DANFORTH, Maine — The East Grand Snowmobile Club purchased a second groomer to aid in the upkeep of its trails.
This Bombardier was purchased from the J.V. Wing Snowmobile Club of Carrabassett Valley near Sugarloaf. While the groomer is an older model, it’s a welcome addition to the East Grand Club, which has 50 miles of trail to groom.
The machine also reduces grooming time to one day, now allowing the club to groom all trails on the same day using both machines. The club also owns a 2004 John Deere 6420 tractor.
Club members have been busy lately grooming trails and improving trail signage and have recently installed mail boxes with local trail maps at all three trail heads.
In the past, getting through in-town Danforth had been a real deterrent for those traveling through the area, with over one-half mile of tar to traverse in order to get to trail 105 south. This past fall, club members shortened the distance from a half-mile to just under 300 yards over three sections to connect to trail 105 south, linking up with Quad County Snowmobile Club of Springfield near the Stetson Wind Farm off Route 169.
One of the club’s goals is to serve the East Grand Lake area camps and businesses with better access to the trails and services in Danforth. The organization recently applied for a grant to install a local loop from the Greenland Cove area with more direct access to Danforth. Presently, local trail 7 dead-ends on the Boulder Road. The club is in the early stages and working on securing landowner permission.
If the club receives the grant and landowners’ approval, work will take place this summer and fall, which means local trail 7 will no longer dead-end but will loop back to town via the Wichita Brook Road and next to the Route 1 powerline back to the two-mile turn road.
According to the club, these efforts fit into the overall plan to improve on the economic development of the East Grand Lake Region, recognizing the impact snowmobiling has on northern Maine. While the area is limited in the wintertime for overnight accommodations, there is a lodge in Weston and other options on East Grand Lake. There are businesses handy to the trail, including a restaurant with 24-hour, pay-at-the-pump fuel, a park and ride and stores offering supplies and food.
To check on latest trail conditions, visit the East Grand Snowmobile Club’s Facebook wall, as the club updates often. Those interested can also message them through Facebook as well. You can also call or text East Grand Snowmobile Club president Troy Fish with questions at 207-538-6980.
The following trail distances are approximate: Linneus to Danforth 45 miles on trail 105; Danforth to Wytopitlock 20 miles on trail 105 and 110; Wytopitlock to Linneus 50 miles on trail 110, 1 and 105; Danforth to Sherman 50 miles on trail 105, 110 and 3; and Danforth to Springfield 30 miles on trail 105 and 110.
Trails in Linneus to Haynesville are maintained by Linneus Sno Sports, Wytopitlock to Haynesville trails by the Eastern Maine Snow Riders Club, and those from Springfield to East Grand Snowmobile Club are maintained by Quad County Snowmobile Club of Springfield.
All clubs have Facebook walls with updated information and contact numbers.
