CARIBOU, Maine — This week has been a little challenging with some of the warm weather we have been experiencing but the groomer operators have gone out when temps allowed and have been able to groom. With a little bit less traffic this week the trails have held up well.
This weekend is planning on being very busy in the Crown. The annual Can Am Sled Dog races start this Saturday, Feb. 29 in the Upper St. John Valley. Please keep an eye out on the trails the weekend of Feb. 29, Mar. 1 and 2 for dog sleds, it would be greatly appreciated. The area covered by this race is Fort Kent to Allagash and to Portage Lake. The trails, if I’m not mistaken, overlap in very few places, however, we also have had situations where mushers have gotten turned around (lost) and gone off trail, so it is good for folks to be vigilant even if they are not on the same trail.
If people are interested, for the 250 races (but not for the 100- or 30-mile races), there is an interactive map where you can track the mushers. The link is on the www.can-am-crown.net home page. Any help in spreading the word is greatly appreciated. Trails that will be affected are ITS 92, 92A, 85 and 120. There are signs showing where the race is, so please use caution.
The other major event that is happening in the Central part of the County is the Aroostook County Sled Run, which is happening on Saturday morning with a departure time around 8 a.m. These trails will have additional signage on them to help the people that are in these areas. There is a potential to have larger than normal size groups so please ride with caution.
For more information about this event please check out their Facebook event page called Aroostook County Sled Run.
TRAIL INFORMATION:
Soldier Pond is reporting nice conditions and are anxiously awaiting the new snow.
Washburn Snowmobile club are reporting good conditions and will be out as soon as the snow stops.
Nordic Lakers reporting good conditions.
Portage Lakers are reporting good conditions. They will see both the Dog Sled race on some of ITS 85 and the Sled Run will be on 90 and continuing 85 South. The Dog Sled race and Sled Run will not interfere with each other.
Caribou is reporting good conditions. They will be out the minute the snow stops late Thursday night.
Fort Kent is reporting good conditions. They will have dog sleds on their section of 92 and intown so please use caution. Trails are marked very well.
Eagle Lake is reporting good conditions. There is logging on 85 and caution should be used in these areas. There are several sections of plowed roads so please use caution. They are marked very well.
Fort Fairfield is reporting good conditions.
St. Francis Sno-Angels reporting good conditions. Parts of their ITS 92 and 92A in Carter brook will see Dog sleds on it so please use cautions.
Central Aroostook Snowmobile club reporting that they are in good shape and are planning on getting out as soon as the weather cooperates. This is another area that will be affected by the Sled run. ITS 81 and 83 will have extra sleds on it so please use caution.
Ashland is reporting reporting good conditions. The Aroostook County Sled Run will be using a section of their trails as well so please use caution
Allagash is reporting awesome conditions. Please use caution on the St. Francis road, there is active logging. Please know before you go. Check out the Moosetown Facebook page and they have all the information that you need. A section of their 92 will be affected by the Can Am sled dog race, so please plan accordingly.
Frenchville is reporting all trails groomed.
Red Arrow is reporting good conditions and will be out all weekend.
Chapman Ridge Runners are reporting great conditions and will continue to groom throughout the weekend as the Sled Run will be using some of their trails, so plan on seeing their groomer out on the weekend.
Aroostook River Snowmobile club are reporting good conditions. They will be out a lot this weekend as the Aroostook County Sled Run uses their section of trails. Please use caution. They are also reporting Pole line work on the powerline on ITS 88 please use caution in this area.
Easton is reporting that they have everything groomed for Wednesday and will be back out once it is done blowing and snowing.
Madawaska is reporting all trails are in good shape. They have been busy brush cutting during the warm spell. They will be back at it once it stops snowing.
Grand Isle is reporting good conditions. They will be back out after the storm.
Presque Isle Snowmobile club is reporting good conditions.
Van Buren is good conditions. Logging operation on trail 94 in the Cyr Plantation area, it is signed, please use caution. They are anticipating their new groomer very soon and they will be back to having two machines on the trails
Limestone Snow Hawks plan on having everything done by Friday and are reporting good conditions. Caution is advised as there is a logging operation on trail 100A. The trail is signed.
Caswell (Pleasant Ridge Riders) reporting good conditions and will have everything done by Friday.
SOUTHERN AROOSTOOK:
Southern Aroostook clubs continue to groom daily and are doing an excellent job keeping the trails in the best possible shape.
Oxbow/Masardis have been grooming every night during this warm spell. Trails are holding well. ITS 85/81 groomed and ITS 86 groomed.
The Benedicta Snow Gang reports that there is a logging operation moving onto Creton Ridge which means that possibly 2.5 miles of ITS 81 between Sherman and Benedicta could be plowed. This could result in ITS 81 being moved to the McAvoy Club trail for the rest of the season. Check the Snow Gangs FB page for more updates.
Linneus Snowsports is hosting a Poker Run this Saturday starting at 9 a.m. As an added event the Houlton Recreation Department will be taking their Sports Trailer to the clubhouse in Linneus so people can enjoy the ski trails without the cost of buying or renting gear. Plenty of sets to go around!
Breakfast at the Meduxnekeag Ramblers Clubhouse on Saturday starting at 6 a.m. and one at Linneus SnoSports on Sunday at their clubhouse.
East Grand Snowmobile Club: We saw lots of traffic last weekend on our trails, so much so that the local Millyard sold out of 90 Octane ethanol free gas on Saturday evening (they usually sell 60 gallons in a day and sold 900 gallons last Friday and Saturday). Local trail maps can be downloaded from off our Facebook wall. We also have local trail maps available at all our trail heads.
Bowlin Matagamon Shin Pond Snowmobile Club: check out our fully automated groomer tracking page at https://bmspsledclub.evtrails.com/# Even with the recent warm temps we have been able to keep our regular grooming schedule and the trails have been quite good.
Molunkus Valley Snowmobile club are reporting that trails are holding up well despite the warm weather they just received.
ON THE SOCIAL SIDE:
Pleasant Ridge Riders Snowmobile club will be having a breakfast Sunday March 1 st , at the clubhouse located on 17 Pleasant Ridge Road. 7-10am.
Antique Snowmobile Parade sponsored by the Carter Brook Snowmobile Club Saturday, Feb. 29. $10 registration begins at 8 am SW Collins parking lot, Main St. Fort Kent. Parade begins after the last Can-Am musher departs. Light lunch served after the parade Contact Russell Boucher @ 316-9919 for more info.
Presque Isle snowmobile club will be hosting their Stew Nights starting this Friday night the 17 th , from 5-7pm. These will be on Friday nights for the remainder of the season.
Washburn Trail Runners clubhouse will be open Friday, Saturday 7am to 2pm and Sunday 7am to 12.
St. Francis Sno-Angels clubhouse will be open on Saturdays for lunch starting at 11. Pool tournament every Saturday starting at 7pm.
Meduxnekeag Ramblers snowsled clubhouse will be having Breakfast every Saturday during the season from 6-9.
Gateway snowmobile club will be having their spring fling on March 29.
