Overview

Potential of snow into Friday for portions of eastern-central Maine. Another storm heading this way for late Sunday into Monday. Western and northwestern Maine continue to receive off-and-on snow showers on a regular basis. Poor ice on water bodies is still a problem in some areas. If you don’t know, don’t go. Lower water levels due to drought have left shoreline rocks and other hazards exposed. Use extreme caution even if you are familiar with the area.

Aroostook County

Benedicta: With cold temps down to 15 degrees, trails are holding real well after a severe beating from last weekend’s Snowgang poker run. Trails have been groomed as needed since that event took place and are once again in top running condition. Trail report is as follows:

ITS 83 Sherman, Whetstone Falls: good/excellent conditions, can use more snow in wooded areas.

ITS 81 Sherman, Mattawamkeag Cutoff: excellent conditions. Watch for and observe “no snowmobiling” signs in area three miles south of Sherman where a logging operation is at work. Wardens have been instructed to cite anyone on this posted road.

Municipal Trail 70 Benedicta, Whetstone Falls: excellent conditions. Be aware of a logging operation skidding wood across the trail approximately 15 miles west of Benedicta, approximately two miles before the intersection of 70 and 83. Caution signs are in place – please be on the lookout for them.

All club trails have good to excellent conditions at this time.

Caribou report

Conditions across the crown are good. Sledders should find trail hard packed and in good shape. Moose reported on Rte. 94, ITS 81 and 83 – be on the lookout.

ITS 85: Most projects have groomed since last weekend and plan on grooming again by the coming weekend. Eagle Lake is grooming to north side of Carter Brook warming hut. This change creates a “T” intersection, so coming from Fort Kent, look for signs in this area.

ITS 92: Groomed from Fort Kent to Chemenicook. Groomer can’t cross stream, although sleds can. St. Pamphile has not been out. No fuel stops west of Chamberlain, so plan ahead.

Connections: 85D from ITS85 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: Open and groomed from ITS 85 east and north to Madawaska. This system should be in good groomed condition.

Connections: Twin Lakes and Sly Brook systems connecting ITS 81, 83, and 85 groomed. Logging by Sly Brook warming hut.

ITS 90: Groomed from ITS 85 to ITS 81. Logging west of Caribou between Salmon Lakes and the tracks.

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.

ITS 88: groomed and in good shape.

Connections: Squa Pan system groomed. Logging on Rte. 75.

ITS 86: groomed and will be freshened for the weekend.

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

Greater Katahdin region

Millinocket, Medway, East Millinocket: Northern Timber Cruisers Web site reporting that all trails are open with the entire system being groomed, and helped out by the cold nights of late. Some good to excellent riding conditions being reported, with good snow throughout area. Over two feet on ITS86 3 Corners to Kokadjo.

Ice continues unsafe, advise no one venture out onto waterways in the area. Dolby Pond has lots of slush. Caution area of new Grant Brook Trail (ITS 86): lots of moose in area.

So. Piscataquis, Penobscot, Somerset

Lincoln: In the upper Penobscot Valley home of the Lincoln Snowhounds trail grooming is ongoing and things should be in good shape for this weekend. ITS 81 is terrific. ITS 82 is a little rough in places and local trail 6 is closed until further brushing can be accomplished.

The surfaces of our many lakes and ponds have improved some but still warrant great caution as there are wet spots and hard going on occasion. Also low water around some lakes has exposed large rocky edges.

Brownville: All trails are open and groomed. The mess of trees have been cut back and the track truck has been pushed through. The railroad bed to KI is in good shape but watch for washouts. Williamsburg trail is in good shape and getting better. The ball park trail is in good shape.

Sebec: All trails are in great shape. ITS 82 Greenacres (Rte. 16) to Sebec Village is really shaping up. We finally have enough snow to smooth it out. The rest of 82 is in great shape. Club trail to Ship Pond Stream – ties into the Monson trail system – is looking good. On this trail, 1.5 miles are shared with a logging operation. Ride slow on the plowed portion of this trail and look out for logging trucks. The loop trail from Sebec to Bowerbank is in fantastic shape.

Midcoast

Belfast: All trails are open and have been groomed a number of times. A lot of tree cutting has been done to take care of what heavy snow bent over or pulled down. Watch for water holes; the majority of them have been fixed with brush, pallets or new bridges but some new ones open up without warning. Also note that most neighbor trails are also open and groomed.

Moosehead Region

Greenville: All trails are being groomed on a regular basis now and are holding up well with the cold temperatures. Local club trails and the “back country” areas offer excellent, scenic riding. Continue to be cautious on water crossings.

Northeast Carry: The riding is good in Northeast Carry, and the groomer has been out on the trails and has freshly groomed: east toward the Ragged Trails and on to Four Corners; back to Three Corners on Route 66 toward Kineo; west to Seboomook Bypass Trail heading to Pittston Farm.

Pittston Farm Trails: Wooded areas are still thin, but overall, the trails are in great shape. Please use caution. Heavy sled traffic may uncover hazards. Grooming equipment may be in operation anytime day or night.

Jackman Trail, Pittston Farm to Jct. ST-21 (ITS 86): Excellent condition. Watch for heavy traffic along this route. Ride right, and stay in control.

Rockwood Trail, Jct. ST-27 to Demo Road: Excellent condition. Use caution in wooded area over Soldiertown Ridge.

Alternate Trail, Rockwood Trail System (Rte. 66) to Seboomook: Very good conditions. Wooded areas are still thin, but road sections are excellent. There is an active logging operation along this route for about a mile. Please stay to the extreme right and slow down.

Northeast Carry Trail: Pittston Farm to approximately 1.5 miles past Seboomook: Good. Trail still needs more snow cover, but is pretty decent. Watch for hazards (stumps, rocks, water holes). There are also hazards hidden just outside the groomed portion of the trail. Please stay in control and slow down. There is a new section of trail that by-passes Seboomook. We are no longer able to use the plowed road.

Route 201 Corridor

The Forks: Currently have 18 to 36 inches of snow depending on the exact location. All 110 miles of The Forks Area Trail System are being groomed on a regular basis. Grooming is ongoing seven nights a week.

Groomer drivers report that all sections of the trail system are in very good to excellent condition, with plenty of snow to work with. The exception to this would be the intown trails around Berry’s Store in West Forks. Because of heavy traffic, these trails get pounded hard and are generally only in fair shape. Once away from town just a mile, trails improve dramatically with fantastic riding. Grooming conditions are optimal right now.

A groomer breakdown this past weekend affected all the trails from Berry’s Store to ITS 89, and ITS 89 north and south. The groomer is back up and running, but it will take a couple of nights of grooming to get these trails back in optimal shape. Everything should be smoothed out by Friday.

ITS 87 heading northeast toward Greenville, Moosehead Lake, and south to Bingham is currently in excellent shape. Straight and flat. The ride along Moxie Pond is one of the most beautiful in the state.

The ITS Connector Trail heading west from Berry’s Store to ITS 89 currently has fair conditions. This section is affected by the groomer breakdown. This section should be back in very good shape by Friday.