All of my riding as a kid, and much of my riding since my re-induction to the sport five years ago had been as a FOLLOWER...never a LEADER. I didn't have the experience, so it never made sense. I cut my teeth as a leader initially with my wife following, but it wasn't until a couple years ago that I encountered a situation where it was a GUY trip, and I was "elected" to be the frontrunner. We were in Cadillac, and as I had been there a couple times before and was the "fastest" of our crew of four...boom...I'm the guy. I figured...no big deal...I'll set an easy pace and just make sure we stay together.
We arrived at Coyote Crossing Friday evening with plenty of time to get out and get some good miles in, and set off down the spur trail to the main with confidence...and the need to get to a gas station to fuel up one guys Cat F8. I was on an XP800 at the time, we had the F8, and Apex, and a guy on an F6 that was basically on his first trip...he had just purchased the sled. I led out with the F8 behind, the F6 behind him, and the Apex bringing up the rear. The gas station was 10 miles or so away...moon was out, trails were butter-smooth, and I was eating it up. I stopped about 6 miles in at the first trail intersection and waited. The F8 and the F6 came into view seconds later...but no Apex. We waited. And waited. Finally, I said I'd head back. The F8 couldn't come as he didn't have enough fuel, but the F6 came with me. Rode about 4 miles back to where we had last seen the Apex...and didn't see a thing. Turned and went back...still nothing. Tried calling his cell...no answer. Met back up with the F8...by now we're all freaking out...thinking the Apex is off in the woods somewhere and we didn't see the tracks go in. So...all three of us headed back AGAIN, basically looking for any fresh tracks the went into the trees, and hoping for the best. We found...nothing. I knew the Apex did not know the area very well...so I was VERY concerned. The F8 says he is on EMPTY...we needed to get to the gas station asap. So, after we had combed the section of trail we lost the Apex on 4 times, we ripped over to the gas station...still quite concerned about our missing friend. Just as I am putting the nozzle in my sled, my phone rings. It's the Apex. My words to him are not kind, but I'm am relieved to know that he is safe and...back at the cabin. ***. He heard a clunking noise in his suspension and stopped to check it out...and when we didn't return, he made his way back to CC...where he had left his cell phone. Well...I was happy...dodged a bullet on that one...I'd only been the leader for 10 miles and had already lost someone! So...after getting our go-go juice, we had to return to Coyote to pick up our misguided friend and get some MILES. I led out with F6 behind me and F8 as the caboose. I was running pretty hot and really enjoying myself and took a turn at a good clip...it was almost a 180 turn, but wide and fast, and something in my head said...that was a little tough at speed...I wonder how F6 is going to handle it...
....I looked in the mirror I carry on my glove...no headlights. F$%^. I slow down and turn back...still nothing. Flip the sled around, head back about 1/4 mile, and F6 is just picking himself up out of the middle of the trail, removing his helmet, and throwing it violently towards what WAS his new sled...and is now a nice piece of tree decor. He was fine...his ego...is STILL quite damaged.
We called Apex, told him what happened, hooked the Arctic scrap to the back of my sled, and towed it back. Upon our return, I took the lead again...straight to the bar at Coyote Crossing sans sleds.
The rest of the weekend actually went way better, with the rider formerly known as F6 on my wife's Vector.
Believe it or not, they still trust me to lead. Lol.
