A couple of weeks back I wrote about a trip we were hosting with Dirt Trax TV and ATV Maine in The Forks.

I recently checked Taera's blog at Dirt Trax and she has posted three separate articles about her trip south of the border.

In her first article Taera details her drive south from Ontario and her arrival at Northern Outdoors. 

The second and third articles include details on a trail ride to Greenville,  a profile of two Dirt Trax viewers, Rodney & Becky, from East Lebanon, Maine and a nice "wrap up" by ATV Maine president Jim Lane. We'll be sure to post an alert when the episode airs on TV some time in the fall.

Maine is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. We enjoy four very different seasons to fish, hike, ski, snowmobile, raft and generally revel in the great North Woods. As president of an outdoor company I get to play outdoors all year-long and when I’m not working I can often be found hiking, biking or exploring with my family and friends – it’s all good - summer, fall, winter there’s never a dull moment. There’s just one season I’m not so keen on – bug season, it generally starts around Memorial Day and lasts through until the first week of July. It’s not that you can’t go out in June, it’ just that you’ve got to make extra preparations to cover up, lather on the bugspray and prepare to get chewed.

So when I heard about Insect Shield clothing I had to try it. I ordered a couple of bandannas to start and they seemed to work, my neck didn’t get munched, so I ordered more; some socks, a shirt, a tee-shirt – the works, I bought clothing for my two young sons and it does the job. Insect Shield clothing is treated with a man-made version of a natural repellent found in chrysanthemum flowers. The treatment lasts for up to 70-washes and protects against mosquitoes, ticks, flies and no-see-ums. Now I’m not for a moment suggesting that Insect Shield clothing will save the world (although if you check out their Global Health Efforts you'll see they are doing their bit!), but anything that makes bug season bearable and enables more people to enjoy their outdoor adventures has my support.

Give it a try for yourself, you can find it locally in Maine at LL Bean’s or for a list of national retailers go to www.InsectShield.com, it just might make your next Maine family vacation that little bit more comfortable.
 

We've been thick into the ATV world for the past couple of days - hosting Taera McLean, and her camerman Doug, from DirtTrax TV as they film a DirtTrax TV segment on riding in Maine. Yesterday Jim Yearwood (Snowmobile trailmaster, ATV enthusiast, founder of our KBR brewery, and one of our owners) guided the group to Greenville and today they headed out to the new Moxie Falls trail. 

 

In this photo you can see Taera, doing her morning introduction with Jim Yearwood, in the background speaking to Joy and Alyssa Harvey from ATV Maine. We invited ATV Maine to join the filming to give their perspective on the developing statewide ATV Trail system and current issues effecting the sport here in Maine.  (see last summer's blog interviews with Jim Lane for more info on ATV Maine.)

A couple of weeks back, I wrote about the launch of the new Maine Beer Trail, an initiative designed to recognize the vibrant craft brewing industry here in Maine.

This week Jim and Mike are preparing to hit the trail themselves - not the Beer Trail, but instead they are making plans to attend three upcoming New England Craft Beer Festivals. This is your chance to sample the Kennebec River Brewery (and up to 300 other craft brews) close to home.

On the weekend of June 19 / 20th, we will be attending the American Craft Beer Fest at the Seaport World Trade Center, in Boston and the Maine Grapes & Grains Festival at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee, in Lewiston.

The following weekend, June 27th, we will be attending the Nashua River Brewers Festival  at Riverfront Park, in Fitchburg.

If your a fan of good beer and good times, come support your local craft brewers and join Northern Outdoors and the Kennebec River Brewery at one of these local events.

This afternoon, I checked out the course for the fun run component of the upcoming Kennebec River Brewery, Raft ‘n Draft weekend. With all the dry weather we’ve had this past few weeks I have to report there’s not a lot of mud in sight, although Wednesday and Thursday it looks as if it will rain, so things could change dramatically.

The 3.7 mile run starts in the campground at Northern Outdoors at 10.30am and winds north along The Forks Area Scenic Trail for about 1.85 miles. The first section is undulating with some nice views of The Kennebec River. The course then crosses route 201 and climbs a steep dirt road for what seems like an eternity, but is in fact just 0.9 miles and an elevation gain of just over 500 feet.

Finally, it’s all downhill, back to The Forks Resort using the ATV Trail. Be advised, this last section is rocky, muddy, slippery and steep, but once back at the lodge there’s plenty of hot showers and perhaps a cold handcrafted beer as a fitting reward for your morning run. See you on Sunday. 

 

The Maine whitewater rafting season is underway and now with the Memorial Day holiday weekend comes the unofficial opening of Maine's ATV Trail System. Reports from riders in the area this weekend are that The Forks Area trails are generally in good condition with just a couple of wet spots. We had over twenty five riders stop in off the trails for lunch coming from Solon, Bingham, Rockwood and Greenville.

The connecting trail from the Boise Road to Northern Outdoors will be closed through the week due to an active logging operation and is only open on Saturday's and Sunday's and Monday May 25th. Riders leaving from Northern Outdoors will need to trailer their ATV''s a short distance to access the trail system during the week. 

Area ATV Trail Maps are available at the main lodge at Northern Outdoors. We are also working to get them online.

Please remember riding on private land in Maine is a privilege, our rural economies and lifestyle depend on your respect for private property.

Have fun, ride responsibly, ride safe, and respect private land.
 

We are pleased to announce that the Kennebec River Pub & Brewery is included in the new Maine Beer Trail which debuted on May 11th.

The purpose of the Trail is to entice visitors and residents of Maine to recognize the vibrant micro and craft brewing industry found throughout the state. The Maine Beer Trail brochure, with a map of the state's breweries and brew pubs, is available at The Kennebec River Pub & Brewery, as well as at Maine Visitor Centers and participating breweries and brew pubs (we’re at stop number 6 on the map, located just below Moosehead Lake). Downloadable brochures are available from Northern Outdoors' website and from the Maine Brewers' Guild website.

To celebrate the new Beer Trail, and craft brewing in general, we will be hosting a number of Brewery events this summer. The first event is less than two weeks away, our RAFT n' DRAFT n' MUDRUN on May 30th.  Raft the Dead River at the "Wicked Fun" level of 5500CFS, then return to The Forks Resort Center main lodge for a Pig Roast, brewery tours, beer tasting, and live entertainment on Saturday the 30th. Then if you are up-for-it, bring out your "inner athlete" and run for laughs and zany prizes in our first ever 4-Mile Mudrun/ Walk/ Crawl on Sunday morning, May 31st. 

We think it’s a magical combination, whitewater rafting and fresh brews handcrafted on site – come up and join in the fun.
 

We kicked off the 2009 Maine Whitewater rafting season today with a trip down the Dead River with 56 adventurous souls.

After weeks of preparation it's always nice to get the first trip of the year on-the-water.

Now we can look forward to three more Dead River trips in May, whitewater guide training which starts on May 14th and our first ever Raft-n-Draft event on May 30th sponsored by our very own Kennebec River Brewery. There will be beer tasting, live music, a pig roast, brewery tours, did I mention the beer tasting? rafting on the Dead River and for those with any energy left on Sunday there's a 4-mile mud run/walk/crawl to celebrate spring in Maine.

In addition to rafting we're also gearing up for spring fishing, our new hut-to-hut hiking program and the arrival of Maine's ATV season at the end of the month.

So, don't sit around lamenting the woes of the world, grab a paddle, your hiking boots, a fishing rod or your ATV keys and get up here to The Forks to shake off the winter cobwebs and start to enjoy the benefits of Maine's great outdoors. 

 

Last weekend my family and I took advantage of the fantastic spring weather to check out Maine Huts & Trails new Flagstaff Hut.

My two boys, Harry & Cam and their friend Jackson met up with Jamie Corriveau, the Operations Manager for Huts & Trails, (pictured) to explore the beach and the trails leading down to the lake. The boys declared their wish to spend a family vacation at the new Flagstaff Hut  this summer - and I suspect this is one wish that will come true!

Within the next couple of weeks I am looking forward to completing a "shake down" hike of the trail from Caratunk to the Flagstaff hut as a prelude to our new guided Hut-to-hut hiking program we'll be offerring this summer.

That's it for this year!  Thanks to all who rode in The Forks this winter. We hope to see you you on Maine's snowmobile trails again next season.

 
Jim Yearwood, Trailmaster
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club

We have halted grooming operations on The Forks Snowmobile Trail System. There is some riding out of the Lodge, if you want to just get out and explore around on and off trail. You can ride up the hill behind the Lodge. There is some bare ground on a couple of the pitches going out, where you will grind for 10 feet or so. Once on the road system at the top of the valley, the cover is better. Do not attempt to ride the Kennebec River Trail . . . lots of bare ground. Also don't recommend trying to ride to Berry's Store on ITS 86/87, as the 1 mile of intown trails are pretty scratchy. Not impossible, but not pleasant. The 1 mile section of ITS 86 on the plowed road at Moxie Lake, is down to the ground. Most other trail sections are generally ok and rideable.
 
For best riding, we recommend trailering to Berry's Store in West Forks, and riding north from there. From Berry's, ride ITS 87 north. Do not attempt to ride ITS 86 west along the Dead River . . . . very boney for at least 2 miles. West Forks, Bulldog and Jackman clubs all report plenty of snow in most areas, and are still grooming.

Jim Yearwood, Trailmaster
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club

We still have about 20" of snow on the ground, but the warm daytime temperatures and strong sun are taking their toll on the trails. We have halted grooming operations in The Forks, but there is still enjoyable trail and off trail riding in the area. All 70 miles of The Forks Snowmobile Trail System are rideable as noted below. Short plowed road sections (intown, Boise Road, Moxie Lake) are bare, but you can usually get up on the shoulders. Springtime conditions so RIDE WITH CAUTION.
 
• ITS 86 FROM BERRY'S STORE IN WEST FORKS, HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE.  Intown trail is passable, but is getting a number of bare spots. You can stay on snow most of the time with some "bobbing and weaving". Once out of town things improve. Couple bare spots in the clearcuts near Mosquito Mountain. Power Line near Moxie Lake is still holding up well, but the tops of some rocks and stumps are starting to poke through. Shirley Road and Brochu Road sections have good snow.
• BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL.  Still plenty of snow on and off trail.
• BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL.  Closed due to logging.
• ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM.  Good snow most of the way. A few bare corners here and there. Still plenty of snow around Moxie Mountain.
• PLEASANT POND TRAIL. Decent riding all the way through from ITS 87 to the Bald Mountain Trail.
• KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL.  Not recommended for riding. It is passable, but there's several bare spots on some of the hills.
Still enjoyable spring riding in the area, but it's going fast! Best off trail riding is off the Shirley and Brochu Roads (ITS 86), and around Moxie Bald Mountain (Bald Mountain Trail), Pleasant Pond Mountain (Pleasant Pond Trail), and Moxie Mountain (ITS 87). 
 
There is still good trail riding from Berry's Store in West Forks, heading north. The Forks Area Recreation Club (FARC) plans to continue grooming their trails through the weekend. ITS 86 to Grand Falls, ITS 89 over Coburn Mountain to Jackman, ITS 87 toward Rockwood, and the Alpine Trails will all be groomed and have plenty of good trail riding. Jackman is also continuing to groom and reports good trail riding.
 
Jim Yearwood, Trailmaster
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club

We still have about 2 feet of snow on the ground, but the warm daytime temperatures and strong sun are taking their toll on the trails. Still decent trail riding, and fantastic off trail riding. With the daily springtime thaw and freeze cycle, hazards are popping up, such as some bare inside corners, rocks poking through the base, and ice. RIDE WITH CAUTION AT ALL TIMES. Short plowed road sections (intown, Boise Road, Moxie Lake) are bare, but rideable on the shoulders. All 70 miles of The Forks Area Snowmobile Trail System are passable and will definitely be groomed on Friday night. Saturday night grooming is tentative, depending on the weather and the condition of the trails.
• ITS 86 FROM BERRY'S STORE IN WEST FORKS, HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE.  Intown trails are "snurt", but it is all easily passable. Once out of town just a bit, things improve. However, there is starting to be sections with ice down the middle of the trail. Some minor bare spots in the clearcuts around Mosquito Mountain. Short Power Line section near Moxie Lake is still passable, but the tops of some rocks are poking through. Shirley Road and Brochu Road sections still have good snow.
• BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL.  Good snow cover. A couple corners on the Crooked Road section getting bare, but pretty good everywhere else.
• BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL.  Closed due to logging.
• ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM.  Good snow most of the way. A few bare patches here and there. Plenty of snow around Moxie Mountain.
• PLEASANT POND TRAIL.  Decent riding all the way through from ITS 87 to the Bald Mountain Trail. This trail and ITS 87 make a great mountain loop, with outstanding scenery of Moxie Mountain, Pleasant Pond Mountain, and Bald Mountain.
• KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL. Rideable all the way through from Northern Outdoors to Berry's Store in West Forks. A few bare spots and icy hills.

This may be the last weekend for decent trail riding, as there doesn't appear to be any snow in the forecast. Great off trail riding should continue for a couple more weeks. Best off trail riding is off the Shirley and Brochu Roads (ITS 86), and around Bald Mountain (Bald Mountain Trail), Pleasant Pond Mountain (Pleasant Pond Trail), and Moxie Mountain (ITS 87).

For day trippers, there is a FREE PARK AND RIDE LOT  at Northern Outdoors Resort on Route 201. Gas, trail maps, food and trail info are available right at the Lodge. Call 888-770-SLED for details.

Jim Yearwood, Trailmaster
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club

We still have a solid 30" of snow on the ground, and grooming is ongoing. Received a couple inches of snow and sleet on Wednesday. Groomers went out Wednesday night and flattened everything out while it was soft. Temperatures are well below freezing again, and the trails are in awesome shape. Flat and fast everywhere!  There can be a spot of ice here and there, so RIDE WITH CAUTION AT ALL TIMES. All 70 miles of The Forks Snowmobile Trail System will be groomed out on both Friday and Saturday nights.
 
• ITS 86 FROM BERRY'S STORE IN WEST FORKS, HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE.  Excellent riding all the way. Intown trails are in good shape too with plenty of snow. There is a logging operation along a short section of the intown trail. Skidders can be crossing the trail, so be careful through there.
• BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL.  About as close to perfection as you can get! Great all the way through from ITS 86 to ITS 87.
• BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL.  Closed for the season due to heavy logging and plowed roads on the Blanchard end.
• ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM.  Excellent riding. This trail winds around the base of Moxie Mountain for several miles, with spectacular views of the rocky summit. There is also fine off trail riding in the basin on the west side of the mountain, with expansive views of Sugarloaf Mountain and the Bigelow Range.
• PLEASANT POND TRAIL.  Prime riding all the way through from ITS 87 to the Bald Mountain Trail. This trail and ITS 87 make a great mountain loop, with outstanding scenery of Moxie Mountain, Pleasant Pond Mountain and Bald Mountain.
• KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL.  Great riding all the way through from Northern Outdoors to Berry's Store in West Forks. Very scenic trail along the Kennebec river. There are a lot of deer yarded up along this trail this winter, so be careful.
Outstanding riding yet to be enjoyed in The Forks area!  Barring a major warmup, the snowmobiling should be good for another couple of weeks. Get out and enjoy another great Maine snowmobiling season while it lasts.
 
For day trippers, there is a FREE PARK AND RIDE LOT  at Northern Outdoors Resort on Route 201. Gas, trail maps, food, restrooms and trail info are available right at the Lodge. Call 888-770-SLED for details.
 
Jim Yearwood, Trailmaster
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club

The heavy traffic and warm temperatures this past weekend, beat the trails up pretty good. However, groomers were out Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights to flatten out the bumps. Things froze up hard again on Sunday night and most trail sections are in good shape with plenty of snow. There are a couple of bare corners on a short section in the windswept clearcut near Mosquito Mountain. All 70 miles of The Forks Snowmobile Trail System are being groomed regularly with our 2 Tucker Terra Sno-Cats. For the rest of this week, the entire trail system will be groomed on each of Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
 
• ITS 86 FROM BERRYS STORE IN WEST FORKS, HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE.  Good riding. Intown trails still a little bumpy, but not bad. There is a logging operation along a short section of the intown trail. Skidders can be crossing the trail, so be careful through there. As mentioned, watch out for a couple of bare spots around Mosquito Mountain.
• BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL. Good riding all the way through from ITS 86 to ITS 87.
• BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL.  Closed for the season due to heavy logging and plowed roads on the Blanchard end.
• ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM.  Good riding. This trail winds around the base of Moxie Mountain for several miles, with spectacular views of the rocky summit. There is also fine off trail riding in the basin on the west side of the mountain, with expansive views of Sugarloaf Mountain and the Bigelow Range.
• PLEASANT POND TRAIL.  Good shape all the way through from ITS 87 to the Bald Mountain Trail. This trail and ITS 87 make a great mountain loop, with outstanding scenery of Moxie Mountain, Pleasant Pond Mountain and Bald Mountain.
• KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL.  Good riding all the way through from Northern Outdoors to Berrys Store in West Forks. Very scenic trail along the Kennebec river. There are a lot of deer yarded up along this trail this winter, so be careful.
Even after the warm weekend, we still have over 30 inches of snow on the ground. There is plenty of good riding still to be had! Get out and enjoy another great Maine snowmobiling season while it lasts. Because of the warm weekend temperatures and hard freeze up, there can be icy spots. RIDE WITH CAUTION AT ALL TIMES.
 
For day trippers, there is a FREE PARK AND RIDE LOT  at Northern Outdoors Resort on Route 201. Gas, trail maps, food, restrooms and trail info are available right at the Lodge. Call 888-770-SLED for details.
 
Jim Yearwood, Trailmaster
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club

Overall, the riding is about as good as it gets! The 4" of snow we received on Monday has allowed the groomers to fine tune the trails, and they are in great shape. All 70 miles of The Forks Area Snowmobile Trail System are being groomed regularly with our 2 Tucker Terra Sno-Cats. For the rest of this week, the entire trail system will be groomed on each of Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

 

• ITS 86 FROM BERRY'S STORE IN WEST FORKS, HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE.  Great riding. Intown trails can get beat up because of heavy traffic, but we groom them twice each night to keep them as flat as possible. There is a logging operation along a short section of the intown trail. Skidders can be crossing the trail, so be careful through there.
• BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL.  About as close to perfect as you can get! Flat and fast all the way through from ITS 86 to ITS 87.
• BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL.  Closed for the season due to heavy logging and plowed roads on the Blanchard end.
• ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM.  Great riding. This trail winds around the base of Moxie Mountain for several miles, with spectacular views of the rocky summit. There is also fine off trail riding in the basin on the west side of the mountain, with expansive views of Sugarloaf Mountain and the Bigelow Range.
• PLEASANT POND TRAIL.  Beautiful shape all the way through from ITS 87 to the Bald Mountain Trail. This trail and ITS 87 make a great mountain loop, with outstanding scenery of Moxie Mountain, Pleasant Pond Mountain and Bald Mountain.
• KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL.  Fine riding all the way through from Northern Outdoors to Berry's Store in West Forks. Very scenic trail along the Kennebec River. There's a lot of deer yarded up along this trail this winter, so be careful.

As it stands now, we have about 3 feet of snow on the ground. That means we are set up for outstanding riding well into March and possibly some of April. Get out and enjoy another great Maine snowmobiling season while you can!  Because of the deep snow in the woods, a lot of animals are using the trails to get around. Deer, moose, coyotes and turkeys have all been spotted on the trails, day and night. RIDE WITH CAUTION AT ALL TIMES.

 

For day trippers, there is a FREE PARK AND RIDE LOT  at Northern Outdoors Resort on Route 201. Gas, trail maps, food, restrooms and trail info are available right at the Lodge. Call 888-770-SLED for details.

 

Jim Yearwood, Trailmaster

Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club

 

We received about 4" from Mondays storm. Just enough to freshen up the trails. All 70 miles of The Forks Snowmobile Trail System are being groomed regularly with our 2 Tucker Terra Sno-Cats. For this week, the entire trail system will be groomed on each of Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. There is some ice on the trails, especially on corners, from last Fridays thaw. RIDE WITH CAUTION.

 

• ITS 86 FROM BERRY'S STORE IN WEST FORKS, HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE.  Good riding. Intown trails are a bit rough and hard. Better once out of town. There is a logging operation along a short section of the intown trail. Skidders can be crossing the trail, so be careful through there.
• BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL.  Very good shape all the way through from ITS 86 to ITS 87.
• BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL.  Closed for the season due to heavy logging and plowed roads on the Blanchard end.
• ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM.  Very good riding. This trail winds around the base of Moxie Mountain for several miles, with spectacular views of the rocky summit. There is also fine off trail riding in the basin on the west side of the mountain, with expansive views of Sugarloaf Mountain and the Bigelow Range.
• PLEASANT POND TRAIL.  Great shape all the way through from ITS 87 to the Bald Mountain Trail.  This trail and ITS 87 make a great mountain loop, with outstanding scenery of Moxie Mountain, Pleasant Pond Mountain and Bald Mountain.
• KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL.  Good riding all the way through from Northern Outdoors to Berry's Store in West Forks. Very scenic trail along the Kennebec River.

 

As it stands now, we have about 3 feet of snow on the ground. That means we are set up for outstanding riding well into March and possibly some of April. Get out and enjoy another great Maine snowmobiling season!

 

For day trippers, there is a FREE PARK AND RIDE LOT  at Northern Outdoors Resort on Route 201. Gas, trail maps, food, restrooms and trail info are available right at the Lodge. Call 888-770-SLED for details.

 

Jim Yearwood, Trailmaster

Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club 

Sunday nights clipper dumped around 2 feet of new snow . We've got a great base of with some outstanding riding.
 
All 70 miles of The Forks Snowmobile Trail System will be flattened and packed on Monday night. For the rest of the week, the entire trail system will be groomed on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The trail base was fairly flat before the storm, so this 2 feet will groom out real well. It will certainly take care of any thin corners that were showing up!  Keep in mind that it will take a couple of days for the air to get pounded out of this new snow, so the trails will probably be soft until mid week.
 
• ITS 86 FROM BERRY'S STORE IN WEST FORKS, HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE.  Great. Scenic riding around Mosquito Mountain and Moxie Pond. Flat and fast on the Shirley and Brochu Roads. There is a logging operation along a short section of the intown trail. Skidders can be crossing the trail in a couple of places, so be careful through there.
• BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL.  Great. Flat and fast all the way through from ITS 86 to ITS 87.
• BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL.  Closed for the season due to heavy logging and plowed roads on the Blanchard end.
• ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM.  Great. This trail winds around the base of Moxie Mountain for several miles, with spectacular views of the rocky summit. Watch out for snow drifts around the mountain. There is also fine off trail riding in the basin on the west side of the mountain, with expansive views of Sugarloaf Mountain and the Bigelow Range. Suggest bringing a shovel for any off trail riding . . . its getting deep out there!
• PLEASANT POND TRAIL.  This is a club trail and will not be groomed until Wednesday afternoon. This trail and ITS 87 make a great mountain loop, with outstanding scenery of Moxie Mountain, Pleasant Pond Mountain and Bald Mountain.
• KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL.  Fine shape all the way through from Northern Outdoors to Berry's Store in West Forks. Very scenic riding along the Kennebec River.
As it stands now, we are set up for outstanding riding well into March. With great lodging rates and outstanding trail conditions March is the time to get out and enjoy another great Maine snowmobiling season!
 
For day trippers, there is a FREE PARK AND RIDE LOT  at Northern Outdoors Resort on Route 201. Gas, trail maps, food, restrooms and trail info are available right at the Lodge. Call 888-770-SLED for details.
 
Jim Yearwood, Trailmaster
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club

Looks like we have about 6" of new from the latest storm (Thursday afternoon). Still snowing off and on. We will groom the entire 70 mile trail system Thursday night, as well as on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights. The base is generally flat and hard, and this fresh snow will help touch up the corners and other spots that were getting worn. Should come out nice in time for New Hampshire vacation week.
 
• ITS 86 FROM BERRY'S STORE IN WEST FORKS, HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE.  Overall this section is in good shape. As mentioned, this fresh snow will help us fix up some of the corners  that were getting choppy on the Brochu Road section, . The snow will also help out on the intown trails that have been seeing very heavy traffic this week. There is a logging operation along a short section of the intown trail. Skidders can be crossing the trail in a couple of places, so be careful through there.
• BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL.  This trail was in great shape before the snow, so it'll only be better! Primo riding all the way through from ITS 86 to ITS 87.
• BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL.  Closed for the season due to heavy logging and plowed roads on the Blanchard end.
• ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM.  Generally in very good condition. Again, the snow will help with the couple of short wooded sections near Pleasant Pond and Moores Bog that were getting bumpy. This trail winds around the base of Moxie Mountain for several miles, with spectacular views of the rocky summit. There is also fine off trail riding in the basin on the west side of the mountain, with expansive views of Sugarloaf Mountain and the Bigelow Range.
• PLEASANT POND TRAIL.  Excellent shape all the way through from ITS 87 to the Bald Mountain Trail. This trail and ITS 87 make a great mountain loop, with outstanding scenery of Bald Mountain, Pleasant Pond Mountain and Moxie Mountain.
• KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL.  Good shape all the way through from Northern Outdoors to Berry's Store in West Forks. Very scenic riding along the Kennebec River.
Theres plenty of enjoyable riding and outstanding scenery to be had in the area!  With the increased traffic due to school vacation weeks, we ask that you RIDE WITH EXTRA CARE.
 
For day trippers, there is a FREE PARK AND RIDE LOT  at Northern Outdoors Resort on Route 201. Gas, trail maps, food, restrooms and trail info are available right at the Lodge. Call 888-770-SLED for details.
 
Jim Yearwood, Trailmaster
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club

Last Thursdays warm temperatures and rain knocked our snowpack down a little, but there is still plenty to work with. We were able to groom out the entire trail system while it was still soft, and it hardened up nice and flat in most places. There are thin and icy spots, especially on corners, so be careful. We still have 24" to 30" of snow on the ground. Looks like a decent storm coming through on Wednesday night.
 
Generally speaking the trails are in good to very good shape. Because of the thaw then hard freeze up, the base is hard and fast. We have had an inch or so of snow showers the past 2 days, so lubrication is not a problem. Again, because of icing, RIDE WITH CAUTION AT ALL TIMES.  For the remainder of this week, all 70 miles of The Forks Trail System will be groomed on each of Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
 
• ITS 86 FROM BERRY'S STORE IN WEST FORKS, HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE.  Overall, this section is in good shape. Little bit of ice on the trail around Mosquito Mountain. Corners on the Brochu Road section are choppy, and need some fresh snow to fix. The short Power Line section near Moxie Lake is still flat, but the tops of some rocks are poking through in a few spots. Intown trails are a little bumpy because of heavy traffic . . . need some fresh snow there. There is a logging operation along a short section of the intown trail. Skidders can be crossing the trail in a couple places, so be careful through there.
• BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL.  This trail is in A+ condition and provides outstanding riding. Flat and fast all the way through from ITS 86 to ITS 87.
• BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL.  Closed for the season due to heavy logging and plowed roads on the Blanchard end.
• ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM.  Generally in very good shape. A little bumped up in the 1 mile wooded section near Pleasant Pond, and again in the short wooded section near Moores Bog. This trail winds around the base of Moxie Mountain for several miles, with spectacular views of the rocky summit. There is also fine off trail riding in the basin on the west side of the mountain, with expansive views of Sugarloaf Mountain and the Bigelow Range.
• PLEASANT POND TRAIL.  Excellent shape all the way through from ITS 87 to the Bald Mountain Trail. This trail and ITS 87 make a great mountain loop, with outstanding scenery of Moxie Mountain, Pleasant Pond Mountain and Bald Mountain.
• KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL.   Good shape all the way through from Northern Outdoors to Berry's Store in West Forks. Very scenic riding along the Kennebec River. The big hill off the Flood Road is icy in the middle. Stay off to the sides and you'll be fine.
All in all, things look pretty good out there with enjoyable riding and outstanding scenery to be had!  With the extra traffic this week due to school vacation, and the occassional icy patch, we ask that you ride extra carefully.
 
For day trippers, there is a FREE PARK AND RIDE LOT  at Northern Outdoors Resort on Route 201. Gas, trail maps, food, restrooms and trail info are available right at the Lodge. Call 888-770-SLED for details.
 
Jim Yearwood, Trailmaster
Northern Outdooors Snowmobile Club