Aroostook County Snowmobile Trail Report – March 10

A lot of trails to check out and some great social events happening. Ride safe and have so much fun.

The Official Snowmobile Trail Report: From the Desk of: Gary Marquis Caribou Parks & Recreation Dept. 55 Bennett Drive Caribou, Me. 04736 207-493-4224.

3-10-16

Riding should be good for the weekend once the temps drop clubs will be out doing what they can.

Hopefully everyone has recovered from this past weekend which had to of been the busiest ever here in the county. I am hoping that this weekend will be another good one. Most projects that still have snow to groom will be out once the temperatures drop. The window of grooming will become limited as the temps will be warming up quickly over the weekend, so please consider this before complaining that a trail is not perfect. It takes most projects 8-10 hours to do sections of their trails, so with the temps being where they are it will be difficult to cover everything.

Some trails in the Central parts of the County are starting to show there inability to absorb any more water so please keep this in mind.

CAUTION: RIVER CROSSING IN THE FORT FAIRFIELD AREA IS NOT ADVISED DUE TO UNSAFE ICE CONDITIONS ON THE AROOSTOOK. MADAWASKA RIVER AS WELL IS UNSAFE. TRAIL 71A IN THE OXBOW AREA CROSSING THE AROOSTOOK RIVER IS NOT ADVISED. IT WILL BE A DAY TO DAY AS TO IF IT’S SAFE TO CROSS.

Trail Info:

ITS 92 This trail will be in good condition for the weekend. Saint Francis will be hosting drag races on Saturday so venture on up and join in the fun, and grab some cash. Watch for signs.

ITS 90 Caribou and Portage will be out once the temp’s drop this trail is in good shape. There is a water hole before trail 88 intersection on the Caribou section. Remember that the upper end of Caribou’s section is not open and the best way to go to trail 105 and head North and pick up 90.

ITS 120 Also known as the Deboullie Trail is groomed and in very good condition, remember to get gas out of Portage, Eagle Lake, or at St. Francis. Stop by Deboullie pond for great pictures.

ITS 83 Presque Isle North this trail will be in very good condition. There is a small water hole behind the old MDOT garage in Axle siding, with the cold temps this area should be safe. Through Washburn and Caribou all the way to the roof top of the County this trail is in great shape.

ITS 81 Unfortunately anything South of Fort Fairfield is very limited snow cover, but the further North you travel the trail is holding up well, remember that this trail goes through a lot of open ground in the Central part of the County so you might travel over some brown snow.

ITS 85 This trail definitely got the brunt of the past weekend’s traffic, but all clubs were out in full force taking care of it before the warm temps and will be out again once it cools down. Down in the Oxbow area the trails are rideable but grooming The information in this report is only as good as the sources that report it.

The purpose of the report is to help snowmobilers make decisions about their trips and to insure their safety. The report will be expanded as sources provide information..........accurate info that is. will be very limited.

Ashland, Portage, Eagle Lake, Fort Kent, Frenchville and Madawaska will all be out again. Portage is reporting a small reroute on their section just leaving town going north please follow signs.

ITS 105 This trail is setting up in very good shape and as you go north the better the snow cover.

ITS 88 Ashland has groomed their section on Tuesday and is holding up well, Aroostook Rivers section was great at the beginning of the week.

ITS 86 not groomed Trail 100 will be groomed and is in good shape. Trail 81 in New Sweden will also be groomed once temps drop.

71A is closed from Oxbow to Ashland as the Aroostook River is not safe to cross.

71D The crossing on Grand Lake Seboies will be changing as the warmer weather sets in. Riders should always check the ice conditions before crossing.

On the Social Side:

St. Francis will be hosting snowmobile drag races Saturday March 12th .

St. Francis Sno Angels Saturday Meals at the clubhouse 11-7 Motor Mayhem vintage snowmobile racing at the Presque Isle Fairgrounds on Saturday.

Presque Isle Friday night Stew at the clubhouse.

Washburn Trail runner’s clubhouse opens this Saturday for the season. Hours are Saturday 7-2/ Sunday 7-12.

Pleasant Ridge Riders of Caswell will be having a club ride on March 19th meeting at the clubhouse at 9am and travelling to Lakeview.

Houlton breakfast every Saturday at the clubhouse 6-9

Bite the Bullet & Battle Big Rock, March 19th registration at 3pm racing starts at 5:30pm

Fort Kent Sno-riders Snowmobile Club will be hosting King of the Mountain Hill Climbs on April 9th. Check out their Facebook page.

March 19th the MSA Northern region Board of Directors meeting will be held in Caribou at the Caribou Friends of Scouting Hall located off of US. Rt. 89. More details to come.