About a week ago, as the rain that should be snow fell for an entire Saturday, I could only think of the snow melting away along with my dreams of cross country skiing. I love cross country skiing almost more than kayaking, and for a much longer time – 45 years! I’ve always made it a point to live somewhere where I can pop on my skiis off the back porch and head out for adventure, and I’ve managed to do so on even in this sparse winter of 3 inches.
But this is a post about bog biking, not skiing, and as the rain diminished the snow, we needed only for the cold temperatures to set in for one of our favorite activities: ice biking!! With studded tires on 30 year old mountain bikes, we first ride the edges of the pond tentatively until we are sure the ice is strong and solid. But eventually, we are testing out the wet land and eyeing the river for access to more ice. See Ray’s film biking the basin last February : https://www.touringkayaks.com/basinpond/2020/02/23/ice-biking-the-basin/
This weekend, we headed up into the hills of East Dixmont to check out Chase Stream and adjoining wetlands. A sign “Slow – Turtle Crossing” let us know we’d arrived in the middle of nowhere and the center of everything. Nestled between the hills was the Chase Stream bog.
After getting over the initial trepidation associated with the danger of falling through the ice, and assuring ourselves it was thick and white and it’s been absolutely FREEEEEEZING for days, we headed out, following the shoreline and trails of animal tracks. The first day, the ice had a thin layer of snow, which makes for great texture as well as plentiful viewing of animal tracks. And it is a highway for coyotes and bobcats that dutifully follow the muskrats, squirrels, bunnies, and beavers. Huge beaver lodges stand off to the sides, and we saw a number of grassy muskrat lodges too.
It’s such an incredible feeling to bike on ice. The thin snow cover adds a muffled texture and smooth sound, kind of like fresh tracks downhill skiing. The wetlands and bogs, which are so often inaccessible suddenly open up to a crystalline world of winter beauty and animal activity. I love the long stretch of a shoreline and the ethereal feeling of biking in the crackling cold. Of course, the right gear makes the experience far more enjoyable, so the second day I covered up all my fleece with goretex and wind protection and a face mask. The exhiliration of actually enjoying those sub zero temperatures in the blue clarity of January sunlight is still with me.
Last night I woke in the moonlight and thought of a lone coyote making his way up a tributary of Chase stream, following our bicycle tracks, nosing around the muskrat lodges, sidling close to the beaver lodge to listen for signs of life.
We hope to offer ice biking and fat tire biking to guests at Basin Pond, as well as an exploration of nearby ponds and wetlands. Of course, safety is always of paramount concern, so just as in skating, we usually carry a rope and ice picks and extra clothes. For anyone who is interested in getting started, I’d recommend getting a set of studded tires for that old mountainbike, and you’ll be well on your way to having too much fun! Or set up an appointment with us to come bike the Basin and we’ll let you know when conditions are right.
