PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Before Monday’s sleet and rainstorm, some people in central Aroostook County were still snowmobiling and skiing and they could even have some time left thanks to colder temperatures hanging around this week.
Northern Maine snowmobilers, skiers and other winter recreationists are coming off the second year in a row with all around excellent snow conditions through winter and into early spring.
“It has certainly been one of the best seasons that I’ve ever seen,” said Matt Farnham, president of the Aroostook River Snowmobile Club. “At this point though, even I’m ready for it to be over.”
The Aroostook River Snowmobile Club maintains 46 miles of Interconnected Trail System 88 following the Aroostook River from Ashland to Presque Isle. While the club has not been grooming for weeks, Farnham said he saw a few snowmobile riders over the April 14 weekend while he was doing spring work at the clubhouse.
“We’ve had years when we were lucky to have two good months of riding. This year we started in mid-December and there is still riding to be had in mid-April,” Farnham said. “Five months of high quality trails has made for an incredible season for snowmobilers and the businesses that cater to them.”
“There are certainly die hards out there,” Farnham said. “My son will be out there all week since it’s school break. It’s not quality riding but it is riding and next winter is a long ways off.”
Steve Dobson, owner of the Aroostook Hospitality Inns in Washburn and Van Buren, said this winter season has been good for the Aroostook County tourism business.
“Aroostook County is becoming known in the northeast as one of the places to ride, and we’re on the national scale more than we’ve ever been,” Dobson said.
Dobson said his two motels were solidly booked much of the winter and drew snowmobile enthusiasts from New England, the Northeast and beyond.
One man from Texas flew to Maine three times this winter to stay at the Aroostook Hospitality Inn and snowmobile, Dobson said.
Others have helped spread word of Aroostook County’s great snowmobiling. Dobson said one group from Long Island, New York, took advantage of his special deal for first time Aroostook snowmobilers: one free night with a minimum of three overnight stays. That group told their friends and three other groups made the trip north this year, Dobson said.
“We’re coming off one of the longest winters I can remember.”
Among other snow sports, Saturday, April 14, Bigrock Mountain hosted its annual snowmobile race to the top of the mountain. The snow base there also was still plentiful enough that Bigrock opened for one final day of skiing Sunday, April 15.
Meanwhile, cross country skiers and fat tire cyclists also were still enjoying a foot-plus of base of snow on many of the trails at the Nordic Heritage Center. Generally cool temperatures have preserved the trail system’s snow and skiers and riders can find them hard and fast in the mornings and slower and soft in the afternoons.
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- Faint traces of snowmobile tracks could still be seen on parts of the frozen Aroostook River Monday. (Anthony Brino)
