A snowless start to the snowmobile season
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: December 3, 2012
Don Bartel has been hitting the snowmobile trails since the 1970's.
"I love going over to Boonville, over the Tug Hill, and of course riding the east trails," he said.
In fact, Don's even bought a brand new ride for the new season.
"This one's a Cadillac, it's got the air suspension" he said. "Being old I want something that rides really good."
December 3rd is the official calender start of the snowmobiling season, but without the white powder, Don's going to have to wait a little longer before getting back on the trails.
"It's a little discouraging, but I was watching the weather and I was afraid it was coming," he said.
Doug Smith, co-owner of Smith Marine in Old Forge says a green start to the season doesn't help, but having the white stuff there is always a hit or miss.
"Rarely do we actually have riding the first day of the snowmobiling season, so most everybody really hasn't started to worry about it yet," said Smith.
And while no one's panicking yet, many say it's hard to forget last winter, where Smith says their area only saw about six really good snowmobile riding weekends.
"That's a lot lower than normal, but the benefit for us was that we were one of the fewer places that had six weekends to ride," he said.
Smith says his overall sales didn't decrease, but clothing and accessory items did go down.
But despite last year's mild winter, and a green start to the season, Don and Doug are all in high hopes to see some heavy snowfall.
"This business is definitely a gamble. It's just something where you have to take a chance," said Smith.
Although December 3rd is the calender start to the season, Dough says their first big snowmobiling weekend is this coming one with a Snodeo Celebration in Old Forge.
"I love going over to Boonville, over the Tug Hill, and of course riding the east trails," he said.
In fact, Don's even bought a brand new ride for the new season.
"This one's a Cadillac, it's got the air suspension" he said. "Being old I want something that rides really good."
December 3rd is the official calender start of the snowmobiling season, but without the white powder, Don's going to have to wait a little longer before getting back on the trails.
"It's a little discouraging, but I was watching the weather and I was afraid it was coming," he said.
Doug Smith, co-owner of Smith Marine in Old Forge says a green start to the season doesn't help, but having the white stuff there is always a hit or miss.
"Rarely do we actually have riding the first day of the snowmobiling season, so most everybody really hasn't started to worry about it yet," said Smith.
And while no one's panicking yet, many say it's hard to forget last winter, where Smith says their area only saw about six really good snowmobile riding weekends.
"That's a lot lower than normal, but the benefit for us was that we were one of the fewer places that had six weekends to ride," he said.
Smith says his overall sales didn't decrease, but clothing and accessory items did go down.
But despite last year's mild winter, and a green start to the season, Don and Doug are all in high hopes to see some heavy snowfall.
"This business is definitely a gamble. It's just something where you have to take a chance," said Smith.
Although December 3rd is the calender start to the season, Dough says their first big snowmobiling weekend is this coming one with a Snodeo Celebration in Old Forge.
