Gary Marquis
Wow, what a week and a half this has been for all projects from Island Falls to the Allagash and everyone in between.
The County clubs have certainly been busy clearing all the trees that have fallen from some of the heaviest snow that has ever come down. A lot of the clubs are reporting very good progress, while there are some that will need another week of cutting before their sections are at 100 percent. So please use caution when out riding as not every club has had a chance to put up signage — they were dealing with getting the trails opened to allow groomers to get through.
Despite what has happened with the heavy snow and downed trees there is some decent riding here in the Crown of Maine. Fields in the Central Aroostook area are very well covered for this time of year, but remember: please do not venture off the groomed trail as you might not like the outcome. Some of the wooded sections of trails in the Caribou, Limestone and Fort Fairfield areas have not been opened, or there is a detour until the ground freezes.
The lakes, ponds and rivers are still not safe for crossing, so please stay off any body of water until officials make sure that they are safe to be on.
Cautions
Trail 71A in the Ashland area will be closed for the season due to logging. Trail 61 in Washburn will also be closed until further notice due to logging. Trail 94 from the intersection of 105 and 79 to the Caswell intersection of trail 89 is closed due to a big washout that will not be repaired this season. Trail 94 will be open to trail 89 going through Cyr Plantation. This section of trail still has not been brushed out yet. Caribou will be out on their section of 89 once Halfway Brook freezes; until then, please stay off this section of trail.
On the Trails
With this being said, here is what has been done and reported in decent shape. Please don’t forget that we are extremely early and there might be some branches still hanging down, so ride with caution.
ITS 83 from Houlton through to the Valley is in good shape. Remember that there is a reroute in the Bridgewater area: the trail now goes up and around Number 9 Mountain. The trail is marked and groomed. In the Presque Isle area, please use the 83 bypass; once through this it gets better heading north. In the Caribou area, stay on 83B to avoid a small section of ITS 83, not passable because it is wet. On the rail bed to Stockholm and continuing north, it is good.
ITS 90 Fort Fairfield has come through to behind Dodo’s Market and Caribou has been through. There is a small detour on Fort’s end but it is groomed. Caribou was out to open their western section of 90 on Saturday. Portage has come down all the way through to 105 and is reporting this section in good shape.
ITS 85 is still not connected all the way through; Ashland planned to use an excavator to work on their section over the weekend. Oxbow is still working on their end. From Portage to Eagle Lake and further North the trail is in decent shape. Fort Kent is reporting that their section is in good shape.
On 120, the Deboullie trail has been opened from Allagash down to their turnaround, but Eagle Lake is working on a section of a 4-mile stretch south of Red River camps which is still not cleared and has a lot of water.
ITS 92 from Fort Kent up through St. Francis to Allagash is reported in good shape.
ITS 81 is still very fragmented and still has issues on the Van Buren end. Van Buren and Grand Isle are still working hard to connect their ends.
The 105 trail from Van Buren through Stockholm and south to Mapleton is in good shape. Chapman reported their section is not cleared yet and they will be working on this stretch.
ITS 88 From Fort Fairfield is reported open all the way to Ashland. There is a water hole in the Frenchville area which they were hoping would freeze this weekend.
73B is officially open but has no markers. Markers will be installed next. Pass at your own risk.
Work is ongoing on Trail 81 (Swedes Trail).
Trail 79 in the Long Lake area has not been cleared as of yet, so the best trail around the lake is ITS 83.
Reports I am receiving indicate the Valley trails are in good condition and getting better every day.
Trail 89 (Connor Trail) is only open to the Black Bear Lodge. The Caribou club and Pleasant Ridge Riders were working on that trail. The Caribou Rec. Department was successful in getting permission with MDOT and will be utilizing Rt. 1 off of the Dubay Pit Road and will use approximately 1,400 feet along Rt. 1. The reroute will let riders avoid crossing The Madawaska River. When this trail is complete, the club will mark and announce the trail is open.
If you are planning on riding, stay on what has been groomed and check with local clubs and their Facebook pages.
On the Social Side
Friday, Jan. 13: The Pleasant Ridge Riders will hold a chicken stew/chili dinner fundraiser at the clubhouse, 17 Pleasant Ridge Road, Caswell, from 4-7 p.m. All proceeds will go to the groomer fund.
Sunday, Jan. 29: The PleasanT Ridge Riders will hold a breakfast fundraiser at the clubhouse from 7-11 a.m., with all proceeds going to the groomer fund.
