Rangeley Snowmobile Trails Report 3/21/2008

By Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club

TRAIL CONDITIONS: After a seemingly endless snow drought the past two weeks, we finally got more snow to help improve trail conditions. Trail conditions SHOULD IMPROVE SIGNIFICANTLY. Sorry, we had a breakdown in our grooming program but we are about recovered and it should be good weekend for riding. The lakes may have icy and rutted areas. We expect below freezing temperatures and maybe a little more snow this week. Please be careful on the trails.

SNOW REPORT: NEW SNOW SINCE LAST REPORT: 4”. There are several inches of new snow in the backcountry heading toward Bosebuck and NH. We have had 52 inches of snow in February!  So far for March, 17 inches. Snow depth in Oquossoc: 33".

The trail to the summit of East Kennebago Mountain is now open. However, there are some ice-laden trees hanging into the trail so that we cannot get the groomer to the summit until we remove these trees.  The summit can still be reached by snowmobile.  Look for signs along ITS 89 about a mile after you cross Route 16 (heading toward Eustis) in Langtown.

SPECIAL NOTES: Lake riding is never safe! If you are not experienced and comfortable with riding on lakes. Don’t do it! The last mile of the east kennebago trail has some trees hanging into it. We cannot groom that section until we get a crew up there to remove the trees. There is a major reroute of its 89 this year; all trails near kennebago lake are plowed and closed snow depths off-trail are very deep, as much as four feet in higher locations, and may have a thick icy crust.  Use caution when pulling off a groomed trail. It is easy to get buried in soft snow. Currently off- trail riding in the backcountry is excellent.

Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club will groom the trails at least twice a week through april 5th depending on conditions. We will try to provide good trails for both weekend and weekday riders. We appreciate those business and individual sponsors for donating additional money to our grooming fund. Still, we will exceed our grooming budget by over $5,000 so any added donations will be appreciated. For more detail check our web site at www.rangeleysnowmobile.com.