One of my favorite road trips got the call on Saturday for a rare weekend ride! (for me)
I met up with Damion in Indian Lake this morning just before 9am and headed up. Route 421 to Horseshoe Lake sucked, but frost heaves and potholes weren’t as extreme as I’ve seen them. Small win there!
By the time we got Horseshoe Lake, there were more than several rigs parked along the road. Temperature was zero when we got unloaded. Hey, it’s winter!
Heading out
C7A from Horseshoe Lake was great riding, WOW! C7C continued fun times though Massawepie Lake/Boy Scout Camp.
C7C approaching Thirsty Moose had bony spots and one decent sized water hazard, but was groomed for a comfortable ride.
C7C between Thirsty Moose and STLA9 intersection was bony and pebbly in spots, but had been groomed. C7C continuing to Seveys Point was a pretty good ride. It was a bit of a bee-hive at Seveys.
Rolled C7A and S88 to STLA29 intersection. Most of that was good riding, maybe a few thin spots.
C8 up to Trooper Shed was a snowmobiling super highway. Gripped-it-n-ripped-it through that stretch. Definitely not your Indian Lake C8!
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On to South Colton
We decided to make a run up to Mohogany Ridge Bar and Grill for lunch. So, we headed straight up the gut on C8. Somehow peeled onto C7A thence looped S83 back to Trooper Shed. That was a fun diversion!
After we got on track, we encountered thin and pebbly areas on C8 the further north we went. There was one notable water hole. We encountered some carbide clank on rock tops. But the trail had been groomed for a mostly flat ride.
C8E (leaving C8) had its share of thin and pebbly spots, but still groomed smooth riding. Then C8E got REALLY THIN AND PEBBLY shortly past STLA67 intersection whilst descending in elevation to South Colton.
Ole Glory greeted us as we arrived.
C8E/Cold Brook Drive had enough snow along the margins and S86A/sidewalk along Route 56 had enough snow dust to get us to Mohogany Ridge.
Lunch
I’d never eaten at Mohogany Ridge. So, today was the day! The food took a while to get to us. But with the outdoor temperature barely above zero, we were more than happy to stay inside to warm up and dry our gear.
Today’s fare was the cheesy grilled chicken sandwich, with cheese curd and balsamic reduction. Served with fries to add extra calorie logs to the fire.
Down to Wanakena
After lunch, we retraced our steps to C8 and ripped it all the way down. Trails were holding together well with the cold weather. Got thin in places south of STLA29 due to prior plowing, then it got bumpy at times until STLA24.
After that, C8 was a pretty good ride through Windfall and for at least several miles past Oswegatchie River, aside from a few scuff marks on the twisties. Then it got rough at times going over the hill.
C8 became a really fun rip after we crossed Route 3 down into Wanakena. Thought about continuing on to Star Lake then loop through Newton Falls. But C8 sucked badly once it became a goat-path. We stuck with it a mile for a look-see. But didn’t deem it necessary to press over non-stop rolling moguls with no end in sight.
Run back to Horseshoe Lake
We backtracked C8 to regain the good stuff! I snapped a couple pics along the way:
Nice late afternoon sky crossing Route 3
Oswegatchie River
From STLA25 intersection, we rolled S88A/S88 to the Route 3 crossing. A little thin from previous plowing, but a good rip nevertheless.
718? Didn’t disappoint!
Then we caught C7A for a fun and fast rip back to Horseshoe Lake. Not much worse than studder-ripple along that avenue. After we crossed C7/railroad, the final mile to our trucks was white butter!
Ride map
Unfortunately, I couldn’t log onto the tracking app to start the trip. Did get tracking app going after lunch.
Click here for ride stats and 3D flyover on the afternoon run from South Colton to Wanakena, thence to Horseshoe Lake.
Bottom line
About as much fun as I could expect on a weekend: Wasn’t horribly busy and trails held pretty well!
Snow cover was generally 12-18 inches for most of the ride. Probably 18 inches or more in spots heading toward Cranberry Lake & Wanakena. Only 6-12 inches, at best, into South Colton.
My mileage total was 138 miles. Damion somehow ended up with 141 miles, even though he rolled the same path that I did. And Damion wonders why he’ll burn through a half-tank of gas in the time it takes me to go through a quarter-tank.
Get out and ride, whilst it’s still cold!
For the ilsnow nation,
Darrin
