Well, despite what has been a very up-and-down winter for a lot of projects here in The County, we are still grooming here in parts of central Aroostook. The Valley and the Allagash have not stopped whatsoever.
I have spoken to a lot of new faces in the past few weeks and they are indicating that this is their first trip to The County and definitely will not be their last. The winter that never was for the southern parts of the state might be a blessing for The County with all these new people coming up; they are certainly getting what we always knew: the kindest people and the best trails on the planet.
As I sit here and write this report, it is snowing hard and accumulating on the ground. There is a lot of water sitting in low-lying areas, so please use caution. Places that will hold water will be: field roads with bad drainage, diversion ditches, low-lying swamp areas, road ditches, and obviously bodies of water. Please keep this in mind.
Remember, we are about the only area that has snow in the Northeast, so trails will be busy, with a lot of new people to the area. Please ride right and slow down.
Caution: All rivers and streams are becoming very unsafe.
Trail Info
ITS 92: This trail continues to be groomed and is in very good condition.
ITS 90: Caribou will not reopen their section of 90 as the warm temperatures have taken their toll on the base. Pick up 90 off of 105 and travel towards Portage; this is in good condition.
ITS 120, also known as the Deboullie Trail, is groomed and in very good condition. Remember to get gas out of Portage, Eagle Lake, or St. Francis. Stop by Deboullie pond for great pictures.
ITS 83: There is a small water hole behind the old MDOT garage in Axle Siding, and there is another one on the other end of the power line in the sharp turn. Through Washburn and Caribou all the way to the rooftop of The County this trail is in good shape. There are some issues going through Caribou with water in low spots, so use caution.
ITS 81: Unfortunately, anything south of Fort Fairfield has very limited snow cover, but the further north you travel the trail is holding up well. Remember that this trail goes through a lot of open ground in the central part of The County, so you might travel over some brown snow and water holes — please use caution.
ITS 85: From Ashland north this trail is holding up well and the farther north one travels the trail is in very good shape due to the deeper snowpack.
ITS 105: This trail is setting up in very good shape, and as you go north the better the snow cover.
ITS 88: Not groomed.
ITS 86: Not groomed.
Trail 100 will be groomed and is in good shape.
Trail 81 in New Sweden will also be groomed once temps drop and snow stops.
On the Social Side
St. Francis Sno Angels: Saturday meals at the clubhouse, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Presque Isle Snowmobile Club: Friday night stew at the clubhouse.
Washburn Trailrunners: Clubhouse open Saturday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., and Sunday 7 a.m.-12 noon.
Houlton: Breakfast every Saturday at the clubhouse, 6-9 a.m.
Fort Kent Sno-Riders Snowmobile Club: King of the Mountain Hill Climbs Saturday, April 9. Check out their Facebook page.
Pleasant Ridge Riders: Breakfast and bake sale fundraiser, Sunday, April 10, at the clubhouse from 7-11.
