UPDATE 1/2/16 3:15PM: The blowdown previously reported 12 miles into Moose River Plains has been cleared!
The lake effect snows didn’t do much around Indian Lake until Friday evening, when we got 1-2 inches of snow in a very short time. Western Adirondack cams showed that at least several inches had accumulated in Old Forge and Inlet.
As of 7:15PM, the lake-effect guns were pointed toward Piseco and Lake Pleasant:
Unfortunately, some drier air and shifting winds are really going to short circuit the lake-effect snows Saturday and Saturday Night and limit accumulations during that time frame.
But a strong Arctic front will generate a burst of snow on Sunday that will accumulate a few inches around Indian Lake and probably several inches from Moose River Plains into the western Adirondacks:
Sunday night will usher in the coldest air of the season and give ilsnow land its first zero or sub-zero morning of the season by daybreak Monday.
Where to ride?
Underneath the new snow is 3-4 inches of frozen base from the mid-week storm. I did a lawn-jockey ride Friday afternoon and found the snow cover to be surprisingly firm. If you are careful and smart about it, you can spin off some miles this weekend if you really want to.
Think early December conditions! That means seasonal road riding like Perkins Clearing, Powley Road or Moose River Plains. According to DEC’s website, most gates are open.
Perkins Clearing is plowed from the south end for about a mile for shared snowmobiling and logging truck use this winter. So park at Mason Lake Parking Lot on Route 30 to work your way into the north end of Perkins Clearing Road.
To hit Moose River Plains, take a left from Route 28&30 in Indian Lake onto Cedar River Road at the cemetery and work your way back about 8 miles to the Brown’s Farm. They charge $5 per sled to park there.
The narrow woods trails are hazardous and need a hard freeze and much more snow before they can handle any traffic. Needless to say, stay off any ice.
Bottom line is that we’re slowing getting off the mat and heading into another snowmobiling season. Be careful if you want to try a ride here.
Darrin
