Snowmobile Trail Report, Feb. 21, 2020

Gary Marquis, Special to The County
4 years ago

CARIBOU, Maine — This past week has been one of the busiest weeks many have seen out on the trails.  Most places are full with no vacancy which is great for the County economy. One of the selling points that we can say is even when The County is as busy as it is right now, the trails are rarely congested; this is because the area is so big.

All projects have been busy keeping up with the traffic, grooming day and night.  The reports that I have heard are that trails are beautiful. This coming weekend temps will climb to near 30 degrees; this means that the conditions will become soft and trails will get bumpy quicker.  This is when you might want to venture out on those side clubs’ trails where there is much less traffic.

Caution is to be advised as the deer, moose, and turkeys are now walking around on the trails because the snow is getting deeper.

TRAIL INFORMATION:

Soldier Pond is reporting that trails are holding up nicely, they have sections that are good and some sections not so good.  They are doing the best with the amount of traffic.

Washburn Trails are in excellent shape. We will begin grooming all trails every night starting Friday and lasting through vacation week. Kitchen will be open daily starting Friday. 7-2 except for Sunday’s will be the usual 7-12. Trail 61 is still closed.

Nordic Lakers reporting good conditions.

Portage Lakers are reporting good conditions and nightly grooming

Caribou is reporting good conditions, and everything was groomed on Thursday and will continue grooming throughout the weekend.  Please stay on marked trails.

Fort Kent is reporting good conditions and heavy traffic.

Eagle Lake is reporting excellent conditions.  There is logging on 85 and caution should be used in these areas.  There are several sections of plowed roads so please use caution. They are marked very well.

Fort Fairfield is reporting good conditions.  Please watch for turkeys on 81 South of the Noyes Road.

St. Francis Sno-Angels reporting good conditions.

Central Aroostook Snowmobile club reporting that they are in good shape and are p planning on getting everything done again on Thursday.

Ashland is reporting reporting good conditions.  

Allagash is reporting awesome conditions. Please use caution on the St. Francis road, there is active logging.  Please know before you go. Check out the Moosetown Facebook page and they have all the information that you need.

Frenchville is reporting all trails groomed 

Red Arrow is reporting good conditions and will be out all weekend.

Chapman Ridge Runners are reporting great conditions and will continue to groom throughout the weekend.

Aroostook River Snowmobile club are reporting good conditions.  Fields are a little wind blown but wooded sections are good. They have been doing their entire trails every night during vacation week.

Easton is reporting that they have some drifting going on and plan on having everything done by Friday.

Madawaska is reporting all trails are in good shape and what was left for drifts in open sections should be taking care of by Friday morning

Grand Isle is reporting good conditions.

Presque Isle Snowmobile club is reporting good conditions. 

Van Buren is good conditions.   Logging operation on trail 94 in the Cyr Plantation area, it is signed, please use caution

Limestone Snow Hawks plan on having everything done by Friday and are reporting good conditions.  Caution is advised as there is a logging operation on trail 100A. The trail is signed

Caswell (Pleasant Ridge Riders) reporting good conditions and will have everything done by Friday.

SOUTHERN AROOSTOOK:  

Bowlin/Mattagamon/Shin Pond: The snow conditions and trails have been excellent and sledders have been taking full advantage this school vacation week.  Area businesses have sold out lodging, full restaurants and gas stations selling out.

Tuesday night we received a few inches of new snow followed by high winds throughout the day in Wednesday. All Groomers were out Wednesday night and into the early hours of Thursday morning getting our whole trail system groomed. This includes ITS85 from Whetstone bride (PT13) North through Bowlin, Matagamon to just north of Shin Pond and up to meet up with the Oxbow Masardis Club. Trail 71D has been groomed North to Grand Lake Seboeis now allowing riders from north easier and more direct access to Libby’s Camps and the Trains. The Sugarloaf Loop and Club Trail 64 have been groomed as well as both Katahdin Views off from club trail 64. Today’s cold temperatures will have the trails flat, hard and fast.
Get out there and ride as the conditions really don’t get any better than this.
Anyone in the area this weekend, Mt. Chase Lodge is hosting a club fundraising dinner, so please come out and support the club from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22.  For the most up-to-date trail groomers please check out our automated groomers tracking and reporting at
https://bmspsledclub.evtrails.com/#.

East Grand Snowmobile Club:  Trail 105 from Haynesville to Danforth and trail 7 to the Boulder Road and 2 miles beyond down the Wichita Brook Road groomed over the past 2 nights and in good condition but watch for drifting snow in open areas and fields. Trail 105 from Danforth south meeting up with Quad Country Snowmobile Club of Springfield will be groomed tonight. 

Park and ride in Danforth at the Mill yard. You can do an 81-mile loop beginning and ending in Danforth. From Danforth, take trail 105 south to where we meet up with Quad Country Snowmobile Club near the Stetson Mountain wind farm, take a right onto Quad Country Local Trail 3 north to 110 to Wytopitlock (maintained by Eastern Maine Snow Riders), take 110 north and cross over route 2A in Reed Plantation, take trail 3 towards Sherman, next take trail 1 off of trail 3 to Haynesville where you’ll meet up with trail 105, if you continue north on 105 it will take you to Linneus (food and gas) or take a right onto trail 105 for Danforth.

Oxbow/Masardis trails continue to be holding up well with the heavier than normal sled traffic. The groomer has been out every night this week as well as some days.

ITS 85/81 Groomed in good condition.

ITS 86. Groomed in good condition.

Trail 71-D Open with limited grooming.

There are many sections of our trails where the landowner has only given us permission for a Trail (20 feet wide). We put up Stay in Trail signs to keep riders on that trail. When you ride off the trail in these areas it makes it very difficult to work with that landowner next year. Stay on the trail or stay home.

Benedicta Snow Gang – ITS 83 and ITS 81 were done last night and the groomers will be out today and tomorrow in preparation for a busy weekend.

Molunkus Valley Snow Drifters report that the trails are in good shape with the additional snow from Tuesday. 

Rockabema Snow Rangers – The icehouse Trail and Peavey Corner Trail groomed to 81 north and 81 south. Both these trails are being used by snow showers and skiers so please be alert. All other trails will be ready for the weekend.

Big Valley Snow Club continues to groom all trails and report good conditions. 

Eastern Maine Snow Riders report ITS 110 is in good shape to Drews, 3 is wide and flat all the way to lower Macwahoc. 3a to the Bible Point trail is in great condition. 1 north to Haynesville is wide and flat with the logging operation is finished so there is no longer a plowed road.

Meduxnekeag Ramblers say that the trussel is now groomed and thank everyone for their patience. They have been out with groomers flattening out snow drifts after the big winds on Wednesday. The trails will be ready for another great weekend of sledding. Don’t forget breakfast at the clubhouse starting at 6 a.m.!

Linneus SnoSports says that they have held off grooming on Wednesday until the wind died down and are back at it on Thursday. Beware of snow drifts!

Smoki Haulers is hosting its Annual Family Fun Day on Sunday Feb. 23 at the clubhouse. Sledding, skiing, food, snow shoeing. Ride in on some great groomed trails or drive in with the family. 

For the most accurate and up-to date weather information, please visit NOAA at https://bit.ly/39ToofL

 

ON THE SOCIAL SIDE:

Portage Lakers will be having their supper on the run poker run this Saturday the 22nd meet at the groomer barn at 5:30. Check out their Facebook page for more info.

Antique Snowmobile Parade sponsored by the Carter Brook Snowmobile Club Saturday, Feb. 29. $10 registration begins at 8 a.m.

SW Collins parking lot, Main St. Fort Kent Parade begins after the last Can-Am musher departs. Light lunch served after the parade

Contact Russell Boucher at 316-9919 for more info.

Red Arrow Snowmobile Club will be having their snowmobile drawing on Feb. 22.

Presque Isle Snowmobile Club will be hosting their Stew Nights starting this Friday night the 17th, from 5-7pm.   These will be on Friday nights for the remainder of the season.

Washburn Trail Runners clubhouse will be open Friday, Saturday 7am to 2pm and Sunday 7am to 12. 

St. Francis Sno-Angels clubhouse will be open on Saturdays for lunch starting at 11.  Pool tournament every Saturday starting at 7pm.

Meduxnekeag Ramblers snowsled clubhouse will be having Breakfast every Saturday during the season from 6-9.

Looking to help the Limestone Snow Hawks February 22,2020. Trying to get some vintage sleds together at the Rendezvous in Limestone for a display when the poker run ends at 12:00  Spread the word step time will be 11:00 to 12:00 show will end at 2:00.
No cost for the display so bring as many sleds as you want.

Sly-Brook Sno-Riders Club are hosting a Steak/Chicken Dinner on Saturday Feb. 22 from 4:30-7 at their clubhouse.Snowmobile Trail Report, Feb. 21, 2020