Cranberry Lake area, One more time!

Darrin Jr dropped the dime on a day off Thursday for perhaps his last big hurrah for this winter. He wanted to duke it out in Cranberry Lake area.

I had no problem heading back after Monday’s ride. I’ll go back to the well until it runs dry!

We set sail for Seveys Point and got there around 10:30am. Great timing! One, to soften the crusty snow. Two, to hit fresh groom from Cranberry Lake Mountaineers Snowmobile Club.

OHHHHHH YEAHHHHH!!!!! Just followed the white ribbon across the highway from Seveys Point through C7C, C7A and S88.

C8 from STLA 29 to Troopers Shed was a fast rip, with some studder ripple. C8D from Troopers Shed was studders and some rollers. Found relief and decent riding at times through Local 702 and S86.

This report is brought to you by Mangino Chevrolet Buick GMC in Amsterdam, NY & Ballston Spa, NY. We know that you have high expectations, and as a car dealer we enjoy the challenge of meeting and exceeding those standards each and every time. Allow us to demonstrate our commitment to excellence! Our experienced sales staff is eager to share its knowledge and enthusiasm with you. We encourage you to browse our online inventory, schedule a test drive and investigate financing options.

C8D, from STLA 60 northward was good riding majority of the time. A few bumps and thin spots here-and-there.

Roadside riding near Rainbow Club was grubby, but we made it by. There was a short painful plowed driveway stretch further north from there.

The rip on S84A to Claire Road/Country Route 27 was SWEET!

C8E to South Colton was sketchy in places at the bottom of the hill with growing bald spots. But it was pretty smooth riding, and we made it to Ole Glory.

C8D from STLA 67 into Stark/STLA 78 was fun riding, besides grinding over bare driveway off Cayay Road. After crossing NY-56, the plowed shared used section was a sheet of wet ice. That was a slippery ride!

Chilled out for several minutes off C8 in Stark. Temperature was well into the 40s at this point. Gorgeous early spring day!

C8 between STLA 78 and STLA 56 had rollers at times, but enjoyable.

C8 from STLA 56 to STLA 53 was approaching snocross status. Was very happy to take the exit ramp onto C7A, which had wavy bumps at times – but quantum improvement over what we left behind.

The bump-n-grind up Little Blue Mountain was worth it. After enjoying the view, I checked text messages, just to make sure I had no “brush fires” to deal with when I returned to civilization.

S83 was a pretty nice ride to Troopers Shed. Then we rolled C8/S88/C7A/C7C to Seveys Point for a refuel stop. That stretch would hold up nice ALL DAY!

Lunch Run

Darrin Jr had never been to Thirsty Moose, and I hadn’t been for a long time. Figured that would do it for lunch!

C7C from Seveys Point to Thirsty Moose was ROUGH! Some sections had growing bald spots.

Ordered the ribeye steak and got denied! There must be a run on ribeye steak, because Twin Lake Hotel didn’t have it on Monday either.

Switched gears and opted for hot honey crispy chicken sandwich with side of fries. That was a fun eat!

Bryan from Newcomb spotted us and we chatted for a while. He had launched from Horseshoe Lake, enjoying the day like we were. Always great to run into fellow long time riders who enjoy winter’s greatest pastime.

Wanakena run

One of Darrin Jr’s goals for today was to push his season riding total past 2000 miles. C8 to Wanakena rarely disappoints, so I figured we’d do that rip.

After we got back to STLA 29, we rolled through Local 712/Out-a-Fit trail. Couldn’t complain about the outcome of that!

C8 between STLA 25 and STLA 24 was studdery at times. Also thin and ice under the evergreen canopy. S89 was a fun back-n-forth rip to Cranberry Lake, but also getting thin with a few balding spots.

Aside from the grubby and bumpy snowbank in Windfall/Cook Corners, C8 from STLA 24 to STLA 222 was groomed for nice riding.

C8 to Wanakena as a pleasant ride toward the sunset.

On the way back to the Sevey Point, Darrin Jr hit his target 2000 miles for the season.

We stopped to celebrate!

C8 from STLA 25 to STLA 29 was flat out AWESOME! A snowmobiling superhighway at its finest.

Then it was S88/C7A/C7C back to Seveys Point, which was holding up great! Always a treat when you string up miles and smiles in the moonlight back to the truck.

Got back to Sevey’s shortly after 7pm with 171 miles for the day, pushing my season total to 3854 miles.

Smiles and miles, bro! I do BOTH.

Ride map

Click here for ride stats, larger map and 3D Flyover!

Bottom line

I could drop the mike and walk away after this ride! I’ve squeezed a TON of riding into 2 months. It wasn’t the March Madness I had hoped for when snow was piling high in February. But I got several great rides from my favorite road trip launches up north.

Darrin Jr taking the full plunge into snowmobiling has been extremely rewarding for both of us. I enjoy my solo high miler rides. But snowmobiling with my son is nothing short of amazing. So much fun and quality time I get to spend with him as an adult. I’m proud of him every day!

Bringing it closer to home, we’ve got into THIS WEEKEND to hit the trails with spring conditions. Parking lots and roadsides are getting bald. Still got up to a foot or two “in the woods” and over 2 feet in the snow bowls Friday morning. A lot of that will be licked away by Monday morning.

After that, diehard season…

For the ilsnow nation,

Darrin