Ahhhhhh…..March……the best riding of the season

008

 

If this picture doesn’t make you pack it in and head to The County I can’t imagine what would……the trails are amazing….the days are longer…..and I believe the Polar Vortex has rolled back for a bit.    It doesn’t matter where you go…..you are going to have a good ride.

If you feel the need for speed you may want to stop by the St Francis club’s Drag Races right off ITS 92 this Saturday.  Registration will start at 9 a.m. and the racing will get underway at 11:30.  You can trailer right up US Rt 161 as well.   I am sure they will be serving up a great meal at the clubhouse as well.

This Sunday, March 9th the Pinnacle Snowmobile Club will host an afternoon of fun at Libby’s camps…..so stop by.   Or pack your own hot dogs and stop by some of the rest areas available…..take in some great views and cook a hot dog over an open fire……mmmmmm…..it just doesn’t get any better than that on a nice, warm, sunny day.

So let’s get to the heart of the matter…..a trail report

Cautionary Notes

  •  LOTS OF SLEDDERS GOING OFF TRAILS CUTTING CORNERS, JOY RIDING IN FIELDS AND BASICALLY CREATING SOME SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IN THE SYSTEM.  PLEASE, THE TRAILS ARE LOCATED WHERE THEY ARE FOR A REASON…..STAY ON THE MARKED TRAILS……DON’T BE THE REASON A SECTION OF TRAIL IS CLOSED DOWN.
  • Can’t say this enough…..there are hundreds of deer everywhere…..please use caution  saw about a dozen on yesterday’s trail check.
  • Keep in mind that there are some long distances between gas stations so look at the reroutes and plan accordingly
  • Some logging ops still ongoing…..very active operation on Rt 81 The Swedes Trail use extreme caution
  • Logging trucks on ITS 85 around the Eagle Lake/Portage connection and at the Red River bridge so please yield to those big boys

Trail Info

ITS 85      Probably a favorite for visitors this trail remains in excellent shape.    92A provides an alternative as does and  71A but remember to plan your trip around gas stops.   The Homestead Lodge in Ox Bow now has gas during daylight hours.   Folks coming up are still looking in old places for trails so remember both Ashland and Portage had major reroutes this year so you will need to pay attention to signage . 

ITS  83     Sherman has done a great job this season rerouting 83 due to logging so please follow their signage and stay on the marked trails.   Coming north remember 83 is rerouted coming out of  Bridgewater due to logging.   The trail is very well marked but a tad longer so plan ahead.   If you stop to read the signs you shouldn’t have any problems.

ITS  81       Travel quite a bit of this trail yesterday and it was in excellent shape…….some folks still aren’t paying attention however…..remember this trail is closed from the intersection of Rt 105 west.

ITS 92        Allagash, St Francis and Ft Kent are doing a great job with this trail…..great riding.    Rt 92A is open and groomed for a loop ride along with the connection to the Glazier Lake Loop.

ITS  90     Another great ride with a combination of woods trails and open fields with some great views.  No problems but darn watch out for critters !!

ITS 88     Groomed and in great shape…….provides an east west alternative since 81 is closed between 105 and 85.

ITS 86     There is great riding in the southern reaches of The County and this is one of them…..head to St Croix for a picnic or make the trek to Ox Bow …….. Also 71-D is groomed on the Ox Bow end.  And the Homestead Lodge in Ox Bow now has gas during daylight hours

ITS 105    This is a popular trail but I can tell you it is in good shape as I was on lots of it yesterday.   And kudos to Walker Siding…..they were without their  main machine for a good part of this season but they have made up for it as their section was primo yesterday.

ITS 120   Beautiful trail and a perfect time of year to visit this one……

Rt 100     Improved riding from Caswell…remember though there are two branches of this trail one goes north out of Caswell and one goes west further south.  They both intersect Rt 89 one closer to Rt 94 and the other closer to the Madawaska River…….watch for markings and on the one that goes west further south of Caswell there is a very active logging operation so use caution.    

Rt 89  Groomed north to Rt 94.    PLEASE NOTE  that Rt 100 now intersects  Rt 89 in two locations so watch for signs.

Rt 94  Open and groomed great ride between ITS 81 and Rt 105.

Rt 79 to Long Lake off ITS 105 is groomed for those wanting to access the St John Valley and local eateries via Long Lake

Daigle and Soldier Pond    Both these projects have been out and there are some great sections through hardwood and softwood .   

On The Social Side

Meduxneakeag Ramblers Breakfast Saturdays 6-9 a.m. at the clubhouse

Washburn Trailrunners Breakfast /Lunch Saturdays 7 a.m.-3p.m.  Sunday 7 a.m.-noon at the clubhouse

Presque Isle Snowmobile Club Stew Nights   Fridays  5-7 p.m. at the clubhouse

St Francis Sno Angels Saturday Meals  …homecooked meals….stop by off ITS 92

February 28-March 7            Youth/Junior World Championship Biathalon Nordic Heritage Ctr., Presque Isle

March 8         

Drag Races in St Francis right off US 161 or ITS 92  Reg. 9-11     Racing 11:30

Pizza Night Rockabema SnoRangers  @ 5:30   please RSVP to Gladys Hanson at 207-528-2344

March 9

CLUB RIDE, Oxbow-Masardis SC to Whipple’s camp. Meet at the clubhouse at 11a.m. Club will furnish hot dogs and rolls.

March 10

MEETING/POTLUCK, Rockabema Snow Rangers of Patten, 5:30p.m. at the clubhouse, 113 Clark Road, Patten.

MEETING, Ashland SC, 6:30p.m. at Mark and Nancy Rafford’s. 

March 11

 St John Valley Associates Fun Day hosted by the Madawaska Snowmobile Club from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. for clients to enjoy the winter outdoors.

Meeting and Potluck Ox Bow Marsardis  5:30  p.m. at the clubhouse

Meeting Benedicta Sno Gang 6:30 p.m. at the Parish Center

Meeting Pleasant Ridge Riders at 7 p.m. at the clubhouse

March 15

MSA DIRECTORS MEETING, Fort Fairfield SC. Social/Eboard 5p.m., dinner 6p.m., meeting follows. Dinner reservations: email, 207-622-6983.

CLUB SPAGHETTI SUPPER/MEETING, Chapman Ridge Runners (CRR Members only event), 6p.m. at the clubhouse, 94 Town Hall Road. Bingo night. Supper RSVP to Sue 207-764-1236.

March 16

CLUB HOT DOG ROAST, Members of the Ashland SC, noon at Rafford’s camp. FMI: 207-435-6649. 

 

Kathy Mazzuchelli

About Kathy Mazzuchelli

Kathy Mazzuchelli is superintendant of the Caribou Parks and Recreation Department where she has worked for 38 years. An avid snowmobiler, Mazzuchelli’s first sled was a 1968 Polaris Mustang back in the days when groomed trails were done with snowmobiles, bedsprings and some pretty feisty folks.