×

Some 4,500 ride ATVs in Snirt

LOWVILLE — A sizeable amount of snow on the ground was not enough to stop riders from breaking out their all-terrain vehicles during Saturday’s Snirt Run.

The ride was something they were looking forward to all year, even if the temperature at the start of the day was below freezing.

“You just bundle up,” said Diane Stark, an Oneonta resident who has come to the annual event with her family for about 10 years.

That enthusiasm carried on to other members of her family’s traveling group, who traveled from as far away as New Jersey for the event.

“It’s a rush, and it’s fun,” said Rachel Pier, who dates Diane’s son Eric.

The event, whose name draws from the snow and dirt that line the route, drew an estimated 4,500 people in its 15th year, according to Scott Margeson, president of the Barnes Corners Sno-Pals Snowmobile Club.

Despite some challenges for riders, Margeson said, “everything’s turned out better than expected, as far as people not getting stuck.”

Among those excited for the event were the businesses lining the path taken by riders. At the Flat Rock Inn, about 600 chicken halves were sold within three hours, with more people lining up for the last chicken meals in stock. Manager Eve Kelley said the inn’s bar also did well throughout the day.

“It’s the single biggest day of the year,” she said.

The enthusiasm for the event was enough to inspire James Barnhart to make the three-hour trip from Sidney in Delaware County.

“There’s not many places to ride — it’s hard to get open land,” he said, as his grandson Trey Champlin sat behind him. “It’s a great opportunity to get up and put some miles on the machine.”

Safety and property damage along the route were concerns leading into the event, and Lewis County sheriff’s deputies could be seen at different locations during the day. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Department has not yet responded to calls asking how many cases it attended to and tickets it issued, but the Jefferson County sheriff’s office, which assisted, said it issued five tickets, and the state Department of Environmental Conservation said its officers and forest rangers issued 23 tickets.

Jaime Cook of the Watertown Daily Times contributed to this report.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.75/week.

Subscribe Today