Lake Effect Has Returned.........

Now it's just a matter of who and where gets what.  The bands have been north of us today and you can see on the Stillwater cam that they have gotten more snow than us.  The wind has been whipping and when the bands shift south I think we will see snow adding up fast off of the lake.  The big question is how long will the band stay in the area and that will be the factor on how much we get.  Don't give up hope, we may be riding this weekend yet.  This wouldn't be the first time conditions have changed over night.

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This morning......

I would say conditions where about the same, as just after the last warm up.  But after it being in the 50's and windy all day, we went down hill even more.  The one thing that we do have going for us, that we didn't have before.  Is some ice base on the trails, not alot but some.  But who knows how long that is going to hold up with the R they are calling for tonight.  It does look like they are increasing the snow totals for us after the front goes past.

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R R Go Away........

and come back some spring time day!  What the heck, it can't hurt.  So far we haven't seen any R today, but it looks like it is to the south of us down around Utica at 6:30pm.  Traffic has been light, because I think just about everyone headed for home, thinking today was going to be a wash.  But the few guests that stayed around got in a good day of riding.  The next 24 hours are going to be the classic wait and see, as far as the weather goes.  Because I have seen this many times before and it goes one of two ways.  One we get a really good dumping of heavy wet snow as the cold front comes in or two, don't ask...trust me.  And for those of you that think it's over for the season, you just keep thinking that.  Because those of us that have been riding Old Forge for a long time know it's not.  Sorry this was so late today.  The DSL was down all afternoon and I got behind in things.

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What's it going to be?

Town was full this weekend, with all the events going on and fair to good riding conditions.  Feed back I got was all the same for the weekend.  Main trails showed high traffic wear.  Some guests went out this morning and they said between the new snow we just got today and the groomers doing their thing, conditions have improved from yesterday.  Forecast is calling for snow into tonight and so far we have gotten I'd say around 3 inches of storm snow.  So what are we going to see out of the warm up?  Your guess is as good as anyones.  Let's just hope it's short lived with VERY limited R.  I'm going out riding tonight and will be able to give you more insight on how well the trails will hold up during the warm up after I see them for myself.

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It's Offical.......

The NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE in ALBANY NY has posted an Winter Weather Advisory for our area.  So I'm crosing my fingers and starting to do the snow dance.  We'll take what ever snow they want to give us, it will help us get past this next warm up.  Also I forgot to put in the video....we picked up an inch of light snow over night.

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Pictures don't lie.........

I didn't delete some of the posts from yesterday, that would of been other days.  Why?  Because I wanted to show everyone, that didn't travel north this weekend, what these posts where talking about.  You'll be shocked what you see.  I would say some of the trails are showing signs of heavy traffic, as there is alot of people in town this weekend.  As for mid weeks weather, I'm not sure what it's going to bring us.  Let's just hope it isn't like the last warm up.  But one thing that is in our favor, is the trails have an ice base to them now.

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The weekend is here !

With extra things to do in the area.  Beside the norm, there is the Ice Bowl Hockey and Zippy's Ride for Kids.  This morning was extra special, as the power went out for about two hours around 9:30. That always makes life fun at below zero temps and trying to get things ready for the incoming guests.

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After reviewing......

 The different forecasts, it looks like we will be below zero for a few more mornings yet....sweet!  As you will hear in the video we went down to 27 below this morning and we had 22 below the morning before.  It was nice the last few days to go out and hear the crunch of the snow under your feet.  Is there a warm up coming to us next week?  Maybe....but like always, I'll let you know when it happens.  So you better ride it while we got it!  Because there are only a few things in life that are for sure and good trail conditions isn't one of them.

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Lake Effect is a funny thing!

The local news last night said the band of lake effect was only about 10 miles wide.  By what I saw on the radar today, the main band wasn't coming inland more than about 30 miles.  Outside of the main band there was snow, but it has been light and we got about 2 inches today from it.  I had someone post asking about the lakes.  I will tell you when to stay off of them, that is for sure.  But I won't ever be telling you to go on them.  Because there can always be just that one spot that isn't safe, sorry.

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Put another log on the fire!

Because we are going to need it this week.  Temps are going to be below zero for about two days by the way it looks.  So those of you that have been waiting to get on the lakes.  This is going to help things get there that much faster for you.   When it get this cold, the ice on the roof starts cracking and poping as it gets colder out.  Sometimes it can be loud enough to wake you up at night.

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White out Conditions............

Could be found most of the day here in Old Forge.  At 6pm the bands of lake effect have shifted to our south, but the wind is still whipping from time to time.  Winter is going to be here for the up coming week, with cold temps every day.  

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Put on the dancing shoes!

Looks like lake effect will be coming to the area very soon, so cross your fingers and get a dancing.  Right after the lake effect we will be going into the deep freeze with night time temps well below zero.  Talked with a few guests that went out riding last night and they said trails are icey in spots with anything from not so good to fair/good conditions on the inner trails.   I still haven't been able to log into the trail cam and get video from it.  But at least it's still uploading pictures to the site.  Guess I'm going for a walk here pretty soon.

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Got 2 to 3 inches and maybe...........

more to come.  Most of the forecasts are calling for snow on and off most of the weekend.  But like always, till it's on the ground, it doesn't mean anything more than a prediction.  They did just post a notice for possible lake effect events Sunday night into Tuesday, cross your fingers.  I thought about pulling the sled out and getting some video of the trails this morning.  But after thinking about it more, I changed my mind.  Why? Well everything is looking pretty right now, after this new snow we just got.  It's like getting a cheap paint job on your car.  It looks good at first, but after time, it chips and peals and you're back to what you started with.

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Looking better, but not yet.....

We've had snow in the air just about all day and a short blast of it this afternoon.  At 3:30pm I'd give it about an inch. No, it's not enough to jump up and down about, but it's a start and at least it looks nice outside again.  Forecast is looking much better than it was yesterday and who knows we might get some riding in this weekend yet.  Best thing I can tell you is keep an eye on the cams and dance your butt off!  Friday is a long way off when it comes to north country weather.

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The cold is back.......

Temps have dropped, we are below freezing and it looks like we are going to stay cold.  Things are freezing down fast, yesterday the weight of just a two place trailer left marks in the front yard and today the back yard was frozen enough to back in the fuel truck.  So what was left out on the trails has or is freezing back down.  But we will need to get some new snow for cooling and slide rail lube.  It will come, it's just a matter of when.  Forecast doesn't look great for the weekend, but don't give up ship yet, it's only Tuesday.

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Looks like it's over!

The temp has been dropping slowly all day and we are below freezing at 2pm, with light snow, from time to time.  The big question is, are we going to see enough snow over the next few days to get us back in shape for the upcoming weekend.  By what I am seeing there is a chance for the lakes to fire up mid week, but that is going to be a wait and see type of thing.  If anything, it looks like the lakes are going to get a chance to freeze up this time.  A guest sent me some pictures he took this weekend and I included them in the video. Here is the links to them so you can see them better. www.oldforgeny.org/1.jpg  www.oldforgeny.org/2.jpg

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It's almost over !

The thall, that is. The riding season is long from being over and there will be lots of riding to be had yet.  I'm crosing my fingers that we don't see the R they are calling for.  If we can get by without it and have the temps drop Monday night.  We will be in a lot better shape than if we do get the R.  Because the snow we have can't suck up any more moisture and all it's doing now is melting.  As I said yesterday, the few that did make the trip to the area got in some riding.  It may not have been the best of conditions, but they got out and had some fun.  Two guys that checked in Friday morning put on 230 miles over the weekend.   But they did say they saw some "ugly" in a few places.

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Not looking so good.

Well we lucked out last night and really didn't get to much R compared to south of us.  This gave the few people that did come to town, a chance to get out and ride some this morning.  But this afternnon the sun has came out and we are in the forties at 2pm.  I would have to think that it is getting thin in alot of places by now.  Now the thousand dollar question is....are we going to have anything left by the time the temps drop back down on Monday?  On the bright side there has been more riding this season than there was last year by this time. 

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So far.........

we have only seen some light R coming out of the sky.  What will we get, is the thousand dollar question.  Today traffic has been very light and I just hope it stays that way.  At least till things get a chance to freeze back down after this warm up.  This will be the first time the snow base has sucked up any R or has been thawed and refrozen.  So as long as it doesn't get beaten up to much, it should freeze down into a good ice base.  Cross your fingers and hope that it all turns out for the best.

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Sorry to say....

it looks like the warm up is on it's way.  I'm just hoping we don't see to much R with it.  We can handle a day or two of above freezing temps.  But R will take it's toll on the base fast.  Because the base we have has never been thawed and frozen yet this season.  So it's all snow with no ice base.    Cross your fingers and hope for the best.  It looks like by Monday night we will be back in the teens.  I'm headed out for a Pine Tree run later on.

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Things could still change........

but the weekend is getting closer by the minute and they are still calling for a warm up.  On the bright side, it doesn't look like it's going to last to long and winter should return pretty fast.  Traffic has been light, but I think a few people have tried to get ahead of the warm up and got into town for some mid week riding.  The cam is out with some guests as I am typing and I will have video for you later.

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Don't give..........

up hope yet.  I know the long range forecast isn't looking all that good for this upcoming weekend.  But Friday is a long way off and things can change.  So cross your fingers and dance like all heck that winter sticks around.  I didn't hear of anyone going for a swim this weekend and I would like to thank everyone for using their head and staying off of the lakes.  I know they may look good, but they aren't safe to ride on at this point in time.

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Fun is being.......

had by everyone I talked to this morning.  This past week fits into the catagory of old time Old Forge.  Snow almost every day and cold temps to keep everything in place.  Heck I think I plowed and shoveled more this past week than I did in the first three weeks of January last season.  Forecast is calling for a short warm up one afternoon this week.  Not that anyone wants to see it.  But it could be a good thing in the long run.  Put a little moisture in the snow we have and then freeze it down for an even better base.

On a side note:  A guest bought the wrong set of carbides and his mistake is your gain.  He is selling a pair of new Woody's dual carbides that will fit 05 and newer Yamaha for $75.00.  I have them here in the office if you are interested.

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We got cold !

The temp dropped down to 17 below last night and things sure firmed up. Traffic has been light today again and everyone coming back from riding is saying the same...no one is out there. Which in some ways is really good. Because things are getting a chance to set up and give us a good solid base for the season. A few people have asked and I am sure most of you have noticed. The cam at the info center is taking a shoot of the lake front on the quarter hour during the day and the bridge the rest of the time. Looks like it's going to get windy tonight. Cross your fingers it doesn't take out alot of trees. As they are hanging very heavy with snow and this snow is frozen right to the trees.

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Going to be a cold one!

We dropped down to 2 below last night before the temp started to rise.  With the increase in temp came snow and we woke up to about 2 inches of new snow this morning.  Forecast is calling for 13 below tonight.  But with the way the temp has been dropping so far.  It wouldn't shock me if we dropped down to 15 below or more. 

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Happy New Year ! !

I'd like to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year.

Traffice has been light today by what I have seen.  Not to long ago this was the biggest week of the winter season.  The kids had off from school and people vacationed in the area for the week.  But with the unpredictable snow levels of the last few years things have changed.  Forecast is calling for a low of 5 tonight.  But I think they are really going to miss the boat on this one.  Unless we start getting some cloud cover temps are going to drop like a rock when the sunsets. The temp is 6 at 4pm and it feels cold out.  Things should be freezing down over the next few nights with the below zero temps.  Maybe we'll get some ice on the lakes a little faster.  As the snow depth we have on the lakes right now, slows down the making of ice big time.

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