Had to grab it one more time before our grand mal meltdown rolls into town.
Lake Durant toward Newcomb served me well last Friday. And I’m always one to keep going back to the well until it runs dry.
Unloaded at Northville-Placid trailhead parking lot by 11am and headed out. The mile of S84 between Lake Durant Campsites and HAMI600 intersection was snirty with low chop, but holding up well enough to skate to Newcomb trail.
This report is brought to you by Wilder Performance. your one-stop-shop for high-performance, premium parts for your Snowmobile and SxS. We are riders who are passionate about off-road sports and understand the importance of having the best performance parts to enhance your riding experience. Our frustration with the lack of quick access to these parts led us to start Wilder Performance.
We believe in doing things right the first time, which is why we offer only the highest quality products, hand-picked by our team. Our location in Mayfield, NY, gives us easy access to some of the best riding trails in the Northeast, allowing us to test and fine-tune our products to provide you with the best possible performance. At Wilder Performance, we’re committed to providing exceptional customer service and delivering your orders quickly and efficiently, so you can spend less time waiting and more time riding.
C8A/Old 538 Newcomb trail to Essex County Line
Riding ranged from nearly smooth to slight studder-ripple. Vast majority of it was holding up great!
Within a mile-and-a-half from Essex County line, I encountered several balding spots, with this one being the largest.
Essex County Line to Newcomb T
Studderbumps and rollers from Essex County Line until Joseph Mountain, with some balding corners. This was by far the best section on the other side.
Joseph Mountain to Newcomb-T (ESSE50 intersection) was a roller coaster and rough at times. Base was thinning with dirt and rock exposed in places.
C8A from Newcomb-T, eastward
Only rolled this for about a mile and a half before turning tail. Was passable, but I didn’t have the appetite to keep pressing with stuff like this. Wanted to go back to where the trail was all white.
Back to Lake Durant
Trail had softened into the afternoon, making the Indian Lake Snowarriors’ jursidiction on Newcomb trail a terrific spring ride! Was a true pleasure to roll though that avenue.
Before reloading ol’ 900 ACE Turbo onto the ilsnow wagon, I rolled S84/Old Stage trail as far as the wooden bridge, then back to the truck. If this ends up being my final miles spun for this lost winter, I did OK!
Rode 54 miles today , including some rabbit-holing. You wouldn’t know it from driving in town, but shady nooks and north-facing slopes still held upward of 12-18+ inches of remnant winter snowpack.
Skid frame was clean and slides/heat exchangers were happy. If 1971 miles ends up being my season’s tally, so be it!
Bottom line
I’m pretty sure that NOBODY reading this will ride here tomorrow. Even so, I know that some people read my reports for entertainment or for vicarious living.
Outlook
Hoping for a mid-March miracle? I’ll save you the suspense: probably not gonna happen on this watch! Ensemble model-ology indicating Polar Vortex (PV) near North Pole by March 12th with abundant shortwave (SW) energy crashing into west coast of North America.
Kiss of Death for cold-n-snow here in ilsnow land!
I’ll update my 7-day forecast daily this week at https://ilsnow.com/weather/.
After that, I’ll suspend the ilsnow storm center, because it won’t be worth the effort by then.
Honestly, I’m ready to wash my hands of this putrid winter and move onto next.
For the ilsnow nation,
Darrin
Appreciate what you did this winter. I lived in IL off and on for 17 years. Now in FL. Rode the trails you ride. Thanks.
Good to hear from you, Matt. I think I gave this winter my all, lol!
I did read your reply and comments on the trails and were my only and thankfully true guide to riding which I came up here on the 26th and rode Monday, Tuesday, rained yesterday and going back out today and thanks much for your pics and thorough description of where the snow is let… not a perfect ride but the area down where you were is only place left to ride …thanks
Rode Feb 27 from Mason Lk back to the end of Spruce Lk trail…Carpenter Hill…Perkins to the start of Mud Lake trail…back to Mason for some play time and then loaded up. 52 miles. Trails were nice with minimal bare spots. Had a snack off trail and the snow was over my knees. I’m done too for the year.