Snowpack throughout the central Adirondacks has settled into the 16-24 inch range. We’re finally at the point when I can head out, pick any direction and win.
Last week’s snowstorm has blown open the ilsnow playbook. Almost everything goes!
The lakes did have slush on them, but wasn’t a problem for me when I stayed on the drag strips. Also, the lakes aren’t as smooth riding as they were before the storm.
On Tuesday, I decided to make a run into the Stratford trail system. Maybe run by Good Luck Lake, Dexter Lake, Spectacle Lake, Third Lake and Fourth Lake, maybe even find my way to Pleasant Lake. I had tried such a ride toward the end of last winter but came up short.
It had been on my mind to try this again for almost a year, so I figured this was my chance.
Starting out
I ripped a victory lap before I embarked on my quest. Fresh groomer tracks were headed through S84 toward Blue Mountain Lake. I didn’t head that way, but it’s good to keep in mind.
S86 across the street from Route 30 One Stop fully qualified as cheap thrill material.
C8/Sabael trail was a great ride through. Getting dumped onto Indian Lake placed me in the fog bowl. Thankfully, this pea-soup freezing fog lifted by the time I got down to Timberlock.
Campsite trail between Indian Lake and Lewey Lake was bumpy. But C8/Two Miles from Hell had been freshly groomed for by far the best ride I’ve had through that avenue all winter. It was actually an enjoyable ride on something closely resembling a real snowmobile trail. Having snow does wonders!
Perkins Clearing was a good enough ride to the back end. It needs some more mid-week grooming to bring it to “Perkins Perfection”. C4/C8 Big Brook trail was a nice ride down to the Outhouse.
I saw fresh groomer tracks down C4/C8 Willis Mountain trail so I give that goat path a chance. Aside from some terrain divots and clipping a couple of rock tops, that was an enjoyable ride all the way to Piseco.
Piseco Lake had more slush than Indian Lake or Lewey Lake but didn’t cause many problems. Arietta had groomed all of their trails. The run from Piseco Lodge through C4/S88 down to Powley Road was enjoyable – aside from some divots and clipping a few rock tops. Fresh groomer tracks went into C4/Sheriff Lake trail, although I didn’t head that way.
Enter Stratford
After a short run on Powley Road, I saw fresh groomer marks enter C8 at Clockmill Corners trailhead sign. So I took the bait and proceeded in. The first 4 miles did not disappoint. It was a nice goat path ride past Jockeybush Outlet.
After I passed the groomer’s private trail, the next few miles down to HAMI 203 were horribly bumpy and rough, with nearly endless humpback moguls. I almost turned around, but was determined to fight through it to see if there was a prize on the other side.
Once arriving at HAMI 203 I saw the trail was only marginally better in both directions. At that point, any idea I had to proceed further along C8 toward Caroga/Nick Stoner went out the window. I would head into S82 and set sail toward Salibury.
The run along S82 was a half-way decent ride, certainly compared to the torture I had endured to get there. And I did enjoy the ride through the southern Adirondack hardwoods. Dry Lake and Dexter Lake were extremely slushy crossings, but I ran them to reduce the number of lumps I was taking.
After Dexter Lake, I encountered groomed riding on S81 and had a very enjoyable ride. I ran through this marsh along the way.
I took the 0.6 mile spur trail over to Waters Mill Pond. That was fun, but I nearly slid off the trail into a “I’m totally screwed” stuck. Not the smartest thing to do whilst riding alone.
Made it over to C8A and took the westward turn. The first mile or so was only fair riding. Then I hit a fresh groom for the win!
C4A was a good ride down through Dugway Road. By early afternoon I was hungry and decided to eat lunch at East Canada Stop n Shop. I went for the Cowboy burger with onion rings – which hit the spot.
On to Salisbury
I pressed ahead on C4A. Aside from some bumpy and worn down stuff in the narrow woods section after the old ski hill, that was a good run – especially along the seasonal road sections.
I had never run C4F/Switchback trail before, although I’ve passed by it dozens of times over the years. I was in the mood for trying something new, so I gave it a shot. The Switchback trail was an amazing ride, ranging from goat path to old road to hairpin turns. Mile after mile of smiles! I only took one picture along the way, because I was taking in the scenery while I was rolling along. I highly recommend that you give it a try.
I turned north onto C4/Jerseyfield Road. It was plowed, but unsanded with a fresh inch of snow to make it effortless riding for several miles. After C4 turned into the woods, there were plenty of roller bumps. But it had been groomed just enough to keep it enjoyable enough to press on. After all, I had never ridden this before and I was willing to keep at it.
Over to Ohio
After miles of being in the middle of nowhere, I re-emerged into civilization on the other side. C4 became a better ride once I got into Ohio’s jurisdiction with a recent groom. It appeared that C4C toward Mosquito Hill had been ridden and groomed.
At this point, I was kicking myself for not topping off for gas in Stratford or Salisbury. I would have loved taking a crack at rolling into Morehouse via Mosquito Hill, but didn’t feel confident in having enough gas to make it to the next stop at Oxbow Inn.
I knew I’d make it to Ohio Tavern so I headed that way. C4B was a pretty good ride until I reached Route 8. After that? The trail was bumpy, rough and tattered all the way to Ohio Tavern. The Tavern wasn’t open, but Danny Virgil was busy pushing snow off the back roof with a snow scoop. It was good to chat with him for a few minutes before pressing on.
Heading back to ilsnow land
At that point, I had already logged 112 miles for the day. I opted to roll southward on C4B, which paid off quickly because that had been groomed, thence continued on C4G. The seasonal roads were a rip while the narrow woods sections were worn in spots.
C4 through Norway to Salisbury was fun – especially through the seasonal roads and open fields. The plowed road sections had enough white grease to slither by.
Salisbury Clubhouse back through Stratford via C4A/C8A hadn’t changed much in condition, owing to light midweek traffic. I stopped at the iron bridge to regroup myself for the dash home.
C8A up to Powley Road had some light rollers and shredder bumps but wasn’t a bad ride. The first mile of Powley Road at the south end was bumpy and rough. But the rest of Powley Road was a snowmobiling supernova shining at its brightest. Here’s the last picture before my phone died.
C8/Spy Lake trail had some divots, but was a good ride to Oxbow Inn in the dark. C8/Fish Mountain trail had deeper divots and was bumpy at times. But at least I didn’t have to negotiate around rocks.
Into Speculator and back to Indian Lake
LP1/Page Street trail ranged from pretty smooth to a bit bumpy in the woods. Speculator Village business access trail ranged from half-way decent to bumpy. C4 from Speculator Village to Perkins Clearing had bumps but somehow didn’t seem as bad as I thought it would be.
Perkins Clearing Road had some shredder bumps from kids who were messing around up there. I decided to run S82C/Old Indian Lake Road back up to Mason Lake – which was nearly MINT! I’m so glad I took that.
The rest of the way back home was in similar conditions to what it was when I passed through in the morning.
When I got back to town, I didn’t bother with the victory lap because I had already sealed the mega-miler. So I ripped S86 and S85/Ski Hut trail a couple of times each for my cheap thrills to end my ride.
Rolled into the compound with 212 miles for the day. I wasn’t planning on THAT mega-miler, but that’s how it goes sometimes.
You know I’m balling when I can stop at Charlie Johns in Speculator to pick up the Pick 5 for $19.99 special and carry it home on sled.
Looking ahead at the weather
Despite PNA+ ridging over the western United States, the presence of elongated Polar Vortex (PV) from Alaska to Baffin Island will keep the Arctic cold bottled away this week. Pacific-origin air masses will have temperatures running higher than climatology.
This is annoying after bagging our big snow. But this doesn’t appear to be a game wrecker either – at least for the heart of the Adirondacks where we finally have some buffer to withstand a minor warm-up.
Weather systems will be fast-moving and weak under this regime – so I’m not expecting jail-break warmth or significant rain. And it should be marginally cold enough for snow most of the time.
Cold shot after Saturday
The pattern is forecast to become aligned for a break-away cold shot for Sunday-Monday.
After that?
North Atlantic Oscillation is expected remain locked and loaded in its positive phase (NAO+) with the Polar Vortex (PV) remaining nearly parked over Baffin Island through next week. This indicates the Sunday-Monday cold shot will quickly lift away.
Ensemble modelology is starting to look troublesome later next week with a strong surge of mild air. It’s too early to say what the damage could be. But this does appear to tap into Gulf of Mexico moisture.
End of February, End of Winter?
By the last week of February, the Pacific North America oscillation will be squarely in its negative phase (PNA-) which could open the Pandora’s box of strong warm-ups and Gulf of Mexico moisture.
Even with this setup, I couldn’t rule out a strong Arctic High undercutting a warm surge to give us a snow event “out of nowhere”. And I wouldn’t expect it to be warm all of the time.
So, I can’t say with authority that winter would be cooked by March. But I recommend that you max your snowmobiling over the next week or two, especially in the next 7-10 days.
Get those rides in, because we are not promised many tomorrows.
For the ilsnow nation,
Darrin
This report is brought to you by Pine’s Country Store. Their motto says it all: “A little bit of everything…” Conveniently located in downtown Indian Lake, NY at the corner of Routes 28 & 30 and proud home of the Pine’s Cam.
