Another day, another snowmobile ride.
We’re finally into that time of winter when I can head out in any direction from the compound and have some fun. On Thursday, I decided to visit my friends to the south.
Indian Lake trails had enjoyed a fresh groom by the time I headed out. S87/42nd and Broadway was looking especially dapper.
After I completed my swirl around town, I rolled through C8/Sabael trail. That had worn spots, but was a decent to occasionally good ride all the way through.
Indian Lake and Lewey Lake were uneventful crossings, always a good thing when you’re crossing lakes. Campsites were bumpy as *BLEEP*!
C8/Two Miles from Hell was cinders and ashes. It needs much more snow to fill in the terrain divots. But Town of Lake Pleasant had groomed it into something that was light years better than it was on Sunday.
Into Perkins Clearing
For variety sake, I rode past Mason Lake onto S82C/Old Indian Lake Road. That needed more snow to fill in terrain divots. But spots like this made it worthwhile.
Perkins Clearing Road was terrific and I ran that southward to hit LP9/Nichol Vly Road. Aside from some thin spots in the swamp, LP9 was like riding a white magic carpet.
Then I ran S41/Mud Lake Road and the south end of Perkins Clearing Road for miles of smiles!
Enter Speculator
C4 passing Melody Lodge was a beaten down carbide clank-a-thon with loose rocks on the hillsides. After I passed through, I knew I’d be looking for another way to return home.
The cinders, ashes and bumps continued into Speculator Village. C4/River Trail into Speculator Tree Farm was non-stop washboard moguls and studderchop – the worst kind of riding. Only a hovercraft could have made that fun. I gave up after a half-mile of torture and turned tail.
Business Access Trail (BAT) was tired and worn, but trying to hold it’s own. I stopped at Village Motorsports to tell Rick Swift how much I love the 900 ACE Turbo, Renegade X. Rick said my smile told ALL.
Then it was onto Mountain Market for a large Philly cheese steak and coffee, my usual there.
Returning home
I ripped across Lake Pleasant. LP1/Page Street trail was snirty and bumpy, but I could tell the groomers had been trying to knock the bumps down.
Sacandaga Lake was another fine rip. I always enjoy this sight along the way.
C4/Fawn Lake trail does need more snow, but was groomed enough for an enjoyable ride. Beware of a couple of large rocks frozen in place near the side of the trail. C4/C8 Big Brook was a decent pathway – especially good where it opens up into Perkins Clearing.
After horsing around in the back bowels of Perkins Clearing for a while, I ran Jessup River Road over to Carpenter Hill Road. Not bad, eh?
I double dipped on S41/Mud Lake Road, then ran Perkins Clearing Road straight up the gut toward Indian Lake.
Trails around Indian Lake were holding up well enough when I got home by evening. Hit S85/Ski Hut trail to add a few clicks to the odometer. Needs more snow to make it a cheap thrill, but was good enough to enjoy.
Went over to Mom’s to rattle her cage before calling it a day. She might regret that decision to live near a snowmobile trail, lol!
Ripped off a victory lap to seal the deal and got back to the compound with 101.9 miles. Sounds like a radio station: one-oh-one-point-nine, the hits!! Not bad for an afternoon’s work…
Here’s a night pic near the finish of my ride.
Although I haven’t headed out S84 this week, I heard the Town has been grooming that trail out to Blue Mountain Lake.
Bottom line
Let’s see…
99 Miles Sunday
153 miles Tuesday
96 miles Wednesday
102 miles Thursday
Add them up and you’ll see that I’ve been riding. And I haven’t been heading out at the butt crack of dawn to do these. I’ve been starting late morning and getting done around dark.
Do we need more snow? Yes!
Will you clank some carbide? Yes, occasionally… But you wouldn’t be banging too many rocks, unless you’re riding a completely worn out trail section.
The groomers are out there working their magic to give us the best riding possible for the conditions. If you wait for perfect this winter, you may not ride. And you’re hearing about the rain for later next week. I’d rather bet on this weekend than next weekend.
One more thing
Last week, a group of snowmobilers dumped a case of empty beer cans behind a snowbank at Brown’s Farm parking lot near the end of Cedar River Road. I know I’m preaching to the choir here. But we’ve all seen a few bad apples spoiling it for all. Much work goes into plowing the parking areas all winter.
Despite the price of EVERYTHING going up, Elva has never changed the price from $5 per snowmobile. Let’s police ourselves and tell the offenders where to shove their disrespect if we see them in action. Losing this parking lot would be a huge blow to snowmobiling in ilsnow land.
If you look at the picture closely, you can see the empties.
For the ilsnow nation,
Darrin
This report is brought to you by Allen Van Hoff – Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. Voted Realtor of the Year 2016 by Southern Adirondacks Realtors Inc., Allen Van Hoff is best described as a warm and friendly, attentive full-time real estate professional with a passion for the area and people he serves.
