Thought it was time for a new LHs thread.
They're calling for 3-5" in the LH area for this Friday. Let's see how this one works out...

I just saw an update after the first post....
SNOW SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP BY FRIDAY MORNING...AND CAN BE EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY AS THE DAY WEARS ON. THE SNOW COULD FALL HEAVY AT
TIMES...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR 6 INCHES OR MORE BY SATURDAY MORNING. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG THE RIDGE TOPS
OF CAMBRIA AND SOMERSET COUNTIES WHERE UP TO A FOOT MAY FALL IN SOME AREAS BY SATURDAY MORNING.

That's what I was just told. I didn't hear it but they said the radio and tv are saying the same, possibly 12+ till it's done. It's to be 37 here today then after that nothing above 25 thru the end of Jan.
Did you see accuweather, they show Feb with cold temps and above normal precip for us.

The only problem is it is going to be lake effect. A couple of snowmobile across it and it will be gone. We need the DCNR to groom the trails in the morning and pack them down. We are suppose to get a second storm on Sunday into Monday.

Just checking in for updates. Keep us posted!

I just got an email cancelling the severe weather watch.

Here we go again...

Somerset County;
Snow advisory in effect from 8 pm this evening to 11 am est saturday, The NWS in state college has issued a snow advisory, which is in effect from 8 pm this evening to 11 am est saturday.
Snow showers will increase later this evening and overnight, with the potential for 3 to 5 inches of accumulation by Saturday afternoon.
In addition to the snow showers and squalls, blowing and drifting snow can be expected as wind gusts in excess of 25 to 30 mph develop. This may cause local white out conditions and make for extremely hazardous travel.
A snow advisory means that periods of snow will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for snow covered roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving.

I've been watching the cams, but it just doesn't look like it's going to be enough to justify 3 hrs on the road and a tank of diesel. It's gonna have to snow like mad over night. Maybe next time.

PA STATE AGENCIES
Education
Environmental Protection
Game Commission
Homeland Security
Labor & Industry
Lottery
Public Welfare
Revenue
State
Transportation
more...
ONLINE SERVICES
COMPASS: Access to Social Services
Driver & Vehicle Services
Find a Job
Fishing Licenses
Homeland Security Tip Submission
Hunting Licenses
Personal Income Taxes
Places to Stay in PA
Turnpike E-ZPass
Unemployment Compensation
more...







Forestry Recreation
Forest Health
Rural & Community Forestry
Private Forest Landowners
Forest Fire Protection
Education & Information
State Forest Management
Publications
Contacts

Trail Maps and Snow Conditions for the
Laurel Highlands Region



Trail maps are available Adobe PDF format.

These maps are quite large, and are not recommended for downloading via dial-up connection.

Western Somerset County - Forbes Forest District 04 Updated: 1/19/2007 11:38 AM
Trail Conditions: 3 to 4 inches Poor conditions Groomers:
Groomers are operating
Parking lots:
Plowed and open Comments: Insufficient snow for grooming. The conditions are still considered poor due to lack of base. State Forest gates are open at this time.
Trails:
Laurel Highlands-Southern Section Adobe PDF Map (2.4 Mb)

Westmoreland County - Forbes Forest District 04 Updated: 1/19/2007 11:36 AM
Trail Conditions: 3 to 4 inches Poor conditions Groomers:
Groomers are operating
Parking lots:
Plowed and open Comments: Insufficient snow for grooming. State Forest gates are now open. The conditions are still considered poor due to lack of base.
Trails:
Laurel Highlands-Northern Section Adobe PDF Map (2.2 Mb)





Return to Map and Trail Conditions Home



Home · Contact · FAQ

Save your fuel. I left work at 11pm and unless we get some serious snow overnight don't bother coming.

Anyone ride up there today? Looks like some people have since there's lots of tracks on the LHSC webcam. I thought about going up but it looked like there's only about 4".

QuadRacer! How are ya'? Like everyone else here there just has not been much to post, but maybe this will change soon! Time to get riding! Deb and I bought some land in NY, but the sleds are in MD. I can't ride until next weekend at the earliest anyway!

Hey Bob!! I'm good... yourself? There's supposed to be a chance of snow all week, so maybe it'll be good for you by next weekend. I can't wait to go out because I got my girlfriend (now fiance) a sled at the end of last season that neither one of us has been able to ride yet. Maybe we can meet up.

Hey, Dave! The first thing I was going to ask you next was whether or not you were engaged or not! Congratulations! Let's hope the cold and snow hangs on! I'll give you an e-mail or a call early in the week!

Hey guys are there any dyno shop around the Laurel Highlands
Thanks

Saw trax through the fields near Somerset and 7 Springs and some on the trails too. The trails didn't have much cover. The scag stores will be doing well this week!

We gained about another inch but it's all fluff.

my buddy rode 15 miles on sat. at the highland.
my brother rode 120 miles up at the loop.
both trails were beat up.
we need a wet snow, then a foot of snow.

I second that. I just took a ride up to the warming hut on Summit Rd and it's all fluff. The road seems rideable, at least I'm going to tonight or tomorrow.

Is there a trail ride this weekend at the lhsc? Do you guys think there will be enough snow to mess around on the strip?

You can tell there's finally at least some snow in the forecast... people are finally posting stuff!

Looks like those snow dances are working!

So... Anyone every try to modify a sled for one-hand use?

Put 30 miles on tonight. I did most of them running up and down Summit Rd which was actually pretty good,I'd give it an 8. We tried to run Weaver and Marshall Fields but once we got going on them you could hear the rocks so we turned and stuck to Summit.

lets go snow. i want ta ride... also im in for your trip northbound

Sounds good!

Anyone going to ride tonight? Let me know.... Thanks

If you go tonight please post a report. They're calling for 1" tonight, 1-3" tomorrow, and 1" tomorrow night. I looks like Thurs-Fri will be the best so far this year. Although, it won't take long for the trails to get beat. Have to time this one right. It looks like they got close to 6" now in the valley where the webcam is.

I'm going to chance it and go up in the morning, be there about 9:30

only thing is Im not sure about where im going. dont know the trails good enough, should I start at the parking lot at the garage and go towards seven springs or the other way?
any response would be great

thanks

Parked at the warming hut tonight and rode to lhsc and back to walat's. Did about 60 miles. Only saw 9 sleds all night. The trails were descent a little rough in some spots but I've ridden on worse. There was about 6 inches when I left and they are calling for 8 more tonight. Hopefully winter is finally here!

Looks good for the next few days. They trail cam shows probably 9" and they'll have over a 12 probably by tonight. I'm packing tonight and heading out after work tomorrow for some late night riding.

From the looks of the two cams, I'd say its looking good to go! We are loading up tomorrow evening and plan on hitting the lot on Rt. 31 by about 7AM Sat. morning. Any locals going to be there? I'd love to run a little with somebody that really knows the area better than us. Never been south beyond the "state mapped" trails and never been to Walats. Food and drink available right? If we can tag along with some locals for awhile (just two of us) that would be sweet.

Hope to see lots of sleds Saturday!

Okay, the pic from the ski area cam is looking WICKED!

Get out there guys, but save some for me!

I hear ya! I'll be heading up on Sunday.

Hey guys -- Have a blast for me!

Just because I live 30 minutes from the Rte 31 / LHSC Trailhead doesn't mean my broken collarbone has other plans! So far, no sledding through February! Oh Man!

Watch out for Pilz & Quadracer -- they're just nutty I tell ya! Rumor is one of 'em is hitching up the trailer now for some night rid'n!

Take lots of pics... I'm for pics!

Bill

(and to think I moved to Pgh because of more snow!)

You're killin' me!

Was thinking about making my first trip to the highlands on Sat. Hope to see everyone there! Can anyone tell me the easiest place to park and unload if I'm coming from the east on the PA turnpike? Thanks

Someone may have a better way from Exit 10 (Somerset)...I just know Exit 9 (Donegal)...go left out of the toll gate (31)...keep on 31...go straight through flashing yellow light (711/381)...go up the big hill (Laurel Ridge). Before you get to the top of the hill (and descend to Hidden Valley Ski area) public parking is on your left (Fire Tower Road will be to the right)...

this link may help...

http://local.google.com/?ie=UTF8&z=14&...mp;t=h&om=1

From the East it's pretty much just the opposite of what madlr said. Get off the TP at Somorset Exit and take Rt. 31 West past the Hidden Vally Ski area. It's a few miles outside of Somorset, so you won't hit it instantly. At the top of the ridge the parking lot will be on your right and Fire Tower Rd. will be on your left. I don't think you will be able to miss it. Seeing as this is the first decent snow, I'm guessing there will be a few trailers there! I'm coming from the east as well, so if you see a big black F-350 with the hammer down just tag along! Buddy and myself plan on getting there between 7-7:30AM and riding till about 2PM.

I'll be heading up from WV...Leave about 5:00 am get there about 8:30...Black Apex GT. Maybe see ya on the trail. I need to learn more about the southern trails (south of 7 Springs), bringing my GPS. My plan is to GPS in waypoints and track the trails...

I'll keep my eys open for you. I'll look just like I do in my avatar pic on the ol' Viper. Buddy has a "stealth no decal" 03' 600 rev.

I hear ya about the south trails. We've never been past what's "state mapped". I'd like to get down there myself. Chicken pooped out last year when we hit all the Seven Springs signs!

I'm leaving work now, and plan on being on the snow by 7:30. One guy already there and another will be there about the same as me. We'll be doing night riding from 7:30 til ???? I can't stay awake anymore. You guys that are waiting until tomorrow or Sunday, the trails will be beat. The best riding up there is after 10 pm. No one on the trails, quiet, dark, and the sleds run better when it's colder. I can't wait for the first ride of the year!!!!!! If you see us tonight, ZR 900, Rev 800, and XCR 800. Oh, and you might see them the sleds at Walets too.

we rode 97 miles at the highlands today. 8:00am till about 10:30 am was fair to the north. but after that the trails to the south were shit.....
there were alot of sleds out and about.
we need snow in a bad way....
c1racing i will let you know when we go back up.
not till we get more snow trails are beat up.
!!!!!!!Think Snow!!!!!!!!!

Friday night there were a butt-load of trucks, trailers, sleds out there. Walats whole side yard was filled as were most of the parking areas. About midnight things started to thin out some. Not surprising things were ripped up on Saturday. Did my 92 miles between 30 and seven springs.!.!

beamercat sometime we are up riding we need to hook up
so you can show us the way to walet's. we tried to find
our way today, but we missed a turn somewhere...
if you don't mind....
we will be riding next weekend if we get snow.

just got back,, boy do we need more snow up there, it was rough riding, we did manage to get in some riding after the snow came about 3:00 pm, but it was really snowing hard and we had to go.

tomarrow should be OK if we get enough snow for the groomers to get out.

Put 85 miles down on Saturday. We were the first rig in the Rt 31 lot and hit the trails about 7:30 AM. We hit the south side first and ran some of the roads southeast of Seven Springs (Glades, Blue Hole, etc.) and then back tracked up through the "mapped" loops to the parking lot again. The smooth and fast was a nice alternative to the whoops and rocks we played in later in the day on the north side! Anybody know if there are maps for this area? Do the clubs have maps that show these roads/trails? Anyway, we ran the road past the LH clubhouse and looped back out Sky View to pick up Tunnel Hill Rd. Across the Turnpike (gotta love that dam bridge!) we hit Felgar, Wilkins, Powdermill and Linn Run on the north side and called it a day since we only planned on riding till 1:30 or so and were getting low on fuel. If anyone saw a Viper draggin' a Rev you will know just how close we cut it! I certainly enjoyed towing my first Skidoo, and the ol' Viper pulls like a truck! Hopefully we can get back out this coming weekend and try to cover more ground and get some bigger mileage in. I see fresh snow has fallen with more in the forcast throughout the week! THINK SNOW!!

If your looking for maps of the southern end try maplesummit.

http://www.geocities.com/maplesummitsnowriders/

We did get a good bit of new snow Sunday.

Hey PA Viper --

Glad you all had an excellent time -- guess the early bird's do get the freshest powder Nice of you to tow the 'Doo (I towed one in Vermont... is there a trend here?).

Regarding Trail Maps...

The DCNR prints up a nice, large map (approx 22" x 17") of the whole area, with one side being roughly north of the Turnpike (agreed - that bridge rocks!), and the other side being south of the 'Pike and down past Rte 31).

I've seen copies in the LHSC clubhouse, but those may be for members. There are also copies in field boxes at some ranger offices (I think I may have seen such a box attached to that building in the lot on Rte 31, actually).

They're great for showing snowmobile trails, XC trails, and roads. I even use it during the summer during my dual-sport rides up there! They have lots of useful textual info on them, too.

I suggest calling the District Forester Office in Laughlintown @ 724-238-1200, or maybe the Park Superintendent for Laurel Hill SP in Somerset @ 814-445-7725. They can probably tell you where to get them. Latest version is 2007, called the "Laurel Highlands Snowmobile Trail System / Forbes State Forest / Somerset and Westmoreland Counties".

You can also download PDF's here (northern and southern URL's respectively) -- and they're attached to this post.

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/FORESTRY/snowm...s/D4LH_STRn.pdf
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/FORESTRY/snowm...ps/D4LH_STR.pdf

Take care!

Bill

Maps are also available on the shed at the 31 parking lot in the mailbox marked "maps" Early birds get the worm eh......we rode from 8 pm Friday till 4 am Saturday. Somehow we didn't put on very many miles though. We made of few stops and enjoyed the scenery. Maybe next week we'll put a few more miles on.

I've got the 2007 DCNR maps which are great, got em right in my Map Jacket which is super handy by the way. I'm curious about all that riding BEYOND what DCNR calls the "south section." Everyone says you can ride right to the edge of Ohiopyle. Guess it's time to join Maple Summit since it appears to be their turf down that way.

I hear you about the mileage. We would have been out of fuel much earlier, but we tend to stop a lot and check stuff out, take pics, etc.

Oh, towing Doo's is plenty fun! :laugh:

Buddy is going out tomorrow again but I had to pass. Anybody out there baby sit? Gonna try for Saturday again.

I've never seen specific trail maps for that south section. I think the best out there woud be a combination of the Ohioyle State Park map along with the State Game Land 111 map. Both are on line. I'm also not sure of a copnnection between the 2. I know you can go pretty far into SGL 111. I rode it once from Walats and back and it was pushing the fuel limit.