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Bear Notch Club ride
Started by steviep, Jan 30 2012 11:28 PM
41 replies to this topic
#42
jhwentworth
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Club(s):NH Sno-Shakers, Gilmanton Snowmobile Association, Suncook Valley Sno-Riders , Town Line Trail Dusters, Belmont Bogie Busters
Posted 10 February 2012 - 04:47 PM
jhwentworth, on 03 February 2012 - 03:34 PM, said:
Five of us drove to the Route 112 (Kankamagus Highway) parking area and rode the Bear Notch trails. It was clear and cold this morning and the groomer had been out last night. We unloaded and were on the trail by 9:15. (BTW: if you haven't been to the Route 112 "parking area" be aware that the parking is on the side of Bear Hill Road. If there's a crowd it gets hectic)
Bear Notch Trail was excellent: smooth and hard base with enough loose snow on top to lube the slides and cool the engine. This trail is 8 miles end to end, and goes by very quickly. At the other end is the Route 302 parking area, which is much larger and even has a porta-potty. (that's a big point if there are women in the party)
The side trails were all very-good to excellent and freshly groomed. There were a couple icy corners on the western side of the trail system, but nothing that decent carbides couldn't handle. The railroad track trail was good, with enough snow cover to bury the rails and freshly groomed. We saw the groomer out on the trail about 10:00am, so it looks like they should be ready for the weekend.
If the crowds show up tomorrow parking at the Route 112 parking area might be a hassle, and you should be prepared for a ride on the tar road to get to the trail-head.
There's plenty of snow in Bartlett and you can easily reach the restaurants in the village.
Don't know how the riding will be if the traffic gets real heavy tomorrow, but the high temp should only be about 25 so the trail should hold up pretty well.
We didn't go up the Owl Cliff trail because it looks to be open on only one end. The "one way" sign has been blacked out.
A very good place to spend a February morning.
Bear Notch Trail was excellent: smooth and hard base with enough loose snow on top to lube the slides and cool the engine. This trail is 8 miles end to end, and goes by very quickly. At the other end is the Route 302 parking area, which is much larger and even has a porta-potty. (that's a big point if there are women in the party)
The side trails were all very-good to excellent and freshly groomed. There were a couple icy corners on the western side of the trail system, but nothing that decent carbides couldn't handle. The railroad track trail was good, with enough snow cover to bury the rails and freshly groomed. We saw the groomer out on the trail about 10:00am, so it looks like they should be ready for the weekend.
If the crowds show up tomorrow parking at the Route 112 parking area might be a hassle, and you should be prepared for a ride on the tar road to get to the trail-head.
There's plenty of snow in Bartlett and you can easily reach the restaurants in the village.
Don't know how the riding will be if the traffic gets real heavy tomorrow, but the high temp should only be about 25 so the trail should hold up pretty well.
We didn't go up the Owl Cliff trail because it looks to be open on only one end. The "one way" sign has been blacked out.
A very good place to spend a February morning.
Quick update for Friday 2/10/2012
Rode Bear Notch again today and the trails are still good, but the trails on the western side of the system are showing wear. The groomers don't have much to work with, and the sun and warm days are eating the snow. Some bare spots west of Bear Notch Road, and the rails are sticking up through the snow in places on the railroad track trail. Everything is still rideable, and mostly still good, but it has gone downhill from a week ago. I can confirm a report by an earlier poster that Owl's Cliff trail should be avoided. If you do take it, stop at the groomer turnaround. Do not continue beyond the turnaround! It gets quite ugly. I can also confirm that the burgers at the Cabin Fever are excellent, and the place is very snowmobile-friendly.
6" of new snow would give the trails a lot more life.
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