For the first time in nearly two years: A RIDE REPORT! After church (Faith), myself, Zack and Mike Spadaro hatched a plan to see how Penn Mountain and Ohio looked. We agreed on the time and met up just after 1 PM with an old Polaris (Zack), a 2005 MXZ 550 (literally like riding my old sled when I lived in NY) and Mike with his kids in tow. Before I get to anything about the ride and conditions, CLAP CLAP CLAP for Mike Spadaro’s kids. Holy cow they were troopers! Very impressive.
We left at 1:15 PM with the plan to head to Bailey’s (Northway), then around Hinckley into Ohio to meet up with my brother in law Ron (Family), and family friends Brian Pardee and “Big Shane” Pardee. Then figure out a plan from there. We had planned on it being a short ride since it was already 1:15 PM and it was Super Bowl Sunday. Kickoff was 5 hours away. No way we’d go for a long escapade.
But when the boys are up from South Carolina, and my brother in law is involved, it means CURVEBALL. We did this ride with no water, no food on board. Where we ended up, you would have thought me to be NUTS doing that.
PENN MOUNTAIN
We set out across the fields of Remsen and pick up C4 just outside town. Penn Mountain had groomed from Hudon’s northbound last night or this morning and besides a father/son we passed early on, it was just us out there. Snow cover was low on Penn Mountain, but just enough to make it a very nice ride! After gassing up at Bailey’s (Northway) we run 365 down to Hinckley Dam, which had rollers. Knowing the direction we were heading in I took one look at Hinckley Reservoir to see if a shortcut was in order. After looking at the lake I said HELL NO. We rounded the dam, and crossed into Herkimer County
OHIO RIDGE RIDERS
C4 had some rollers on it but was not bad considering. The corners were definitely ICY and you had to watch your speed when corners approached. If you tried to take turns more than 20 something to 30 something, you were likely to skid across the trail. We picked up grooming on C4B heading towards Grant and the seasonal roads heading east towards Ohio proper. Trails ranged from good to excellent, especially given the low snow cover conditions. We made it to the Snyder Road Junction, which was where we met Ron, Brian and Shane, 20 miles into the ride. Brian had ridden the day before to the east end of Ohio and into Morehouse and said the snow was deeper, conditions were better, and to do the Mosquito Hill loop. This would bring us ultimately into goat path trails, Hamilton County, Morehouse and Hoffmeister. I was hoping the report Brian gave would pan out otherwise we’d be far from home, far from cell signal, and beat up on our way home. We set off up Snyder Road and past the Ohio Tavern getting up closer to Haskell’s. This is a part of the Ohio system I had never ridden before. As Brian said, the snow gradually got deeper, even in the thick forests, and the trails got narrower. By mile 28 we were on goat paths. Trails ranged from fair to good. Some spots to watch out for, but you could keep a steady pace.
MOSQUITO HILL
At mile 35 we reached Mosquito Hill, the infamous backwoods, who would want to go there destination that’s the edge of the Ohio system. Outside of Powley Road, Perkins Clearing or Moose River Plains, this is the most remote you can get in Upstate NY on a snowmobile. I took out my phone and much to my surprise, I HAD SIGNAL! So I called my wife in the middle of nowhere, got pinged by a ton of messages, then snaped a few photos before we pressed on. Brian had the idea to go all the way out to HM14, then backtrack along Route 8 past Harryville, then to Jones Road and back to Snyder Road before the split off. This run was actually way better than I thought. Morehouse did a great job keeping this seemingly endless goat path flat with only some bumps from time to time. It felt like forever but it wasn’t really that long before we were at HM14 and started to work our way back slowly into civilization
HARRYVILLE
I had passed by this place dozens of times having lived in the area a long time. The sign on Route 8 says “Stop by and say hello!”. So we did. But there was nobody there. 47 miles into the ride we had only seen maybe 5 or 6 sleds. We literally had the Adirondacks to ourselves. It was getting past 4 and we still had a way to go to get home in time for the big game. Brian kept saying “we just got to get to the county line”. I had no clue what he was talking about. After three miles of lots of bumps and ruts, we hit the county line at mile mark 50.
JONES ROAD
This was the county line. And from that point on I don’t remember much else except screaming with excitement over the long, wide and groomed flat seasonal road. And making up time. Jones Road was easily the best part of the whole trip. For a few moments, we were in snowmobile heaven. What a rush and ride that was! Before I knew it we had completed the loop back to C4B and passed the Ohio Tavern.
SPOTTED
Then we got to Snyder Road junction and the splitoff of our parties. Mike continued with the kids because he was late getting home since it was after 5 by then and light snow had started to move in. I could tell the trails were getting a little more chewed up but saw few riders. Until two guys popped by and gave Brian a big hug. It was Harvey and his friend, Jason Bartlett. They gave me the old “you’re not from around here” bit, then after some laughs and thanks given to him for what he’s done for the Ohio Ridge Riders, we snaped a few photos, then bid our family farewell (on the trails).
HEADING HOME
Zack and I were solo the last 20 miles back from the junction back to Spadaro’s in Remsen. We ran it fast, it was recently groomed, and before we knew it were back to the “three miles of hell” that C4 became from the dam to Bailey’s (Northway). Lump city, which beat out the Harryville to Jones Road stretch for worst of the day. We were happy to get back on Penn Mountain’s groomed side through the last 6 miles into Remsen and back to Spadaro’s at sunset. 83.4 miles clicked off for Day 1, which was way more than I had figured. I thought 10 or 20, maybe 40 or 50 if I’m lucky. Instead I got the full snowmobile experience in one day. Deep snow. Low snow. Rocks and ruts. Flat and fast seasonal roads. Everything in between. But the fact I put on over 83 miles tells you that snowmobiling is not done yet. Not by a longshot.
FOOTBALL
After riding we chilled at Uncle Ron’s to watch the Super Bowl. Aunt Jenny made awesome chili, Aunt Bonnie is working on another cross stitch, and I don’t know what the hell the problem is with smaller market teams. Minnesota is 0-4. Buffalo is 0-4. Cincinnati is 0-3 now after their loss tonight. It got weird at the end when the officials suddenly found their flags with less than 2 minutes to go. I don’t know, but I got the feeling that outside of Green Bay, small market teams are cursed in the NFL. Hopefully Buffalo gets their shot and the monkey off their backs next year.
THE OUTLOOK
If you want to get it, you’d better hurry. I know it’s Valentine’s Day, but after this, Tuesday the 15th is it. All bets are off Wednesday and Thursday as the warmth comes racing in, MAJOR WARMTH along with heavier rains this time around. I can tell you elevation is your friend for riding the next few days, if you are down low below 1000′, don’t be for long. It is very thin and almost totally burned out there. Seeing the trails up here now, I can say with full confidence after Tuesday or Wednesday, snowmobile season in Upstate NY will be reduced to Tug Hill proper, your usual Adirondack hangouts, and the few places south of the Thruway that are high up that only a handful of locals know about. I know it’s the middle of February, why are you writing off winter? Because it stays above normal with low snow chances the rest of February. You have to hope for a big March at this point to revive a lot of areas, like in 2018, or the season is over. I’m not calling it over. Yet. But there is a reason why Zack and I hurried up here to ride NOW.
NEXT RIDES
For Monday and Tuesday, Zack and I will be riding Tug Hill and surrounding environs. If you see us, please be sure to say hello! Monday will be more of “footage” day, while Tuesday will be more serious riding… because a very well known special guest and his son will be joining me and my son for the ULTIMATE FATHER SON DAY. I think you can figure out who this person could be. If you follow me enough, then you know.
SPECIAL THANKS
Mike Spadaro was a hero to Upstate Snow today. He took his two kids with him on this whole adventure, he let us ride two of his sleds, and covered the gas too. He is an awesome father and an awesome leader. Very thankful to you and your family Mike! It was so awesome riding with you and we appreciate so much your hospitality! Also, special thanks to all the hard working folks at Penn Mountain, Ohio Ridge Riders and Morehouse, that made our experience today safe and fun! Appreciate you guys and all that you do for snowmobiling.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This trip has been a whirlwind. It was hastily put together in less than 36 hours. Thursday afternoon I had plans in South Carolina. By 9 AM Saturday we were northbound. Unfortunately I got some tragic news rolling through Pennsylvania just after sunset Saturday Night that one of my old bosses had passed away. He was younger than me, left a huge impression on everyone I worked with professionally in the 2010s, and his loss is stunning. There are a ton of heartbroken people right now, and I am among them. As I am able to share more with you folks, I will. Just please keep me, Zack, my wife and kids in your prayers in the coming days and weeks. I’ll just say my timing being here in Upstate NY is all God. And my return trip to South Carolina could be delayed. More on that another time. But it’s after midnight and the Tug Hill will be calling in the morning. Time for me to get some rest. Goodnight…
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