Snowmobile Trail Report (week of February 14, 2018)

Gary Marquis, Special to The County
6 years ago

Mother Nature is at it again and the snow has piled up. Clubs are busy making sure the trails are in great shape. Remember that it takes several trips with groomers to get the trails hard. As a snowmobiler you can help with not starting too hard and making piles.

Please remember that there will be groomers out day and night, so please use caution.

With the snow getting deeper, signs are becoming shorter. If you encounter this please help and clean off the snow in front of the sign. Any help like this makes the job easier for the clubs.  

Moose and deer are using the trails everywhere, so please use caution if you come into an area with tracks all over the trails.

Trail info

ITS 92 — This trail has been in great shape all season long and continues to be.

ITS 90 — This East West trail continues to be in good shape.

ITS 120 — This trail is groomed.

ITS 83 — This trail is groomed.

ITS 81 — This trail is connected all the way through There is a logging operation on the section in Grand Isle; please watch for signs.   There is a logging operation where trail 98B and 81 intersect watch for signs.  Madawaska is reporting good conditions.  All clubs are out on their sections.

ITS 85 — From one end to the other, this trail is groomed.

ITS 105 — This trail is in good condition.    

ITS 88 — From Fort Fairfield through Presque Isle, Aroostook River is reporting good conditions.  Ashland is also reporting great conditions.

Trail 61 in Washburn is now open and meets up with ITS 90W.

Trail 89 — This trail is open to the Black Bear Lodge and connects with trail 102, which is the old trail 100 that the Pleasant Ridge Riders maintain.  From this intersection north to 94 still has not been connected.  Caribou will put it on social media when connected.

Trail 94 is now open from Van Buren to trail 105. There are signs, but few and far between. The club will be out putting more up, so please use caution.

Trail 71D is closed for the season as there is logging; this is in the Grand Lake Seboeis area.

Municipal trail 70 Benedicta/Whetstone Falls is closed due to heavy logging.

Trail 81 — Nordic Lakers have gone over their entire system. Presque Isle is reporting that they are out grooming day and night. Chapman is reporting good conditions. The Easton Snowmobile Club is reporting their whole system is being groomed and in good condition.

Trails 73 and 73B are being maintained by Fort Kent and are reporting good conditions.  There is a logging operation south of Little Black Lake area; watch for signs.

The Central Aroostook Snowmobile club is reporting a lot of moose traffic on the Number Nine lake trail and Rte. 70A.

Number 9 lake trail is in good condition with this new snow.

On the social side

The St. Francis Sno Angels will have their clubhouse open Saturdays from 11-7.

The Carter Brook Snowbirds snowmobile club will host a chicken stew and ployes supper Saturday, Feb. 17, 4:30-7:30.

The Washburn Trailrunners’ Clubhouse is open for the season.  Hours are Friday 8-12, Saturday 7-2 and Sunday 7-12.

The Portage Lakers will hold their annual pie auction at Dean’s Motor Lodge on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m.