Moultonboro Conditions
 

Hello all, thinking about sneaking away and going on a snowmobile ride around Moultonboro and maybe thru Castle in the clouds to Ossippee.

Anyone know the conditions? Are the ice crossings safe? Trails have snow? Probably go over the lake from near Blackey's cove to Center Harbor up over Red hill, thru the neck, across Mountonboro bay and then to Ossipee.

Anyone???


Thanks,

ITD

The rain and warm temps on Monday melted the snow on the Lake and turned it to glare ice. That said, the Moultonboro Bay side on Saturday and Sunday was fine before the meltdown.

The Castle trail on Sunday was rough with plenty of ruts caused by the machine traffic and water bars. Ossipee Valley is reporting the inch of rain on Monday has flooded some trails which are now solid ice.

I did not see any sled traffic going thru Center Harbor, and the Red Hill trails on Sunday, before the heavy rain, were good.

I did not want to take the return trip over the Castle because of the conditions on Sunday, and returned via Sandwich Notch and over Squam to Red Hill. I remember taking this route years ago, but it looks like the old trails are no longer. It was rough and not marked well. I should have bit the bullet and returned via the Castle. Be prepared for very icy conditions.

I hope this helps.

Cobalt

If I were you I would try to make some calls to people you know up there. I cant imagine it would be worth the trip up. I was up last weekend and had a blast but from what I have heard the rain took its toll. With more rain tomorrow I cant see how it would be any good at all. I saw on the twinmountain report that they closed their trails.

Sorry- I have been traveling, so I just saw this.

We groomed many of our trails this week and they are in decent shape in most cases. I do not believe that you will want to make the Shaw Mountain run at this time. It was in tough shape before the rain, and I have a feeling that the water bars will be brutal.

Please note that the Moultonboro Club, Wolfeboro Club and the State Bureau of Trails all groom their respective areas to the 171 parking lot across from the Castle entrance. The state is responsible for 171 to Ossipee so I do not have first hand info.

I do not believe that we will be in good shape following the predicted rain this weekend. Hopefully we will retain the great icy base that we have under the existing snow!

Thanks for the update and the great work. I decided not to venture up as I was unsure of the conditions and I'm going to the game tomorrow anyway so it would have been and up and back today deal. I hope it gets better soon, I want to try a Saturday ride one of these days.

Thanks again!!

Stay dry! My son went down for the last game in similar conditions- he was glad I made him take a poncho! I am going to enjoy this game from my chair:)

Tell me about it, they are predicting heavy rain driven by 45 mph winds, gonna be fun. There really is no staying dry, but I will have a full rain suit, probably covered with a garbage bag for these conditions. I thought the Buffalo game was bad, but this sounds like it will be worse.

Thanks again.

Trailmasters Report 2-5-2014 (10PM)
 

Trailmaster's report: Corridor 15 panned/ groomed Meredith to castle parking lot. Should be great tomorrow!

Eric and Bill will be out on skandics tomorrow.

Red Hill trail open and should be groomed tomorrow.

Enjoy and ride safe!

Respectfully submitted,

John Harrington
Trailmaster

Castle Trails
 

We ran 81 miles today. We ran from Meredith via Winni to Center Harbor to Castle in Clouds to Ossipee. Ossipee trails on back side of Castle was amazing. The trails from Ambrose Cove Marina to the Castle were terrible. Not enough snow! Riding on Winni was amazing!!!

Moultonboro bay
 

Be careful, some bob house owners have taken to daily plow out to their hole. This leaves a 3 foot wall on each side with ice in the middle. If you are sledding in the night, especially at higher speed, be on the lookout.

I wouldn't want the liability of doing this plowing.

We definitely need more dense snow. I groomed that run this AM. Vic and Eric will be doing it tonight. The moisture content isn't there for it to stand up to this traffic.

I will hit corridor 15 from Ambrose Cove power line side to Meredith early AM. But it will still not hold up. If we get a half foot before vacation week, we will be in great shape.

It was awesome to see all of the people out on the ice, and all of the sleds all over town!

Thank you to all of our great volunteers, landowners and members!

2-9 Update 0900
 

A Skandic went out last night and groomed the local trails around Subway.

Corridor 15 Meredith line to 171 lot groomed.
Skelley's/ Balmoral groomed.
Trail from playground drive to VK groomed.
VK to lake groomed

We will try for Red Hill tomorrow- it is very icy and the Tucker has rubber tracks

I rode Saturday morning out of the 19 Mile Bay up over Lang Pond rd and picked up the powerline back into Melvin Bay. On a scale of 1-10 I'd give a 5. In the Afternoon my son wanted to try Mt Shaw. Wish we hadn't that run was not fun. Beyond bumpy a bit of ice underneath in spots. Definately need snow. Stuck to the lake Sunday.

Great ride Thursday
 

6 of us headed out from Ossipee Lake up the tracks Thursday morning. Bumpy but not terrible. Occasional rail. Tried the new 19A bypass but not enough snow. Back on the tracks to the Ski Doo dealer. Young kid moving new iron around the yard had us lol when he saw our group asking if they opened up the old folks home for an antique sled ride (none of our sleds was older than 10 years). Anyway, back on the tracks thru Conway and all gassed up at Redstone. Headed towards Evans Notch. All trails groomed from Redstone northward. Route 113 thru Evans was mint. Even on soft snow we hit 90 per down the backside. Visited the rebuilt bridge over the Wild River then reversed our course back to Redstone and Ossipee. 90 miles from Redstone to Wild River bridge and back to Redstone. One Yammi didn't make it so one in the group ran to Redstone for a gallon of gas. All re-gassed at Redstone and we were on our way. The tracks had been groomed while we were out so the return trip down the tracks was smoother. 180 miles for the day. Only disappointment was when we pulled up to the Songbird for dinner only to find it closed for the evening at 8:30 PM. Snow this Thursday should be good, heavy & packable. I'll be looking to join someone for a ride mid Saturday morning and Sunday.

Grooming update:
Corridor 15 N groomed from Tedeschi's to Ambrose Cove today 1PM

Red Hill groomed to Old Harvard Rd (thanks to snowmobile traffic packing we could climb it with the drag, and thanks to Rob Lincoln and riding partner for the assist with the winch cable!).

Garage to VK and Fox Hollow and Lee Pond for ice racing traffic.

Skelley's / 171 groomed.

Eric and Bill Richards went out in Kona Forest on Skandics and groomed.

PLEASE NOTE GROOMERS WILL BE OUT DURING THE DAY

Lee Pond is plowed, use caution!

Enjoy and safe riding!!

I would say in my short three year career the conditions this weekend were the best I have had around winni. Saturday we left at 2 pm and we rode out to squam. Got twisted up on way home on red hill and didn't get back until 9 pm. Great ride little bumpy in spots but can't complain. Sunday we we took off out of 20 mile bay and rode to the pizza barn for lunch. Conditions were the best. Well groomed and the rail road Bed was phenomenal. The conditions on the lake are sketchy. That wind blown crust is difficult when ur ski cuts in and grabs. We had two rookies lay sleds over. Luckily no one broken bones. Hope more snow hits!

Vita thank you for the updates and to all the groomers for the work they do to make the trails great. I got in a 150 mile ride today and trails were the best I've seen in years. Moultonboro Neck, Red Hill, Sandwich Notch, Plymouth, Meredith, CTR HBR, 15 to 26 (Wolfeboro). We saw more deer then sleds up until about 1pm.

Great day and thanks again to all the clubs and land owners that make it possible.

Thank you
 

You guys are awesome. I was able for the first time join for the club ride this past Saturday. The trip was great and the conditions were even better!
I hope to do it again before the end of the season.
Keep up the good work to all in MSC

Update 2-17 10 PM
 

Eric is out on local trails with Skandics now.

Don groomed corridor Meredith to Lake as well as Red Hill and Fox Hollow.

Eric went on his final 97 Tucker orientation ride and groomed Skelleys/ 171 this AM!

Brian Coutu went on his orientation ride in the 97, he already grooms with the 09 Tucker. Skelley's side groomed again tonite after a busy snowmobile day.

The trails are in great shape thanks to these and other great volunteers!:)

Hi- did we meet? I was driving the Tucker and met the ride at the VK.

John

Any way to get a trail map for Moultonboro mailed to me? Didnt get one this weekend. I looked on the website but didnt see an option to purchase though it says they can be mailed. Credit Card payment?

SAB1,

Did you try Skelly's? They were going to be re-stocked Saturday?

I met you John, was there with my son. First club ride, had a great time.

I think so
 

I think so. I was there with my son Ryan and i drove a skidoo MXZ longtrack.
once again you guys do a great job.

snowmobile trail questions
 

I have a couple questions I'm hoping someone might know the answers to.

1. when I enter trail 15 from Ambrose cove heading to the castle parking lot there appears to be a couple of lefts you can take. One I think is to Skelly's market/gas that has a sign but where do the next two lefts go they don't appear to have any signs. Is there anything else up that way other then Skelly's market? can you get to Buckey's?

2. I understand you can get to the Pine Cone by sled any hints on where you would pick that trail up and is it marked. I didn't see it off of 15 or 26. We tried the Bob house and VK but both were closed on Monday.

3. If you have any other good sled trail access resteraunts that you like please suggest within a reasonable radius of Moultonboro. trail access vs just driving via the lake and going to the obvious ones you can do by boat in the summer.

Thanks

It is good to put a face with a screen name. I am glad you had fun! I had a great time out on the trails too (in the groomer). I will post the ride pic on our facebook page that I took in front of the groomer.

Here is the link to our FB Page https://www.facebook.com/MoultonboroSMC

Yes we talked for a bit! Great meeting you! Getting snow here now:)

Hi- I will try to answer your questions!
1) The first left takes you to Shelley's/ Balmoral. The next two lefts are a loop.

2) I have been to the Pine Cone once on a sled but cannot remember the entire route, but thought is was marked then. You would start by heading toward Wolfeboro out of the Castle/ 171 parking lot (end of our system).

3) You can take corridor 15 to CTR Harbor, then follow sign at the Junction and end up in the Parking lot of Red Hill Dairy and Erving (maybe Samiam will open early!). then walk to the Mug or Kevin's or Pat's. Canoe might pick you up in their shuttle if you called?

Just stopped there. They are out. I would LOVE to get a good trail map. We are fairly new to riding. Seems like every time we venture out we get lost.

You definitely can get to Pine Cone from by sled. I saw numerous sleds there this weekend. Unfortunately, I don't know where the trail across the street from the restaurant intersects the lake. I'm sure someone will give you some advice.

THe trail to the Pine Cone is not marked or at least I have never seen it so. You pick it up in Melvin Bay to the East of the trail that goes up along side Melvin Village Marine and across the road by the fire station. Head over into that corner to the east and just off the water you will see a series of small green cabins. The trail runs right up thru them and directly to the Pine Cone across the street. The trail is very narrow just enough for one sled to poke thru.

Thanks SAB1 that is why I couldn't find it off the trails it sounds like its accessed from the lake.

thanks again.

I will get maps to Skelley's!

Just got in from riding to Plymouth and back through sandwich notch from Moultonborough. Trails weren't groomed but awesome. Ton of snow out there now. After the groomers come through the conditions will be excellent. Lake snow is deep but once you get up on top its like riding on a cloud. Watch the corners there's a lot of slide when your moving fast. :D

I would appreciate a current pic or two if anyone has a chance.
It must look like heaven there now.

There is a link to our FB page a few posts up, I posted some pics from grooming Suissevale side of town taken last night. Very pretty up here right now... rain, stay away!

How are the trails looking this week after last weekends fantastic riding. With the rain and warm temps do you expect them to survive the weekend ?

Lake Ice/Slush?
 

What will lake/ice conditions be like this weekend after warm-up and rain? Can we expect a wet ride?

I think the lake may be better than the tails for a day or so- we will have to wait until it gets a bit cooler to groom again. Looking at the weather, I would think we should be able to groom Sat PM

2-24 7:52PM Update
 

The guys hit it hard over the past few days to catch up after the warm-up. As many are aware, we cannot groom when the temps are above freezing. Now that we are back in the deep freeze, that wet snow became very granular and chunky- it will get better as it is ridden on.

Groomed:
Corridor 15 Meredith to Lake
Skelley's/ Balmoral/171
Red Hill (winch failed Thursday so we had to quick ship a new one in for today so as long as it came in!).
Majority of Skandic trails.

Enjoy, we will keep working it as long as the snow allows:)