Snowmobilers reminded of Caribou trail changes

16 years ago

As the snowmobile season begins in earnest, snowmobilers in Caribou will find several new trail changes. Kathy Mazzuchelli, superintendent of Parks and Recreation in Caribou and project director for the Municipal Snowmobile Trail Grooming Project, noted that since nearly 95 percent of all snowmobile trail runs on privately owned land, there are always trail changes due to land-use changes or development issues and this season is no exception.     This year the largest reroute, Mazzuchelli noted, was the access route to Skyway Plaza and the businesses along Bennett Drive.   In the past, snowmobilers had followed a trail from the vicinity of the Otter St. Park and Ride to U.S. Rt. 1, just below Cary Medical Center. This year, this access route has been significantly changed, Mazzuchelli said. Now the trail will lead from the route in the vicinity of the Otter St. Park and Ride south across property owned by the Caribou Chamber of Commerce and Industry to Aldrich Dr., where sledders will have to follow the road approximately 500 feet to a utility right of way that will lead them to the Crown Park Inn or they can continue on a groomed trail to the curb cut that accesses Griffeth Lincoln, Ford, Mercury, off U.S. Rt. 1.
From this intersection, Mazzuchelli noted, it is important that sledders follow the designated routes.  As they cross U.S. Rt. 1 into the Skyway Plaza access entrance, they must turn left and follow the snowbank along the overflow lot at Skyway Plaza to a cut in the snowbank where the trail will resume.   They will exit onto the Skyway Access Road adjacent to Caribou Car Wash then proceed to the trail entrance between the Caribou Car Wash and Burger King.
To access the businesses at Skyway Plaza, sledders will take a right as they enter the lot and continue to the far right, traveling behind Save A Lot to the designated parking area behind the Jade Palace. Mazzuchelli noted that sledders are being advised to stick to the designated routes or risk being prosecuted for trespass.
She noted that the Caribou Snowmobile Club and the Caribou Parks and Recreation Department, as well as hundreds of other clubs across Aroostook County and the state of Maine, work with thousands of private landowners to develop trails for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. She also noted that those who blatantly ride on undesignated trails create problems for clubs that try to work hard to maintain trails. Many times trail is lost due to abuse by sledders that ride off trail. In this instance, Mazzuchelli said, “if we have problems with this new access route, it will be lost for good.”
Another welcomed reroute will be that of ITS 90 between snowmobile Rt. 81 and Rt. 105.   Mazzuchelli noted that two years ago heavy rains in December and January created a change in a portion of ITS 90 that rendered it unusable. For the last two winters there has been no connection for sledders attempting to access Caribou from points west and Caribou sledders wishing to head west. This year with the cooperation of several landowners, a new route has been developed and is currently open for use.
Mazzuchelli encouraged sledders to stay on marked trails and help Caribou sustain good access to local businesses.