I was hoping for.........

one more shot of winter and snow to get that last ride of the season in, but it never happened. So it's time to pack the sleds away till next year.

Most years by now everyone in the area is looking to get away for a few days and enjoy some warmer weather. But this year it's been so nice it makes you wonder why you would even want to leave.

Here's today's video......

Just over a week ago.....

To think that two weekends ago people where riding sleds and this past weekend there was dozens of bikes riding through town. I just hope we start getting some rain or more snow. Because there sure isn't any run off to fill the lakes at this point and they can't close the dams yet because there is still ice on the lakes. With the warm up it also looks like this past weekend will be the end of the season for McCauley Mountain also. They had their pond skipping event this weekend and I have video of it. The very last one didn't go over big with allot of people. Check back as I have one more winter video for you yet.

Today's Video........

Melt down is happening fast!

It's going fast with the temps staying above freezing at night and a warm breeze during the day. I showed you one of these lifts before this winter. But this one is set up for two sleds. Check back in a few more days, as I have a few more things saved up for you.

Here's Today's Video.....

Old Forge, NY Trail Report 3-11-12

Talk about a roller coaster ride for weather. To look out front right now you would never believe that people where riding yesterday, but they where. This weekend was a perfect example of how our weather can change at the drop of a hat. Those that took the chance, sure got a bonus weekend in and topped it of with SnoFest 2012. I hate to say it, but the stage is set, the Fat Lady is singing and she must be singing loud because it's going fast. I'll be posting a few more videos in the next week of clips I saved from over the season.

Here's Today's Video for..........

Old Forge, NY Trail Report 3-10-12

I'd like to Thank everyone who stayed with me this winter! Some of you have been staying at Christy's for 20 plus years and some new this year. One of the great things about being a small motel, is you get to know your guests, the guests get to know each other and you all have become part of the winter family here at Christy's Motel. Thanks Again and have a great spring, summer and fall and hope to see you next season!

We woke up to 4 inches of snow this morning and with the snow from yesterday morning it brought conditions back around that you are able to get out and have some fun. So for those who rolled the dice on this weekend and came up, lucked out!

Here's Today's Video for..........

Old Forge, NY Trail Report 3-9-12

As I reported last night the R changed over to snow around 9:30 pm and this morning we had an inch or two on the ground.  It was sunny this morning and this afternoon there has been snow in the air.  They are calling for an inch or two by tomorrow from the lake.  Will we get it?  I'll let you know in the morning.  I had to go out and reset the trail cam this morning.  By what I saw on trail 1 I'd give it a fair to some poor, but I wasn't that far out to give you a fair report on the whole trail.  The inner trails did look pretty good by what I saw. We are into spring time conditions, which means you are going to find anything from good to poor and the inside of some corners bare.  I can tell you this.  By the way the forecast looks and seeing what we lost, from the last few days of warm weather.  If you have any thoughts of getting in one last ride you better do it this weekend!

Here's Today's Video for.........

Old Forge, NY Trail Report 3-8-12

Boy what 24 hours can do to change things. You'll see in today's video what it was looking like yesterday and today it's all different. But don't forget it can also change back to winter just as fast. Is it going too? I don't know but they are calling for temps in the teens tonight and winds out of the west. Could we get lake effect from it? Again I don't know for sure, but stranger things have happened. Keep an eye on the cams to find out.

Update:  The R has changed to Snow at 9:24pm   Get your butt dancing and cross your fingers we get enough for riding this weekend.  Hey.....Stranger things have happened and if you know how Old Forge weather is, you know it can happen!

Here's Today's Video for..........

Old Forge, NY Trail Report 3-7-12

First thing I'd like to do is Thank Everyone for following the blog and my reports. I'd also like to say Thanks for all the posts and emails, thanking me for doing it. I have fun doing them and I know what it's like to make that drive and be disappointed when I got here. Thanks Again!

I went out riding last night and we put on a easy 50 miles in no time. Not that it really matters at this point, but I'd give the trails a good to fair last night. As I'm writing it's in the 50's, the sun is out in it's full glory and things are getting soft. Is it over for the season? Your guess is good as any ones. But I wouldn't rule out at least one more good blast of winter before it's all said and done. Don't forget SnoFest is this weekend. Come see the 2013 sleds and the X Game Jumpers.

Here's Today's Video for......

Old Forge, NY Trail Report 3-6-12

Well the warm up looks like it's going to happen for the next two days.  Then it's back to winter over the weekend and then another warm up.  Everything is in place for SnoFest this weekend and fun should be had by all.  I'm hoping the warm up doesn't hurt the trails to much so they can have the Demo Rides this weekend.

Here's Today's Video for.....

Old Forge, NY Trail Report 3-5-12

As I predicted the conditions improved from yesterday, but the base did go down some from the warm up this weekend. There is no question that we are into spring time conditions and if you want to get another ride in you better do it soon. It's not the best out there, but everyone that I have in is having fun, except the guy with the blown up sled. Tonight it's well below zero and in two days they are calling for maybe 50.....what the heck!

That's enough or I'll start deleting posts or shut it down!

Here's Today's Video for........

Groomers

Let's put all of the events together that happened at the end of last week and into the weekend . We had 6 to 12 inches of new snow on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday the temp hit a high of 34 and only went down to 30 or 31 at night. Early Saturday morning around 1am the temp started to go above freezing and two times during the morning we had R coming from the sky. We hit a high of 42 on Saturday before the temp started to drop and at 5pm we dropped below freezing again. So we had a period of over 24 hours that the temp was at or well above freezing with two R events. It's a two way street, it takes just as long for the snow to freeze back down as it does to thaw it out. So to say that the temp. was below freezing Saturday night correct? Yes. Was the snow on the trails ready to be groomed? No. All the new snow we had gotten just a few days before was soft like mashed potatoes or as someone else called it oatmeal. Something I learned just this winter when I was up at McCauley Mountain about grooming. When they make snow and blow it into a big pile they have to leave it sit for awhile and let the water run out of it before they can groom it. I would think it's the same with the snow on the trails after the R we had on Saturday. A guest the other day said this to me. Just because you put a ice cube tray full of water in the freezer doesn't mean they are ready to use in an hour or two, it takes time.

If you don't see them, it doesn't mean they aren't out there. It can be like finding a needle in a hay stack sometimes. I made a call this morning after seeing all of the posts on here about the groomers. Was the whole fleet out on Saturday or Sunday morning? No. A full crew went out Sunday night when conditions returned and grooming was effective. Saturday and Sunday during the day and Saturday night there was at least one or two out depending on the shift. Where their efforts effective? No. But at least they gave it a try.

There is more to grooming than just running around and pulling the drag. Everything has to be just about right or close to it. If not you're just wasting your time and sometimes doing more damage than good. So for the experts out there that know more about grooming than Old Forge does. Please put in an application for next season and share your knowledge with us. Heck we've only been doing this for the last 40 plus years and I am sure you could teach us something about it.

On another note: One of my long time guests just got back from a trip to Maine and we will talk about that another time. He told me it was great, but allot different.

Old Forge, NY Trail Report 3-4-12

It snowed most of the morning and we picked up about an inch of snow. Not allot, but it's enough to give the slide rails some lube. I saw the groomers heading out on the second shift around 4pm on the trail cam. With low traffic tonight and the predicted cold temps things should freeze back down from the warm up yesterday. I'd say the trail conditions should improve some after the groomers get out there and fix things up from the weekend and warm weather. If we get the warm up they are calling for mid week it won't do us any good. So if you had some thoughts of maybe getting another ride in, I'd do it soon. Because with the limited conditions we have, it won't take too much before it becomes ugly.

Here's Today's Video for.......

Old Forge, NY Trail Report 3-3-12

Well I hate to say it but they got the forecast right. We got above freezing over night and into this morning with some R. The R could of been allot worse than it was and it didn't really wash that much snow away, but the roads are toast and things did get soft. The forecast is calling for teens tonight and some snow off of the lake. Sunday and Monday nights it looks like close to or below zero both nights. If you look at the temps for the end of the week you may want to try and get some riding in early this week. It may be limited and not the best of conditions, it all depends on what we get the next day or so for snow. The end is coming soon and you better get in that last ride if you wanted to.


Here's Today's Video for...........

Road Conditions

I started this blog as a place for everyone to find out what the weather and riding conditions are like and to highlight events going on in the area during other seasons of the year. Not a place for people to come and complain about the roads, call others names and things like that. The biggest thing that has been against us this winter is Old Man Winter himself. It wasn't that many years ago when I would wake up in the morning and wonder how long it was going to take me to do the plowing. The last few years, it's been more of, I wonder if I'll even have to plow, and most mornings I haven't. The winters aren't what they where from just a few years ago and this is true for the entire Northeast. This winter I would guess that there is very little, if any, frost in the ground. So how would you expect snow to stay frozen on a roadway when the temperature is right around freezing and the sun is out. There are so many things that have an effect on the road conditions, that I'm not even going to get into it. If you have a problem with how the roads are maintained please call either the Highway Superintendent at 315-369-3412 or the Town of Webb Supervisor at 315-369-3121. From this point on if you post on here and complain about the roads, I will delete it and refer you back to this posting.

Old Forge, NY Trail Report 3-2-12

At 4:30 pm the temp is in the lower 30's and it has been overcast most of the day. The snow ended early in the evening yesterday and I'd say we got between a half a foot and a foot from the storm. It's hard to tell for sure, as it was over such a long time period. It did improve conditions as it was good packing snow. What is nice, is this snow has opened up areas to riding that have had very limited conditions just a few days ago. Let's hope that the spike over night doesn't bring us much, if any R and things will be freezing back down tomorrow night.

Here's today's Video for.....

Old Forge, NY Trail Report 3-1-12

The snow started yesterday and it has been snowing on and off since. I'd say we have gotten at least a half a foot and it's still snowing at 1:30pm. It's hard to tell when it snows over a long time period like this. The snow we are getting is high in moisture and is packing down nice. Sorry about the video today. I got tied up with things yesterday and didn't get the camera out. But it's out now and I'll have video for you tomorrow.

Here's Today's Video for......