DA ROCK! That’s exactly what is left of the snowpack across Upstate NY. The pack has melted, quick froze and fused into one monolithic mass of ICE. Holy cow what a welcome back to NY! We arrive February 12-15 to conditions more reminiscent of March 12-15. We are so happy to be back and we will ride on, and make the most we can, out of what is left of winter. Writing that last line on February 13th seems so wrong.
SCOUTING REPORT: It was 46 in Harrisburg as we crossed the Blue Ridge into Central PA, to find snowcover had been wiped out. Hazelton, None. Scranton. None. Only patches north of Scranton. As if on cue, it finally fell below freezing north of Scranton and we hit our first flakes at the NY/PA border. 26 degrees. No snow left on the ground, just piles. Into Binghamton, no snow. Suddenly getting north of Binghamton, SNOW! The cover averaged 2-6 inches between Binghamton and Sherburne. Trails were shot down low. Even the SHASTA Crossing at Sherburne/Earlville High School was skanky with areas of water and some bare spots in the open. Approaching Waterville, the snowcover went north of 6″ and conditions looked better getting into CNY Snowtravelers and Ilion Snowdrifters Country. Still not the best though. If riding there, ice scratchers and extreme caution advised. Down into the Mohawk Valley, Utica area still maintaining about 4-8 at the lower elevations, increasing closer to 8-12 in Deerfield and Barneveld, where we are based now. Deerfield and Southern Penn Mountain very icy, showing bare spots, watch out for hidden hazards in the low snow cover. But it’s open. There is snow still left to ride. Major crossings and high traffic areas are brown to bare. Again, use extreme caution if riding down low, north of the Mohawk Valley the next few days. We will be.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Elevation, Elevation, Elevation. That is what you need to ride the next three days. You need to be above 1000′ if you want a chance at riding decent. 1500’+ if you can. Hate to say it but Tug Hill and Adirondacks are the hot spots to hit. Thankful we are based at the foot of them today. Areas south of the Mohawk Valley across CNY and the Southern Tier I know there are good spots you can find, higher elevation, off the beaten path, that few will try to seek out. Seek them out, soak it up, and enjoy it! 5 miles or 50 miles. WNY, outside of the highest elevations of Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Wyoming, Allegeny Counties, where some clubs remain open, it’s not good. You won’t be able to ride up from suburban Buffalo… you’ll need to trailer farther south.
North Country, Tug Hill and Adirondacks… ride with caution. The trails are icy. Bring ice scratchers. Cooling will be an issue. Hardly any additional snow in the forecast. We have what we have. Make the most of it. Safely. For the next three days.
We are going to church, then out to play this afternoon between church and the Super Bowl. We’ll report later this evening on what we find. So happy to be back! THANK YOU to faithful members and sponsors supporting Upstate Snow and this trip! If you’d like to help, here is how: Drop me $10, and you’ll get name recognition, or if you wish not to use your name, recognition to your favorite snowmobile club or where you live. To become a SPONSOR, drop me $60 and I’ll put up a link to your business, Facebook page or snowmobile club!
Click below to get started
paypal.me/lupiallc
www.venmo.com/u/Richard-Lupia
THANK YOU to our faithful sponsors and members!
SPONSORS
Southern Tug Hill SnoRiders
Saratoga Snowmobile Association
Ohio Ridge Riders
ILSNOW.com
Enjem’s Flooring America
Water’s Edge Inn – Old Forge
Adirondacks Speculator Chamber of Commerce
White Lake Inn
Toads LLC Fisher and Snow Dog Plows, Cairo, NY
John Schoff Memorial Vintage Ride – January 15, 2022
Lincoln Mountain Gansevoort Snowmobile Club
ATV Tractor
Foley’s Lawn Care and Gardening
Better Homes and Gardens Pristine Real Estate – Cape Coral, FL
North Country Market – Thendara, NY
PR Plus Small Engine Repair – Sherrill, NY
EnergyMark LLC
Mountain Culinary Company – Mountain Top, PA
Thousand Islands Snowmobile Club
MEMBERS
Chris Rinck
Charles Klesse
Chaz Albertson
Dave Gleasman
John Bates
Darrin Harr
Mark Enjem
Matthew Pistner
Eric Vilovchik
Brian & Paula Bedell
Robert G. Gartley
Chris Higgins
Nathan DeMarco
Frank Presky
Chris Schoff
Richard Keller
Mark Spano
Paul Marconi
Michael Schrader
Chris Skipper
Frank Sansone
Mercy Board LLC
John Scalora
Tom & Alis Vincent
Angelina Gogola
Cricket Corelli
Russ Lamoy
Jeff Greene
Chaz Albertson Jr.
John Bossolt
John Foley
Andy Artessa
Jenny & Ron Tyre
Mark Finkbiner
Christopher Cawley
Darren Bryant
M&M, SnoCh!c and SnoL!fe
Doug Wasiura
Devon Senecal
Billy & Millie McLaughlin
Rachelle Gross
Marc Mellaly
DV
Vicki Muehleck
Gertude Corelli
Brian Shoemaker
Brian Salamone
Tom Sylvia
Tom Robinson
Eric Olofson
Gill Benedek
Jason Sosiewicz
Ron Linich
Debra Hubbard
Dennis Sullivan
JAYSOS!
JDR
Stephen Prinzi
Chautauqua Boat Works
Brian Bedell
Barbara and Joe Monahan
Des Ballard
Quade Kirk
Kyle Prill
Sean Ogilvie
Christopher Aaron
Tim Schmidt
Woodhull Creek Clan
