As the topic says, 152 miles. I would give it overall a strong 8 out of 10. We dropped at Barnes. A few water holes on the trail out but nothing too bad, I've been through worse! Trails around Barnes and Montague were table top flat. Very impressive. Me and my brother could not believe how good they were! A lot of them had low hanging trees and fallen trees so be careful of them...We then went to Flat Rock, Highmarket and ate at Marty's. We then went down the Salman river trail and tried to circle through Winona State forest but most of the gates were closed. So we turned around and went to back to Barnes and home.
We arrived at 10:00 which is late for us but we were not expecting the conditions to be as good. By the afternoon, there was a couple inches of snow on the trails.

To all, have fun this weekend

I then arrived home at 9:30 (Marcellus) to 6 inches of snow in my driveway and a snowblower awaiting me! I'm beat and am going to bed! Hope the pics work!!!

Forgot to mention that we passed 5 sleds and at the most saw 10...it was awesome!!!

I was going to head up there this weekend, but might take my chances and see how snow gets dumped on us sunday. Hate to waste $75 in gas if I can just ride out of my backdoor. If not, I'll ride early next week, don't look like that snow is going anywhere. You know, its been almost 2 weeks into the riding season up there, and they still haven't cleared logs and over hanging branches yet, what gives???

Branches and trees WERE cleared, More came down the past few days. If you watch the weather you would understand this.
If I was not so bogged down with work I would be up there helping clear the trails. I you have some spare time call a club up there and go help instead of complaining.

You know Phantom, I quietly spent a ton of hours marking and clearing our trails in my area. All this was accomplished well before your opening day on our trail system. Myself and our club president had made sure that everything is in order so all we had to do is take down a few gates on december 18th to start our season around here. I cannot even begin to tell you how much time I have marking and clearing trails. But man, I can tell how much you have, because you constantly have to remind us what you've done. Are you tooting your own horn to make yourself feel good?? Never once have you heard me come on here and flap my gums about all this time I spent getting the trails ready, except this one time. Of all the volunteers I know, your the only one that is looking to belittle someone for not helping out. You think I really care if another club memeber helps out the club or not. Too me, their club dues mean more to our club then anything else. So the next time you try to shame someone into doing something for the club or belittle them for complaining, think about the way your representing yourself.

Thanks for pics, looks like a great start to this season.
This should make for a great base.

Wow. Looks nice up there. I can't wait to go. I wish there were only 5 or so sleds on the trails when I'm out. Thats perfect for some real hard riding. Sounds like you had a good time.

Maybe Phantom came off too strong there but he keeps tooting his horn because people keep questioning him and his clubs efforts. At least that my opinion from following all these threads on TH and NY conditions. In light of this years nonsense and bickering I'm not surprise people are defensive especially those that actually do some of the work.

I think the clubs do a great job in Tug Hill. Especially after Thursdays smooooth trails. All the trees down were recent and will get taken care of in time. We tried to drag some off the trails but most will require a chain saw.

I am not a member of a club in Tug Hill but will join this weekend. I can't ride trails like that without contributing something!!!!

Congrats on the new sled Ron. I was going to go up Monday but now I am not, after yesterdays snow and the base I still had I can ride from my yard still in the fields and the RR bed, so I am going to stay close to home. I wish it only cost me $75 round trip in gas, I am looking at more like $100+, nut if you wanna play you have to pay.

Edit- My yard last night

i have to say snowman puts in way more hours than three people put together ,we know its hard to get help but dont jump on the guys who ask a reason a trail or trails are not in order they are just woundering thats all

I can not speak for Phantom, but I think we share the same thought process in regards to this situation. I would be up there...well in three hours to help clear down all the blow down from the recent icing if it was not for an unplaned business trip. Fustration that you can not get up there to help out the other VOLUNTEERS, then top it off with someone stating "You know, its been almost 2 weeks into the riding season up there, and they still haven't cleared logs and over hanging branches yet, what gives???".

Well what gives is many of these trails were brushed and cleared prior to snowfall, what happened is called blow down and is frequent in the area. Unlike running thru famers fields, the majority of trails in this area run down heavily wooded areas and despite the greatest brush clearing work detail...freezing rain+wind bring down the limbs you are unable to cut 20' off the ground. Combine that with a very limited volunteer core due to geographic location and there you have it Snowman-F7. I apologize that you can not ride due to the blowdown right now.

I had a great preseason ride in the area on the 8th...stopped every mile or two, picked up large stones...limbs and other obstacles. Paying it forward, hopefully someone spots that obstacle that is further down the trail than I and takes that 20 seconds to clear...saving me a repair or something much worse.

My problem with Phantom is that he thinks he is the only one that puts time and energy into clearing and marking trails. Then he rags on people when they complain, not knowing the facts behind what the person does or doesn't do for the club.

I do put time into clearing and marking for our club. So I guess according to him, I have the right to bitch about the way a trail is.

Im a club member many miles away from the tug hill But commend the work that any one can do for any club. Easy to say but when it comes time to get things done people always are well, sorry Not this week ,excuses.But Thanks to any one out there who help. WITHOUT VOLONTI ERS OUR SPORT WILL DIE

nice pics

I do not think I'm the only one that puts time into trail work but I don't complain about an area that I don't help in or not know what the situation was and is due to recent ice and heavy snows.

If you don't like the way or the timeframe that trail work and clearing is done on Tug Hill stay in Le Roy and ride your club trails that you work on.

What's that you say? Trails aren't open or have enough snow yet? I thought so.

Do you at least belong to any clubs on The Hill? Remember Join and Support WHERE YOU RIDE if you ride The Hill join clubs there as well as your local club.
I live 375 miles and 6 Hours from my riding area but I seem to manage to make it up there to help you guys that are 2-3 hours away and ride The Hill whenevr there is no snow in your home area should have no excuses.

The real shame here is that you ride a yamaha.

\

I don't want to get off track here but...

My Yamaha is a 2005 with 9,012 miles on it.
I was a die hard Polaris fan prior to '05 I had a 97 XLT Special with 10,000 miles on it and I was due for a new sled.
Polaris came out with the Fusion the biggest POS to ever hit snow... I said no thanks. They pushed me to another brand and due to their mistake I will never ride a two stroke again after riding the Yamaha. Sure Polaris has the FST but that is the second biggest POS to ever hit snow.
Maybe after my Yamaha has 20-30 THOUSAND miles on it and Polaris gets their chit together with a decent four stroke I'll look at them again but for now why ride a NASCAR grade sled when you can ride a Formula One grade sled?

I ride an Arctic Cat. I belong to a club. I do not belong to a Tugg Hill club. I am going to Tugg Hill Tuesday.
Please ensure all trails are cleared of that Blow whatever stuff, and the all trails are groomed to perfection
before I get there (approximately 8:30AM). Thank you.

PS: I am not going to eat at the Cedar pines.

PSS: Will Monday night be the third night in the 3rd day only grooming rotation? If not,
please change the rotation to Monday night. Thank you again.

You guys ride The Hill so much you should keep better informed... Lewis County has given $50,000 to the clubs to help with the grooming. The clubs have voted to resume a normal grooming schedule which is daily for most clubs... conditions permitting.
Have fun!

I hope you're just havin' fun. Unfortunately, there's a lot of sledders that think like that.

I am also going Tuesday also and agree with these conditions. I however would like a club to pay for my fuel there and back and for the sleds. Thanks.

Yea man, I'm just having fun. I sincerely appreciate everything that goes into making all these
trails ridable for all of us. I don't bitch about the trails, if they are bumpy, it's because there is
alot of traffic, or there isn't really sufficient snow. If It's table top, it's because groomers know
what they are doing, and mother nature is cooperating.