Snowmobile trail conditions

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The snowmobile report is compiled by members of the Maine Snowmobile Association. For the complete report, visit www.mesnow.com

Overview

The fat lady is singing her song in southern, central and western Maine the rain/fog on Friday will just serve to increase her range. If you’re riding in these deteriorating conditions, heads up and slow down as melting snow uncovers hazards. Still some good snow depths in northern Maine, where there should be some riding through March, possibly into April..

Aroostook County

Benedicta 3/19: With a big warming trend headed our way, the Fat Lady may start to sing by the weekend, but as of Wednesday afternoon all Snowgang trails are in fantastic shape. Still have great riding in our area at this time. Trail conditions are as follows:

ITS 83 Sherman, Whetstone Falls : groomed/hard surface, excellent conditions.

ITS 81 Sherman, Mattawamkeag Cutoff: groomed as far as Benedicta (remaining 7.5 miles to be groomed Wednesday evening) groomed/hard surface, good, excellent conditions.

Municipal Trail 70 Benedicta, Whetstone Falls: groomed, very hard surface, awesome conditions.

All Snowgang club trails have been groomed with good, excellent conditions.

NOTE: Trails may start to soften substantially due to warming temperatures: watch for holes and water hazards opening up at any time.

Aroostook Report from Caribou Rec.: Week 16 and holding. Cold temperatures are holding the base and everyone is reporting they have been out or will be out by the weekend. No problems reported anywhere at this time.

Rte. 94 is closed west of the Rte 89 intersection due to logging, please keep out of this area.

ITS 81 North safety alert: blowing snow has covered or partially covered some of the boundary markers and even though they have reflective material, they may not be visible so use caution.”

Piscataquis, Penobscot

Charleston 3/19: As predicted, the end is near. With the rain, this may be the last weekend to find any riding in central Maine. Charleston trails were in excellent shape all last weekend, with full access, but the warmer weather is starting to take its toll. Trail surfaces are basically smooth, but bare spots are growing daily, as will the water holes and ponds. Road crossings are getting very muddy early in the day. Limited touch-up grooming may still occur this week on ITS 83, but grooming operations are winding down.

ITS 83 South of the village to the Corinth line was decent last weekend, but with traffic and limited grooming, it will get rougher each day. The Powerline/ITS bypass and Bradford Connector trails were groomed and in good condition also, but expect bare spots here and there. ITS 83 North is OK also. The 1- mile plowed section on the Shute Road was glare ice and rock hard last weekend, but should be a muddy mess by this weekend. Above the plowed part, it’s good all the way to Atkinson.

The Dover/85 connector is also in good shape on the Charleston end. The Hudson connector will be rough on the far east end due to poor groomer access and is probably a lost cause.

Brownville 3/17: The trails are still in great shape. Remember to watch out for the ice on the railroad bed to K.I. We are still grooming on a daily basis. Beech Ridge trail is closed due to a logging operation and the lack of snow on that section of the trail. We have at least an 18-inch base so we should be able to take some warm weather before the trails start to fall apart.

Moosehead region

Greenville 3/18: We are getting into spring riding fast. Our ITS system is being groomed on alternate nights – north and southbound routes. The warm temperatures are great for riding but they are really mushing up the ITS trails. Be prepared for mealy snow with bare spots this week in the high traffic areas. The club trails are being groomed on Monday and offer good riding. The B-52 loop is rough with the temperature and high traffic, in spite of an additional night of grooming with the Bully.

Rockwood 3/18: The Birches Web site reports that the trails are still in good shape. All are smooth and well groomed despite warmer temperatures. Meteorologists have mentioned that we (the mountains) will receive more snow in the next couple of weeks as there is still lots of cold, Canadian air just to our north. Trails south of Moosehead Lake are nearing the end of the season, but Moosehead Trails are still good.

Brown spots are increasing on the trails especially around Greenville and south but are still very passable. Watch out for early morning ice and low lubrication levels, both of which go away after a little sun hits the trails. There will be minimal snow at road crossings and gas stations. Ice thickness is still around two feet deep, but always check with locals first. Warm temperatures have created some slush, so be cautious when venturing off the marked trails on the lake.

Route 201 corridor

The Forks 3/20: We currently have anywhere from 16 to 30 inches of snow, depending on the exact location. Daytime temperatures have risen into the 40s the last several days, but there’s still good on and off trail riding out there.

Nightime temperatures generally drop below freezing, so we are still grooming every night we can. As the snow slowly melts hazards are appearing – ride with caution at all times.

The trails right in town around Berry’s Store are basically gone. Once out of town just a mile, things improve greatly. ITS 89 is also in very poor condition with many bare areas. ITS 87 north toward Greenville and south toward Bingham, is still in good condition with plenty of snow. The warmer temperatures have created some icy spots, as well as bare areas on corners.

The ITS Connector Trail from Berry’s Store to ITS 87 is not rideable for the first mile, unless you are into abusing your sled. Much bare ground. Once out of town one mile, things improve with decent riding.

ITS 87 north to Greenville/Moosehead Lake is in good condition, including the Power Line sections.

ITS 87 south toward Bingham is in good shape.

The ITS Connector Trail from Berry’s Store to ITS 89 is currently in poor condition. The first mile along the Dead River is gone with mostly bare ground, then improves to ITS 89.

ITS 89 southwest to Grand Falls/Eustis and north to Coburn Mountain/Jackman is in very poor shape with many bare areas.

However, the trail to the top of Coburn Mountain still has plenty of snow. To access Coburn Mountain from the Forks, use the ITS Connector Trail to Parlin Pond, then cut across to Unicorn, then go south on ITS 89 to the mountain.

The ITS Connector Trail from Berry’s Store north to Parlin Pond is in good shape, with plenty of snow. The first mile out of the valley is rough, then it’s good riding.

ITS 87: Good riding north toward Greenville and south towards Bingham. Pleasant Pond Loop trail.

Jackman/Moose River Area 3/20: Warm weather created quite a bit of melt Wednesday, but Wednesday morning the temperatures are back in the teens. The ITS system is still in pretty good shape although trails are becoming thin with bare spots in some places. Off-trail riding is getting good with the snow packing down. The in-town trails and the corners have lost quite a bit of snow but are still passable. grooming was done last night. there are no problems or changes to report. With the chance of rain this weekend you may want to call ahead.

ITS 86 To Pittston Farm & Rockwood: good

ITS 89 North to Canada: good

ITS 89 South to the Forks & Parlin: fair to good

Rangeley area

Rangeley 3/20: Rangeley Lakes SC web site reporting that a limited groom was done Wedneday night from the Rangeley Inn to the People’s Choice on ITS 89, with a small groom done in the Oquossoc area as well. This will be the last groom for the 2003 season. Warming spring temperatures are producing significant melting as our season begins to wind down. Some trail entrances and sharp trail turns are now bare and conditions are deteriorating. There still is some good riding once you get out of town, but be mindful of bare spots here and there – typical for spring riding.

Rumford 3/20: Rumford Polar Bears Web site reporting that the warm weather of this past week has taken its toll on the trails.

Much melting has occurred and the weather has been too warm for the groomers to be out. There is still some spring riding, but riders should be cautious as there are bare patches and exposed rocks in areas with southern exposure.

Roxbury/Byron 3/18: It looks like the season is coming to an end, we have stopped grooming.

Central Maine

Manchester 3/18: Trails held up surprisingly well over the weekend. Several inches of mealy snow lie on top of an icy base. Very little dirt showing but stumps and rocks are starting to poke through. Warm temperatures and rain this week may well finish all but limited riding. Grooming has stopped unless weather should change.

Winslow 3/18: Warm weather is here. Trails through the woods still have a lot of snow and are in pretty good shape, considering. In-town trails are pretty much gone, but sledders still seem to find a way to get around the bare spots.