Snowmobile Trail Conditions Report: The Forks, Maine February 2022
THE FORKS TRAIL REPORT 2/24/2022
We DID go out last night and groom some areas we could get to to investigate and see how trails were holding up. I want to thank everyone who stayed off the trails yesterday. It made a HUGE difference in what we will be able to do with less snow!
I was able to groom ITS 87 south: Base is good. Dirt in many areas, a lot of ice and hard as a rock everywhere else.
We have lots of trees and debris down, be careful.
For photos of the groom visit The Forks Area Trails Club page.
Ben Towle
President and Trail Master
Everything is passable but use EXTREME caution. In town will be the worse areas – there will be icy spots, dirt spots, exposed rocks. Club trails will be in better shape (that’s Bald Mountain, Pleasant Pond, Breakneck Ridge Trails for our system). We are looking forward to some snow on Friday, we’ll see what that does for us. Stay tuned!
THE FORKS TRAIL REPORT 2/22/2022
Both groomers out tonight and I will say some of our trails came out better than they have all year.
ITS 87: Groomed and in good to great shape for the majority of it. Getting thin in town and the woods areas.
ITS 86 : Groomed and in good shape.
Kennebec River Trail: Groomed a few days ago, needs more snow. Rough in woods, icy hills.
Bald Mountain Trail: Groomed and in excellent shape.
Pleasant Pond Trail: Groomed and in excellent shape.
Breakneck Ridge Trail: Groomed and in excellent shape.
Moxie Mountain Loop Trail Groomed and in excellent shape.
Caratunk Spur: Groomed and in excellent shape.
Moxie Falls Trail: Groomed and in good shape.
Your groomers Monday night,
Chris Russell the Angler and Ben Towle, el Presidente.
We are looking at a very warm day Wednesday, with a rapid temp change that night. We really want to limit traffic during the day, and we will plan to groom that night. Right now we expect our system to hold and Friday we are looking at some good snow. You know what to do, do the dance. Do your part.
Ben Towle
President and Trail Master
Forks Area Trails Snowmobile Club
The Forks Maine Snowmobile Trail Map
Day riders there is a FREE PARK & RIDE LOT at Northern Outdoors on Route 201.
The large parking lot is plowed with plenty of room for snowmobile trailers and groomed access to all trails. The Park & Ride lot is marked with a large sign on Route 201, 1/4 mile south of Northern Outdoors. Snowmobile trail maps, 91 octane ethanol-free gas, great food, and cold beer are available at Northern Outdoors.
**PLEASE NOTE: Gas is CASH ONLY and available 9:00am-5:00pm
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THE FORKS TRAIL REPORT 2/18/2022
We had three groomers out today and did almost the entire system. We got out early to shape the trails before the freeze-ups, but also ran into a lot of water issues and saturated trails, causing us to avoid a few areas until they drain off and freeze up. It really is a catch 22 with events like this.
We have a great base. It held up well- better than expected. We do need more snow for optimal conditions. Use common sense and understand mother nature is fickle. All of our trails are very rideable and pretty flat. The base is solid, meaning its like concrete… ice base means little lubrication, especially in the AM. Sleds will chew it up some and give lube, help with cooling. You will want to run scratchers and will want to have picks. Make sure your carbides are in good shape, corners and sections are icy.
Woods sections are very good, road sections are very good. We do have areas of standing water that will freeze tonight – please be aware. There are some areas where rocks and dirt are showing, especially in the corners.. use caution as people will be avoiding the rocks and dirt and could be in your lane.
As with any concentrated riding area, getting out of town is the best riding. Explore the club trails. Go the opposite direction everyone else is going. For our system, that’s Pleasant Pond Trail, Breakneck Ridge Trail, and Bald Mountain Trail.
ITS 87: Groomed and in very good condition. In town areas there are rocks.
ITS 86 : Groomed and in very good condition. In town areas there are rocks.
Kennebec River Trail: Lower section great, section beyond cemetery to the ITS 87 intersection is rough. Steep hill is icy and should be for experienced riders only.
Pleasant Pond Trail: Groomed and in excellent shape.
Breakneck Ridge Trail: Groomed and in excellent shape.
Bald Mountain Trail: Groomed and in excellent shape.
Your groomer lineup tonight,
Greg Caruso, the PRO, Zach Davis, Trail Vid Man and Ben Towle, that Lakeside Guy.
In the past, we were never able to send 3 groomers out.. 1, because we only had 2.. 2.. because we didnt have the funds.. 2 is solved by YOU, the rider. We made an investment adding another groomer and drag, now we need your support. Buy a raffle ticket, join the club, throw in a donation.. every little bit helps and we will continue to improve our system.
Ben Towle
President and Trail Master
Forks Area Trails Snowmobile Club
The Forks Maine Snowmobile Trail Map
THE FORKS TRAIL REPORT 2/15/2022
Trail report:
To all who feared riding was over, and the trails are done…well, right NOW the trails are pretty amazing, that is if you like hard and fast trails.
Anytime we have a massive temp swing after a warm up there are some caveats, and why we preach for people to stay off the trails on the night of that swing to have them setup … you get one chance to flatten out the moguls when it’s warm, just a few sleds will reset them before they lock up. You will see evidence of this in corners and hard acceleration areas. Once they are solid, it takes many trips to grind away at them. Sometimes it takes another warmup, but usually leads to the same conundrum of restraining to ride that night.
Last night we groomed ITS 87, ITS 86, Kennebec River Trail, Bald Mountain Trail, Breakneck Ridge Trail and the new Moxie Mountain Scenic Trail (ITS87 alternate) and previously the Pleasant Pond and Wind Farm Trail.
The majority of the trails are in good shape, even in the woods areas are good. The worst section are 87/86 intersection north through town. Not much we can do with that right now.
Trail reports:
ITS 87: Groomed and in good shape
ITS 86 : Groomed and in good shape
Kennebec River Trail: Groomed and in good shape.
Bald Mountain Trail: Groomed and in good shape.
Pleasant Pond Trail: Groomed and in good shape.
Breakneck Ridge Trail: Groomed and in good condition.
Moxie Mountain Loop Trail Groomed and in good shape.
Caratunk Spur: Groomed and in good shape.
Moxie Falls Trail: Groomed and in good shape.
You groomer lineup last two shifts
Greg Caruso, the Pro; Craig Fisher, electric man; Chris Russell, the ditch Angler; Ben Towle that Lakeside guy.
Ben Towle
President and Trail Master
Forks Area Trails Snowmobile Club
The Forks Maine Snowmobile Trail Map
THE FORKS TRAIL REPORT 2/10/2022
Trail report:
We have been out every day/night grooming to keep up with all this snow! We have groomed all of our trails since the storm. Warm temps last couple of days make the trails deteriorate quickly and whoop them out. Colder temps coming and that is what we need to firm this all up!
ITS 87: Groomed and in good shape.
Moxie Mountain Loop Trail: Groomed and in excellent shape. (this is the old ITS 87 re-route).
ITS 86 : Groomed and in good shape.
Pleasant Pond Trail: Groomed and in excellent shape.
Breakneck Ridge Trail: Groomed and in excellent shape.
Bald Mountain Trail: Groomed and in excellent shape.
Moxie Falls Trail: Groomed and in excellent shape.
Caratunk Spur: Groomed and in excellent shape.
Kennebec River Trail: Groomed and in good shape. Still using a bypass due to an ice jam on the river that has caused flooding and has effected access to the first mile. It is groomed around closed area. You will need to go up the hill behind Northern Outdoors towards ITS 87. In about 1/2 mile you will come to an intersection with a large logging road. You will see a sign “Bypass Around Northern Outdoors to Kennebec River Trail” with an arrow pointing you in the direction to the River Trail. Follow this trail and in 1 mile you will come back to the Kennebec River Trail. Continue on the River Trail north for 4 miles to West Forks.
Ben Towle
President and Trail Master
Forks Area Trails Snowmobile Club
The Forks Maine Snowmobile Trail Map
THE FORKS TRAIL REPORT 2/5/2022
Big snow is what we got! First, what to expect:
Anytime after a big storm and trails are groomed, the trails deteriorate quicker because the snow is not yet compacted and the “air” is not yet out of it. It actually takes several days of riding and grooming to get to that firm trail setup we all desire.
Don’t be surprised when, after a couple hours, the trails become mealy, blown out, and whooped out faster than normal.
Trail report:
We sent all three groomers out and did almost the entire system. All trails are in excellent condition.
ITS 87: Groomed.
Moxie Mountain Loop Trail: Groomed (this is the old ITS 87 re-route).
ITS 86 : Groomed.
Pleasant Pond Trail: Groomed.
Breakneck Ridge Trail: Groomed.
Bald Mountain Trail: Partially groomed. Lower half, connecting Pleasant Pond Trail to Breakneck Ridge (few miles) Ungroomed.
Moxie Falls Trail: Groomed.
Caratunk Spur: Groomed.
Kennebec River Trail: A portion of this trail is closed due to flooding from the Kennebec River ice jam. It is groomed around closed area. You will need to go up the hill behind Northern Outdoors towards ITS 87. In about 1/2 mile you will come to an intersection with a large logging road. You will see a sign “Bypass Around Northern Outdoors to Kennebec River Trail” with an arrow pointing you in the direction to the River Trail. Follow this trail and in 1 mile you will come back to the Kennebec River Trail. Continue on the River Trail north for 4 miles to West Forks.
We will be out again tonight.
Groomer feedback: “Please be conscious of your right thumb on freshly groomed trails… or any trail for that matter. We see far too many turtles (from a stop and hammering on the throttle leaving a mound).. there are plenty of places you can do that, no need for it on the trail on takeoff.”
Your groomers last night,
Zach Davis, that Sugarloaf guy who does the vids
Chris Russell, the Angler
And Greg Caruso, the Pro
Ben Towle
President and Trail Master
Forks Area Trails Snowmobile Club
The Forks Maine Snowmobile Trail Map
THE FORKS TRAIL REPORT 2/2/2022
We sent two groomers out last night, lots of traffic yesterday! We will be grooming tonight for storm prep and planning to send all three out Friday night to get the entire system after the storm. Overall good conditions- woods and powerline sections need more snow. Looks like we will get that Friday!
ITS 87 groomed last night and in good condition.
ITS 86 groomed and in good condition.
Kennebec River Trail a portion of this trail is closed due to flooding from the Kennebec River ice jam. It is groomed around closed area. You will need to go up the hill behind Northern Outdoors towards ITS 87. In about 1/2 mile you will come to an intersection with a large logging road. You will see a sign “Bypass Around Northern Outdoors to Kennebec River Trail” with an arrow pointing you in the direction to the River Trail. Follow this trail and in 1 mile you will come back to the Kennebec River Trail. Continue on the River Trail north for 4 miles to West Forks.
Last nights groomer lineup:
The Young Gun, Brady Stevens
The Angler, Chris Russell
Fuel is expensive this year, and the more members and donations, the more we can groom. Join our club and or donate today!
THE FORKS TRAIL UPDATE 2/1/2022
Trail Reroute Alert
A portion of the Kennebec River Trail has flooded due to the ice jams and cold temps.
The section of closed trail spans from Northern Outdoors to the divide road cut off.
To get around this section see map. Northern Outdoors is located at the bottom of the map, below Martin Pond. Trail section with red dots is closed. White dot is at the top of the hill behind Northern Outdoors. You will need to go up the hill behind Northern Outdoors (Northern Outdoors connector trail to ITS 87) and hop on the Divide Road Bypass (labled “Club” on pictured map) to get back to Kennebec River Trail north of the ice jam.
Ben Towle
President and Trail Master
Forks Area Trails Snowmobile Club
The Forks Maine Snowmobile Trail Map
