Maine snowmobile trail conditions

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The snowmobile report is gathered from the Maine Snowmobile Association’s Web site. The complete report is available at mesnow.com

Overview

There’s some nice riding out there and anecdotal reports reflect Maine groomer efforts to make the very most out the snow on their systems. The sleet and rain that affected some parts of Maine last weekend has resulted in hardening of the trails in a number of areas. In some places there are icy conditions and crusting so slow down and enjoy the ride.

There is poor ice on some water bodies. If unaware of conditions, then don’t go on the ice. Lower water levels have left shoreline rocks and other hazards exposed.

Aroostook County

Benedicta: Both groomers are going almost continually to wring out the water and pack up everything solid. All trails are hard as cement after Sunday’s snow and rain.

Trail reports:

ITS 81 Sherman, Mattawamkeag Cutoff: Groomed, excellent conditions. Be aware of logging operation three miles south of Sherman Mobil station.

ITS 83 Sherman, Whetstone Falls: Groomed, excellent conditions. Stay out of the Sherman Lumber Co. lumberyard.

Municipal Trail 70, Benedicta, Whetstone Falls: Groomed, excellent conditions. Be aware of logging operation skidding wood across the trail approximately 15 miles west of Benedicta. All club trails groomed, with excellent conditions.

Linneus, Southern Aroostook, Houlton: The trails are super. The rain and snow from Sunday night will help pack the 30 inches of snow. Best conditions in the County. ITS 83 groomed and good shape. Trail 60 and 10 closed due to logging operations. Trail 1 has alternative route form Amity to Orient due to open waters this year. Also, Trail 7 to Danforth is a little rough.

Madawaska, St. John Valley: The trails are in excellent condition, fast and firm. At Long Lake, stay on the staked trails and ride a marked trail from Van Buren Cove to the Sporting Club and then peel off to Sinclair, or St. Agatha’s or Eric’s Restaurant next to the golf course.

Caribou report

Trails are in good shape. Lots of moose on Rte. 89 between Caribou and Rte. 94. Also on ITS 81 and 83. Use caution.

ITS 85: Groomed twice this week in most sections. Eagle Lake is grooming to the north side of Carter Brook warning hut. This creates a T-intersection, coming from Fort Kent, look for signs in this area.

ITS 92: Open through to St. Pamphile. No gas west of Chamberlain’s Store so plan ahead. Gas available state side at the border Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekend gas only available across the border.

Connections: 85D from ITS 85 through Debouille to Allagash groomed. Logging near Debouille. Lincoln Trail Loop from St. John to ITS 92 east of Allagash closed due to logging.

ITS 81: Groomed and in good shape.

Connections: Twin Lakes and Sly Brook systems connecting ITS 81, 83 and 85 groomed. Logging by Sly Brook warming hut. No logging on Twin Lakes system.

ITS 90: Groomed from ITS 85 to ITS 81, logging off ITS 90 east outside of Caribou, slowdown.

ITS 83: Groomed with good conditions.

Connections: Red Arrow and Van Buren sections connecting ITS 81 and 83 groomed. Section of plowed road on Rte. 94. Rte. 89 between Caribou and Rte. 94 groomed. Rte. 100 west of Rte. 89 intersection is closed for season.

ITS 88: Groomed and in good shape.

Connections: Squa Pan system groomed. Look for reroute on Rte. 75.

ITS 86: Groomed and in very good shape. Watch for PT 19 marker at intersections of ITS 85. Have had some problems in this area.

Connections: Connector system from ITS 86 south to Houlton, Oakfield, Linneus and point south groomed, good shape.

Greater Katahdin region

Millinocket, Medway, East Millinocket: All trails in Northern Timber Cruisers area are on regular grooming schedule and with good to excellent riding condition. The only exception is the intown trails, where traffic from the motels beats things up. Those are reported fair to good condition. Ice continues unsafe and advise no one to venture out onto waterways in the area. Dolby Pond has lots of slush. Caution area of new Grant Brook Trail (ITS 86) has lots of moose in the area.

Shin Pond: Shin Pondot Bowlin is groomed and in good condition. ITS 85 Shin Pond to Matagamon is groomed and in excellent condition. 71D and ITS 85 Matagamon to Bowling are being groomed. Club trail 64 Shin Pond to Patten is in good condition.

Greater Bangor

Bangor: All trails open with hard-packed surface. Grooming nightly. Fair to good riding. Watch those wet holes and stay off streams, rivers and all bodies of water.

Dedham: Most of the trails in Dedham are cleared and open. Most bodies of water remain unsafe to cross, so a few of the smaller trails remain closed to traffic.

Bucksport, Orland: Tried grooming trails on Wednesday, but there were too many water spots. As soon as trails freeze, will return to grooming.

Greater Moosehead region

Greenville: The ITS trails are going on a daily grooming schedule to try to keep up with the increased traffic. Local trails were all groomed before Sunday’s snow and offer great riding. The logging operation is still present north of Worsters Bridge on the northbound ITS.

Pittston Farm Trails: All trails were groomed Wednesday and a regular schedule has returned.

North East Carry Trail (Pittston Farm to about 1.5 miles past Seboomook): Groomed and in good condition. Still having problems with heavy traffic uncovering hazards.

Alternate Trail (Seboomook to Rockwood Trails System): Groomed and in good condition. Wood areas are still thin.

Route 201 Corridor

The Forks: Currently have about 18 to 36 inches of snow on the ground, depending on the location. All 110 miles of the system are being groomed on a regular basis. Groomer drivers report that all sections of the trail system are in very good to excellent condition with plenty of snow. The exception are the intown trails around Berry’s Store in West Forks. Because of heavy traffic, these trails are only in fair shape. Once away from town for a mile, things improve dramatically.

The ITS Connector Trail from Berry’s Store to ITS 87 is in excellent condition. The first mile out of the Kennebec River Valley is rough, but after that it’s awesome sledding.

ITS 87 heading northeast toward Greenville and Moosehead Lake is in excellent shape. Straight and flat.

ITS 87 heading south toward Bingham also has great conditions with plenty of snow.

The ITS Connector Trail from Berry’s Store to ITS 89 has fair to very good conditions. The first one-half mile out of town along the Dead River is rough, then the riding is very good. There is a two-mile section near Gulf Stream that is narrow and winding. This is a reroute around a logging operation.

ITS 89 north toward Jackman also has great riding. There are just a couple of sections that are windblown and have thin cover.

The Connector Trail heading north from Berry’s Store to Parlin Pond and on to ITS 86 has plenty of snow and is currently in excellent shape.

Jackman: All trails were groomed Wednesday night and were set again for Thursday night. The trails are all in pretty good shape. Snow accumulations are decent on the ITS and yet low enough to still allow access to a lot of off-trail riding.

ITS 89 north: excellent; ITS 89 south: very good; ITS 86: excellent; Intown trails: good

Northwestern Mountains

Kingfield: All trails are in good condition. Some icy spots due to thaw and freezing temperatures. Grooming on a daily basis with the whole Kingfield system getting surfaced for the weekend.

Several logging operations are going on with one being on the Vose Mountain trail just after you cross Rte. 16 headed East and another headed toward Allen’s Pinnacle. Use caution in those areas.

Central Maine

Monmouth: Recent rains and cold temperatures have made for some interesting going. The recent rains and cold temperatures have created hard-packed trails and some extremely ice hills and corners. Groomers are out working the snow and things are looking better. Many brooks and streams have accumulated water on the ice, so use caution.