Editor’s note: The following trail conditions report is compiled by members of the Maine Snowmobile Association. Those seeking the complete report may visit www.mesnow.com

Aroostook County

Aroostook Report from Caribou Rec.: An average of 30 inches of snow driven by 30-40 mph winds has created major problems. Although sledders can find their way in most areas, groomers have been unable to break through many areas that have drifts in excess of 8 feet in some instances.

Most projects should be through their systems at least once by Friday night but trail conditions will remain rough until projects can hit the trails again with their drags and begin the long process of reclaiming trails. Road crossings will be particularly perilous and could be 8-10 feet above the road surface due to plowing and winging.

At best conditions will not be for the faint of heart but certainly are rideable – just don’t expect perfection.

ITS 81 Walker Siding has been out as well as Ashland and Mars Hill. No word on Easton. Fort Fairfield has been out and will continue, Limestone was headed out Wednesday night or Thursday. Van Buren opened its section, no word on Grand Isle, and Madawaska suffered a small setback and is behind but working to get everything in top-notch shape by the weekend.

ITS 83 from Sherman and Whetstone north to Presque Isle has been opened, Caribou has been through once and hopes to be out again Thursday evening on the south end. The railbed north to Stockholm has been down three times this week. Nordic Lakers is attacking the powerline today with a snowblower to open drifts and should be back out with a drag by Friday. Red Arrow has been through and Madawaska is working hard to improve conditions.

ITS 85 Fort Kent has been out with the machine and pipe drag and will be out again with the drag tonight. Eagle Lake has been through once and is in hopes of getting through on a second trip tonight or tomorrow. Portage has been through 2-3 times and Ashland has been through their section once and will go a second time tonight or tomorrow. Oxbow has been out .

ITS 92: Open from Fort Kent to Allagash, some problems with the Tucker in Allagash but nothing major so they will be up and out to firm up their system.

ITS 90: Open from Fort Fairfield to the ITS 83 intersection in Caribou but won’t be open farther west until Friday. Portage has been through on their end. The Washburn connection should be groomed by Friday.

ITS 88: Presque Isle, Aroostook River and Ashland have this trail open and should have this trail completely dragged by Thursday night.

ITS 86: Both Houlton and Oxbow have worked hard to open and get this groomed.

Rte. 81 and 66: From Washburn to Stockholm is still a work in progress but should be groomed by Friday night.

Soldier Pond was not operating but an emergency groomer shipment was under way Thursday so they should be in OK shape by Saturday.

Daigle was picking away at drifts and should be through their system by Saturday morning.

Portage 2/5: The Portage Lake area has received 30-plus inches of “white gold” since Sunday. Please be patient with all clubs and groomers. The texture of the snow is very difficult to work with and it’s a lot of snow to deal with at one time. We are doing the best we can to get the trails back to the awesome conditions we strive for. ITS 85 & 90 have been groomed and will continue to be groomed on a nightly basis.

Madawaska 2/5: Just received another foot of snow with windy conditions. Groomers will be out all week and weekend to restore trails. Please be careful and use caution until trails are back to normal widths.

Benedicta 2/5: Received 20 inches of white gold, but with the 40 mph winds it is going to take some time to re-establish our trail system. Have reports of 8- to 10-foot drifts in some places on ITS 81. ITS 83 and Municipal Trail 70 are more sheltered, therefore less blowing and drifting snow.

ITS 83, Sherman, Whetstone Falls: Groomed with good conditions. This trail groomed Tuesday night.

ITS 81, Sherman, Mattawamkeag Cutoff: groomed only half way (10 miles) groomer had to turn around due to whiteout conditions. This trail will be groomed Wednesday. Sections of this trail have tremendous drifts, so please wait until it is groomed before you ride it.

Municipal Trail 70, Benedicta, Whetstone Falls: were groomed Wednesday. Both groomers will come from Sherman, one behind the other (for groomer safety) and then one will go No. 70W, and the other will continue to Mattawamkeag.

Madawaska, St. John Valley 2/3: Excellent trails throughout the St. John Valley and Northwestern New Brunswick and just in time for this weekend’s International Snowmobile Festival.

Katahdin region

Millinocket area 2/6: Base depths for snow in our grooming area are now all solidly in the 20- to 30-inch range. As our groomers reported Monday, protected areas of trail and areas prone to drifting may have substantially more snow. If you’re traveling on ITS 86 East take the time to check out the snow depth in the drifts near Trout Pond and on the horseback just above it.

The pump houses on Millinocket Lake and Ambajesus Lake are operating and riders are urged to stay clear of these areas as ice conditions will vary. This will cause hazardous/thin ice conditions in these areas. Please avoid these locations.

Shin Pond, Bowlin, Matagamon Area 2/5: We are still pushing back snowbanks to make room for all the trucks with trailers and sleds. 85A Shin Pond to Bowlin groomed last night , 85 Shin Pond to Matagamon groomed Wednesday, 85 Matagamon south groomed Wednesday, Lookout Trail is not groomed yet, 71D groomed Wednesday.

Piscataquis

Charleston 2/7: Conditions have improved greatly in the last week. We missed the bulk of the rain, and the heavy snow has settled nicely. Grooming is ongoing, all trails have been groomed twice this week, and ITS 83 is being done again tonight. Both the Thiokol and the Gilbert groomers will be operating over the weekend. It looks like its going to be a busy weekend, so expect conditions on the main trails to deteriorate later in the day.

The Powerline is groomed, somewhat rough but getting better each time we groom it, bumps are filling in nicely. ITS 83 south of the village to the Corinth line also smoothing up well, but the occasional rock is still peeking through. ITS 83 north of town is very good and flat for the most part.

Bangor area, Coast

Hampden 2/7: Received 7 inches of heavy wet snow from Sunday night’s storm, with lots of blowing and drifting on trails.

Rockland, Thomaston, Warren: 2/3: Trails are wet especially in the low lands, grooming has stopped until the temp gets down and plans to stay down. The trails here on the coast will see some moguls ( till the weekend or when the temp stays down ) and quite a few wet spots.

Moosehead region

T2 R13, Ragged Lake area 2/4: Lots of snow and excellent riding. Spencer Mountain trail and 26-mile newly constructed, widened trail around Ragged Lake is being groomed regularly. The loop connecting the NFG trail to Kokadjo is open. Reminder that the Farrar Mountain trail is closed to snowmobiling.

Pittston Farm 2/4: The extra snow will only improve the great conditions we already have. Please! Slow down and stay in control! Several have made some pretty scary off-ramps into the woods, and one has run over our snow depth gauge. No need of it! Also, our Alternate Trail from Seboomook to the Rockwood Trail System (Rte 66) is closed this season due to logging.

Rockwood Connector Trail, Jct. ST-27 to Demo Road: Excellent. There is a trail change here as well. Watch for signs. Also, there is a logging operation at the junction with the Demo road. Watch for equipment in this area. Use caution over Soldiertown Ridge as well.

Greenville 2/3: Our northbound groomer was off the trail for 24 hours over the weekend but is back on track and will be out soon. The ITS system was to be done Monday and back on the nightly schedule. The club trails are being dragged this afternoon, evening (Monday) and Tuesday and again on Friday.