After the snowiest November in recent history for ilsnow land, we sit on the opening day of snowmobiling season here on Monday, December 3, 2018 for Hamilton and northern Herkimer Counties!
After an inch of snow/sleet/freezing rain slop late Saturday night, we got our rain for Sunday. Thankfully, it won’t be warm enough, long enough to wipe us out.
But the soggy ground under our mantle of snow won’t go away anytime soon, despite the return of seasonably cold air this week.
Where to go…
The best early season playbook would be to park at the Brown Farm near the end of Cedar River Road, pay your $5 per sled and head into the Moose River Plains. DEC has told me the gates will be open Monday and that Moose River Plains would be passable. But keep in mind that one side of the road going into the Indian Lake section of Moose River Plains was plowed last week in order to perform a rescue.
At any rate, Town crews will need to clear away blow down before they can start grooming. I’ve been told that process will begin on Tuesday.
What about Perkins Clearing?
I’ll let my Saturday Facebook post tell you the story:
The south end of Perkins Clearing Road will be plowed this winter for logging, which means we’ll have to use the southern bypass again. But at some point, plowing on the northern end will stop.
How about Newcomb trail?
Going into the winter, the O’Neil Flow Road (aka Newcomb trail) is being plowed for the first 4 miles off Route 28/30. Tentative plan for this section is shared-use for snowmobiles and logging trucks. That would be a very tight fit and extreme caution would be necessary.
It remains to be seen how long the logging would continue. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be for the majority of the winter.
Elsewhere…
The local trails around Town and the deep woods trails (other than seasonal roads) would be completely at your own risk snowmobile riding with mud holes, swampy areas and blow down. Town crews may be able to clean up some of the blow down where the trails would be otherwise passable, but grooming the trails into something enjoyable to ride is out of the question for now.
Snodeo Weekend?
This week’s seasonable cold should allow the trails on seasonal roads to firm up. A Canadian Clipper will make its way through ilsnow land Thursday afternoon into early Friday. The may create an opportunity for beneficial lake-effect snows from Moose River Plains back into the western Adirondacks, just in time for Snodeo.
So there you have it! Almost forgot….don’t ask me about riding the lakes. If you have to ask the question, you already know the answer: STAY OFF!
For the ilsnow nation,
Darrin
This report is brought to you by Prospect Point Cottages on Blue Mountain Lake. If you are looking for a quiet and scenic winter getaway, this place is for you with fireplaces, free hot brunch and snowshoes provided. The wintry view of Blue Mountain from across the lake is nothing short of amazing with a fresh mantle of snow!
