12/8/19 Update: Snow cover throughout the central Adirondacks in generally around a foot or less in most places. Monday and Tuesday will take a dent out of that, with the leftovers being frozen in place by Wednesday.
Generally speaking, avoid trails that are not seasonal roads and let the snowmobile clubs and town crews clean leftover autumn blow-down. You will also be certain to encounter mud and rocks under the snow cover. Lakes are NOT to be trusted yet.
We are on approach to opening day of snowmobiling season on State land for the central Adirondacks!
With at least several inches of snow covering the ground, we have a bit of excitement in the air.
But what will be available to ride on Monday, December 9th after hunting season is done here? Town crews and snowmobile clubs have been hard at work to repair the flooding devastation from the Halloween storm.
I talked to the powers that be and found the following:
Moose River Plains
Gates are expected to be opened at both ends (Indian Lake and Inlet sides) on December 9th.
Town of Indian Lake crews have been repairing or replacing bridges on Trail C8 connecting Indian Lake to Cedar River Headquarters. But that trail needs a lot more snow to make it snowmobiling-worthy.
Newcomb Trail
Town of Indian Lake crews have made repairs to the washouts up to the Essex County line.
More good news: No logging this winter!
Perkins Clearing
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: The north end of Perkins Clearing Road to Jessup River Road and all the way back toward Spruce Lake Gate will be plowed for logging and CLOSED TO SNOWMOBILING this winter. Access from the north will be from Mason Lake Parking lot and via S82C/Old Indian Lake Road.
The remainder of Perkins Clearing will be OPEN this winter, including the south end of Perkins Clearing Road, S41/Mud Lake Road to Carpenter Hill Road and LP9. A bypass trail has been created from Carpenter Hill Road over to C4/C8 Big Brook Trail so we can continue westward toward Oxbow Lake, Piseco Lake from Perkins Clearing once snow conditions permit.
Speculator Tree Farm
Good news: No logging this winter!
UPDATE: Gates to C4/Cave Hill Road have been opened.
Lake Pleasant crews still need to inspect S41C/Pig Rock trail for damage.
Powley Road
Powley Road remains CLOSED TO ALL SNOWMOBILING! Town of Arietta estimates that road/bridge repairs will be completed within 2 weeks.
With the large trucks going in and out of Powley Road during the repairs, it is imperative that you do not take your snowmobile there. Give the highways crews room to work! Please get the word out to your snowmobiling friends in regards to this.
Opening Day Outlook
Friday’s minor snow event will add some more to the pile, but the weather forecast looks like a real bummer for Monday and Tuesday.
Snodeo Weekend?
Despite the armchair nay-sayers declaring “NO SNOW OR COLD UNTIL JANUARY 1ST!” I’m not throwing in the towel. We all know that a cold wind blowing over Lake Ontario into the western Adirondacks could get Moose River Plains busy in a hurry. There may be a window Wednesday and again on Saturday to get something just in time.
Keep the faith! We’ve come too far to get stopped short of the prize.
For the ilsnow nation,
Darrin
This report is brought to you by Progressive Motorsports, celebrating their 27th year. They live, eat and breathe snowmobiling. Stop in today and see for yourself! Be sure to tell Karen that Darrin @ ilsnow.com sent ya.
