Barnes Corners Sno-Pals groomer barn now officially designated as helicopter landing zone

PINCKNEY- The groomer barn parking lot for Barnes Corners Sno-Pals is now designated as an official helicopter landing zone.

In a released statement to their social media page, the snowmobile club said the helicopter landing zone “will serve our community, the Tug Hill region and recreation enthusiasts of all seasons.”

An inaugural test flight was observed on Friday. 

Through the years in past reports, emergency officials have cited how difficult it can be for responders to access the scene of any sort of emergency in the Tug Hill wilderness, much as less during the dead of winter.

You may remember that LCHS inaugurated a helicopter landing zone at the Lowville Hospital a few years ago and this landing pad for Barnes Corners is another critical addition for ensuring that EMS personnel can quickly transfer those in need of urgent medical attention.

It may come across as rather surprising, but we have yet to be made aware of any snowmobile related fatalities in Lewis County, so far, this snowmobiling season.

To our knowledge, only one fatal crash was investigated this season, which happened in the town of Worth, right next to Lewis County

Overall, it seems as if the rate of snowmobile accidents this winter has been very infrequent when compared to previous seasons, based on what has been released from local police.

We did hear of a few accidents in the Tug Hill region during the thick of winter, but nothing officially released via the State Police or Sheriff's Office (here is an accident report earlier in the season from Martinsburg Fire Department, but no official details from police).   

Local experts attribute this to a very snowy winter, which they say actually spreads sled traffic out across the region, rather than having everyone come all at once to ride in one concentrated area where all of the snow is.

Image via the Barnes Corners Sno-Pals.