…with a whole bunch in between!
IDEAL mid-winter weather: wall-to-wall sunshine and deep blue sky. No way I would let this day pass by without spinning track.
Started at 11am from the new Washington Street parking lot in Tupper Lake.
This lot is so big, I was looking for the mall next to it. WOW!
Heading out
C7 northward from Tupper Lake was groomed for a very nice ride! Aside from occasional thin/pebbly stretches, especially within the first 8-10 miles, much of the ride to Lake Clear looked like this.
Trails were a bit tight for cooling. So, I dropped the tunnel-mounted scratchers to keep the slides & heat-exchangers super happy all day.
All was quiet at Charlie’s Inn. Not open Tuesday, but look at the blue sky above it!
North of Charlie’s Inn, C7 thinned considerably to the point of showing dirt at times.
I used the cut-over trail over to C7B. Along the powerline sections, it was ratty and bumpy but tolerable enough to get through. There was a small section of trail that was half-way decent riding. This incredible view made my trek through the avenue worth it.
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Pressing northward
Aside from icy spots and marginal at times snow cover, C7B was a nice ride to Lake Kushaqua and eventually became a whoosh-fest.
Rejoined C7 (via S83). Aside from several thin/pebbly sections, it was primo pole dancing!
Along the way, I encountered a fresh groom on C7 for helmet-whipping booty call from Mountain View through Owls Head. Conditions thinned rapidly after Titus Mountain exit ramp. Continued along this hash (and worse at times) until Teboville.
Eventually, continual digging of carbide into dirt/pebbles made me turn tail. Wasn’t planning on riding to Malone, but I’m surprised I got as close as I did.
On my way back south on C7, I took a quick side jaunt to Trailside via S78. Trailside wasn’t open, but a lot of people were there working on it.
Toward Lyon Mountain, and beyond!
Turned the skis into one of my favorite jaunts: C8A/Wolf Pond Road. Never disappoints! Trail was icy in places from “Doll House” to Franklin/Clinton County line, but remained flat for a very nice ride.
Aside from several thin stretches, a few frozen washouts and a mini-rock garden, C8A from County Line into Lyon Mountain was a pretty good ride – about as enjoyable as I’ve experienced it.
Of course, I had to roll it up to the lookout. From that manmade pile, the frosty view of Lyon Mountain was hauntingly gorgeous!
Since it was mostly good sledding into Lyon Mountain, I kept rolling C8A all the way to Dannemora. What an incredible ride that was!
On the way back, I dropped down S86 for a look-see. It was an ungroomed bump-and-grind herd path, in which this bridge was the most interesting feature.
Think I got about halfway down to Hi Falls Lounge before I had enough and turned tail. As least I know not to bother with it again, for a while.
On my way back through Lyon Mountain, I rode Legion trail which needed more snow in spots but was groomed for a decent ride.
To the Ice Castle!
Ran C7 back to Charlie’s Inn. Conditions got thinner as I pressed southward, began showing dirt at times by Rainbow Lake. It was pretty bad through Gabriels. Don’t know if I would have been better off running C7B and its 2-mile rock garden goat-path south of NY-86.
From Charlie’s Inn, I ran C7C/C7B to Saranac Lake. Aside from a spot worn to dirt, it was occasionally studder-ripply but a pretty good ride. Lake Colby causeway was shot, so I dropped down to the lake.
C7B trail cover was thin in Saranac Lake, but trying to hold on. Hooked a right onto Brandy Brooke Avenue past the cemetery and endured the painful sidewalk & pavement crawl down to Saranac Lake Ice Castle on Lake Flower.
Glad I was able to seize the opportunity! Who knows how much longer it will remain open to visitors once temperatures torch into the 40s later this week with some rain over the weekend.
The way home
Just back to Tupper Lake via Lake Clear/C7. Not a bad ride back to the truck, eh?
Bottom line
Rolled back to Washington Street parking lot just after 7pm with 198 miles according to the odometer, or 200 miles according to the Polaris tracking app. Guess the 2-mile discrepancy doesn’t matter much. Weather was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! Had it nearly all to myself.
Turned out to be a three-county ride: Franklin, Clinton and Essex (for a few minutes). Even in a cruddy winter such as this, starting from Tupper Lake is the closest thing I have to pushing the snowmobiling easy button.
Much of the riding was good. Some was awesome! Some BADLY needed more snow! Snow cover on most today’s ride was 6-12 inches, at best. Definitely ran even thinner in places.
Ride map
Click here for ride stats, 3D Flyover and Larger Map.
Midweek Outlook
Welp… Find your favorite place with rideable snow and hit it before the weather does us dirty again later this week. Groomers are working with what’s available. Check your most reliable/accurate sources before heading up here to ride.
For the ilsnow nation,
Darrin
