There is no snow. There are no trails. The forecast is grim: warm, rain in some areas, no snow. The only options are to either trailer up and drive 700+ miles in the slim hope of finding snow further west — or to decidee that while we were prepared to snowmobile across Canada we are not prepared to drive it.
As of this moment it appears that Parts of Teams 1 and 4 are going to trailer up and head west in hopes of finding snow and parts are headed home; one team is waiting to see if their trailer can be fixed. Teams 2 & 3: Keith Arnold, Jim Greenia, the Hughes family (TomCat, Doc Andy, Justin & Ryan), Mark Ricketts and Paul & Cindy Ripko, are headed home. Team 5 is dealing with trailer and sled issues, plans are uncertain as of this moment.
For all those who have followed us on this journey, we thank you for all your comments and encouragement. The decision of some to leave at this point was not lightly taken. But sledding conditions are dangerous and costly to sled and man at this point. And riding in a vehicle to Alaska was not the dream.
We ask that you keep following the sledders who are going on at this point. Their commitment to the ride and the cause it represents is fantastic. Signing off from Cold Lake, Alberta. — CR
I see you Group 3 guys still on the MichCanSka trek are on the move again today. Good for you! It looks like there will at least be cooler temperatures when you get closer to your destination. It’s too bad you couldn’t ride the whole way as you’d planned, but it’s great that you’re adapting and persevering. Good luck!
Jim Greenia so sorry to here the no snow news. God has other plans for you all . Safe travels to all.
Dave Terrell,
Praying you find snow tomorrow. Safe travels.
On behalf of the 5 Snowmobile Clubs that operate & groom Alberta’s Iron Horse Trail, I am saddened by the struggles of your group because of no-snow conditions and lack of finished trail beyond our trail’s boundaries. The IHT runs West of Saskatchewan thru a good portion of Alberta for approx. 300kilometers. Near the West end of our trails, your route would have taken you northbound, and the lack of local snow pushed your groups 1 & 2 into deviations that took you away from a good (we think great-with-snow) experience thru this region. As sledders, we too are disappointed here due to an almost no-snow season. May you return for a better ride on a better snow-bound season. May you also finish this season with happier riding experiences.
Founding (past-) President of Alberta’s Iron Horse Trail
From all of us at the Boulder County Clerks office that were following your great adventure, we are sooo sorry. All of you have really big hearts and a great sense of adventure. I hope some day you are able to do this trip since no has before. Please have safe trips home. What are we going to talk about at work now except each other? Fan of all of you Brenda
From someone that could not afford to make the trip this year; I pray for snow so you can continue onward, and appreciate your drive to continue, in the big picture, a few hundred miles in the truck out of a cross-continent trip really isn’t bad, unexpected, but not bad.
To those that are heading home, THANK YOU for making the effort to go as far as far as you have gone! Michigan to Alberta! Most of us can only dream about a trip like that! And I do know what it’s like to ride on a big trip and run out of snow. In fact, I happen to have a sweatshirt that says “You can’t change the weather…but you can change the Hyfax!” Ask Jimmer “Ole” about it, he has one too from the same trip in Quebec in 98′.
Good luck! And thanks for all the updates and pictures, I’m hopeing that Video Mike will have a DVD available of the whole trip when you guys are done.
Bill McAfee
Cindy, GREAT JOB on your closing. You said it best when you said the dream was to snowmobile to Alaska, not ride in a truck. I want everyone to know that Frost Bytes is going to continue with Dave Terrel emailing me info daily and I will prepare the daily blog so Group 3 can continue to live…
Team 1 is currently in route to Jackson Hole Wyoming where the snow reports are SNOW and excellent riding.
Alive and in route to Jackson Hole, via Alberta…
“stick”
Rod,
That is too bad about the snow. Are you heading to Wyoming to ride? Good luck if you are and hope you find some good snow. Talk to you soon.
Group 1,2,and 3!!!!!
Hang in their you die hards that decided to finish your dream trip. Hope Mother Nature is kind to you till you all reach Tok. Will keep doing a snow dance for all of you!!! My sister and her husband are in Group 1!!! Kenny and Carole Bailey!! Ride safe and “think Snow”!!!!!