Syracuse.com - Central New York snowmobiling season should continue into April (videos)

[HuntingNY-News]

"A lot of places up in the Tug Hill area have a snow base of three feet - some as much as four," Burd said. Watch video

REDFIELD, N.Y. -- Think the snowmobiling season is over? Think again.

"A lot of places up in the Tug Hill area have a snow base of three feet -- some as much as four," said Ken Burd, of Clay, a member of the 700-member Redfield Snowmobiling Association.

Burd went out for a ride Tuesday morning on his sled with this reporter on the back. In addition to the impressive amounts of snow on the trail, the ride featured glimpses of more than a dozen deer and a bald eagle sighting.

"We'll get a couple of more weekends out this season. I'm definitely going out this weekend," he said.

 

It's been a good year for snowmobiling, said Stephen Lewis, director of snowmobiling for the state Parks Department. He noted this was the first time in years that there's been enough snow to open trails across the state. It wasn't a record year in regard to snow, but the string of cold nights helped keep many of the trails in great condition.

Highlights of the season included two publicized rides in Lowville and Lake Placid by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who voiced support for snowmobiling as winter recreational sport and stressed its importance in the state's economy.

A 2012 survey by SUNY Potsdam determined snowmobiling brings $868 million annually to New York. The promotion of snowmobiling is now part of the I Love NY advertising campaign.

"Cuomo is the first governor to hop on a snowmobile. I'm 99 percent sure of that," said Dominic Jacangelo, executive director of the New York State Snowmobiling Association. "He certainly knows how to ride one. He's a bit of a motorhead and it carries over to snowmobiling as well."

While many are gushing about this year's snow conditions, it was actually pretty much an average year, said Jacangelo, noting thaws in January and February took some of the glimmer off the season.

"Actually, with the snow and all, some of your best snowmobiling has been in the month of March," he said. "Up to that point in many areas, it was marginal conditions. You'd get snow, great conditions -- and then it would rain and the snow would go away."

Ken Burd, 74, has been snowmobiling for 52 years.David Figura | [email protected] 

Accident-wise, there have been 12 fatalities statewide involving snowmobiles, compared to 14 last year and two during the 2011-12 season. The 2011-12 season, though, was an extremely mild winter and less snowmobilers got out.

Despite the relatively good sledding conditions this season, the number of snowmobile registrations, which help maintain the state's 10,300 mile trail system, are not as high as one might expect. Last year, a total of 116,725 snowmobilers registered their sleds. This year, the 116,000 mark was surpassed this past week.

Jancangelo and Lewis said there appears to be a number of snowmobilers who are trying to get away without registering their sleds and it's hurting the sport.

On the business side, most local snowmobile dealers are writing the 2013-2014 season off as a good year.

"The snowmobile industry is very healthy because of this winter and looking forward to next year. People are already putting money down for delivery of new sleds by next fall," said Bill Bibbens, owner of Bibbens Sales and Service in Weedsport,which sells snowmobilers along with ATVs, UTVs, trailers and motorcycles.

Burd, 74, said he's been snowmobiling for 52 years. He and his wife own a camp in Redfield that sits on the bank of the north branch of the Salmon River. His property is is adjacent to the nearly 50 mile trail system that the Redfield club helps maintain.

"All five of my daughters are into it," he said. "I have one living in Alabama who still loves to come here once in a while to hop on a sled."

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog