Tuesday, 10 February 2026 / Published in Weather

RIDIN TUG HILL 02.10.26

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The date was Monday February 9th, 2026. The date started below -20 F in Utica for the first time in 8 years! Not since January 2018 had it been THAT cold! It absolutely DID NOT matter to Bo Alesia and to my son Zack Lupia. They took this week long trip that they are on in Upstate New York right now. They wanted to make a lifetime of memories together. And have special days like today. Even though it started at -20, it would not be there for long!

THE RIDE
Bo and Zack left for Mike Spadaro’s in Remsen, NY and arrived just after 9 AM. It was STILL -15 F even there when they arrived! It didn’t matter! It was time to get everything ready and get set to RIDE! And to BUNDLE EVERYTHING UP AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! Even though temperatures would warm quickly, any loose clothing and/or wind seeping in during those first miles with double digit below zero temperatures would be NO DICE!

They left at 9:45 AM from Mike Spadaro’s, heading north on C-4. There were moments during that first hour it was BRUTAL! Zack got so cold on his nose, until he couldn’t feel it anymore! Thankfully it was just that one small part. And thankfully there ended up being NO FROSTBITE! Bo seemed to handle it well but I am sure he wished for better. Up to Oneida County 5 then north on C-7 up to Alder Creek they went just before 11 AM. They needed a break quickly!

After pumping gas then calling me in South Carolina to complain about the BRUTAL COLD, I told them it would get better. Just hold on. After leaving Alder Creek just before 11:30 AM it did get a little bit better. In 10 minutes, they had reached FORESTPORT. If you have been with us for the last 14 years, you know about this. Of course Zack sent it bro!

They made it to Boonville at Noon and it actually hit ZERO! There were some wrong turns that Zack had made on the way heading up the east side on the hill but they got back in the direction they needed to go to, which was Tug Hill. After Constableville and approaching Turin, they ran into a bad stretch for a few miles of MOGUL MADNESS. While it wasn’t the worst they had seen, it definitely was not the best either. Once they hit Turin Ridge Riders trails, they were FLYING! They made it past Snow Ridge then worked their way up the Lee Gulf Trail all the way up to Timberview just before 2:30.

By this point lunch had definitely past but it was not an early dinner either.
What do you call this anyway? I would call ANYTHING I would receive
from Timberview a GREAT MEAL!

Around 3:30 PM Bo and Zack got back on their sleds and headed off of the Tug Hill and back into the Lewis County connector trails between them and Boonville. Back through the few miles of MOGUL MADNESS which was not as bad as it was actually getting groomed out. They made it past and got to Boonville around 5 PM. Another stop in at Stewart’s (because of course, YOU DON’T HAVE A STEWART’S WHERE WE LIVE).

Continuing off into the sunset they made it back through Alder Creek by DARK. Everything else after this falls into the PITCH BLACK category. It did get colder but nowhere near as bone chilling cold as it was earlier. The clouds had rolled on in as the morning sunshine became the evening gloom. It still didn’t hold them back from completing their run with grace and honor!

128 awesome miles! A lifetime of memories! Stuff you will be able to tell your kids about. Or your grandkids someday! Whatever it is, for Bo and Zack, I hope this particular day was one of their best ever!

TODAY AND WEDNESDAY
Winter Weather Advisories are up. A storm system is rolling on in this afternoon through tonight and most of tomorrow. It’s not a major storm, but it is enough to where the National Weather Service is paying attention to it. The snowfall accumulations map is posted here. It starts as snow this afternoon. Best chance of sleet and/or freezing rain mixing in will be this evening. During the day on Wednesday it transitions back to all snow with minor lake effect happening to the north of the Thruway between Syracuse and the Capital Region.

THURSDAY AND BEYOND
Temperatures are actually NEAR NORMAL for the first time IN WEEKS! And with the holiday weekend fast approaching, you can expect a mad flux of riders to start to move on in. Today through Thursday will be your best days. Friday is the transition day. Saturday and beyond: Try to find ANYWHERE you can that can hold the 10,000 miles of snowmobile trails. Because for the first time in at least 4 years, of not 8 to 10, I think Upstate NY can handle it all!

DOWNLOAD THE 2026 NYSSA SNOWMOBILE INTERACTIVE MAP! It has on it and available which trails are open, closed, and major hazards that are out there, where and when. It is a great gift for you to download to your iPhone or Android TODAY!