Saturday, December 31, 2016

Go start..............

I'd like to wish everyone a Happy New Year!   Hope your having or had a safe and fun one, depending on when you're reading this.  We sure are off to a good start for this years snowmobile season.  It's been a few years since we had snow like this on New Years Eve.  Sorry the report is so late.  It's been a crazy day around here with the plowing, shoveling and everyone in town. Then top it off with having heating system problems last night at midnight and then this morning again.  But what would life be without a few bumps in the road.

Today's Video.......

Friday, December 30, 2016

What year is it?

Because it sure looks and feels like the old days around here.  With snow in the air most of the day and cold temps keeping everything frozen down.  I know it may be short lived, but I'm enjoying it while it's here.

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

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Don't look...........

If you don't have plans to be in the area riding this weekend don't even look at the cams.  Because things are getting better by the hour.  We had snow all morning and into the afternoon.  We picked up a good 5 inches plus and it looks like there may be a lake effect band setting up this evening.  As I just looked outside and it's working on white out conditions again at 8:15pm.  Today's video says it all...we got snow!

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

Some updated trail news:

  • Regarding Trail C7E. The snowmobilers that went past the keep out sign on trail C7E turned themselves in at the club house on December 24th. They were 17, 17, and 14 years old. They were very remorseful for the damage caused in getting the trail closed. A meeting was held on Tuesday, Dec 27th between the Presidents of the White Otter Fish and Game Club, the Trackside Blazers Snowmobile Club and the parents/kids involved to find a resolution to the trail closure. They have agreed to retake the safety course and each provide 20 hours of trail work to the Trackside Blazers Snowmobile Club.  As a result of this trail C7E is OPEN!

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

You'll be surprised........

I know I was, when I saw the video Jason brought back from his ride today.  Now that things are freezing back down and new snow is in the forecast for the next few days.  People have been heading north, enjoying the conditions we have and hoping for it to get even better over the next few days.

Today's Video........
  

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Not even 24 hrs...............

In less than 12 hours our conditions have gone down hill.  Let's just hope that we see the cold and snow that is in the forecast and we'll be back riding by the end of the week again.

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

Monday, December 26, 2016

Not much so far..............

We have seen light pockets of R here and there today.  But nothing to get all bent out of shape about or stop people from riding.  The front that will be bringing us some R over night is pretty impressive.  As it stretches from Canada to Texas in length.  I'm just hoping the most of it stays off to our west, as it is now or starts to fall apart.  Another thing that I took note of today was the temp. change.   It was just below 10 most of the night from midnight on and within an hour the temp jumped to 28 this morning.












Last night I was able to get out for a ride with Mike and his son.  We stayed around the area and put on just short of 50 miles in an hour and a half.  Nice way to end Christmas day in my book.

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

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Trackside Blazers Snowmobile Club Trail Issue:

Ok folks! We didn't even make it one week, before we lost a trail. The Trackside Blazers Snowmobile Club would like to thank the individual or individuals who decided that a KEEP OUT sign really didn't apply to them. As a result Trail 7E at the White Otter Fish and Gun Club is closed until further notice because of off the trail riding. This was a main corridor trail for traveling between Forestport & points north that kept snowmobile riders off the railroad track. So, it is quite simple at intersection marker OD31 trail 7E is closed going north. The gates will be closed on both ends of the White Otter Fish & Gun club. Going south on Trail 7E the gate to be closed is located where the trail crosses Hawkinsville Rd. You will now have to cross Rt 28 by the Woodgate Fire House, ride thru the BoyScout camp, over to Bear Creek Road & pick up the railroad tracks to go south. And to go north reverse the process.
No grooming or maintenance will take place on the portion of trail 7E which is closed. This may also impact our ability to groom trails north of the closed area such as the BoyScout camp area, Brandy Lake Trail 7C, the Round Pound Trail, and trail 7C that heads out towards Boonville.
The Trackside Blazer Club officers & the many volunteers that put in countless hours working on the trails and maintaining good landowner relations do not appreciate the utter STUPIDITY of some people who cannot follow simple instructions to stay on the trails & NOT GO OFF trail riding.
With the expected rain on Monday, the rails may be closed to riding, so no north south travel will be possible at that point!
So to put it simply, because of a few the majority of us are now punished!





 This sign & fence was just put in place last Saturday after individuals rode off trail onto the White Otter Fish & Gun Clubs private property.They destroyed the White Otter Fish & Gun clubs fence, this replacement was done with Trackside Blazers club money/time.









In the above picture the TRAIL is off the the right side of the trees on the right. The area straight ahead of the camera shot is OFF LIMITS to riding!

Greg Albright
Trackside Blazers Snowmobile Club
trackside280@aol.com
(315) 392-6008

Merry Christmas to All ! !

To everyone that has dropped an email, phone message and so on.  I'd like to say Thanks for the Holiday Wishes and I hope you, your family and everyone else is having a great Christmas.

For some reason the video is jerky today.  I'm guessing the video file was to big to process it smoothly.  Hope you enjoy,  I know I had fun getting the video for it.

Today's Video.....

Friday, December 23, 2016

Looking better............

It all depends on which forecast you look at.  But at least some of them are now saying frozen stuff coming from the sky on Monday.  On a more positive not it looks like snow for Saturday.  Who knows maybe one will wash out the other and we'll stay right where we are now.  Today we had the sun out and temps got above freezing.  So things got a little soft, but besides that weather wise it was quiet around here today.

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

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Cross your fingers.............

The day after Christmas is getting closer and they still are looking for some R.  I'd rather see it this week than next.  It's all about timing, this week it could make the base that much better.  Next week it's just going to make a mess and not have time to set up.

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

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

I'm still here................

Sorry about no report yesterday.  Had many things on my plate to get done and had plans to go to Utica Christmas shopping.  By 3 in the afternoon I was just finishing up what had to be done and really needed to get on the road to go shopping.  So the report for the day didn't get done.  So what has gone on in the last 48?  Not much of anything to tell you the truth.  Had some snow in the air but not really anything to talk about.  The big thing I'm seeing is what is the weather going to be the day after Christmas.  But I wouldn't put any stock in that just yet, as it to far out.   Besides that the forecast is looking pretty good.

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

Monday, December 19, 2016

Could of been worse..............

After getting calls on how things have turned out after yesterday's morning R.  I figured I'd take a ride out to north street and see how things looked.  As I said yesterday, it's more of the snow settling down, than melting and things have frozen up solid with the below zero temps this morning.

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

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Not sure............

I'm not sure what's going on this afternoon.  The forecast is only calling for a dusting to an inch.  But after watching the radar in motion I'm  wondering if there isn't a small band of lake effect starting to set up. Because each time I look outside it seems to be snowing harder than before.  Who knows maybe we'll be riding sooner than I thought.

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

Thought I'd pass this on.............

Got the below email from Trackside Blazers Club.  If you see someone doing something stupid like this write down their registration number and pass it on to the powers to be.  We don't need more trails being closed because of  inconsiderate riders.


Trackside Blazers Snowmobile Club Trail Issue:

Ok folks! This is the SECOND time in less than two weeks that we have a trail riding issue. Riding our trails is a privilege, not a right. Sometime Thursday night or Friday morning sleds rode off trail at the White Otter Fish and Game club on trail 7E. They destroyed the fence blocking off the club field from the Old Shootout track and rode all over the field. The land owner is not happy and will close the trail if it happens again. Now the volunteers at TrackSide BlazersInc will have to take time from family and friends to put up a new fence this weekend to keep the land owner from closing the trail.  Also, membership money will be spent on fence and posts. If this trail is closed there is no way north or south without using C7 the rails. We would not have our trail system without our land owners, so riding off trail onto their PRIVATE property is not only foolish, it will get the trail closed!  If you are a club member & doing this, we really don't want you in our club.  If you are a member of another local club, I doubt they really want you as a member either! 

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Bonus Weekend...........

For those that came to the north country this weekend got in a bonus weekend of riding this year.  When you think that it's only the middle of December, conditions in my book, are great compared to most year at this time.  We may see some R over night and with the limited amount of people in the area riding.  It may just help give us a better base for the rest of the season.  As there won't be to many people out riding on the trails if they get soft from the R.

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

Friday, December 16, 2016

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Past 24 have been interesting...........

What will the next 24 hours bring us?  Only time will tell, but the last 24 have been very good to Old Forge and the region.  At this point we have gotten around a foot of new snow and over in the Lowville area they saw almost 3 feet over night.  Check out the below radar image, the band of lake effect that has been in the area is being produced from moisture coming off of two of the great lakes this afternoon.   It's 4pm now and the winds have started to pick up also.  Which isn't a good thing with them calling for well below zero tonight.  It's no fun having the power go out at those temps.


















     
 Today's Video.............

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Won't be a wet spot for long........

With the temps they are calling for over the next few days, any wets spots that are out there won't be around for long.  If everything stays the same in the forecast, we should see some good lake effect over night.  But by Thursday it will be moving out of the area. But that's OK, as long as it keeps dumping snow in the region so it expands the riding range for everyone.

Today's Video....

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Could it be?

Is the stage being set for an upcoming year like we had a few years ago?  Could be, because the forecast is sure looking good for setting things in place to give us a good base on the trails.  But like always only time will tell.

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

Saturday, December 10, 2016

It's all.....

What you make out of it.  Yes conditions could be better, but they could be a lot worse.  Many people got the first ride of the season in this weekend and had a good time doing it.  The 120/Kitty Cat races at the show this afternoon went over big with the kids and may of had a record of entries.  Not much else to report besides winter weather looks like it's here to stay for awhile.

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

Friday, December 9, 2016

Snodeo 2016

Hard to believe Snodeo weekend is here again.  Guess there is something to this getting older thing and life goes past faster.  With the people I've talk to, it sounds just like I said yesterday that the snow band hit harder south of us than it did north. If the long range forecast holds true one thing is for sure.  Things will be freezing up around here as they are calling for some below zero temps.  All said and done from the beginning yesterday till today we have gotten about a half a foot of new snow.

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

Thursday, December 8, 2016

It's starting.......

The lake effect snow warning was calling for the event to start around 7am.  We did see some lake effect first thing this morning.  But it wasn't anything to really talk about, as it was coming off of Lake Erie and by the time it got here there wasn't much left to drop on us.  However around noon we did start to see snow that is worth talking about.  It's now coming off of Lake Ont. as the lake effect band is shifting into our area from the north.  Cross your fingers that it stops on top of us and doesn't shift more south.  How sweet would it be to get the 8 to 12 they are calling for just before Snodeo.

5:30PM Update.  As of now we have seen about two inches of new snow in the Old Forge area.  But after talking with people coming into town from the south and looking at the radar, just south of us is getting hit.  So as long as it stays in the area it won't take much for it to move north again.

6:30PM Update:  All day there really hasn't been much of a wind.  Well that is changing and with it is coming the lake effect.  If it snows like this all night we'll have something to measure in the morning.

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

Monday, December 5, 2016

Opening Day..............

It's white for the opening day of the snowmobile season.  But there really isn't enough snow to ride on just yet.  However there was a few people out giving it a try.  The snow we got today was a good wet snow that is packing down very nice.  Now we just have to wait and see what the rest of the week will bring us.

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

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Update.........

We had snow on and off most of the day on Friday, but it really didn't amount up to much more than an inch or so.  Today so far it's been cloudy with light snow in the air.  Cold temps are in the forecast with some snow, so it's just going to be a wait and see thing.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

It did help......

Yes we lost all of the snow we got the other week.  But I think it did help things out in a round about way. Just like the rest of the region, we had a dry season and this melted snow put moisture into the soil.  Which will help frost settle in much faster and it also cooled the soil down.  Because up until that snow, it was bike riding weather here in Old Forge.

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