This is where Tom is now approximately
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Chase2(G2SV3)
Sent: Thu 3/04/10 5:26 AMTO ALL: Below is the message that I wrote up for the web site so it is naturally positive. It provides our location at Munchi Lake and the trials/tribulations to get here.
Actually, the leadership is woefully lacking. My point is that plans are made and broken as fast. (sort of like the Myerchins trying to decide what to do while on a family reunion).
The lack of snow is so disappointing and so our trip will end a bit early without accomplishing the goal of going all the way from Michigan to Alaska by snowmobile.
In the accompaning article, I tried to chronicle the zeal and total effort the sledders are trying under extremely tough conditions.
There are many bridges over the gorges that have to be traversed. The roadbed is bare and in the way of 40 ton tandem oil and natural gas trucks. This part of BC has just been discovered to have the largest natural gas pools underground as exist in the world. The traffic is murderous with big trucks that can squash the snowmobiles like ants.
This evening the temp is dropping quite a bit, so it will be cold, but no snow is in the forecast.
Read my report below and you will get a glimpse of what's happening today. In addition to the beautiful mountains, the forest is thick on each side of the road with large spruce. We see deer, moose and caribous every day. They are everywhere.
Tomorrow, we will leave for Watson Lake, our first stop in the Yukon Terr.
Take care..... Tom
-----Forwarded Message-----
>From: tmyerchi@earthlink.net
>Sent: Mar 3, 2010 8:18 PM
>To: Steve Haas
>Subject: The view from a Support Truck Driver
>
>Last night over a beer, at the local pizza place in Ft. Nelson, Team 3 agreed to "trailer" to our next town - Muncho Lake, where it was rumored that the snow pack would work much better for snowmobiling. Fort Nelson seemed like bare earth and Canadian concrete. Instead, this morning would be spent "touring" Ft Nelson trails.
>
>Then this morning at daybreak, eight intrepid souls (.....) decided to brave the ditches and show all that it was possible to go the route to Muncho Lake which was about 150 miles down the road. This was in spite of local sledders suggesting that it couldn't be done. They took off with "I told you so".
>
>The "staybehinds" had an invitation from a local contractor , with his young sons leading, to play on the local surrounding trails and and some deep snow for the morning. By noon, after testing the Ft Nelson snow (or lack thereof), they loaded for Muncho Lake. All agreed that this side excursion was well worth the effort to see some scenery, yet get a good workout even though it was 40degrees with snow turning to ice and water. I think the "sons" - one only 11 years old, showed these "olsters", what bumpy sledding was all about. They led a good pace.
>
>Then, the support trucks took off. Twenty miles later, at the edge of the road, they encountered the 8 tuckered out souls - sweaty from the warm temperature and the torturous sledding. I know that we truckers were a welcome sight and quickly loaded the bunch and headed on to Muncho Lake.
>
>Two thirds of the way there, we stopped for lunch at one of the most rustic (read that primitive) Inns along the route. It was unusual in that it had over 300 caps hanging from the ceiling and walls. No one wanted to donate their cap. I'm sure they thought we were cheapies and not playing the game. While tasting some of the best stew in a long while, the gang of eight were just about ready to try sledding again. It took two locals to convince them it was not possible due to snow and road conditions.
>
>One thing is sure. These guys never give up without a good fight - to press on to the bitter end - all in the name of great sport.
>
>I admire that kind of dedication. You just want to be with strong willed people who finish what they started.
>
>But better judgement prevailed and all of us then enjoyed a great road trip in the support vehicles to Muncho Lake. We traveled on the ALCAN highway among the most beautiful mountains in the northern Canadian Rockies. Then, we reached Muncho Lake and over a beer started to decide the plan for tomorrow. I wondered again, if another bunch of intrepid souls would emerge or would it again be like "herding cats" or getting a consensus? We will see!
>
>Tom Myerchin (Group 2, Team 3)
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