The ski slopes and trails in central Aroostook County are looking to recover from two days of January rain, with Bigrock Mountain reopening Friday the 13th.
Amid temperatures pushing 40 degrees and rain, Bigrock Mountain in Mars Hill closed its slopes Wednesday, Jan. 11 — its second “wicked cheap Wednesday,” when lift tickets are $5 and rentals $10 — and closed again on Thursday.
The ski mountain’s pub remained open, and the crew was expecting to start work on the slopes early morning on Friday, as temperatures were predicted to return to below freezing and head into single digits Saturday.
Bigrock is opening at noon Friday, and expects to be open during the weekend, said manager Travis Kearney.
Central Aroostook County’s two largest cross country ski trail networks are also looking to recover.
“The warm temperatures and rain have plagued our great ski trail conditions,” said Scott Thompson, park director at Aroostook State Park, in an email alert.
The state park has 15 miles of ski trails, which Thompson said the staff is aiming to groom on Friday and Saturday. “We could use a few inches of snow to help us deliver this to you.”
The snowshoe trails at the park are quite hard packed, “but in great shape for a trek,” while the sledding hill is closed due the thaw creating slush on Echo Lake, Thompson added.
The park is holding its Winter Family Fun Day this year on Saturday Feb. 25, and hoping for winter to get its groove back in time for the event, which was cancelled last year due to poor snow conditions.
At the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle, the volunteer trail crew is optimistic about reviving the trails this weekend and will be grooming as the weather returns to below freezing.
