A three-generation snowmobile trip to Jackman

By Bill Preis
Bridgton Easy Riders

My son and I have been riding snowmobiles since January 1987, and over the years have taken many father and son snowmobile adventures to northern Maine and Canada. This winter we had a chance to take a snowmobile trip with his son, my grandson. At the age of 13, this young man has already gained valuable experience riding sleds and ATVs locally for several years, so with a week of school vacation coming up, and prediction of sunny days with very cold temperatures, it looked like a good time to plan a three-generation snowmobile trip to Jackman.

With our sled in trailers, we left home on a Wednesday morning. We arrived at Bishop’s Motel in Jackman, where we have stayed many times, in time to unload and get suited up for a tune-up ride to the Canadian border. The trails were in super condition, wide and well-groomed, a welcoming introduction to my grandson to the joys of riding in “snowmobile country.”
With my son leading, and me bringing up the rear, we were able to keep in contact when necessary through the Collette Communicators in our helmets. Grandson rode in the middle, where it quickly became apparent that he is a fast learner and that his experiences on sleds and ATVs was proving useful. Soon he was soon leaning into the turns to keep his center of gravity low, and riding competently and safely.
The next morning, we set out for The Birches Restaurant in Rockwood, on the shores of Moosehead Lake. After a delicious lunch, we gassed up the sleds, and then crossed Moosehead Lake, following marker stakes set into the ice, to Mount Kineo, where we took a trail up a steep hill to a vista that looks down the length of the lake.
On our third and final day we planned to ride to Coburn Mountain. There is no guarantee of getting to the summit because the trail is narrow, steep, and cannot always be groomed. On this morning, though, we found the trail had been groomed the night before. The view from the top offers a spectacular 360-degree view of surrounding mountains, forests and rivers.
Despite extreme cold and strong wind, we managed to climb to the fire tower, but I near froze my bare hands trying to take a short video and my son’s iPhone froze up. It was worth a little discomfort to be on top of that mountain and to be able to show my grandson that view.

We then headed to West Forks, to Hawk’s Nest Restaurant. After lunch we headed north on ITS 87, which passes over several eskers — elevated ribbons of deposited sand and gravel between two lakes or wetlands left behind by the retreating glaciers 10,000 years ago. It was hard to imagine that area had been under more than a mile-thick sheet of ice. At a trail intersection I saw half a dozen gray jays, also known as Canadian jays, in the trees. These gregarious birds are curious about humans, and over hundreds of years have learned we have food. When we broke out a granola bar and offered the crumbs in our open palms the birds instantly swooped down to eat out of our hands, always a thrill. It was the first time our grandson had experienced this. At that point, a few other snowmobilers had stopped for a rest, and they got to feed the birds, too.
Back at Bishop’s we loaded up the sleds, ready to drive home the next morning. We’d covered about 250 miles. More importantly, we had fun together.
There is nothing to equal the power of shared experiences, to create memories that will last a lifetime. I highly recommend it.
Visit the Facebook page of the Bridgton Easy Riders Snowmobile for more information.

TOP PHOTO: Three generations onn the summit of Coburn Mountain (Submitted photo)