I went for a short 45 minute ride after work yesterday. This time I brought my camera, but there wasn't really much to take pictures of because the groomers did an amazing job cleaning the crap out of almost all of the trails. There were a couple trails here and there that were still ungroomed, but almost everything was groomed and most of the crap was out of the way. There were a few rogue branches here and there, along with a lot of wood shrapnell in the trails, but they were a night and day difference from Saturday. I saw one groomer out south of the powerlines, and when I was headed home he was down toward Harriman. I don't know if other groomers went north, but I didn't see them.

Anyway, below are some pics. I started off in the heartwellville parking lot. The first stretch from the parking lot to the first intersection is usually tough this time of year, but it was still flat and smooth from Saturday's grooming. I also met the groomer on this section of trail, which made it even better. I headed up 7N to BN10, then left onto 7A.

The first pic is on top of the mountain between Readsboro and Woodford. This was taken between BN10 and George Aiken Rd. I tried to get the sunset, but it was obscured by the trees. You can see that there's still ice and snow on the trees from last week.
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I stayed on 7A across Aiken rd and over to the power lines. I snapped this next pic of the powerlines at the intersection that takes you to A-Z and to the Mall.
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I continued down the powerlines, and instead of taking 7A north, I went a little farther on the powerlines to get to the trail that loops back to 7A. When I got on to that trail, I snapped another pic:
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Once off the powerlines, I could see that this section of trail hadn't been groomed yet, though it had been cleared so that sleds could pass. It was getting dark by now so my camera shot is blurry, but it gives you a bit of an idea what type of issues the groomers had to deal with. In this pic the trail is only about 1 sled wide because there's so much stuff leaning into the trails:
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I continued on 7N to BN6 where I turned left to take the Glastenbury loop. This is where I saw the moose last week, so I spent most of my time just praying not to see one again. The glastenbury loop was in great shape, though you could see areas where there was probably a lot of tree damage. I headed south on Airport Rd, which was choppy but in good shape. I headed back down 7 to BN5, then turned left at BN4. On saturday this trail was a mess and I turned around. Last night there were still some remnants of the mess, but it was in pretty good shape and very ridable. I headed back down 7 and to the heartwellville parking lot on virgin groomed trail, then turned right and rode up to the end of the Stage Coach road. This was a real mess on Friday, but looks great now.

Overall, about 45 miles last night and I finally took some pictures.

There is still a LOT of snow on the trails. Anybody who wants to squeeze one last ride in should definately do it! The trails will be great all week and will probably be pretty good this weekend, save for the usual whooping they take on Saturdays. Because there are less riders now that spring is here, they should stay decent even through the weekend. I think they'll remain good next week, but next week might realistically be the last decent week of riding, but I guess we'll have to see.

Amazing how good it still looks up there! Thanks for sharing, Again

The snowbusters website should SERIOUSLY give you a column on there where you cold copy these posts for in depth updates when you feel like adding them. Stellar job!! Because of your input, I WILL be going to Woodford sometime this weekend. Thanks a ton for your efforts.

Thanks for writing and sharing once again! You just made my mind up for me whether or not to go home and get the trailer at lunch time so I can go for a quick 40-50 after work myself.

Nice pictures........

Sometimes I feel like a schmuck making these posts, but because people do seem to appreciate them, I keep doing it. I just think back to a couple years ago when I lived about 10 miles away, and I only went once the entire season because my yard was bare, and I didn't want to go through all the hassles of getting the sled and trailering it up there just to find crap, so I never went. I found out later that my buddy did over 600 miles that season, so it's obvious that there was enough to ride on. By making these posts, maybe it motivates other guys with no snow in their yards to go for a ride.

I thank you for your detailed reports and pictures. As it pains me to read these while at work, they give me hope that I can still get some riding in for the weekend. Also makes my decision to take Fridays off a lot easier.

I live just over the border in NY - so it's advantageous for me to head up right after work. Hooked the trailer up at lunchtime so I'm heading up after work to burn a few miles today. I can usually ride right out of my yard on the local trails which is nice - but as it goes - everything is brown in my area as well.
I know I'm not alone in telling you as well - I'm sure there are alot of people that appreciate your input. I also have first hand accounts of the day to day weather as I happen to work with the owner of Tifft's trading post. It's always a good sign to see him pulling in the parking lot at work with his plow on the truck! Although he doesn't always share my enthusiasim on said subject.

just for the record, i did groom from the barn to the end of the stage coach trail, then i went to the dam and back to the blue trail. i made a k turn there, and headed back the way i camefrom the barn. there was another groomer out, but i think that he only did into the pine valley parking lot, the adams parking lot, and to and from twin brooks.even though we are into the end of march, the trails are in great shape. i as well as the other groomers are commited to giving you as club members, the best possible riding until we have to call it quits. as a groomer and buisness owner, i am very happy to have served all of you this year. lets all hope to see another winter like this next year.

Jim, keep em coming. I was up last Wed, Thurs, Friday with my daughters, your description of the trails, "nice, big, sweeping moguls" was right on. We put out from Stratton-Arlington Road on Friday, it was great. Virgin powder over a good base. The trail to Kelly Stand and back was really cool, couldn't get any better. We had to cut our day short because one of my daughters had to get home, it was tough leaving. I hoping to get up at least one more time. Keep the reports coming!

Dave

X2 I've relied on your reports many times this year. Thanks and keep them coming..

Rich, thanks for your services and all your dedication to the sport, and thanks for trying to help me out when I limped in with some sled issues, see you on friday I'm coming up for another ride.

Good report!..Plan on hitting Woodford this weekend.

before i turn in for the night, i thought everybody would like to know============= its 10:52 pm and it is snowing pretty hard at this time. check out my web cam for your self.

AWESOME JOB!! KEEP EM COMIN!! The pictures are great. I know first hand what the conditions are, but a lot of the gang from the flat land have no idea what is going on up there. imagine that, JIM'S CORNER, it could be arranged. Hey, I'll see you at the meeting.

P.S. Next time I go grooming, I'll polish the moguls for you.

I unloaded at pine valley lot yesterday around 5:30 p.m. Headed south on the power lines, then across rt9 to the Heartwellville parking lot. I read Jims comments on this area as this is where he tends to unload from, but myself have never even been that way. I must say that yesterday was in the top 3 experiences on a sled, anywhere that I have ridden - including Quebec! Now - some of you may may question this and say "yea, ok, sure." It may not have been a 250 mile loop, but the job the groomers have done with this section was incredible and the trails were set up, with flat corners and no studder bumps anywhere to be found!! Even the power lines heading south towards rt 9 from pine valley lot were the best I have ever ridden up there. The one thing that I picked up on and as unfortunate as it is due to the storm - was the smell of the fresh cut wood that lingered through the tighter sections of 7n - due of course to the people that helped clear the trails after the ice storm. I was very impressed with the quality of the trails, being that this is the last week of March.
A big thank you goes out to the groomers who take the time to care as much as you do. If you haven't gone out to try to get that last ride in - i strongly suggest you do - because you are missing out.