The history of Winter Romp is shrouded in myths, misrepresentations, and confusion, but today, Im here to set the record straight about this legend and the brave souls who brought it to life.
Back in 1987, Bruce Fowler led a fearless group of explorers across the northeastern wilderness of Maine with one goal in mind: to conquer Powerline Hill and stand on top of Poser Rock.
On paper, this daunting task seemed nearly impossible. They would have to overcome the Ice Wall, cross the Pit of Despair, traverse a frozen swamp, and finally climb the treacherous, ice-covered twists of Powerline Hill. But this land was guarded by none other than the infamous Waterville Yeti.
Over the years, many had tried and failed. If the Pit of Despair or the hill itself didnt stop them, something else would. Rumors swirled of a dark force lurking in the woods. Today, Im here to tell you: the Yeti is real.

The First Conquest
Lets rewind to 1987. Bruce Fowler and his team set out across the frozen wasteland to become the first to stand atop Poser Rock. The team consisted of Mary Guthersin, Dennis Weston, Bill Cushing, Reggie Grenier, John Montorri, and Johns girlfriend, Stephanie, whose last name was removed to protect the innocent. One thing united them all: their trust in Bruce to guide them to the summit.
The adventure was exactly as youd imagine: conquering obstacle after obstacle, winching up icy slopes, and pushing their driving skills to the limit. They overcame the Ice Wall, traversed the Pit of Despair, crossed the frozen swamp, and found themselves at the foot of Powerline Hilljust a few hundred feet away from glory at Poser Rock.
As Bruce revved his trusty 2.25-liter motor, shifted the transfer case into low, and reached for second gear, a flash of white caught his eye. At first, he couldnt believe what he was seeing. But then reality came crashingliterallyonto the hood of his Land Rover. Standing before him was a giant Yeti, at least seven feet tall, slamming its mighty fists against the bonnet, as if to say, You shall not pass!
Fear gripped Bruce for a moment. But then, as if by divine intervention, he knew exactly what to do. Without hesitation, he reached into his lunch bag and offered the Yeti a ginormous Big Gs sandwich. The Yeti, confused by Bruces lack of fear and this unexpected gesture of kindness, paused, bowed its head, and trotted off into the woods, holding the sandwich.
With the Yeti now gone, Bruce shifted back into gear and climbed Powerline Hill. With a little slip here, a little twist there, and the determination of a true adventurer, his Land Rover clawed its way to the summit, crowning Bruce the first to stand on Poser Rock.
Decades passed. Many thought about following in Bruce Fowlers footsteps but ultimately chose not to. Then, in 2022, following the pandemic, another group of adventurers emerged, led by Ed Tatton and his band of Land Rover enthusiasts from the Northeast Land Rover Club.
Their mission? To stand on Poser Rock once more. Although not everyone on Eds team made it to the summit, Ed succeeded. But his success came with a cost. Something stirred that day. The great protector of the landthe Yetiawoke.
Word of Eds triumph spread quickly. Among those inspired was Corbin from Lucky8, who prepared his own Series Land Rover to honor Bruces historic climb. Corbins journey was fraught with challenges. He and his team faced the same obstacles: the Ice Wall, the Pit of Despair, the frozen swamp, and the relentless grip of Maines winter wilderness.
One by one, the other vehicles failed, almost as if the woods themselves were conspiring to stop them. But Corbin persevered. Barely escaping the Pit of Despair, he found himself at the foot of Powerline Hill, just as Bruce had decades earlier.
Shifting into low gear and grabbing second, Corbin pointed the nose of his 1969 Series towards the summit. With a slip, a twist, a clunk, and a bang, the mighty Series reached the top, crowning Corbin as the reigning Winter Romp Champion of the new millennium.
Just when the celebration began, the story took a twist. The Yeti, awakened by the adventurers triumph, stole the trophy! That was the last time anybody saw the Yetior the Winter Romp Trophy.