Lasting Impressions
49 WINTER 2024 VOL . 05 / ISSUE 02
SNOWGOER . COM 50
The pictured hunting lodge shows the impressive snowpack in the area , with snow up to the door handle .
panorama of the surrounding territory . Looking north , we could see the rugged hills of Quebec . To the west , the 1,100- acre Second Connecticut Lake carved an elongated opening in the trees . To the east , we could see back into the Maine backcountry . However , the view to the south even surprised the locals with whom I was riding – the crystal-clear conditions allowed us to see all the way to the towering Mount Washington that was roughly 70 miles away .
At 6,288 feet , Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeast . Beyond that , it ’ s also one of the most prominent mountains in the entire East because of how it stands alone above a much lower surrounding landscape .
Back in the saddle , we weaved toward Pittsburg , and then followed our divergent path from the previous day . The scenery was different , yet the same – meaning , we were on different trails , yet the picturesque rural landscape we experienced the day before was very similar as we followed the smoothly groomed , twisting path through the trees . The day warmed to about 15 degrees and the skies stayed clear , giving us ideal riding conditions as we crossed back over into Vermont and wrapped up our twoday adventure .
Lasting Impressions
Crossing into three different states isn ’ t the cheap way to ride in the East , as separate permits are required in each , but it was well worth the investment as we enjoyed some of the best riding we ’ ve ever experience .
As my mind wandered while passing through the rugged terrain , I wondered what it would have been like to live here and work the land back in the 1700s and 1800s . They certainly had to be some hearty folks back then .
Luckily , I could enjoy it all from the seat of a snowmobile , crossing several hundreds of miles of terrain it would have taken them weeks to conquer , and doing so on some of the best maintained trails imaginable .