That long awaited day has come!

Snowmobiling season is NOW for the central Adirondacks. Hunting season is OVER for Hamilton and northern Herkimer counties. No extended hunting season here, bro!

Sunday brought a couple inches of snow, raising total snow cover up to 6-10 inches around Indian Lake, NY. There is no ice on the ground underneath the fluffy snow.

Monday was a cold, blue bird winter day for those who trucked it here to lay first tracks.

I’m waiting until we get some more snow. But I did drive around Monday to scope the scene.

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Moose River Plains

Several trucks were parked at Browns Farm parking lot at 1517 Cedar River Road, Indian Lake, NY by late Monday morning when I drove by. Fee remains $10 per snowmobile on the honor system. Payment drop boxes located on the tree in the upper lot and front of the barn on the lower lot.

Town of Indian Lake had not yet groomed into Moose River Plains. But riders had made their way through to Inlet and Old Forge and reported conditions as “not bad.”

Perkins Clearing

My next drive-by was the north end of Perkins Clearing Road.

The 2 inches of new snow hadn’t been plowed off. But log trucks were still using the road. Time will tell whether plowing is done for the winter. But there was a hard packed snow base under the fluff. Be extra careful, for now, if you chose to ride into Perkins Clearing from Mason Lake parking lot.

For this winter, the following will be plowed for logging and CLOSED for snowmobiling:

Perkins Clearing

• Southern Perkins Clearing Road into Mud Lake Road (use Southern bypass to/from Route 30 road crossing)

Speculator Tree Farm

• Fly Creek Road and Long Level Road (Part of S41D)
• Old Route 30 (Part of C4) between Cave Hill Road and Fly Creek Road intersections (use Old Route 30 bypass)
• Gilmantown trail (C4B)

Indian Lake Town trails

Ummm…. NOT READY! Locals are slithering around Town trails on their beaters. That does serve a purpose in breaking open the trails to drive frost into the ground and freeze the trails down the line.

But YOU would be best served by parking at Browns Farm and riding into Moose River Plains from the end of Cedar River Road. Take the points and live to enjoy.

I’ve been told there is logging and a subsequent trail reroute in vicinity of Sprague Brook for this winter, which is about mid way between Indian Lake and Headquarters on C8. More on that as I get more info.

Midweek & Weekend Outlook

Wednesday’s snow will improve starter conditions on seasonal roads entering Old Forge Snodeo weekend. Narrow woodsy trails are best to be avoided, for now, if your sled is worth more than some Sour Patch Kids and a Coke can.

For the ilsnow nation,

Darrin