With the recent 12+ inches the County has just received and another 3-7 inches on Friday clubs will be very busy packing, rolling, and grooming the new snow for what is going to be a very busy weekend here in the County. Friday marks the beginning of school vacation week which historically is the busiest week of snowmobiling in the area. We all understand that grooming happens during the night time, but with the amount of snow and traffic there will be some projects going during the day so please keep this in the back of your head.
This is a great time to check out the lesser travelled trails, these are the trails that are in green on the Aroostook County Map. The Chapman area offers great riding with very little traffic. The other area that is beautiful is the Haynesville woods area down below Houlton.
I know that this message has been mentioned a few times this winter. If you can grab a sign or field marker that is buried this would help clubs out tremendously.
CAUTION: Deer are everywhere they are being spotted in Caribou on trail 83B, In Ashland on ITS 85, Portage on ITS 85. Please keep an eye out all the time as we all know that deer live throughout this County. Also, as the snow is getting deeper this means that all the big game animals will be venturing out onto the trails as it is easier walking for them.
TRAIL INFORMATION:
Soldier Pond is reporting that their system is all done and are reporting great conditions.
Washburn is reporting their trails will be in great condition for the weekend. Trail 61 is not open as there is a logging operation now. There is going to be a logging operation in the Blackstone area which is trail 105 and the logging has begun so sledders please stop at the Blackstone intersection where the Nordic Lakers meet Washburn. The club would like to let people know that if you do encounter the Cat out on the trail, they will stop to allow safe passage please go slow and be cautious. If they need to pull over off to the side of the trail they may get stuck.
Saint Francis is reporting that they have been over their entire system.
Portage Lakers have been over their sections and are reporting good conditions. There will be a heavy logging presence on ITS 85 near the Hewe’s Brook area, please use caution in this area as the trucks will be hauling.
Caribou is reporting that their system is in good shape and will be grooming over the weekend. Just a bit of snow.
Fort Kent is reporting that they their system is in good shape.
Eagle Lake is reporting good conditions. There will be a reroute on ITS 85S after the Birch River near mile 8 due to logging, this will be in effect on Sunday and will last a few weeks. Please watch for signs. The detour will go towards the boat launch on the plowed road for about 2 miles. The trucks will be on this road so additional caution is advised.
Fort Fairfield is reporting that they will be out packing and grooming.
Central Aroostook Snowmobile club is reporting that they will out on Thursday and will have everything done by weekend.
Ashland is reporting that they will be out Thursday and throughout the weekend. Watch for a newly plowed road on 71A it is signed. There is still a lot of deer on ITS 85 between Ashland and Portage.
Allagash is reporting that their trails are in good shape and will be out all weekend. There will be a reroute on 120, it is marked so please use caution. The first 2 miles of Fall brook are plowed, and logging is still occurring, this trail is closed during the week and reopened for the weekend. Deer in Allagash
Frenchville is reporting that their system is in great shape. They are selling raffle tickets to be drawn at their last meeting of the season. If you would like to purchase tickets check out their Facebook page.
Red Arrow is reporting good conditions and they are reporting busy trails.
Chapman Ridge Runners are reporting that they are grooming, and it will be great riding, Trail 105 South is now open.
Aroostook River Snowmobile club is reporting that 105 has been groomed to Washburn. ITS 88 is groomed east of 105 to behind Chandler Farms. They were not able to get up over Haines hill due to Icey conditions, they will let snowmobiles pack it down and will get that area on Friday. 83A is groomed from 88 to Hanson Lake and the Presque Isle turnaround. 76 is groomed to where they meet Chapman. By the weekend they will have everything done.
Easton is reporting they have been over their system with the roller and will be grooming Thursday night.
Madawaska is reporting good conditions.
Grand Isle is reporting good conditions.
Presque Isle Snowmobile club is reporting good conditions
Van Buren is reporting that they will be at it all weekend
Caswell is reporting that they are in good shape. Trail 100 to trail 94 remains closed. Trail 102 to trail 89 in the Connor area is now open. Please use caution as they are going through a logging operation. Logging operation on trail 81A please use caution.
Limestone is reporting good conditions.
Southern Aroostook:
Shin Pond is reporting that Tuesday/Wednesday’s storm has come and gone and left us with conservatively 15”, as much as 18” as predicted and it was still snowing a bit at 2:30 this morning when the groomer went out. ITS114N, ITS85S and 71D up onto Cunningham lookout and 85N to our turn. We will also be out of Shin Pond doing Club Trails 64, Katahdin View off from 64 and Roberts Mountain Lookout.
Benedicta SnowGang
With 15-18″ of new White Gold, we are setting real pretty for the upcoming weekend. All Snowgang trails are groomed, and conditions are as follows:
ITS#83 — Sherman/Whetstone Falls — Groomed, with good/excellent conditions!!
ITS#81 — Sherman/Benedicta/Mattawamkeag Cutoff — Groomed, with excellent conditions!!
All Snowgang club trails are groomed, with good/excellent conditions!!
NOTE: Deer & moose using ALL trails to get around. Remember, no chasing or harassing, they are having a really hard time right now with all this new snow!!
NOTE: Please be aware that groomers may be on the trails 24/7 for the next 2-3 days getting everything knocked down and back in shape!!
NOTE: Mattawamkeag Roadrunners have groomed to meet us on ITS#81!
Rockabema in Patten has been on ITS81 around Upper Shin and up to where they meet Oxbow. Libby’s groomer had been out to meet Shin Pond and ITS114 and ITS85S t is groomed to Whetstone.
Matagamon has ITS85S from Whetstone to where they meet us at junction of ITS114 and ITS85. The groomer is planning to do ITS85N to 71D and the Huber Road on Thursday for the weekend.
Oxbow Masardis has been out on ITS 85 and 86 and are reporting good conditions.
East Grand Snowmobile Club is reporting that trail 7 to Greenland Cove and Witcha Brook are groomed, as well 105. They are reporting good conditions.
Libby’s plan is to go towards the trains today or tonight.
The Meduxnekeag Ramblers are out today grooming the Rail bed (ITS83). Friday will be ITS 86 to St Croix and Saturday ITS86 and ITS105 along the border near Houlton will be completed. The club is sending out 2 groomers at a time to do the same trail because there is so much snow. They also caution sledders to slow down and watch out for the groomers who are working 24/7 to make sure the trails are the best. The sledder who came around a corner near St Croix last weekend and ran into the groomer was traveling at a high rate of speed and broke his knee, leg and hip. Many thanks to the Houlton Ambulance and Fire Department for their quick work!
The Molunkus Valley Snow Drifters are having a poker run on Saturday and have been out getting all trails ready for the event. ITS83, 3 and the Bible Point Trail are in excellent shape.
Linneus Sno-sports is all good. ITS105 and 61b will be completed by the end of the day. They groomed through yesterday’s storm and report excellent conditions. Linneus will be serving lunch at the clubhouse from 10 to 2 on Saturday and Sunday.
A reminder that while most grooming is done at night, especially after snowfalls so it’s not uncommon to see groomers out during daytime hours. This weekend is the first of school vacation so expect increased traffic. Our groomers will be out through Sunday night at least and possibly every night depending on traffic and condition. Ride with the expectation that you could see a groomer around every corner!
* A Reminder: Landowners are within their rights to conduct logging operations on their own land. It is their business. They are nice enough to allow the Clubs access to get from one place to another. Please show respect and stay on marked trails and use caution.
Please keep an eye out on the County’s Facebook pages for the latest updates on trail conditions.
For the most accurate and up-to date weather information, please visit NOAA at
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=46.6588&lon=-68.5989
ON THE SOCIAL SIDE:
Cold Mountain Snowmobile club will be having a breakfast on February 17 at the Grand Isle Community Center from 7-11.
Ashland will be hosting an open house on Sunday at the groomer barn starting at 11AM. Please check their Facebook page for more information.
Washburn Trail Runners clubhouse will be open Saturday 7am to 2pm and Sunday 7am to 12. The clubhouse will be open all week during the vacation week from 7-2 except Sunday which is 7-12.
Chicken stew Friday February 15 from 4:30-7 at the Pleasant Ridge Riders Snowmobile Clubhouse in Caswell.
Sly Brook snowmobile club will be having a steak feed on February 23rd 4:30-7, proceeds to go towards groomer fund.
Presque Isle will be hosting a breakfast on February 23rd in conjunction with the Aroostook State Park fun day.
Saint Francis Sno Angels will have their clubhouse open for lunches starting at 11am and will continue throughout the winter.
For sledders who are interested, there is now Snowmobile storage available for Monthly accommodations in Caribou. They are located at the Crown Park Inn; phone number is 207-493-3311. Units are Small, Medium, and Large. Price is $50, $75, $100.
Caribou Snowmobile Storage located off trail 83A near Caribou Cabins. Call for more information call 498-3508.
