Riverlands to Thorncrag Adventure - or It Took a Village

 Normally, I don't do our Saturday group runs.  I lead every OSGR on Sundays so it feels nice to have a day off.  Plus many of the Saturday runs are too early for my taste, especially when travel is involved.  Yes, I'm not a fan of early runs, except when I'm on one.

Jason took over Karen's Saturday since she was going down to the Frozen Yeti.  He revealed his run would be starting at Riverlands and ending at Thorncrag.  Ok, that's exactly the kind of adventure that I love.  And OSGR the next day was going to be led by Dan of Lead with Nature, so, even though I was going, I wasn't leading.  In a way that felt like a day off.

Jason estimated a 10ish mile run.  There would be a few miles on the Androscoggin River and most of the rest on snowmobile trails.  It was going to be very cold with some wind.  I planned more than I normally would trying to account for the cold and taking longer than a regular 10 miles.  I put two Picky Bars in my pack and Tailwind.  Normally I don't pack fluids in the winter for anything under 15 miles.  I put a space blanket in my pack and extra toe warmers.  I was a little pleased with myself.  I was also happy that I left with time to spare.  I was responsible for picking Jason up at Thorncrag where he was dropping his car for the return trip.  

It wasn't long into the drive to Thorncrag that I realized I shouldn't be so smug about my packing.  I forgot my snowshoes.  Well, I didn't have time to turn around since I was, like I said, responsible for getting Jason back to the start.  It wouldn't be right to make the others wait in the cold because of me.  I decided I would just try it without snowshoes and if it was too shitty, I'd sadly let the others go without me.

I also shouldn't have been smug about leaving with time to spare.  The side roads, which most to get to Thorncrag are, weren't great.  I pulled into the parking lot exactly on time.  I didn't see Jason's vehicle.  Slight alarm till I notice he's right behind me!  He puts all his gear into my car and I tell him about my snowshoes.  Well, maybe they won't be needed, but he offers to let me use his and he'd go without.  No.

We approach the Conant Rd parking for Riverlands which isn't plowed yet (no surprise, it definitely isn't a priority).  KB and Leithan are both parked on Conant.  We pull along behind them.  It's interesting that they are both AT through hikers.  Jason again offers his snowshoes to me.  I said let me try the conditions first.  Yeah, there's no way I'm doing 10 miles in that and keeping up with folks on snowshoes.  Jason said he was probably better running without them; it would put him on more equal footing with us.  Literally.  

As we head out, Leithan, who had never planned to go all the way to the Crag, realized his snowshoes are not running snowshoes so encouraged us to just go.  He'll be happy just getting some Riverlands beautiful miles.  We said bye and headed into Riverlands.  The plan was to run in about a mile on the ATV trail and then take an off shoot to get to the river.  The ATV had not been ridden much at all by snowmobiles.  It was fairly deep sugar even with the snowshoes, but Jason was right.  He could keep pace with us better without snowshoes.

We oohed and ahhed about how pretty it was in the newly snowed woods.  We introduced KB to a few of the Riverlands landmarks: Scary chair and Mario crossing come to mind.  KB hasn't been running with us that long, but you'd never know; she feels like she belongs.  

We got to the spot where the "trail" led to the river.  Definitely hadn't seen any travel since the last storm or two.  It was where I learned how much Dion snowshoes threw up snow more than mine.  Wow!  Oh, wait.  I had already gotten a taste of it when I'd peed.  I took a few steps before fully getting my tights up.  Lesson learned.  Pull up tights first so your undies aren't snow covered (eye roll - remember this blog doesn't handle emojis well).

Holy cow!  The river scene was beautiful.  The sun was brilliant as was the sky.  The wind was a blowing.  We didn't realize how much while we were protected by the wind.  We also expected snowmobile tracks all over the river, but no.  None.  Did not curb our enthusiasm because, like I said, it was beautiful and we were on an adventure!!!  

The snow continued kicking up on my ass.  The wind continued to blow.  I may have said something about my ass freezing.  KB offered a light down puffy she had in her pack.  I said I was good.  We continued on.  Oh!  So the river was going to be that way?!  We plunged into some slush.  Jason and I were familiar with that condition, but KB was a little more concerned.  Her husband warned her she was on a river.  We assured her the ice below was super thick.  The slush, while slightly disconcerting, was most definitely above the ice.  It still isn't nice to post hole into slush.

Did I mention my ass was cold.  The wind continued to blow.  KB offered her jacket again.  Yes, please!  What a difference!!  She was wearing Dions too, but she had a quilted skirt over her tights.  I see both Dions and a skirt in my future.  Don't give me any shit.  I still am not a huge snowshoe fan, but those are so much better than my old ones and my body is more likely to get injured running in hostile conditions now.  

I didn't realize how long we'd be on the river.  I guess I just assumed we would just cross.  We ran about 3 miles on it.  You might think that was the easiest stretch since it was flat, but it had its own challenges even after we found a snowmobile track (maybe only one or two had been on it).  KB picked out spots that she knew along the river.  We chit chatted about the stuff you do.  We stopped on an island for pics and because it was adorable.

Just before the Gulf Island Dam we got off the river at the same spots kayaks and canoes do to get around the dam.  From there, we were on well traveled snowmobile trails for most of the journey.  That doesn't mean they were easy.  There was still so much sugar and surprising slush crossings.  I did mention that it was a cold day, right?  The slush was a concern.  Getting wet feet and not knowing how deep we might plunge was a concern, but, like what is so cool about such adventures, in a very fun way.  KB and Jason are such positive people.  If you ever need someone to pace you, or pick you up in the middle of the night, one of them might be a good choice.

After one of the slush fests, KB and I realized that our cleats are getting big ice clumps. She was able to get hers out.  I tried.  Then Jason tried to get mine out, but it wasn't budging.  I don't know who's idea it was, but someone came up with using KB's cleat to clear mine.  I laid down on my back and lifted my snowshoe.  She lifted hers, perfectly balanced, while Jason used her cleat to get my ice clump off.  Then we repeated with the other show.  I'm amazed.  Did I mention this was an adventure...of the best kind.

More running, more being amazed at where we are.  What?  This is the town line of Lewiston and Greene on Main St???  How does that make sense.  I'm not sure still where we were on College when we crossed.  I'll have to look at the map.  Jason had done the trek once and already had it down pat.  We were looking for an old osprey nest to tell us when to turn off the snowmobile trail to head to Whale Rock in Thorncrag.  

More slush crossings.  I went in to mid-calf on one leg and ankle deep on the other, but at least I didn't fall in!!  KB found her way around here better than both Jason and I.  She was saying, "I'm a duck, I'm a duck" over and over as a mantra as she found her path.  It worked!  

When we got to Whale Rock (almost done!), Jason and I discussed our options for the route back.  We decided on the shortest (well almost shortest, the part of the green trail that we did for the down of the hill repeats, not the steeper up).  KB suggested a pic at the fireplace and I'm glad she did; it was a good one!  And then all down hill from there!!!

Back at Jason's vehicle, both KB and I realize there's now way we can get our snowshoes off.  They are way too iced.  Jason worked pretty hard on mine, but was only getting cold fingers for his effort.  Fortunately, he has a Honda Element and could easily accommodate two runners in there icy snowshoes.  We reviewed our run and talked about all kinds of stuff as we made our way back to Conant Rd.  

Shit!  SHIT!!  My calf started to cramp.  I couldn't flex my foot because it was in the snowshoe.  It was really bad and getting worse.  I had alerted them to the issue, but then I think I yelled, "Jason, pull over!!" or "Stop the car!!", but you get the idea.  As Jason pulled the car over, I had the door open before he'd stopped.  As soon as I stepped out I had some relief.  Jason was out of the car and to my side in an instant.  He worked at getting the snowshoe off.  As he tried, I realized I was going to be able to get my foot out of my running shoe.  He helped me off with both shoes.  We put his snowshoes with my running shoes still in them into the car.  Ah!!! It felt so good to be able to stretch my calf. 

By the time we got to Conant, the ice had melted and my shoes easily came free.  I returned KB's jacket and told her she'd saved my ass!!  Both she and I had never run that far in snowshoes before.  What a great adventure!!!  We didn't say bye, but see you tomorrow because we all were doing the TMR tracking class.  Tired and happy.

When I called Rick to tell him I was done and on the way home, I also mentioned Jason lending me his snowshoes, KB lending me her jacket, the cleat cleaning, and emergency cramp stop.  He said, "Wow, you were needy!"  Laughing, of course.  Well, I was and had my needs met!