We are experiencing a very indecisive Mother Nature. At the beginning of the week we had temps well below zero and as I type this report it is close to 40 degrees and rain throughout the County.
Most clubs have gotten all trails groomed before this latest warmup and will be out again the minute the temps fall and can get out there to groom. Some areas of the County especially in the North will be getting possible double-digit snowfall where other areas will be getting half a foot. Hopefully everyone will get some snow to stick to what will become a solid block of ice as the temps will drop to the teens Friday afternoon. Please check the latest weather forecasts for the most up to date information. The areas that will be picking up snow, this will help with icy corners. The areas that don’t receive much or any the corners will become hard and icy, so please ride accordingly.
This weekend is the beginning of the annual School vacation week which equals extremely busy trails. The less travelled trails will be the ones that you will want to get out and experience. They are groomed as well as the major trails and do typically hold up better as not as much traffic. There will be several hotdog and pig roast in the County on Saturday so let’s get out and help these clubs. More information down in the report under Social Side.
This is not the best time to be riding out on lakes as there will be quite a bit of slush and if they are not marked you might run into trouble.
The Deer and Moose are really liking the white carpet that all clubs are laying down, so if you see tracks on the trail this means they are out on them, so please use caution.
TRAIL INFORMATION:
Sly Brook (Soldier Pond): Reporting all of 96 and 73 were groomed earlier this week. They will be back out on Friday. Please keep an eye out for moose, as the snow gets deeper, they will walk on the trails where it is easier.
Washburn Trail Runners (Washburn): Reporting excellent conditions on ITS 83 and ITS 105. Trail 61 is closed due to logging, please do not ride this trail. The kitchen is open Friday 8-2, Saturday 7-2, and Sunday 7-12. Hopefully we’ll get a decent amount of snow from this storm passing through on Saturday!
Portage Lakers: Reporting they are out night and day to get the trails smooth. They will be out again on Friday once the Storm goes through. When leaving town on 85 North the first 2 miles are loaded with deer due to a winter harvest operation near the trail, use caution and this is a great place for picture taking, remember to pull off the trail if you do stop. Please use caution as deer are everywhere closer to town.
Caribou: Reporting great conditions on all 110 miles of trail and will be back out on Friday afternoon. Check out the hot dog roast at axle siding this Saturday.
Fort Kent SnoRiders (Fort Kent): reporting they have everything in great shape and will be out in full force after the snow on Friday.
Eagle Lake Winter Riders: Reporting they have been busy grooming all week and will be back out once the snow and temps drop. Trails are in great shape.
Fort Fairfield Snowmobile Club: reporting they are in good shape and will be back out once it cools off.
St. Francis Sno-Angels: reporting they have groomed ITS 92 in its entirety and is in great shape. Also, 92A is in good shape. They will be back out once the snow stops and temps drop.
Limestone Snowhawks: Reporting that they will be back out once the temps drop.
Central Aroostook Snowmobile club (Mars Hill, Blaine, Bridgewater, and Monticello): Reporting trails are in good shape. The section of the plowed area did bare up a little with last warm up and this latest warmup will not help so please keep a look out for dirt. Reminder of logging operation in Bridgewater. 2.3-mile plowed section, the landowner is going to allow the snowmobile trail to continue through this area if speed does not exceed 30mph, and yield to motor vehicles. If there are issues, they will close this section of trail down and the club will need to reroute 20 miles.
Ashland snowmobile club: Reporting that they are in good shape and will be back out once it cools off. Watch for pooling of water that will refreeze. Watch for deer coming into town especially near the IGA.
Moose town Riders (Allagash): reporting they have everything done as of Wednesday morning and will be back at it once the storm goes by.
Frenchville snowmobile club: reporting that they did 73B and 81B on Wednesday morning and ITS 85 last night. They will be back out once the temps drop.
Red Arrow (St. Agatha, and Sinclair): reporting they groomed ITS 83 from Madawaska to Sullivan and reporting good conditions. All trails are in good shape and will be out once the temps drop.
Chapman Ridge runners: Reporting they had electrical issue repaired and all trails are groomed as of evening of Tuesday, 2/15. All snowmobilers should be aware of hardened trails and slow down for corners to prevent sliding into the other lane. Also watch sliders for overheating. They will be back out once the snow and temps drop.
Aroostook River Snowmobile (Mapleton, and Castle Hill): Reporting they have been grooming twice a day since Sunday and are reporting good conditions.
Easton Trailbreakers (Easton): Reporting all trails in good condition and hope to be back at it Friday Night.
Madawaska snowmobile club: Reporting Mother Nature seems to be really off her meds this February, the groomer ops have been busy trying to make ends meet and keep up with the ever-changing trail conditions. From 30” of snow in a 10-day period, to temps’ swings from +40 to -30 within the same 24 hr. period. The groomer has been out all weekend and part of the week bringing the trails back to snuff but with Thursday’s rain and warm up we will most likely wait for Friday’s snow to be grooming the trails flat again for the weekend! With school vacation coming up next week, there is usually an increased level of traffic, so we will monitor closely and try to adjust grooming efforts as needed.
Cold Mountain Snowmobile Club (Grand Isle): Reporting they are back up and running after having some track issues. They were out last night and will be back out once the temps drop. A big thank you goes out to Van Buren and Madawaska for helping while they were down. There is a logging operation on 81c going through the woods near the tower just as the trail crosses the golf course road.
Gateway Snowmobile Club (Van Buren): Reporting they have been grooming on a regular basis and reporting hard conditions.
Presque Isle Snowmobile Club: Reporting has all trails opened and in good condition. With School Vacation week starting in a few days expect heavier traffic on the ITS Trail System so try the local Club Trails like the 76 Trail to Chapman, the 116 to Easton and 83A South to Mars Hill and Scopan lake. Riders are reminded not to park on the trail and create a hazard for oncoming riders. Use common sense on speed and always watch out- the next guy could be coming at you on the very next corner.
Nordic Lakers (New Sweden, Westmanland): Reporting good conditions. NorthStar variety is now selling non-ethanol gas.
Pleasant Ridge Riders (Caswell): Reporting great shape and will be back out once the temps get cooler. Parent’s Country store is located right off the border trail and have something for everyone. They are carrying all brands of oil, including Amsoil. They also carry phone chargers, gloves, spark plugs, and snowmobile tow straps.
Walker Siding Snowmobile Club: Reporting that they have been busy getting their trails back up to shape and will be back out once the storm is over.
SOUTHERN AROOSTOOK REPORT:
*Molunkus Valley Snow Drifters: Trails have been groomed daily since Sunday n are all in good shape~~~~ ride right n stays on marked trail `~~~~ Watch for Wildlife on all trails
PRAY FOR SNOW NOT RAIN! & KEEP ON KEEPING ON 🙂
Oxbow-Masardis Snowmobile Club: ITS 85/81 has been groomed twice this week so far. ITS 86 has been groomed. 71-A has been groomed. All trails are hard with some icy conners. Been seeing riders traveling to fast and are having issues in conners. The up and down temps have created a real challenge for groomers with a very hard base while grooming at night only to warm up during the day. High speed and spinning tracks in the conners and climbing hills create rough trails for all.
*Bowlin/Mattagamon/Shin Pond – ITS 85 to 71D- 64 Club Trail – ITS 85 Loop to Libby Pinnacle Loop – Club Trail 71A. The trails are groomed but soft due to the warm spell so take your time
*Benedicta Snow Gang – ITS 81- 81A – 83A to Sherman. Be on the lookout for wet holes on ITS 83, with the warm temps and a little rain we got they are showing up!!! Stay right and slow down for these hazards. Temps will drop for the next several days and these areas should refreeze. It will all harden up soon! Benedicta Snow Gang has a Fishing Derby on Plunkett Pond starting at 7:30am this Saturday. Trails are groomed and ready for the event!
*Rockabema Snow Rangers – ITS 81 to Shin Pond – ITS 112 to Island falls – 62 Club Trail north. The sledding hill for the kids to enjoy by the clubhouse trail and ITS81 has been groomed and is ready for the Tame the Track event on the 19th and 20th. The club has groomed the track at 268 South Patten Rd., for the 8:30am start,
*Linneus Sno Sports – ITS 105 from Hodgdon to ITS 83 – 61 Linneus to Oakfield. Leonard and Wally both groomed all night and trails ITS 83, ITS 105, 1, 3, 9, 8 and Linneus trails are in good shape. There is a water hole on 1 in the field and there is an orange danger sign posted.onl … should be done tonight…get out and ride also good food at clubhouse on from 11-2 on Saturday and Sunday
*Meduxnekeag Ramblers – ITS 83 north to Monticello – ITS 86 south to Houlton – ITS 86 to Oxbow- 81 Club Trail. The trails are consistently good riding, but the warm weather has surely softened things up a bit. Until things freeze again, please be respectful and ride carefully. Don’t forget that breakfast is available at the clubhouse on Saturday from 6am to 9am.
*Big Valley Snow Club at Birch Point in Island Falls – ITS 112 – ITS 83 north- 60 to Oakfield – ITS 83 south to Sherman. Lots of exciting events happening in Island Falls this weekend and next. There is a Fishing Derby on Saturday on Mattawamkeag Lake and Pleasant Pond. You can register until noon at Jerry’s Shur Fine store. There is a Spaghetti supper on Saturday the 19th, a trail side bbq this weekend, and next weekend Island Falls 150th Celebration brings another spaghetti supper, VFW supper, Log Drivers Cookout, a Birthday Party for the town, torchlight parade and Fireworks! Check out the Island Falls town Facebook page for more information.
ON THE SOCIAL SIDE:
St. Francis Sno-Angels will be hosting a meal at the clubhouse from 11 until gone. This week’s menu is Bacon Cheeseburger Soup.
Portage will be hosting a ride with Polaris Ambassadors on Friday morning meeting at Dean’s at 8am.
Fort Kent SnoRiders will be having a hot dog roast on Saturday from 10-2 at the groomer garage located off ITS 85.
MVSD POKER RUN IS THIS SATURDAY STARTIING @ 9 @THE CLUBHOUSE LOCATED 58 NORTH STREET N SHERMAN~~~~WE WILL BE HAVING An AUCTION STARTING @ 3 @ THE CLUBHOUSE WE HAVE SOME NICE ITEMS UP FOR BIDS ~~~~PUBLIC SUPPER @ 5 CHILI, CHICKEN SOUP, ROLL DESSERT N A DRINK! EVERYONE IS WELCOME COME OUT & SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL CLUB!!!!!
Madawaska Snowmobile Club will be having a Spaghetti Super and Glow Stick Ride on Sunday the 20th. Supper Starts at 5PM at the Club house. $10 for supper of $14 for supper and glow stick ride! Stop by, say hi and fill your belly up!
Moosetown riders of Allagash will be hosting a fishing derby on Saturday and Sunday the 19th & 20th Starting at 8am on Glazier and Beau Lakes. They will be hosting a Pig Roast on Saturday from 10am until gone at Conner’s Cove. Check out Moosetown Riders Facebook page for more information.
Caribou Snowmobile Club will be having a trailside hotdog roast/hamburger this Saturday from 10-2 at axle siding at the intersection of ITS 83 and 105 (AK26). Come by sled or vehicle.
Caribou Snowmobile Club will be hosting a community breakfast at the Par restaurant this Sunday from 7-11. Come by sled or vehicle. 7 Carroll Street, Caribou.
Washburn Trail runner’s kitchen is open Friday 8-2, Saturday 7-2, and Sunday 7-12.
Smart-Soucie American Legion Post 176 will be hosting a snowmobiler’s breakfast on February 26th from 7-9 located at 61 Albert Street, Eagle Lake. Check out Eagle Lake Winter Riders for more information. Accessible by sled off trail 73 by the Eagle Lake Inn.
Portage Lakers will be hosting their supper on the run Saturday the 26th, meeting at 5pm at the groomer garage.
Sly Brook Snoriders will be having a Chicken Parm and Spaghetti Dinner at the Clubhouse on Saturday the 26th at 4pm until gone. Only 80 servings, coleslaw, and bun for $15 a plate. Dine in or take out.
Cold Mountain will be hosting the first annual Memorial poker run in memory of Luke Beaulieu on March 5th, at 7am. Check cold mountain Facebook page for more information.
Saturday March 5th: The County Sled Run for American Cancer Society starts with a breakfast at PISC beginning at 7am followed by registration for the Charity ride. Don’t miss out on being part of the new Aerial Drone Picture for 2022. Plenty of fun scheduled all day.
Meduxnekeag Ramblers Saturday breakfast at the clubhouse on the Wiley Rd. in Littleton from 6am to 9 am. All are welcome.
Limestone will be hosting a Poker Run February 26th leaving the clubhouse at 10:00 registration starts at 9:00 $5 per hand $20 registration fee will be a spaghetti dinner at the end at the par N grill.
