Indian Lake to Newcomb (and other intel)

Haven’t had a home-cooked snowmobile ride in a few weeks. Figured it was high time to roll track in the motherland.

My snowmobile was still on the ilsnow wagon after Monday’s ride. Decided to park-n-ride from the end of Pelon Road so I could roll it back onto the trailer after today’s ride for the next adventure.

Was ready to ride just before noon. First order of business was to take the rip across Adirondack Lake and roll S86A to Lone Birch. Sawmill Road was getting skunky. But looking nice-n-white by Lone Birch.

S86A between Sawmill Road and One Stop had plenty of ski-chattering bumps, but didn’t jar internal organs.

S86/Main drag was holding it’s own, but getting scuffed on corners.

S86/Crow Hill Road shelf was bumpy, but intact:

S85/Ski Hut trail was a decent run, just had to watch the places where water eats away at the trail.

The seediest conditions I saw in town were around Bear Trap Swamp on C8.

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C8/Sabael trail

Town of Indian Lake closed the trail last weekend due to unsafe lake conditions on Indian Lake – snowmobiling accidents involving a large ice heave on the lake.

I took a local look-n-peek and saw this at Pashley Road crossing:

Trail was bumpy and rough, but the numerous old washouts had frozen. Trail was certainly passible with some care. Saw this at Furnell’s field before Route 30 crossing down to Indian Lake:

Can’t tell you when (or if) the TRAIL CLOSED sawhorse signs will get taken down. I’m posting these pictures as information only.

Before heading out of town, I sniffed C8/Headquarters trail until Route 28/30 crossing. Trail was intact. Was icy in places. Also brownish and studdery with scuffed corners.

Honestly, I didn’t feel like pressing this any further. Based on heavy trail wear, I’m 100% certain that people were riding from Indian Lake to Cedar River Headquarters and vice versa. Wasn’t going to run this out to Headquarters – only to get bashed apart on Moose River Plains. I heard from multiple sources that Indian Lake side of MRP was awfully rough.

On to Newcomb

Tracked to C8A/Old S84, which was worn in places leaving town. Pretty bumpy around Million Dollar Bridge. And the hill climb was starting to bald near the top.

Past the hill climb, there were few shallow water spots and a couple of really skanky corners.

But once I got over the top, conditions improved significantly. Other than several small rough spots near old washouts and scuffed corners, it was a pretty good ride through Rock Lake marsh and to the junction with Newcomb trail. Can’t bring myself to say this sucked.

Today’s gold star riding

Indian Lake Snowarrior’s side of C8A/Old 538 Newcomb trail was a bucket of awesome! Notwithstanding a few thin/pebbly spots approaching Essex County line, it was miles-n-miles of smiles.

Whilst on a stop at County line, I talked to a couple of snowmobilers who had ridden toward Long Lake from Indian Lake. They had made it at least half-way through C7B toward Long Lake. Trail was rough in places from water bars, but entirely passable. Eventually, conditions thinned the point it wasn’t worth it for them to press further. According to Long Lake’s website C7B will be groomed from Long Lake to Newcomb on Wednesday.

Going further

Past Essex County line, there were residual low rollers in places, but riding remained fun! This is probably my favorite spot on that section.

Joseph Mountain was bumpy in places and had some thin/worn spots. Remainder of C8A/Old 538 trail to Newcomb-T was decent riding, with several thin/pebbly spots.

After Newcomb-T, C8A was thin with plenty low bumps to Goodnow Road Crossing. There were numerous spots scuffed down to dirt or pebbles. This was the worst washout I encountered.

From Goodnow Flow Road crossing toward Newcomb proper, riding was better and there was no problem near the beaver pond. There were at least several thin spots – and some corners getting scuffed to dirt.

Aside from a few unavoidable dirt stretches on the plowed road, the downhill roll into Newcomb proper was holding up. Trail along Route 28N to Lake Harris was still intact, but some spots worn down to dirt.

Had a nice rip across Lake Harris!

Lake Harris Campsite to Overlook was a pretty nice ride. Just a slight bit of chop in the woods.

Newcomb High Peaks Overlook view

Back to Indian Lake

After ripping around Lake Harris for a bit, I headed home. Only encountered a few packs of snowmobiliers, so trail conditions didn’t deteriorate that much for the return trip.

S87/42nd and Broadway was pretty good – and always gorgeous near the river on sunny afternoons.

The rip across the lunar surface of Adirondack Lake with mountain backdrop.

S86A from Sawmill Road to One Stop was noticeably bumpier by late afternoon – and falling late-day temperatures were setting the bumps. Just stood up and surfed them like Baywatch Zac Efron.

I was hungry and decided to use the opportunity to burn a One Stop gift certificate on the all-meats breakfast sandwich with Swiss cheese and egg on everything bagel, and the oatmeal cookie I always get when they have them.

After that, it was back to the truck after I ripped Adirondack Lake back and forth to pad more fun miles onto the ride. Ended up with 93 miles before I called it a day around 5pm. Not a bad afternoon!

Lest you think I was rolling in mud with pigs, you can see the skid frame was rather clean after today’s ride.

Ride map

Click here for ride stats, 3D Flyover and Larger Map.

Lake riding disclaimer

Lakes cannot be called “safe riding”. I only testify to conditions of lakes that I decide to cross, at my own risk. I’m trusting we can all use sound judgement to make good decisions on whether to ride any lake.

Outlook

Other than the temperature quickly dropping below 32*F Wednesday night, the weather won’t be doing many favors for us mid-week.

A weak weather system should give us an application of white paint Thursday night into Friday morning to freshen things up a bit before the weekend.

We’re past the point of holding out for better. If you have any designs on snowmobile riding, don’t wait! After a cold shot this weekend, shortwave (SW) energy crashing into western Canada will reestablish dreaded Pacific flow pattern next week.

I wrote about this last week and doubling down on it now. This is a BAD look for us!

For the ilsnow nation,

Darrin