Yes, life is grand in ilsnow land after bagging two-and-a-half feet of white gold. The trails even have snowbanks. After clearing snow for a solid 2 days, I was more than ready to ride!
I wasn’t keen on heading south via Indian Lake with untracked deep snow on the lake and likely heavy slush. The possibility of getting OMG stuck by myself was not agreeable.
Town of Indian Lake Parks and Rec has been working the trails, getting them passable and rideable. Indeed, C8 out to Headquarters and Moose River Plains to Silver Run was one of the most enjoyable rides I’ve through that avenue. Just drop dead, gorgeous riding and not even a hint of corner scuff. A fellow rider told me that it was the best he had ever seen it.
Crossing to Inlet
Silver Run through Big-T flats and Red River T was bumpy with rollers that could launch you as high and far as Jose Canseco used to hit them. Inlet did not get the massive amount of snow that Indian Lake did, and that showed with occasional corner scuff and even some dirt-ish spots between the moguls.
At Red River-T, I encountered a fresh groom and it was happy times again!
Trail ran brownish approaching Limekiln Gate, but wasn’t pebbly either. Trail from Moose River Plains to Inlet loop trails was groomed for a decent connection.
Inlet loop trails were nice riding, best I’ve encountered them this winter. There were corners worn down to dirt when I approached Inlet Highway Department on Limekiln Road.
Ole Barn to Gilbert Road was brownish, but about as clean as I’ve seen it this winter.
Inlet to Eagle Bay was snirt city, but when isn’t it?
Trail 5 toward Old Forge was groomed and reasonably flat, but trail cover got thinner and thinner as I pressed through it. Especially thin by Great Pines.
By the time I got to Daikers, I saw more dark brown ahead of me and had lost my appetite to press any further. I wanted to return to where the trails were white. After I negotiated around Tal’s Moat, I ripped across 4th Lake back to Inlet. Some areas of slush and ruts out there, but an uneventful crossing.
The way back
Most of Moose River Plains was holding up after its Thursday groom. But Inlet’s groomer must have turned around at Big-T because the section from Big-T to Silver Run was still a roller-rama.
For a cheap thrill I rolled the trail from Headquarters down to Cedar River Road. It didn’t disappoint…
Cedar River Road looked nearly bare, but with enough white next to the snowbank to slither by, if you wondered about starting from Brown’s Farm parking lot.
Indian Lake side of Moose River Plains and C8 from Headquarters back to ilsnow Capital City was still holding up well, but with some corner bumps cropping up from the day’s traffic. Paid an extended visit to one of my favorite rest stops on the way home.
Rolled it around the Victory Lap and decided to rip it across Adirondack Lake. I was able to stay on top of the snow, but that lake was VERY SLUSHY!
Refueled for the next ride and had a breakfast sandwich at One Stop, then called it a day. Rolled back to the compound with 113 miles for the day. Not bad for 5 hours of work.
Weekend outlook
Weather system moving through Friday and Friday night is relatively moisture-starved and not likely to produce more than 0.2 to 0.4 inch of rain into central Adirondacks, something our 18-36 inch snowpack can easily absorb.
You will have to decide for yourself whether you want to ride the lakes. But I’m hopeful that temperatures dropping into the teens Saturday night will tighten up the slush.
At this stage of the game, it’s pretty much a no-brainer to come up here and ride this weekend. If you listen to Johnny Couch Banger and stay home, that’s totally on you.
For the ilsnow nation,
Darrin
This report is brought to you by Progressive Motorsports, celebrating their 30th 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.
