Big loop rides

[Birdman]

Me and several of my riding partners have been planning a few big loop rides this year and we're looking for suggestions an some good rides. We are looking into possibly starting in Jackman, Greenville or the Millonockett area and heading out, doing some hotel jumping, and returning after a good long weekend of riding. Anybody have any suggestions or stories of fun trips you've taken?

[attroll]

What do you want when you say big loop rides? Are you wanting a loop that has a lot of mileage in one day or are you looking for a weekend loop where you can park you car and do a loop that takes two days?

I can tell you about a loop that I attempted last year with a group of people that did not turn out very successful for me. I do want to try it again this year though. It was not successful because 240 miles into the loop I blew my engine on my sled. The loop was suppose was to be a 350 loop and done in one day. Everyone that started with me that day had sled problems. I was the only one that did not complete the loop on a sled though. I will explain the loop in which we took in case you would like to try it. I will also post here when I attempt to do it again this year. I would like to get a good group again this year. Last year we had a good group of people. I hope they all come again and more.

We started from Griswald’s store in Solon and took ITS 84 to Rangeley and picked up ITS 89 into Jackman. From Jackman we took ITS 86 to the Pittston Farm trail and ate a very late dinner at Pittston Farm and headed back out the Pittston Farm Trail north. Outside of Pittston Farm we got on the trail called the Carry Brook Trail and headed towards Rockwood. This is pretty much where the story ends for me (blown engine). But I will continue on to explain what our plans were. One person in our group finished this trip that day. The other person stayed with me until the next day to help me with my sled. The plan was to pick up ITS 86 again in Rockwood and take it to Greenville where we would pick up ITS 87 towards The Forks and back down to Solon.

That was a very fun trip for me and we were flying that day. We had to in order to try and do it in a day. But you could make this into a two day trip very easily and make a stopover in Jackman for the night. If you did this you could change your route a little and stop at places like East Kennebago Mountain and Grand Falls on the way to Jackman. If you have not been to any of these places then it is well worth stopping for. This trip would be a great trip also and I would consider doing this one also. I know a place we could stay at in Jackman that I could arrange ahead of time for us. It is not free but it is reasonable and has a full kitchenette.

Well that is my story and I am sticking to it. LOL.

[Birdman]

Thanks for the reply attrol. We are looking into any different loops people have done or can suggest from a day to a few days. The loop you wrote of sounds awesome. We did a similar loop last year leaving from Smithfield and going to Rangeley, Eustis, Stratton, Carrabassett, Kingfield, North Anson, Norridgewock and back to Smithfield. 287 miles. We left before the sun came up and had an absolutely awesome ride. We've done several other similiar loops as well. We also fly right along and like to rock on the miles within reason, conditions permitting, combining a good balance of safety and throttle (smile flipper). We have been riding for years and have been to all the places you mentioned and look forward to returning to them as much as possible every year. If you we're referring to Johns in Jackman with the kitchenette, we've stayed there and thats great. Having easily hit the tripple digits on the Carry Brook trail, I can see why that might have ended your trip that day. Sorry to hear about that. Again, that loop you took, or tried to do, sounds excellent. Just the kind of reply I was looking for. We may just have to try that this year. Thanks again.

[MASTERBLASTER]

I have done Millinocket to Montreal and back, four days...
Nice ride in western quebec..

[Offshore24]

Try Millinocket to Ft. Kent and back. Other than local to Millinocket you shouldn't have to ride the same trail twice.

[500ss]

Hi guys,
Isn't the Carry Brook trail the one they call piston burn alley, or something to that effect? We burned one up on that trail.

[attroll]

Hi guys,
Isn't the Carry Brook trail the one they call piston burn alley, or something to that effect? We burned one up on that trail.

I don't think Carry Brook Trail is part of what they call "burn out alley". I am not sure which trail they are refering to for sure. But the way it was explained to me from a local it sounds like it is the section from Rockwood heading to Jackman on route 66 until it connects back up with ITS 86 and comes back into Jackman. If some one knows the correct section that is called "burn out alley" then please correct me if I am wrong.

[blackcat]

I think Carry Brook is headed out of Jacktown towards Pittston, about 60 feet wide, as fast you want to go, we were up there last year and it was mint!

[500ss]

Now that you mention it, I believe burn down alley is the trail from Rt. 66 to Seboomook. The name fits it well, what a fun trail.

[Birdman]

The Sebasticook river in the winslow/benton area has been labeled "Piston river" for similar reasons. I'm sure there are many other unfortunate slogans for many other WOT areas.

[strangeland2]

well some day when im not poor i plan to tour maine on a sled my plan is to start around newport through milo on to houlton (should be able to do this in a day with some playing in houlton once we get there) and this is as far as the actual planning has gone since were planning to go to the houlton area to stay at another camp available to us (me and my father)

from there id like to head up to caribou +/- as many miles as we need to make it work.. from there get into the forks/ jackman area and then back down into newport

i would like to do this as atleast a four or 5 day trip so i could ride a little in all the different areas and check out the trails and restraunts since last year was my first year riding around newport the farthest we got on day trips were greenville and milo (sameday), skowhegan (sp), and several places to the south that im not even sure where we were

[TrueBlue]

I don't think Carry Brook Trail is part of what they call "burn out alley". I am not sure which trail they are refering to for sure. But the way it was explained to me from a local it sounds like it is the section from Rockwood heading to Jackman on route 66 until it connects back up with ITS 86 and comes back into Jackman. If some one knows the correct section that is called "burn out alley" then please correct me if I am wrong.
I believe you did that ride with kent and ridge? They left our camp in eustis that day and we ended up waiting til2 in the morning for them to return.....Kent never did ride again that year.

[attroll]

I believe you did that ride with kent and ridge? They left our camp in eustis that day and we ended up waiting til2 in the morning for them to return.....Kent never did ride again that year.

Yes it was with Kent and Ridge. That was an awesome ride and I am going to try and put it together again this year when we get enough snow. I need to put the new engine to the test again. The warrantee runs out after this years riding. So I have to break it in good.

[FZMXZ]

Attroll my son will start carrying 3 extra belts this season. That was the shortest aattempt at a long days ride in my history.

[dblacks]

Attroll my son will start carrying 3 extra belts this season. That was the shortest aattempt at a long days ride in my history.
You guys are rough on equiment:D

[attroll]

You guys are rough on equiment:D

Well. I did not buy mine to site in the garage and look pretty.

[TrueBlue]

You guys are rough on equiment:D
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

[dblacks]

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!
That was last year, I have turned over a new leaf