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So this past Monday, I had to join some of my dealer mates and Reps and a contingent of training and marketing specialists for a comparrison and ride session in the foothills of the Alberta Rockies near Nordegg Ab. So I figured as I had to travel some 600 klicks (400miles) to get there, might as well take the Wing. Weather has ben fab and HOT for the last couple weeks and the forecast was good so. Monday into the office at 7:00 am...kinda chilly (+4c/40f) but mostly sunny (em, once the sun came up anyway) so after clearing my desk of I went fully geared and bags trunk stowed with ATV gear and suitable change of clothes. Mostly sunny, warm (15c/60f) and promising a great ride. Southwest of Edmonton I noticed the cloud formations changing and the wind took a southeasterly origin signalling a possible change into one of our famous "upslope" weather patterns. By the time I stopped for a chance to photograph the hulking eastern slopes the temp had dropped to 10c/50f and was decidedly chilly. By the time I reached the Nordegg Lodge I was well chilled and ready for a hot meal. A brief visit with my Honda Canada mates along with a couple 'livations' and a warm bed called rather loudly.
Tuesday morning brought cool temps (again 4*c) but breezy and low cloud. We did our classrom thing and then suited up for the excursion up the mouintain trails into the high country for hopefully some breathtaking views of the hidden valleys and mountains as well as testing and comparing the various competetive ATV's (and maybe a bit of tom foolery in the process. From our 4000' base elevation we climbed to nearly 7000' in what rapidly became known in the aviation world as IMC (instrument meteorolgical conditions). less than 100' forward visibility and negotiating a rock strewn mountain truck trail carved out of the hillside gives you a bit of the willies!. You'll see from the pics that the view wasn't exactly as hoped for but hey, it is what it is at the time. So we all made it backdown safe and sound and after finding some good ole Western Canadian muskegg to get several riders stuck in, we returned to base and (some of us, y/t included) prepared to depart for home while others remained for more social activities and the next day's session.
Home being a solid 6 hours or 7 (pending weather and traffic) I donned ever piece of insulated garb I had and headed out at 5:30 pm, hoping to wind the throttle as much as possible in the remaining 3 or so hours of daylight..ambient temp 9*c/47*f. 3 hours later found me under clear skies on Hwy 16 west of Edmonton in gathering gloom and rapidly falling temps. I turned onto #2 North at full dark and the Wing was registering 4*c and the wind still pressing from the S/E and cold. I rolled through town at 10:45 pm and right at the freezing mark. I had my "deer lights" on as much as possible as the forest rats are begining their fall antics already, but fortunately saw very few at all. About four miles from home the temp registered -2c/29*f and the garage was playing 'haven from the cold' in my mind. Herself had a sheet waiting for me to go cover up the cucumbers in the garden, her messafge being she covered the tomatoes so I could do the cukes, "it's freezing out there and you're already cold so"
Tuesday morning brought cool temps (again 4*c) but breezy and low cloud. We did our classrom thing and then suited up for the excursion up the mouintain trails into the high country for hopefully some breathtaking views of the hidden valleys and mountains as well as testing and comparing the various competetive ATV's (and maybe a bit of tom foolery in the process. From our 4000' base elevation we climbed to nearly 7000' in what rapidly became known in the aviation world as IMC (instrument meteorolgical conditions). less than 100' forward visibility and negotiating a rock strewn mountain truck trail carved out of the hillside gives you a bit of the willies!. You'll see from the pics that the view wasn't exactly as hoped for but hey, it is what it is at the time. So we all made it backdown safe and sound and after finding some good ole Western Canadian muskegg to get several riders stuck in, we returned to base and (some of us, y/t included) prepared to depart for home while others remained for more social activities and the next day's session.
Home being a solid 6 hours or 7 (pending weather and traffic) I donned ever piece of insulated garb I had and headed out at 5:30 pm, hoping to wind the throttle as much as possible in the remaining 3 or so hours of daylight..ambient temp 9*c/47*f. 3 hours later found me under clear skies on Hwy 16 west of Edmonton in gathering gloom and rapidly falling temps. I turned onto #2 North at full dark and the Wing was registering 4*c and the wind still pressing from the S/E and cold. I rolled through town at 10:45 pm and right at the freezing mark. I had my "deer lights" on as much as possible as the forest rats are begining their fall antics already, but fortunately saw very few at all. About four miles from home the temp registered -2c/29*f and the garage was playing 'haven from the cold' in my mind. Herself had a sheet waiting for me to go cover up the cucumbers in the garden, her messafge being she covered the tomatoes so I could do the cukes, "it's freezing out there and you're already cold so"
