Had some time to ride Wednesday, but not all day.
Wanted to spin the track at least one more time before I’m sitting on my hands for a while.
I trucked it to Mason Lake parking lot on Route 30 to see what Perkins Clearing could do for me.
Didn’t have major ambitions for this ride. Just wanted a bit more saddle time before Friday’s PAIN.
Figured any decent riding at all would be a WIN!
Perkins Clearing
Perkins Clearing hadn’t been freshly groomed. But it was pretty good riding to Perkins-T intersection thence to the back side of Perkins Clearing via Jessup River Road.
Carpenter Hill Road seldom disappoints.
Mossy Vly was a frozen, rutted mess. If I had a do over, I wouldn’t have bothered with it.
I picked up a recent groom on the other side and followed it through LP9/Nichol Vly trail. Grooming had caked over most of the swampy spots to set the base. Near the camp was really nice!
Perkins T intersection to HAMI 115 intersection with Mud Lake Road was snirty in places but fun-n-fast riding! Was sure to thrash that thrice on my way out the door. WHAT A RUSH!
Southern bypass trail had been groomed. Was bony and leafy at times with some carbide clank. Honestly, it wasn’t too bad.
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Into Speculator Village
LP41C/Hatchery Brook trail was ungroomed and appeared rugged, so I didn’t bother with that.
C4 was bumpy, but tolerable as slow speed. Mostly sufficient trail base up top with a couple of shallow water bars. The slope down to Speculator Village had plenty of rocks to negotiate.
C4 reroute behind Charlie Johns was bony and tedious riding. Lots of rocks to avoid clanking. This wasn’t even the worst of it:
.LP4 and Business Access Trail (BAT) in Sparkle City weren’t bad.
River Trail? That WAS bad.
Rolled LP4A about halfway to Speculator Tree Farm to pose with the sign. Fair to halfway decent riding conditions through that avenue.
Then it was back to Speculator Village to wander aimlessly, stop at places and chat with people.
Back to Mason Lake parking lot
After I had enough for the day, I ran it back up the gut via C4 into Perkins Clearing. Took a dogleg on S41C to Pig Rock parking lot. Aside from a few lumps and a couple of water bars near HAMI 111 intersection and bony conditions nearing Route 30 crossing, it was pretty good riding!
Continued on S41C for about a mile after crossing Route 30. Thin base, but had been groomed. I didn’t bother pressing into Tree Farm because that trail is RUGGED approaching Wolf Hill Road without deep snow.
Rolled back to the truck by mid-afternoon with 54 miles.
Bottom line
Not inspiring, but served its purpose as a scratch-the-itch ride before Friday’s PAIN.
For the Speculator area: Perkins Clearing, Speculator Tree Farm and Powley Road are your best options. Narrow woods connector trails are mainly rough riding.
You’ve got THURSDAY to squeak in a ride before we get torpedoed.
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)
Lakes?
Sorry bro… At this time, I respectfully invoke my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution on the grounds that anything I say can and will be used against me.
Ride map
Click here for ride stats, larger map and 3D Flyover
Weekend Outlook
UGH!!
Seasonal road snowmobile trails should withstand Friday’s hit far better than narrow, woodsy trails. After we freeze the leftovers, I think options will be quite limited. But I’ve been shocked by what people will ride on if they gotta have it!
As for myself, I’ll eat, drink sherbet punch and be merry at the family holiday party this weekend.
Christmas Week Outlook
The constant parade of Canadian Clippers and Arctic cold shots is DONE for now. Next week, we’ll have a rapid zonal flow between strong Polar Vortex (PV) to the north and subtropical high (H) to the south.
Much of the lower-48 States, east of the Rockies will be very mild at this time. But there would be room for modest cold shots into the northeastern United States as weather systems move through. It’s not a completely hopeless weather regime, but I’m not excited about it either.
For the ilsnow nation,
Darrin
