GPS Article

ITS92 Allagash to Escourt Station

There will be heavy traffic across the crown this weekend with the Moosestompers Festival the International Snowmobile Festival and the Andy Santerre ride, sledders are urged to use caution, ride right and reduce speed. Sledders should also use caution as there are many reports of deer and moose on the trails so use caution especially when night riding.

ITS 81

Trail improvements both north and south with the cold weather and a bit of snow. Northern Penobscot County is in the game with great grooming efforts and good snow cover. May run into ice and even some water despite cold but nothing beyond that. Rockabema and Shin Pond have groomed and note that logging is still active at the north end of the Snowshoe Rd on ITS 81/85 section. Moving north you are good to Mars Hill. Coming north from there you will hit some skimpy cover in a few fields but north of Caswell the cover increases and the border is good all the way north. Remember to use the Number Nine Lake trail as the section of 81 from that intersection to Mars Hill is closed due to logging.

ITS 83

Clear sailing here with everyone out grooming this week. Much improved conditions in the southern most sections. Still watch for ice in some of the low lying areas as well as traffic, especially Saturday. You will run into a couple of small reroutes primarily from water problems so please watch for signage and follow it.

ITS 85

This corridor, the blood line to the western reaches of The Crown, is in good shape. Everyone was out this week and reports are that surfacing is good throughout. Still watch for active logging in a few places south of Ox Bow and north of Portage. Ox Bow has reopened Rt. 71A the loop off 85 between Ox Bow and Ashland. Watch for wildlife. Twin Lakes and Sly Brook both have all the connector trails open and groomed.

ITS 88

is back in good shape with the help of cold weather. A few ice spots on the western sections in lo lying areas but great riding.

ITS 90

has been rerouted back to the southern route between Rt. 105 and Portage. Thanks to Seven Islands for the great cooperation. Watch for signage. Beyond that the trail is groomed through to Ft. Fairfield where you will find some skimpy field cover in sections but still good riding. Also there is a new logging operation opening just west of 105.

ITS 92

groomed with great reports from riders. There has been a little loop trail opened from St. Francis to give some rider options. Remember that customs is open limited hours so check ahead before you venture out as there are no services for about 42 miles once you leave Allagash. 92B remains closed due to logging but 92A is open and groomed.

ITS 105

is in good shape from Van Buren to Squa Pan…………all groomers are up and running there. Some of the off trails will be a bit loggy so slowing down will help. Rt 94 off 105 is open and groomed as well as Rt. 89 which runs from 94 to Caribou and ITS 83. Pleasant Ridge Runners have their trails open including 100 which connects to Rt 89 as well as 81A between Limestone and Hamlin.

ITS 120 the Debouille Trail,

the five mile stretch between the Red River Camp road and Pushneer has been groomed. Remember there is logging around so use caution.

Active logging:

ITS 81 west of Mars Hill this section closed….see above. Rt. 81A and Rt. 74 around Squa Pan ITS 86 west of St. Croix Lake ITS 85 north of Portage and south of Ox Bow ITS 90 west of ITS 105 Rt 89 in Connor near Madawaska River

Social Events:
Fridays Stew Night at the Presque Isle Clubhouse, 5-7 p.m. Saturdays
The Washburn Clubhouse is open for breakfast and lunch Sat and Sun. Meduxneakeag Ramblers Clubhouse open for breakfast Sat. from 6-9 a.m.

Feb 5-7
International Snowmobile Festival Madawaska/Edmundston (remember you need passport or cards)
Moosestompers Festival Houlton www.greaterhoulton.com

Feb 6
Andy Santerre Ride Caribou

Feb 13
Pie Auction 7 p.m. at Dean’s in Portage
Vintage Snowmobile Racing at Spud Speedway in Caribou practice at 10/ Racing at 2

Feb 20
Chicken Stew, Ployes, etc at the Sportmens Inc Lodge 11 a.m. -4 p.m. (ITS 83 and Rt. 161 intersection in Stockholm)

March 9
Hot Dog Roast sponsored by the Caribou Club at Axel Siding (intersection ITS 83 and Rt. 105 in Stockholm)

ITS92 Allagash to Escourt Station

THE FORKS TRAIL REPORT 02/01/10

Haven't seen any significant snow since the rain and subsequent freeze up last week. All 100 miles of The Forks Trail System are passable, but there are some ugly sections. You can get through everywhere . . . just have to "bob & weave" to stay on snow and get around obstacles, on some parts. There is good riding on ITS 86 from Moxie Lake heading east toward Greenville, on the Bald Mountain Trail, and on the Pleasant Pond Trail. Still plenty of snow on those sections and the riding is enjoyable. We will continue to groom these sections. All other sections of our trail system have significant ice.

• ITS 86 from Berrys Store heading east toward Greenville is poor until you get past Moxie Lake. You can get through, but there's ice and a few washouts to work around. From Moxie Lake toward Greenville is good riding and is being groomed.

• ITS 87 heading south toward Bingham has several poor spots. There is an active logging operation for 2 miles along the Divide Road. One snowbank has been pulled down for a majority of this stretch, so sleds can stay on snow most of the way. There are still a couple short stretches where you're grinding on dirt. The rest of the Divide Road to Northern Outdoors is decent with plenty of snow, and is being groomed. Heading further south on ITS 87 to Pleasant Pond is fair. Continuing south on toward Bingham is poor and icy in several places, but passable.

• Kennebec River Trail from Northern Outdoors to Berrys Store from Northern Outdoors to Berrys Store in West Forks, is ok in some places and poor in others. It is passable all the way through. The last 1 mile before getting into town is the worst part.

• Bald Mountain Trail connecting ITS 86 and ITS 87 connecting ITS 86 and ITS 87 has good riding is being groomed. There is an active logging operation on this section, for 1 mile. One snowbank has been winged down, so sleds can stay on snow.

• Pleasant Pond Trail connecting ITS 87 with the Bald Mountain Trail has good snow and good riding, and is being groomed.

In summary, all trails in The Forks system are passable. Parts (described above) have good to very good riding and are being groomed. Other parts are in poor shape. Ride with caution at all times. Open water bars, rocks, shelf ice and hard packed ice can be anywhere.

In addition to the sections we are grooming described above, there is also good riding from Berrys Store in West Forks heading north on ITS 87 and ITS 89. Still decent snow cover there, and the FAR club is grooming.

Jim Yearwood

Northern Outdoors SC

ATV Enthusiasts Please Remember: It is against the law to operate an ATV, dune buggy, 4 wheel drive vehicle, motorcycle or any other motor vehicle on snowmobile trails that are funded by the Club/Municipal grant program at any time of the year, unless the landowners have granted permission to do so.

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