O F F I C I A LAROOSTOOK COUNTY SNOWMOBILE TRAIL REPORT FROM THE DESK OF: Trail Report January 31, 2007 Greetings from Aroostook County......... The International Snowmobile Festival in the St. John Valley and the Moosestompers Festival in Houlton will highlight the snowmobile social calendar this weekend and sledders should find some fairly decent conditions all across the county. Sledders wishing to participate in the International Snowmobile Festival should remember to carry proof of insurance and a photo id. Sledders heading north are advised that 85D or the Debouille Trail will be closed until further notice. However St Francis is working to reopen the Lincoln Trail or Rt. 85B for sledders looking for a shorter route to Allagash. Remember no gas in Allagash so plan accordingly if you are planning to hit Escourt. Sledders will find fields and wooded trails a bit lean with some projects still not able to get onto some trail sections. The forecasted “snow event” may deliver an inch or maybe more but whatever it delivers it will be welcomed. You will need to think when you are sledding and realize that minimal snow cover means stumps, washes, and generally rougher conditions than normal. We are starting to see parts along the trail............time to slow down !! Don’t be fooled by cold temps—ice is still reported to unstable across the region. Stick to the known routes the locals run. Also watch for moose which are reported to be plentiful on trails throughout the region. We have had some near misses already----sleds don’t have ABS braking and they don’t stop on a dime..........think about it !!! ITS 85 has some great conditions up through Ashland. From Ashland north you will run into limited grooming due to more woods sections. Portage has not been through to the Eagle Lake turn around....they need about another 6-8 inches. When it come they will go. You will find active logging near Ox Bow and between Portage and Eagle Lake. These areas include plowed road over 1 mile in both areas. REROUTE NOTE: If you are in the Shin Pond /Mattagamon area ITS 85 has been rerouted across the Whetstone Bridge and you will be riding on the east side of the Penobscot River.....keep that in mind as well as the fact that there is a new bridge over the Seboeis River which is part of this reroute. 85D...is closed until further notice.........please stay off. St Francis is working to reopen the Lincoln Trail or 85B off 85 for those wishing to hit Allagash. ITS 83 has been groomed this week from Houlton /Monticello north to Madawaska and is really in decent shape excepting skimpy field snow. The powerline from Stockholm to Mud Lake has been opened and is reported to be in decent shape. ITS 81 from Mars Hill north to the valley has had all projects reporting some grooming but still urging sledders to use caution as fields and woods are skimpy. ITS 92 from Ft Kent to Escourt is in good shape and has been groomed this week. There is no gas in Allagash . Chamberlain’s is your last gas stop. ITS 90 is good on the Portage end however there is a section between the Rt. 61 connection and the Portage turnaround that has not been groomed yet. Also the trail has not been opened between Rt. 105 and Rt. 88.........not enough snow. There is logging between Rt. 105 and the Rt. 61 intersection so you will hit plowed road. ITS 88 has been groomed..........again skimpy in fields and open sections. ITS 86 is open and is okay. Rt. 105 Connector Trail is in pretty good shape from Van Buren to Squa Pan with a skimpy snow cover in fields but groomed just the same between 85 and 83 in the Shin Pond/Dyer Brook area. Red Arrow, Sly Brook and Daigle sections are decent just not a lot of snow in fields. RT 94 from Van Buren to Rt 105 is open RT 89 Caribou north to Rt. 94 has been opened all the way. River Running..... This year the Allagash Wilderness Waterway folks and a group of volunteers lead by Gary and Maynard Pelletier are monitoring the ice flows on the Allagash and St. John River. They are working collaboratively to determine if the release flows at the dams can be better controlled to give better ice on the river. Unfortunately all their efforts are still at the mercy of Mother Nature who is making this year quite difficult. Heavy rains in December and January have created a rise and fall in water levels that moved what ice was there and now created an ice jam on the Allagash near the confluence with the St. John. That being said.......for those rugged outdoor riders that like the wilderness adventure of running the river.........sorry but this doesn’t look like a great start. Lakes and Rivers Don’t be fooled by the cold weather. Ice is still unsafe in most areas. So stick to the known routes and don’t digress LOGGING OPERATIONS.....Sharing of privately owned land is always a balance. Sledders there are some serious active logging operations around and you will need to keep right and heed the signs indicating the marked trail.
SOCIAL AND CULINARY CALENDARRecurring
FEBRUARY
Office Hours: Canadian Customs
The return from Canada will be down the road to the extreme left going towards the American Customs and Please do not go for Gas then to the Customs as you will be in violation as far as entry is concerned. If gas is needed, go to American customs then on to the ITS back to the GAS station to stay legal. This is just a half of a mile back or less. The Snow sled club from Escourt and Sully will mark the trail to the American Customs for the sleds. If one goes for gas and plans on crossing the border for lunch or whatever and return , even if you leave your sled in the States , you must go down the road to the U.S. Customs to stay legal. One should have no problem with the Canadian Customs as you do have to go by the Custom House both ways. The GAZ BAR will be open the same time as both the Customs Ports are open. If for any reason that several of you folks --like 6 or more are traveling to Canada on a weekend, you may make reservations with the Canadian Port officer Luc Leblanc and for a small fee to allow you to pass but that is a choice of Mr. Leblanc's and his time to do this for you. This fee goes to the Canadian Government and also a favor to the public. You may also contact Mr. Benoit Morin on Weekends for gas before you get to Escourt and make arrangements to have gas for you and again you must be a group as he too is doing us a favor to open his station to the public. Mr. Morin was taken by surprise somewhat last year when the new ITS was put in place and since has been able to get American money as he dealt only with the Canadian Public up to this time. NO CREDIT CARDS other than a debit card as this is his only way of payment. He will have American money for exchange. CASH FOR GAS Mr. Morin has only regular gas and will stock only a small amount of sled oil. Mr. Morin's TELEPHONE:
If there is an accident and one must go to a Canadian Hospital and it is on a weekend or off time from custom hours--Do what you must but as soon as one can report to Customs and the Mounties ASAP or the Quebec Provincial Police as they do work together. This is a must and for your protection. Telephone for Guy Leblanc 418-859-2201 - FAX-418-859-1359 or E-mail Guy.LeBlanc If one wants to continue to Canada and register sleds one must go to the Hotel right at the border crossing and next to the Lake. This is the first place that one will come to as he goes under the Railroad bridge. The owner is Eric Tardif, his telephone number is: 877-661-1600. The Quebec registrations for sleds are sold at this Hotel. Internet address: Village des Frontieres E-Mail is: info@villagedesfrontieres.com There will be no sled trail to St. Pamphile maintained or otherwise. FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW: REGISTRATION: The Maine snowmobile trail system operates on a sled registration system. There is no trail pass required, but all Maine residents and non-residents must register their sleds in Maine to ride in Maine. Resident Registration is $33 (one year), commencing from July 1. Non-residents have three options - a 3 consecutive day registration is $43; 10 consecutive days is $58 and a full season is $68. (Plus an agent's processing fee of $1-$2) Non-resident registrations note the dates for which they are valid. You can register at numerous agent locations throughout the state - a list of Registration Agents is available on the IF & W site as well. You can also register through the mail or purchase a resident renewal or non-resident season registration on-line at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife web site. WHERE YOU CAN RIDE: There are 2,200 miles of snowmobile trails in The County, and (depending on the snow cover), your registration allows you access to every mile. There are many places where you cannot operate a snowmobile: You may not operate a snowmobile in a cemetery; within 200 feet of a dwelling, hospital, nursing home, convalescent home or church; along or adjacent to railroad tracks without the written permission of the railroad; across the tracks of a railroad if forbidden by the railroad or if the tracks are posted. On a plowed road, sleds need to travel off the portion of road used by motor vehicles and only for a very limited distance - if you're crossing the road, 300 yards - if you're crossing a bridge, overpass or underpass, 500 yards. Some communities do designate snowmobile access routes into their town in order for sledders to get to gas stations, restaurants, etc - these should be well marked and noted on the local trail map - travel slowly and to the extreme right when using these routes. Never ride on any property, unless you are on a signed snowmobile trail, without the landowner's permission. Check your snowmobile law handbook for further details on where you can and can't ride. The best way to enjoy snowmobiling in Maine is to get hold of a trail map and ride on the groomed and marked trail system where landowner permission has been obtained for everyone, snowmobile laws have been complied with, trails have been maintained, snow has been groomed, and signs are in place. REMEMBER PLOWED WOODS ROADS ARE OFF LIMITS UNLESS OTHERWISE DESIGNATED. RIDING IS A PRIVILEGE.......NOT A RIGHT........PLEASE RESPECT PRIVATE PROPERTY !!! BORDER CROSSINGS: You must stop at customs to cross the Canadian border. Since 911, border security operations are taken extremely seriously, with good reason. Travel with the same paperwork you would carry if you planned on touring Canada by automobile - photo ID, passport's a good idea if you have one, proper registrations and insurances. REMEMBER, you will need a passport to cross the border by January 1, 2009 and by this January you will need one to come in by land or sea so a passport might be a good idea. Contact the Quebec Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (514)252-3076 or the New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (506)325-2625 for information/required paperwork for snowmobiling in their provinces. Crossings in Fort Kent area are open 24 hr/7 days a week, as are major crossings into New Brunswick. Many less traveled crossings have limited hours of operation, so check locally and plan your trips accordingly. Fees for permits in the adjacent provinces FOR THE 2006-2007 SEASON are as follows: New Brunswick: (All fees are listed in Canadian money) Annual Trail Permit $180.00 plus 14% tax ( buy before 12/15 for $130 plus tax) One Day Pass $ 35.00 plus 14% tax Three Day Pass $ 75.00 plus 14% tax Seven Day Pass $115.00 plus 14 % tax Family Pass $ 65.00 plus 14% tax (new this year but ck as there is fine print) Antique Snowmobile Pass $ 30.00 plus 14% tax (sleds over 20 years old) Classic Snowmobile Pass $ 65.00 plus 14% tax (sleds 10-20 years old) Quebec: (All fees listed in Canadian money) NOTE: The following prices include the cost of mandatory liability insurance and applicable taxes. Please note your are better off buying the trail permit in advance as it will cost you an $80 on the trail. Also you cannot purchase daily nor 7 day permits on the trail. Annual Trail Permit (in advance) $220.00 Annual Trail Permit (on trail) $300.00 7 Day Trail Permit $150.00 1 Day Trail Permit $ 50.00 Kathleen A. Mazzuchelli Supt. Parks & Recreation 55 Bennett Dr. Caribou, Me. 04736 207-493-4224 kathy@cariboumaine.org For those wishing to monitor current weather conditions get up to date forecasts from our new NOAA forecasting facility here in Caribou. Click on link below: Caribou Weather Station  Back to Maine Snowmobile Trail Conditions Caribou Parks and Recreation Dept |