 miles of lake running to the trail head at the north end of Susitna L., and 65 more miles overland to Maclaren Lodge. Everyone should plan to carry 3 to 5 gallon extra gas per sled for the run between L. Louise and Maclaren. We are not planning on pulling towed sleds. There are 13 paid riders signed up for this ride. The ride will officially leave Eureka Lodge at 1000 on Fri., 03-21-08. The first leg will be fast non-stop riding on groomed trails. Anyone wanting to start there should arrive at Eureka by 0930, for a 1000 departure. Eureka has plenty of rooms available on Thurs. eve., for $105-$115 per room, for 2 people. Parking will be free in the west lot if you have a room there, or you can park on the wayside just past Eureka on the south side of the highway. Drive time from downtown Anchorage is around 2.5-3 hours. If you’re running a little late, you can be at L. Louise Lodge by truck in another ¾ to 1 hour. Gas and Parking: Some of the group is staying at Eureka Lodge Thurs. eve. and some at L. Louise Lodge. Others are planning to drive up Fri. morning. Rooms are still available at L. Louise Lodge for $60 per 2 person cabin. Parking will be free on the lake, but they advise having a 4x4 to use it. Gas there is $3.90/gal. The group starting from Eureka will meet all of the others by Noon at L. Louise Lodge & top off on gas there. The plan is to leave L. Louise Lodge by 1230 sharp. Gas on the Maclaren end is still $4/gal. Bring plenty of your own oil and a spare belt. Lodging arrangements on the return trip on Sun. night will be on your own, if you choose not to drive all the way back Sun. Meals: We plan to be at Maclaren in plenty of time for supper. Fri. night supper is on your own. Breakfasts for Sat. & Sun. are included, as well as a trail lunch on Sat., and a steak supper Sat. night. Bring your own trail snacks for Fri. and Sun. Lodging: Rest room and showers are in a heated outbuilding. Room assignments: Room #1 – Bryden, Collins Rooms #2 and 3 – Leider, Lee, Burney, Wanagat Rooms #4, 5 and 6 – Kissee, Neill, Roberts, Epps, Eng, Unidentified We will have a group meeting for anyone interested, after the snowmobile club meeting at the IBEW Hall at 1900 on Wed. eve., 03-19-08. This letter will be emailed to all participants and also posted on the website Ride Schedule. See you there!
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