When there is deep enough snow, Wells offers change-of-pace riding opportunities.
Many of their snowmobile trails need a lot of snow to make them work. In lean winters, there isn’t much riding in Wells other than trucking it to Speculator Tree Farm or spinning around Lake Algonquin.
But this is a good winter and I was ready for a Wells run.
Wednesday would be the day!
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Heading out
Leaving Indian Lake on C8/Sabael trail was a good ride. Indian Lake drag strip was somewhat bumpy at south end of the lake. Campsites trail wasn’t bad. Nice rip across Lewey Lake.
C8 / Two Miles of Hell was the usual bump and grind in the morning.
Since I was into change-of-pace riding, I elected to roll S82C/Old Indian Lake Road from Mason Lake into Perkins Clearing. Decent ride, one of the better sections here:
From Perkins-T intersection through Old Military Road/Jessup River Road was SWEET to the back!
Did a short scratch-n-sniff onto C4/C8 Big Brook trail. Was pretty good, certainly would have pressed through if I was going to ride that way.
Rolled Carpenter Hill Road and Nichol Vly trail to Perkins Clearing Road on the counterclockwise loop. All beautiful riding! Best I’ve seen Nichol Vly trail all winter, NO WATER BARS!
Speculator Tree Farm into Wells
S41C/Pig Rock trail into Speculator Tree Farm was MINT! Best I’ve seen that all winter.
Much of Tree Farm was good to excellent riding. Wolf Hill Road was especially gorgeous!
Paid a visit to Kunjamuk Cave off C4/Cave Hill Road.
C4B/Gilmantown trail has been reopened and groomed after being closed for logging. Was plowed thin in places through logging slash the first half mile off Route 8/30. Wasn’t a very good ride the first mile or so. But it became really FUN into Wells, especially the power line sections.
S42 main drag was a nice ride to Lake Algonquin. Found S44 on south side of the lake and rolled that to Sacandaga Campground. Great riding in the campground!
Found a fresh groom into Pumpkin Hollow!
S44 along Pumpkin Hollow Road had a shelved and groomed snowbank that kept me off the road most of the time. Seasonal road after the end of Pumpkin Hollow Road was a blast!
True adventure started after this bridge crossing.
I followed the herd path about three-quarter mile. It was narrow, rugged and well-tracked. I’ve heard S43 had been cleared all the way to Harrisburg Lake. But that is definitely NOT my kind of riding. Once I found a spot on the trail wide enough to spin my sled around, I turned tail.
At Hami 705 intersection on Pumpkin Hollow Road, I turned my skis onto this goat path northbound on S43.
It was groomed for a mostly enjoyable meandering ride through the deep woods. Encountered a few sidehill sections that required careful throttle control – where ECO mode shines!
At Hami 704 intersection, I saw a single track onto S43 toward Pine Orchard. No way I would tackle that beast by myself. Was content to peel onto S47 and complete the loop back into Wells. Caught a nice groom where the trail widened. Snowbank along plowed road sections were shelved and groomed nicely.
Leaving Wells
S42 along Route 30 to Speculator Tree Farm was GREAT RIDING! One of my best experiences through that avenue.
Old Route 8/30 was helmet-whipping booty call. That trail rode FAST!!
Old Route 8/30 bypass trail was mostly good riding.
LP4a from Tree Farm to Downey Avenue along Route 8/30 was a FAST ride to the postcard sign.
Got into Speculator Village and climbed Makomis Fire Tower for the amazing view!
Ran through Speculator Tree Farm on my way out the door because it was as good as I’ve seen it all winter! C4/River Trail was actually pretty good. This was one of the sweet spots.
Back end of Elm Lake Road was AWESOME!
After I got done with Tree Farm, I rolled S41C/Pig Rock trail to Perkins Clearing. Didn’t mind hitting that trail again!
Did the clockwise loop around Perkins Clearing to pad happy fun miles before the push back to Indian Lake. Rode this sweet diversion off Carpenter Hill Road.
Surprise!
Two Miles of Hell FRESHLY GROOMED! By far the best I’ve seen it all winter.
Indian Lake
Main artery trails were a bit shredded from the day’s traffic. But S87 and S86a on the Victory Lap were still great riding. Especially S86a toward sunset.
Got back to the compound with 156 miles shortly after 5pm. Beautiful February RIDE!
Ride map
Click here for ride stats, larger map and 3D Flyover
Bottom line
Get here and RIDE! Strong February sun is a subtle reminder that we’re more than half way through winter.
For updated information on Wells snowmobile trails, go to Algonquin Snow-Blazers Facebook page.
For the ilsnow nation,
Darrin
