Any one sled in the parks? Allegany, Adirondack, Cats? How is the off trail? Back country? The Appalachians are pretty big considering their eastern geography. If you consider what even the best Mt sled can and can not climb, the highest peaks in the Rockies are unobtainable. Shear cliffs and rock face. Helo access only. What can be ridden is inclines of what... 45-60 degrees? When is the last time you saw a high-mark on a 90 degree face? The videos featuring the mountain high-markers show inclines easily found in the eastern Mt ranges. With exception to snow fall averages and depth, timber lines, and range of season. Yes they may extend into path of Time Warners satellites, buy why are the Rockies the only Mountains ever talked about? I'm not stupid I realize the extreme and obvious differences, but do we totally discount the Apps? I've seen powder by the foot. Lake effect is a term we in the Great Lake reigon know and love. It can bring 85" in three days (x-mas, Buffalo, few years back) Syracuse gets nailed! The apps are just east of both cities. Tug Hill ring a bell to you westerners.

I'm planning a trip to Allegany State Park this Presidents day week end. I will take pictures and take notes and post them here. I am willing to bet I will be out of my leage on my 121" with 1.25" track.

It is the 9th right know and as I speak a winter wheather advisory just flashed across the TV screen. Great news for us western NYers. I'll let you know how it goes.

As for you westerners laughing at my rant take into account the cost of traveling w/ rig and sled(s) to the Rockies. Family or friends in tow as well. Lodging, gas for road and trail, rentals if not towing, (ever ride a "rental") how about modding our flatlander rides to even get anywhere there, food, etc. These are big expenses. Don't get me wrong one day I dream of making the trip, but I'm just a prison guard not a CEO. The New York park systems are very well priced, in fact very cheap, even for cabins. I'll reveal the totals when I get back. The park is 1.5 to 2 hours from anywhere in western and central NY and the Adirondacks are 5-6 from here. Salamanca Native American Reservation is two miles from the park and gas there is tax free. I can get to mountain-esk riding for two hours of my time and about $400 if I splurge. Me and my wife will be w/ another couple and will share the cabin cost so hack another $50-60 off for that. How does it sound so far?

I'll get back and post my opinion on the fun and cost and overall worth in regards to ride, amenities, food, service and opinion on if its mountain caliber or not. It is a State Park after all so I may not be allowed off trail. Until then post away and let me hear from some of you eastern mountain riders, and stop laughing Idaho! :cussing:

The biggest problem with mountain riding in the east is not the topography, it's the fact that hills are usually densely covered in trees, and that we don't get alot of snow. To have fun playing off-trail you need fresh powder, and lots of it.
I agree that there are places in eastern north america where you can have fun with a mountain machine. Anybody who wants to make use of a long tracked machine really needs to check out western Newfoundland. Lots of big hills, and they're open enough that you're not confined to hydro lines if you want to go hill climbing.

Nice pic, is that near North Bay? This trip to ASP is accually in lue of a trip to Perry Sound.

I agree w/ the tree issue. We do not have timber lines to go above, but we're not limited to power lines either. It has been a while since my last trip to Allegany, if my memory serves me well I think I can disprove that notion. We'll see. I'm taking plenty of film and batteries for the 35mm and digital.

Originally posted by snowhack@Feb 9 2005, 04:25 PM
Nice pic, is that near North Bay? 400088

if that pic is from north bay, i'm gonna have to tag along with newfie so i can find out where newfie is finding these spots!!!!

but seriously to answer ur question, i realy dont think it's from north bay, but plz correct me if i'm wrong newfie

No, it is definatly not from the North Bay area. It's from paradise, AKA western Newfoundland.

Here's another.

That is Newfoundland!!!??? Wow nice. It looks like Alasaka. I've got to go there. How far is it from New York?

:blush: I know I know Appalachian not Appellation. My spell check gave me that spelling. sorry.

Originally posted by snowhack@Feb 10 2005, 09:41 AM
That is Newfoundland!!!??? Wow nice. It looks like Alasaka. I've got to go there. How far is it from New York?
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Probably a 2-3 hour plane ride! I am thinking of going next year (or yr after) for a week. Get a guided tour, mayby Newfie could recommend one, and just sit back (well sometimes forward) and enjoy!

I see it is an Island Province. Those mountains in the back are they the Long Range Mts.? How do you get a sled out there, Ferry?

Is the train shut down I heard it was?

You can fly into Gander, Nfld. From there head north (I believe) have a camera ready. I can't describe how BEAUTIFUL that part of Canada is. One is considered lucky to live in that part of North America. :inlove:

Hey guys, any questionjs you have, fire away.
The mountains in the last pic are actually part of the Lewis Hills, the highest in the province. Stunning country, and located right in between Corner Brook and Stephenville.
There are actually a number of places that you can fly into. For snowmobiling purposes the best two are Deer Lake and Stephenville.
To get a machine there you take a ferry from North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Port aux Basques, NFLD. It's a 6-8 hour trip depending on the weather, and for a truck and one person costs about $100. Add $25 for every other passenger, and there's an addition fee for a trailer, based on the overall length of you truck/trailer combo.

The best time of the year to go is from late Febuary to early April. Any where on the west coast north of Stephenville will be fantastic sledding. You'll definatly want a guide of some sort, as the marked trail system is somewhat limited, and you won't find all the really fun places unless you know where you're going.

If anybody is really serious about going, get in touch. I've been toying with the idea of bringing people's sleds down for a fee so that they won't have to waste the time driving, and so that I can have my costs covered for the trip down. Snowmobiling in Ontario just doesn't compare, and any excuse I can use for a trip to NFLD will do. I can hook you up with very reasonable accomedations, and show you all the sweet places to go off the beaten path.

Originally posted by NewfieBullet@Feb 10 2005, 02:25 PM
If anybody is really serious about going, get in touch. I've been toying with the idea of bringing people's sleds down for a fee so that they won't have to waste the time driving, and so that I can have my costs covered for the trip down. Snowmobiling in Ontario just doesn't compare, and any excuse I can use for a trip to NFLD will do. I can hook you up with very reasonable accomedations, and show you all the sweet places to go off the beaten path.
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I want to head there next year and if you have the sleds and want to be a guide everyone can make out good on that. it is only $550 USD to fly there from here (Deer Lake). If I can talk the wife into letting me get away then I am there... Next Year though. Thanks for the desktop background for this year.

Originally posted by mlabudda@Feb 10 2005, 02:33 PM
Thanks for the desktop background for this year.
400580

My Pleasure.

Oh, mlabudda, next year I'm not driving down for Christmas, so I will DEFINATELY be going down for a sledding trip in March, and would welcome the oppertunity to show some people around. We should really keep this in mind and try and make it happen.

Well I know what I will be asking the wife for for Christmas. Don't worry I may not be at the site that much in the summer but March will be circled on my calender, PM me any time to remind me. I will need a sled though, rented or borrowed cuz I am not driving and ferrrying a sled w/ 121" x 3/4" studded track for that snow.

Snowhack have fun in our mountains, It will be a good time. And come next March and you will have something to compare it to.

I have been having trouble with getting pics on layely and I'm not sure why. The trip was awsome and we had a great time good snow not feet, but good. The off trail, I'm sorry to say, was non-exsisting. At least in the park. Hopefully the pics upload this time enjoy......

It won't let me upload pics that were scanned onto the computer. I'll see what I can do.

I did take the digital, but most times it was too cold for it to function. Heres some more.

Its a shame too because the good ones were on film.

Nice pics.
I guess it's true that no matter where you're sledding there's always nice scenery, and it's pretty much always a good time.

if you still have trouble posting them email them to me, I would like to see them. I will post them for you also. If you ever get those scanned let me know.

Lets try these. A little fuzzy, but........ If you look close in one of the rock photos I'm standing at the bottom. Its dark. ( not just in the verticle pic)

Originally posted by snowhack@Feb 10 2005, 10:04 AM
:blush:* I know I know Appalachian not Appellation. My spell check gave me that spelling. sorry.
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Got ya covered bud.... :D