Snowmobile Trail Report, February 18, 2021

Gary Marquis, Special to The County
3 years ago

CARIBOU, Maine — With the recent snowfall all clubs have been out around the clock and are making the trails in the County the best in the Northeast. All projects are reporting superb conditions. 

The trails will be busy again this weekend and this is a great time to explore those smaller trails, which are just as good as the main trails. Plus, by using these less traveled trails it helps to keep the main trails in better shape.

Remember that the groomers are out during the day, so please use caution. These units have the right of way. 

TRAIL INFORMATION:

Soldier Pond is reporting that their trails 96 and 73 have been groomed and are in great shape. They have seen an increase in traffic. Caution is advised on 73 as they have two sections of plowed logging roads. Watch out for the Moose. They are also reporting a lot of Moose activity on the logging road sections. They also have a logging road on trail 96.

Washburn Snowmobile club reporting they have been out day and night. They are reporting excellent conditions. Trail 61 remains closed due to logging, hopeful for possible open next week. The Clubhouse will remain open for the remainder of the week, please keep the clubhouse clean.

Nordic Lakers reporting they have been out and are in great shape.

Portage Lakers are reporting that they are grooming every night and are saying that their system is in great shape. 

Caribou is reporting all trails are groomed and in great shape.

Fort Kent is reporting great conditions and trails have been very busy.

Eagle Lake is reporting great conditions and reporting busy trails.

Fort Fairfield is reporting they have everything groomed. The fields are in great shape with this new snowfall.

St. Francis Sno-Angels are reporting excellent. The groomer has been out day and night.

Central Aroostook Snowmobile club is reporting they have been out and are in great shape.

Ashland is reporting they are grooming steady and in great shape. Caution is advised on 71A there is a section of plowed road and heavy logging during the week. 

Allagash is reporting they are reporting 92 and 120 were groomed last night and will be on 92 North to the lakes today.

Frenchville is reporting that all trails are groomed and in great condition. 

Red Arrow is reporting that all trails are groomed last night and set up very well with the cold temps. These trails have been getting a lot of traffic, so please pay attention as the tucker will be out during the daylight hours.

Chapman Ridge is reporting That they have been grooming steady and are in great condition. They will be out grooming so please watch for the machine. This is one of those areas that low traffic trails and are in great shape. Check it out.

Aroostook River Snowmobile club reporting that they are in great shape and will be out every night until the end of the season.

Easton is reporting that they have been over everything and are reporting good conditions

Madawaska is reporting that they are in great shape, the new snow certainly helped to fill in the low areas. We have been getting a few reports from the Town Police that sleds have been running the roads to get to certain businesses around town! We understand that there may be times that the signage in the trails may be confusing, especially with the current detours and temporary trail movements. Please do your best to follow the designated trails to the local businesses. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us, or reference our newly updated/published local trail map on our website!
https://www.madawaskasnowmobileclub.com/map. We will be on the side of the trail below the scenic look out Saturday from 10:30AM to ??? with the groomer trying to sell our 50/50 tickets and memberships. A group of volunteers will be trail side raising money for trail grooming and equipment expenses by selling club memberships and our 50/50 lotto tickets. Our 50/50 Raffle fundraiser is a year-round benefit for our club and its participants. We are on our 3rd year of this fundraiser and have given out over $14,000 back to our lucky winners over the last two years. The weekly drawings are priced at $2 per ticket, per week. Participants have the option of purchasing weekly drawings at $26, $52, or $104 (3 Months, 6 Months, or 1 Year). 50% of all ticket sales go out as weekly cash prizes

Grand Isle is reporting that their trails are in great condition.

Presque Isle Snowmobile club are reporting their trails in great shape. They have been over most everything twice.

Van Buren is reporting they are grooming everything and in great shape. 81S needed this new snow. The boarder trail is in great shape.

Limestone Snow Hawks reporting 81, 89, and 100A were groomed last night, and 81A will be done tonight. A must-see trail is the new Loring Loop trail very well marked and is right next to the Big Arch Hanger.

Caswell (Pleasant Ridge Riders) reporting they are grooming daily and are in great shape.

SOUTHERN AROOSTOOK:

Bowlin/ Mattagamon/Shin Pond trails are in excellent condition and the area is seeing a lot of traffic. Groomers were out last night north and south of Shin Pond and north to meet Oxbow and south to Whetstone. All trails are groomed and ready for a busy weekend!

Benedicta Snowgang reports that sledders are saying the trails are in great condition from start to finish. ITS 81, 81A and 83A to Sherman are looking great.

Molunkus Valley Snow Drifters ITS 83, 83A, 3A and Bible point are in awesome condition. The club cautions people to slow down if they can’t see what’s coming around a corner! 

The MVSD poker run is this Saturday starting at 58 North St.in Patten at 9 a.m. Free and open to all followed by a public supper at the clubhouse ($8 charge) following at the clubhouse at 5.

Rockabema Snow Rangers want to send a big thank you to sister club, Benedicata Snow Gang for the loan of an alternator. The groomer would have been shut down for 4 days if they had to wait for one to arrive from the manufacturer. 

ITS 112, 62, ITS 81 south (RR) ITS 81 north and 64 to Skinners are groomed and ready.

Smoki Haulers in Oakfield cover ITS 83 in all directions, club trails 60 and 61 as well as trail to Linneus. They report excellent conditions.

Big Valley Snow Club covering the Birch Point and Island Falls area have groomed all trails ITS 112, ITS 83 north, 60 to Oakfield and ITS 83 south to Sherman.

Last week’s BBQ on ITS 83 south near Porters Garage out of Island Falls was great success, the club has voted to have the BBQ every Sunday for the rest of the season. Great destination ride.

Eastern Maine Snow Riders operating out of Macwahoc is groomed and ready with the reroute on 1 groomed to Haynesville. Excellent riding.

Meduxnekeag Ramblers ITS 83 (Rail bed), ITS 86 south along the border, 105 to Hodgdon, ITS 86 west to St. Croix Stream and club trail 81 are being groomed today. Conditions couldn’t be better.

There will be a hot dog roast next week on the 27th at the warming shed on the Railbed. 

Linneus Snosports has groomed ITS 83 to the B Stream Bridge (Captain Ambrose Bear Stream), trail 8 across Drews Mountain to the South Shore Rd, ITS 105 from Hodgdon to Linneus are all ready for the weekend. Trail 1, also known game preserve trail, is passable but needs some brush cutting and signage so travel cautiously.

ON THE SOCIAL SIDE:

Limestone Snow Hawks will be hosting a poker run this Saturday. Check out their Facebook Page for more details.