IN THE NEWS: Snowmobiling in the Allegheny National Forest is
the topic of a major article in the February edition of Snow Goer’s
magazine.

The lengthy article is titled, “Allegheny Allure,” and includes
a prominent photograph of a snowmobile gliding over the snow cover
near the Kiasutha recreation area. “We do ‘The Loop’ in the
Allegheny National Forest,” is the story’s subhead.

The loop in question is a continuous route that encompasses 115
miles in the National Forest and an additional 40-mile connector
north of the New York State line to Allegany State Park. The trail
was pieced together in the 1990s, the article notes.

David Wells writes, “Identified throughout the National Forest
as Trail 1 with snowmobile signs, big arrows and orange diamond
trail blazes, the Loop is generally well marked and easy to follow
as it zigzags through the hardwoods. Dozens of side trails provide
access, short cuts and additional scenery,” it continues.

“The plateau that holds this trail system juts out from the
ancient Allegheny Mountains. It collects lake effect snow from Lake
Erie, and the elevation helps hold the white stuff when low-lying
areas around it brown out,” it says.

The snowmobilers’ trip was put together over three days. We
begin today and conclude with tomorrow’s RTS.

The snowmobilers took off from the Lantz Corners Getaway,
located at the junction of U.S. routes 6 and 219, and heading north
to Marshburg and on to Willow Creek. From there the group headed
north in New York and Allegany State Park. Heading south again, the
group hit Westline and returned to the Getaway with over 100 miles
on the odometer.

On Day 2, the caravan headed west. “We enjoyed an easy run
across the hill below Westline, crossed the snowmobile bridge over
the south branch of the Kinzua Creek and turned north to Kiasutha.
There we left the main trail for an alternate route high above the
south branch of the Allegheny Reservoir.”

“The sun was out, the wide trail was flat and very smooth, the
scenery was awesome, and this 20-mile alternate route provided to
be the very best part of the entire tour,” the author writes.