firefighterjake
Feb 27, 2007, 11:08 AM
Wow . . . what a difference a little bit of sun and warmth . . . and a whole lot of sledders . . . makes for trail conditions. Last Tuesday when I took my sled out the trails were mint -- smooth and flat. Honestly, I couldn't have wished for better conditions . . . well, maybe in a few places with some moguls here and there that made things interesting.
On Monday (2-26) it was obvious that the sun and extra traffic from School Vacation Week (not to mention a lack of volunteers to help groom regularly -- we could use help Hint-Hint-Hint) had placed a strain on the trails with lots of moguls, stutter bumps and more than a few holes.
The good news: most of the trails were being groomed Monday night (with the exception of the spur trail to Troy and Troy General as this area really needs more snow due to drag-eating rocks -- this section is pretty rough right now).
The bad news: we really need more snow to help fill in the holes and return the trails to excellent condition. The drag was knocking the tops off most of the moguls and smoothing out the stutter bumps, but the lack of snow meant not every hole was being completely covered. The snow was also pretty granular and was balling up due to the melting action earlier in the day which means trails were looking better, but were far from perfect.
We're hoping to get back out by the end of this week in time for the weekend, but right now more snow is truly needed to make the trails nice and flat. We're working with what we got (in terms of snow, time and conditions), but hoping for more, more, more (more snow, more volunteers and did I mention more snow?)
Some more good news: more trail signs have been placed and old signs re-inked. If the snow holds we also hope to put up some new GPSed (I think that's a new word incidentally) maps will be going up at key intersections.
Another reminder: contrary to what some maps show ITS 85 that runs from Pittsfield to Albion through Unity no longer connects to ITS 82 in Troy and runs up the east side of Unity Pond (aka Lake Winnecook). ITS 85 and ITS 82 now intersect behind Chase Toys in Unity and ITS 85 runs from the Albion/Unity town line to Chase Toys and into town on a portion of the Loop Trail . . . ITS 85 then continues on up to Pittsfield near the Horse Arena at the intersection of Rt. 139 and the Horseback Road near Sandy Stream and follows a course up the western side of the lake now.
On Monday (2-26) it was obvious that the sun and extra traffic from School Vacation Week (not to mention a lack of volunteers to help groom regularly -- we could use help Hint-Hint-Hint) had placed a strain on the trails with lots of moguls, stutter bumps and more than a few holes.
The good news: most of the trails were being groomed Monday night (with the exception of the spur trail to Troy and Troy General as this area really needs more snow due to drag-eating rocks -- this section is pretty rough right now).
The bad news: we really need more snow to help fill in the holes and return the trails to excellent condition. The drag was knocking the tops off most of the moguls and smoothing out the stutter bumps, but the lack of snow meant not every hole was being completely covered. The snow was also pretty granular and was balling up due to the melting action earlier in the day which means trails were looking better, but were far from perfect.
We're hoping to get back out by the end of this week in time for the weekend, but right now more snow is truly needed to make the trails nice and flat. We're working with what we got (in terms of snow, time and conditions), but hoping for more, more, more (more snow, more volunteers and did I mention more snow?)
Some more good news: more trail signs have been placed and old signs re-inked. If the snow holds we also hope to put up some new GPSed (I think that's a new word incidentally) maps will be going up at key intersections.
Another reminder: contrary to what some maps show ITS 85 that runs from Pittsfield to Albion through Unity no longer connects to ITS 82 in Troy and runs up the east side of Unity Pond (aka Lake Winnecook). ITS 85 and ITS 82 now intersect behind Chase Toys in Unity and ITS 85 runs from the Albion/Unity town line to Chase Toys and into town on a portion of the Loop Trail . . . ITS 85 then continues on up to Pittsfield near the Horse Arena at the intersection of Rt. 139 and the Horseback Road near Sandy Stream and follows a course up the western side of the lake now.