I was chomping at the bit for Thursday’s ride up north.
Late winter snowmobiling under a blue bird sky is the BOMB! Snow is deep and the sun feels so nice.
Launching it from Horseshoe Lake got the call on this day. But first, I had to navigate the frost-heaved Route 421 demon to get there.
After that ordeal, I was ready to roll shortly after 9:30am. Sun was out brightly and felt balmy on the way to an afternoon high around 40*F.
Childwold area
Caught a fresh groom on aisle C7A leaving Horseshoe Lake.
Other than occasional scalloped divots on some logging detour sections, C7A was a terrific ride to STLA 2 intersection.
NOTE: Fresh groomer tracks also on C7/Railroad from Horseshoe toward Sabattis Thursday AM.
Followed the fresh groom through C7C and hung a turn onto S79. Other than occasional scalloped divots, that was a good ride to Conifer. S79 along Mount Arab Road was quite bumpy and rough.
Rolled C7/Railroad a short distance for scratch-n-sniff. That definitely needed a groomer combover. Didn’t stick with that very long.
Back to C7C where I followed the fresh groom through Scout Camp to Thirsty Moose.
C7C from Thirsty Moose to Seveys Point was also freshly groomed but had numerous remnant scalloped divots, especially on approach to STLA 9 intersection.
Cranberry Lake area and northward
After NY-3 highway crossing, C7A was a (mostly) fine ride! With the exception of considerable bumps along NY-56 highway, it looked like this:
Had a nice diversion through S73 to The Lodge at Seveys.
Stopped and looked into the rest stop on C7A. Nice and cozy! I bet the heat really came in handy at times this winter. These rest stops are at various locations in the Cranberry Lake Mountaineer trail system.
On a blue bird day, a climb up Little Blue Mountain is nearly mandatory! View was well worth the cover charge of lumps up-and-down.
C8 northward from Trooper Shed kept the good times rolling.
C8E to South Colton was GORGEOUS! Got thin and mealy bottom of the hill but I had no problem making it to Ole Glory.
Didn’t feel like humping the grubby snowbank into town, so I turned tail and did some sunbathing on C8E.
From STLA 67 intersection, C8D was very good at times to Rainbow Club. Plowed road sections had enough wet ice and slush to slither through.
Did one of my favorite side treks on S84A to Clare. SWEET!
From Rainbow Club C8D and S86/S82 were EXCELLENT riding to Trooper Shed.
Ripped C8 snowmobiling super highway to STLA 29a intersection to ride another one of my favorite sidebars, Local 712/Out-a-fit trail.
I could have ripped C8 from the south end of 712 to complete a loop. But on this day, I wanted to slow steam it back through the local 712!
From STLA 29 intersection, I came up mostly aces on S88, C7A and C7C to Seveys Point. Stopped at Seveys for a refuel and quick bite to eat. Talked to a really nice family who spotted me while I was there.
Back to the truck!
By late afternoon C7C from Seveys to Thirsty Moose was mashed potato lumps from the warmth and day’s traffic. Was more than happy to escape on the S77 exit ramp.
From STLA 5 intersection, I warped through C7A to Shurtleff. Did the Local 718, 717 and S88 loop to STLA3 intersection. ABSOLUTELY MINT and nearly effortless riding!
From STLA 2 intersection, the first several miles of C7A were bumped up in places through the logging detours.
But remainder of C7A was a good ride back to Horseshoe Lake. Those couple of straight arrow sections were WHOOOSH!
Back to the truck before sundown with 157 sun-splashed miles. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE DAY! I’ll have this ride to remember when I’m sweating through #summersucks.
One of the very best snowmobiling playgrounds in New York State does it, AGAIN!
Ride map
Click here for ride stats, larger map and 3D Flyover
Weekend outlook
Bringing it back home: I saw from Crow Hill Road that Town of Indian Lake groomers were out doing battle with the bumps. New snow Friday afternoon into Saturday will give groomers fresh material to work with for the weekend.
We’ve got PLENTY of snow to ride. Central Adirondack snowpack is 1-2 FEET with upwards of 3+ FEET in the snow bowls.
Bonus!
Click here to read my Back-9 of Winter Outlook to carry us thru the end of snowmobiling season. I think we’ll be spinning track well into March here in ilsnow land.
For the ilsnow nation,
Darrin
