Old Forge Trail Report
Sorry this is so late. Ran out of hours today. We did get 6 to 12 inches of heavy wet snow yesterday (Sat). But not everyone got the same amount. It was also very hard to tell how much we did get as it was melting as fast as we got it unless it was landing on frozen hard pack. Cars, roads and things like that it didn’t build up much at all or melted as fast as it came down as temps held right at or just above freezing. It’s that time of the year when the roads break up fast and we have been very lucky for the little amout of snow we did have this winter that the roads held up as well as they did. It just goes to show how much the temp has an effect on the trail and road conditions. Just like now we have all this new snow on the trails but it is to wet to groom it and it just balls up in front of the drag. So pray for some cold temps that the groomers can get back out there. Here’s todays video…..
Hi Steve:
you say the groomers have not been out and I understand why. do you think they will groom this week during the overnight as the temps drop below freezing??..I wanna come up for one last hurrah this weekend but the old man here is beat up from riding farmers fields in PA for the last 2 weeks. Let me know or gimme a call. Thanks.
Comment by scottyb — March 1, 2010 @ 6:03 am
just saw one on web cam at 616 in inlet
Comment by bill — March 1, 2010 @ 7:16 am
Nice…thanks Bill
Comment by scottyb — March 1, 2010 @ 7:55 am
Just as a follow-up to the many previous posts this W/E regarding the road and crews… we drove thru Okara Lakes before leaving town and they were FINE, easily ride-able by sled or by car, because they were not plowed to blacktop or heavily salted. Is there any reason the town can’t mandate a nice thick snow path on one side of the street and save the salt on the flat roads, so we can come to town and spend our money?
Comment by StrokerFour — March 1, 2010 @ 8:38 am
More snow coming weds…. March sun is here. Get it while you can
Comment by WeatherMan10 — March 1, 2010 @ 11:27 am
I’d love to come up once more too, the “trails” we were on on PA over the weekend were somewhat lusterless after riding in Old Forge, Guess I’m spoiled. I must admit, blazing your own trail through 3 feet of new snow is quite interesting, but nothing like the groomed trails in beautiful Old Forge.
Comment by celeste — March 1, 2010 @ 11:30 am
Trails are unfortunately in Spring condition already. Was up from Thursday afternoon and left yesterday around 3. The fresh 8 inches was pounded in in less that a few hours and could hardly tell it came at all. We rode from Old Forge up to Mt. View and it was decent on the way up and rough on the way back, including the OF system. The best stretch was from Beaver River to Horseshoe. 18 miles of pure gas on riding. Let’s hope for a cold snap, some sick OF grooming and a few more weeks of riding. Thanks for a great season Steve!
Comment by Mike — March 1, 2010 @ 11:31 am
Mon. 12:10PM
I’m still up here and just waiting on the groomers to do their thing in the next 24-48 hrs. Went out late Sat. night and surprisingly the tracks were pretty good and sometimes great. rode up to Norridgewock in Beaver River and back. The inner loops were OK too and this was on a Sat. night. Overall just fair and the main trails bumpy as expected and need grooming bad. Please fix them now or tonight as temps are agreeing!
As far as the roads - it’s sick what they do for the last 2-3 years! Sat. night at the tail end of the storm my girlfriend pulled into town. I picked her up at 7PM downtown as her car can’t make it up to the house I stay in on Joy Tract Road 1/2 mile up going towards McCauley. The road was mint after the plow first pass and I thought that would be it. Nope, down to blacktop 90 minutes later when we went to head out riding. You can talk about weather and all that but God forbid they put dogs on the end of the plows to allow a strip that would get packed down by vehicles yet still allow blacktop conditions on the insides. They suck handling the side roads, they know they suck at it and it’s probably because of a few locals that “pay their taxes” (whoopty-do we all do somewhere) that complain. I can understand my road being bare due to the big, nice, expensive homes (high taxes) and access to McCauley but the others…..nah it’s BS and I for one will never suggesting my friends switch gears from VT, NH, Maine and invest to ride here until it’s fixed. Maybe the revenue will drop and local merchants will make some noise?? I don’t want to piss anyone off but this seems like an easy fix no???
Comment by Ticket Tim — March 1, 2010 @ 1:10 pm
Steve, can you tell us what happened this past weekend with the trails? NOTHING was groomed. Ive never seen it like that in OF. Im not talking about rough trails on a sunday after a busy weekend, this was fri afternoon and Saturday morning, the trails hadnt been groomed in days. Who can we contact in town? Who decides when to groom? Dave
Comment by Dave — March 1, 2010 @ 1:36 pm
OF trails are beat to hell and not bveing groomed. Went my the groomner buildings at 5:30p yesterday and not one car there = no one out grooming as things cooled off last night. Was in Tug hill and Brantingham system yesterday and they were grooming and it did help. Sick of hearing this crap it’s too warm to groom in OF. Guess the ski hill needs more money this year to pay for their new groomer so the permit money is going there.
Comment by Tony — March 1, 2010 @ 3:08 pm
tony permit money is going to casey sand @plow foot to keep the roads bare.
Comment by john ruconich — March 1, 2010 @ 3:56 pm
#$%^&*()(*&^%@#$%^&*()_)(*&^%$#@!@#$%^
Comment by scottyb — March 1, 2010 @ 3:58 pm
Tony; how often do you get up and help out on the trails, with grooming, and clean up. If you don’t, then. thats the reason for your post. If you put in some time like other people do during the season then you would understand how things are done. So this way you can come up and enjoy, when
the conditions are good, and you have proper snow, and temp to groom with. With this being
said, try to relax and enjoy the area for what it’s
known for, and try to make the best out of what is there, and try to help with the problem rather then
bitch about it.
Comment by steve m. — March 1, 2010 @ 4:39 pm
hey guy’s & girls, the Pittsburg New Hampshire snow club has a great section on grooming,has a great deal of info. and understanding about grooming( but nothing ’bout taxes)
Comment by jerry — March 1, 2010 @ 4:47 pm
There is no reason a pleasant call to the elected officials can’t be made to correct the problem with the roads… Especially from the local voters, merchants and the tourists who wish to spend their hard earned money in town.
http://www.townofwebb.org/content/Offices/View/1
http://www.townofwebb.org/content/Offices/View/8
Comment by StrokerFour — March 1, 2010 @ 4:51 pm
DITTO SCOTTYB, AND STEVE M….RIGHT ON MAN!!!!!
Comment by celeste — March 1, 2010 @ 5:12 pm
This Blog uese to be fun and stress free. Now it’s just getting on my nerves. If you don’t like OF then off to Canada with you all…stay the _____ home then !!!!
Comment by scottyb — March 1, 2010 @ 5:49 pm
Steve M. you are out in left field. Off season trail maintence has nothing to do with my seeing what I do in the winter. This isn’t volunteers grooming in Old Forge, they are paid with year round employees. I come up like most people to enjoy the fruits of my trail permit fees, not go by the groomers building and see nothing being done. You sound like you are part of a volunteer club (Barnstormers ?) who my comments are not directed at. Jerry, I’ll take a look at the site you mentioned.
Comment by Tony — March 1, 2010 @ 5:58 pm
ScottyB… Chill out dude. You wouldn’t say go to Canada if you owned a local business in OF… It’s constructive criticism. We want back that little 4′ patch to ride on the side of the road… not too much to ask…relax.
Comment by StrokerFour — March 1, 2010 @ 6:12 pm
That VAST permit for next year looking awfully good since the town doesn’t want my money up there… http://www.vtvast.org/About-VAST.html
Comment by BennyTheJet — March 1, 2010 @ 6:16 pm
Tony; First, I’m not going to get into a pissing match with you. Second, I belong to a couple of clubs, and
I try to help when I can, inseason, or off season, and I can tell you that I wish I could do more. With
that being said, these guys doing the grooming and
trail maint. work quite hard and do a great job, I have been coming up to the area now for well over
10 years, and yes some year are better then others, but I look at the weather conditions, and, read alot of different reports that are posted for the
area, and I make a judgement call on what the trails are going to be like. Some times I like what I see, and other times I don’t, but I don’t make a big stink
about it, because I do realize the effert these guys
do the best they can., and if they say they can’t do a good job, and it’s not worth the effert to go out, well then i believe them. If you relize it or not the better the trails are the more people, come to town, and the more money that is spent. So give them a break.
Comment by steve m. — March 1, 2010 @ 6:22 pm
It sux when you burn up a new set of carbides in one weekend. Been riding up there 15 years and never saw the roads so tightly plowed and heavily sanded. Maybe the plow guy is related to the North Street parts guy who sells the blades?
Comment by Tommy K. — March 1, 2010 @ 6:34 pm
And that is your opinion Steve M., mine is that they are not doing all they can when in the same day I have been on several trail systems and Old Forge is the only one not out. Also the six other people from my group who have been coming from out of state for many more years than you felt the same way. Stop confusing this with the volunteer clubs and off season help. It has nothing to do with that. It has to do with over 10,000 permits sold each season and seeing the groomers sitting in the garage.
Comment by Tony — March 1, 2010 @ 6:45 pm
Well Then Tony; maybe it’s time for you to step up
an d learn how to groom the trails, and go out all
nite grooming, and then your opion might be worth something. Until you know what goes into this first hand, then, it’s not worth talking with you, if all you can do is drive by the groomers barn, and come to the conclusion, that they are not doing there job, and not, not know 1st hand how to groom, then it’s time for you to learn. if you don’t want to learn then give these guy’s some space, and you sound like a guy who has nothing better to do then to bitch.
Like other have said chill out dude.
Comment by steve m. — March 1, 2010 @ 7:05 pm
Steve and Tony both have good points, but what we all want to know is what happened this weekend, obviously the trail conditions were not whats to be expected from OF. As permit holders, I think an explaination is necassary from the town…..Steve from Christys, help us out here. Dave
Comment by Dave — March 1, 2010 @ 7:16 pm
We can settle it down at Totes tea house…that will put us all in a good mood…
Comment by scottyb — March 1, 2010 @ 7:20 pm
mmmmmm STORM!!!!! (tea house)
Comment by Eric S — March 1, 2010 @ 7:29 pm
Guy’s, I just don’t like it when people start bashing,
complaining on the web site. If I was really upset
with the conditions, as it seams that Tony was then the thing to do is go to the town, and simply, just ask what happened, and voice your concerns.
Doing it here does nothing, you have to go to the main sorce, because the guys doing the grooming are doing what they are told, and asking the people higher up, just might get you the answer you would like.
Comment by steve m. — March 1, 2010 @ 7:30 pm
Our trails are maintained by Town of Webb snowmobile trail crews. They work on the trail system twelve months of the year. When it’s not snowing they are out maintaining, improving and working on opening new trails for you to enjoy. When it’s snowmobile season, they are out grooming the trails two shifts a day, seven days a week. With as many as three machines at a time, pulling mogul master drags .
This is right off of Christys web site. No one is bashing, just asking.
Comment by Dave — March 1, 2010 @ 7:39 pm
been riding old forge since 1986, its a paid trail system, paid trail maintinance, no such thing as volunteers
Comment by Jack E. Monker — March 1, 2010 @ 7:52 pm
Lets have some fun, your Old Forge claim to fame, give your hometown and state, where you stay in OLd Forge,longest ride from Old forge,how many yrs. riding Old Forge, favorite bar,what you ride
Comment by Jack E. Monker — March 1, 2010 @ 8:48 pm
Lehighton Pa., Old Forge camping resort,Barnes corners,24 yrs, High Market,Ceder Pines, Slickers, 06 F6
Comment by Jack E. Monker — March 1, 2010 @ 8:57 pm
Alburtis, PA
Christys when available
Longest ride was about 15 miles past indian lake
6 years
The frozen boat on racquet lake
skidoo 2006 600 sdi mxz..open can
Comment by scottyb — March 1, 2010 @ 8:59 pm
Hey Jack..were chewing up some of the same snow here the last few weeks..
Comment by scottyb — March 1, 2010 @ 9:01 pm
Alburtis, right next to the Mack trucks Kingdom, all the snow in pa. just dont do it for me
Comment by Jack E. Monker — March 1, 2010 @ 9:18 pm
As Mel Gibson would ask, Steve M. “do you have a dog in this race?” You are thin skinned and don’t comprehend what you are reading. My comments don’t take the groomers to task, it takes the decisions not to send them out to task. I’ll bet a lot of them would love to be out more as it may be their only income during the winter. And for your other ASSumption, I have driven a groomer with the same drags being used in O.F.
Comment by Tony — March 1, 2010 @ 9:23 pm
it does get old after a week. We do have a good system of trails though. can ride up to leaser lake,new tripoli etc..
Comment by scottyb — March 1, 2010 @ 9:24 pm
I agree Jack. Been riding OF since early 80’s . Stay in Thendera, 06 660t,.long lake, Tupper and the Hill. The Groomers do a fantastic job. Just think; how much snow did we really get this year.they managed to take good care of the little accumulation and keep the trails flat. now the road dept. is another issue. I used to stay on So. Shore but they plow that shoulder to shoulder. It has always been a complaint of mine and others. I’ve heard all the excuses.I really think the locals don’t want anyone on that road. i’ll be up this weekend and if necc. I ride a bar stool at Slickers or The new Tony Harpers. Steve, THANK YOU for all your hard work and dedication all season.
Comment by eeeker — March 2, 2010 @ 7:43 am
Tony, I do not want to drag this out, if you read the post Steve did with the vidio then that should tell it all. If you have driven a groomer like you say, then you should know as well as the guys in old forge that the conditions up there were not right for grooming, and to have groomed just to say you groomed would have cause more damage to the trails, and NO I do not have any “dog in the race”
I have to travel 41/2 hours to my house up there, and I make the best of what is there. I go up there to get away from the stress of my job as well as my wifes job. My point before, was that for you to post your original concerns would have been better off calling the town and ask what happened to the proper people. Putting on here is not the right way to get the answers you are looking for.
Comment by steve m. — March 2, 2010 @ 7:43 am
Oh I 4got . anyone remember when they had to put markers on the cars parked on the side so you would’nt drive over them. Snow fall totals 8′ and above. God I hope this AL guy is wrong.and he’s just in it for the money.It’s just a cycle things will change.
Comment by eeeker — March 2, 2010 @ 7:48 am
Steve M… Oldforge is Paid to maintain the trials and groom the trails as if it were the snow plow driver that plows your town street in a snow storm…
MOVE ON Steve M…
Comment by WeatherMan10 — March 2, 2010 @ 10:07 am
Steve M., I saw Steve’s video and I’m not arguing that grooming conditions are prime. But, the video showed the drag all the way down which is nuts in those conditions. It can be set not to take such a big bite. When you allow the corners to be pushed long enough where does that snow go? Off the side never to be seen again. Also at least the top could be taken off some of the bumper streches and with the lite traffic on Sunday some grooming would have been good even if the whole fleet couldn’t go out.
Comment by Tony — March 2, 2010 @ 10:39 am
Tony/Weatherman; OK I do understand that the guys how do the grooming are paid, and that the trail should be groomed. No problem there. When I read Tony’s first post it sounded like all he wanted to do was complain about the week end. To me if Tony had mentioned that he had tried talking to the town and was getting the run around then I would have supported him in his concerns. But that was not mentioned at all, so now I do understand why
he was angry.
Comment by steve m. — March 2, 2010 @ 3:45 pm
i was up in OF till Monday. We like to stay and ride all day / night on Sunday because the trail are groomed and no traffic. It was the worst i’ve seen you had to go out far from town to find nice riding. We went to Tupper Lake and that tracks weren’t bad at all. However for people that pay for their permits they should get more. We might 3 groups of people from out of town and at Old Forge for the 1st time ( Canada, Ohio & Chicago) and they said this is the place we hear about - it’s horrible and they said they would NEVER come back. That’s not good. You don’t want to lose those type of people. For me i know next i come up it won’t be like this. It was a bad reflection on OF and you know they will tell people of there experience.
The ironic part is that i fell skiing a week ago and had a punctured lung and bruised ribs and keep telling my wife not to worry because everything is so smooth up there it won’t hurt. I’m still sore.
it was a fluke but they need to learn from this and prevent it from happening again
It got down in the teens at night so it got cold enough.
Comment by Chris — March 2, 2010 @ 6:53 pm