Maine snowmobile trail conditions report

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The Maine Snowmobile Association posts a weekly report on snowmobile trail conditions. The complete report is available at: www.mesnow.com

Overview

People are finding the places to ride – where there is grooming, please slow down, watch for hazards until we receive more cover. Be a shame to damage an expensive machine (human or mechanical). We are aware of some grooming in Jackman, Eustis/Stratton, Rangeley, Katahdin-Millinocket area, The Forks, Rockwood, Moosehead, and a number of club projects in the Central Maine (I-95 corridor) and Western Maine areas.

Many areas reporting that ice is not safe. Note, as mentioned in the Katahdin area report, many lakes, ponds may have a lower water level this winter due to drought -be aware that rocks and branches which may have been submerged in previous seasons may have become above ice hazards this winter.

Aroostook County

Benedicta: May be possible to get from point A to point B if sledders are really careful. If you think anything of your machine wait for the next blast to hit. If you go out be aware of objects (stumps, rocks) on the trails. Proceed slowly and with extreme caution. Be aware of thin ice conditions on all bodies of water at this time.

Trail 70 Benedicta, Whetstone Falls, ITS 81 Sherman, Mattawamkeag Cutoff are clear of blowdowns – ride at your own risk.

ITS 83 Sherman, Whetstone Falls will be cleared as soon as snow permits. All Snowgang Club trails are cleared of blowdowns at this time – ride at your own risk. Grooming may start with the next storm if accumulation warrants.

Sherman/Sherman Mills: Still waiting for snow and need a couple of good storms to get things going. Be cautious around ice due to prior warm temps.

Caribou Chamber Report: Still no grooming, waiting on more snow. Cold temps are freezing up lakes and rivers, but continue to use extreme caution, check local conditions on all water bodies.

Greater Katahdin Region

Millinocket, Medway, East Millinocket: Katahdin area received about five inches of snow from the storm earlier this week, atop the eight inches they previously reported. They have begun grooming in some areas. Timber Cruisers clubhouse ITS86 to White House Landing has good riding. White House to Three Corners has good conditions, with spotty coverage in green growth areas.

Baxter State Park south to Whetstone/ITS85 via Sandy Stream to be groomed Friday night. Ice is not good; note that water in area lakes/ponds low due to drought, leaving shoreline rocks, etc. exposed; use caution when ice is safe.

Ragged Lake Trails: Anyone planning to use the “Loop Road” from Ragged Lake to our “Hole in the Woods” trail should be aware that it may be plowed because of a logging operation in the area of Pine Pond. Unless you can get verification that the logging is finished, it would be best to take a different route. Trail grooming got off to a very late start because of the lack of snow.

Piscataquis, Penobscot

Brownville: Be careful of the many rocks and stumps that are showing through. The roads are in good condition but the trails through the woods are tough. The railroad bed to K.I. is nice, but watch the water crossings.

Bangor: Trails are open, use caution in the woods because of stumps and large rocks. Some grooming is being done. Golf Course Trail is great, but please stay on the marked trail.

Washington: Generally excellent conditions though thin. Most mudholes are frozen and covered with fresh snow. Most rocks are buried. To Jefferson is thinner and no grooming.

Greater Moosehead Region

Greenville: The plan is to start grooming the local trails in the next couple of days. If the predicted snow comes, then grooming may start.

Rockwood: Blue Ridge Riders have begun grooming in their area – in the woods not great, but trail on road sections pretty good. Can ride Rockwood-Jackman, but Squaw section not groomed so not sure about ride over to Greenville. Not groomed yet from Pittston to Seboomook/NE Carry. Still need more snow to groom that area.

Pittston Farm Trails: Not grooming as of yet. The Jackman Trail (Pittston Farm to Junction ST-21) was “panned” Dec. 27. Also, the Rockwood Trail was done (Jct. ST-27 to the Demo Road). Very limited snow cover over both trails. Some riders have been coming through. Please watch for hazards such as stumps, rocks, water.

The trail to North East Carry and the Cross Trail (the trail between the Rockwood Trail System and Seboomook) has yet to be touched until there is more snow. There is some great “off-trail” riding in the area.

Route 201 Corridor

The Forks: Received six inches of snow on Monday and another inch on Wednesday. Currently have 8-16 inches of snow on the ground, depending on exact location. All 110 miles of The Forks Area Trail System are passable, and all sections have been groomed at least once. All sections of the trail system on logging roads (85 percent of the trails) are in pretty good shape, and are on a regular grooming schedule.

Sections through the woods (15 percent) have been panned, but we need more snow to actually groom. These sections are easily passable, but they are rough and thin.

The Connector Trail heading east from Berry’s Store to ITS 87 is generally in decent shape, scratchy in town, but better as you get toward ITS 87.

ITS87 heading north toward Greenville and Moosehead Lake has good snow cover and is in very good shape. There is a one-mile section on the Power Line near Lake Moxie that is rough. Need another good storm to take care of this short section.

ITS 87 heading south to Bingham is in good shape with good snow cover.

The Connector Trail heading west from Berry’s Store to ITS 89 has fair riding. The first mile out of town is rough and scratchy, but better after that. There is then a two-mile section near Gulf Stream that is real rough and needs more snow. It is passable, just go easy. This is a reroute around a logging operation.

ITS 89 heading southwest toward Grand Falls and Eustis is in very good shape. Plenty of snow.

ITS 89 heading north toward Jackman is also in very good shape. Heading over Coburn Mountain has more than two feet of snow.

The Connector Trail heading north from Berry’s Store toward Parlin Pond and on to ITS 86 also has good riding. Again, the first mile out of town is rough.

Jackman: The groomers continue to work the ITS trails. Just waiting for snow conditions to improve. The trails are in pretty good shape for the amount of snow. The base is at about a foot and a half. Off-trail riding is said to be excellent right now. Note: There has been a route change on ITS89 south. Please pick up a map to plan your trip. They are available at local businesses free of charge.

ITS89 north: fair; ITS89 south: fair new trail with thin snow conditions; ITS86: fair; In Town Trails: thin snow conditions

Central Maine

Clinton: There seems to be an area in the Central Region where folks have had fairly good riding for the past couple weeks: Waterville, Clinton, Skowhegan, and Benton are a few locations that are fairly decent.

Manchester: All trails cleared and open. Not really enough to groom, but will be out packing trails and grooming.

Litchfield: The trails around Litchfield have seen some major work this fall. There may be a few spots that are wet and have not frozen solid yet. Another weekend of trail maintenance Saturday and Sunday.