SALAMANCA, N.Y. — A few Cattaraugus County snowmobile clubs opened their trails this week due to lake-effect and snow squalls that left varying amounts of new snow.
Allegany State Park officials announced nearly 90 miles of snowmobile trails throughout the 50,000-acre park had been rolled, but they do not recommend using them until there is a better base.
The state park also announced the Art Roscoe Cross Country Ski trail system had opened with the arrival of new snow. The trails have been groomed and are ready for skiers, a park spokesman said. The warming hut at the head of the cross country skiing trail system at the Summit is open daily until 4:30 p.m.
Snowmobile trails in New York officially opened Dec. 23, but little snowfall and an unseasonably warm November and December have left them unusable.
Snowmobile owners were limited to going around in a field on their own property — or a friend’s— or hauling their sleds to northern New York’s tug Hill Plateau, where lake-effect snow from Lake Ontario has left more than 2 feet in its wake.
The Enchanted Mountains website reported that four snowmobile clubs opened their trails: Snowbounders in the Cattaraugus area; Elibomwons in the Randolph area; Tri-County Drifters in Freedom; and the Portville Snowmobile Club.
It was expected to be short-lived, however, with the trails slated to close again on Friday to save the base as temperatures rise into the low 40s and rain is likely.
Most of the snowmobile clubs’ websites list trail conditions as closed. The Franklinville Snowmobile Club website tried to be optimistic, saying, “Trails still closed, but close!”
The Portville Snowmobile Club website notes: “Trails open if conditions permit.”
Earlier this week, Allegany State Park’s Snowmobile Trail report said all trails had been rolled and downed trees and branches from recent high winds removed. After rolling, however, there was only about 2 inches of snow and was “too powdery to pack.”
The report stated, “The long-range forecast is calling for snow accumulations this week with temperatures ranging between 10 and 42 degrees.”
After a 70 percent chance of rain and snow showers and a high near 40 on Saturday, snow showers and below-freezing temperatures are forecast through next Tuesday.
The lack of snow and closed snowmobile trails have left many restaurants and taverns near trails, which depend on the snowmobilers’ winter trade, will less business than anticipated for this time of the year.
Lodging also gets a boost from out-of-area snowmobilers, too. Besides motels, many of the state park’s winterized cabins are reserved each weekend by snowmobile riders and cross country skiers.
