Got about 3 inches of snow here in Indian Lake to start the day, which got me off the couch and on my sled. Crazy Cal decided that Thursday was going to be his day off, after all. So the cast was set.
We trailered our sleds down to Mason Lake Parking lot and headed in from the north end of Perkins Clearing Road. The riding surface was smooth to slight studder-ripple going in.
There were several small frozen washouts and some fallen trees to maneuver around, but hardly any rock clacking. The trail was almost pure ice under the 3-4 inches of new snow, in which we were laying the first tracks.
Took the right turn onto Jessup River Road and ran it all the way back. New snow cover was in the 4-5 inch range in the back side of Perkins Clearing. A few frozen washouts and fallen trees along the way. Icy conditions under the new snow, but not quite as slick as Perkins Clearing Road.
Carpenter Hill Road was the best ride of the day in Perkins Clearing. Just a few small washouts toward the Mossy Vly.
Crossed the Mossy Vly Bridge without incident, but the swampland surrounding the bridge was pretty soft. Not sure I’d want to go through that again until it gets really cold.
More pretty good riding until we hit Nichol Vly Camp where the new snow was still deep enough to keep the slides and heat exchangers quite happy:
Unfortuntely, LP9 was not a good run due to the numerous washouts and the icy conditions under the new snow.
We reconnected with Perkins Clearing Road and ran it down to Mud Lake Road Intersection. That was extremely icy under the new snow and there were a couple of steep hills I barely made up. Today was a day I wish my track was studded.
Along with some horsing around “off the grid” we managed 40+ miles by the time we made it back to the truck. We didn’t even entertain the thought of trying to get to Speculator or Oxbow from Perkins Clearing. Can’t imagine how bad that would be.
The south end of Perkins Clearing Road into Mud River Road is plowed for logging and extremely icy. We didn’t bother with the “southern bypass.”
On to Moose River Plains
After we loaded our sleds back on the trailer, we trucked our them up to Browns Farm near the end of Cedar River Road to hit Moose River Plains from there.
The Indian Lake side of Moose River Plains was groomed and the trail conditions were very fast and flat. Trails were a sheet of ice under the new snow, but there was almost no carbide clank, except for the S-turns. A lot of it looked like this:
After we passed Silver Run, we found more groomed, fast and flat conditions with pretty good riding to the Big-T. There might have been a couple of places we clacked carbide along the way. Very icy under the new snow.
After Big-T, the trail base thinned considerably but there wasn’t a ton of carbide clack until the final 2-3 miles to Limekiln Road. The final mile or so was extremely thin.
Limekiln Road had enough snow to ride the margins of it. Wanted to eat at Ole Barn, but they were closed, so we headed over to Screamen Eagle.
That stretch into Inlet village via Gilbert Road was painful. It looked white but I can’t believe there was anything under the new fluff throughout much of it.
But we made it to the Screamen Eagle for dinner and thawed our helmets from the considerable glaze formed by a freezing drizzle and snow pellet mixture that hit during the afternoon.
Wrapping up
After demolishing a 3 course meal that included salad, a buffalo chicken wrap and two orders of wings, we doubled back through the Plains to the Browns Farm to call it an evening. Ended up with 60+ miles on that leg.
Rode the Indian Lake town trails a bit after I unloaded my sled at Cal’s house. They were ride-able but rough with some washouts. The Bear Trap Swamp was especially rough.
Bottom line
Conditions were marginal and icy with a fresh application of white paint. It was enough to scratch the itch and give Crazy Cal his first saddle time of the season. We encountered several riders today who had to same idea.
Would I be in a hurry to get back out there? Not until we get more snow.
Was I glad I took the ride today? Yes, after not riding for 2 weeks. A lot better than getting chewed apart by black flies and sweating in #summersucks heat! Did 100+ miles today.
You have to decide whether Perkins Clearing or Moose River Plains would be worthwhile for yourself. Extra caution is needed on turns and hills, especially if your track isn’t studded.
Thankfully, no train-wreck rain is expected prior to this weekend, even through our next mini-warm up.
Trail Closure in Sabael
The C8/Sabael Trail south of Pashley Road has been closed by a property owner, severing the Indian Lake-Speculator connection:
All I have been told directly is that the Town of Indian Lake has been in active discussion with the property owner to re-open the trail.
At this point, I can only hope the trail will be re-opened as early as possible.
For the ilsnow nation,
Darrin
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