Snowmobiling II 2010

2 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | December 2, 2010

Enjoy endless miles of sledding fun in The County

By Brian Swartz SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

For “the most northeastern city in the U.S.,” Caribou has a long reach, especially on multiple-use recreational trails in central Aroostook County.

Snowmobilers already know the “Caribou touch” along ITS 83, where road-intersection signs in New Sweden and Stockholm inform sledders that “this trail is operated and maintained by [the] Caribou Parks & Rec. Dept.”

According to Kathleen Mazzuchelli, the Caribou Parks & Rec superintendent, her department maintains 39.2 miles of recreational trail in winter and summer.

The Maine Department of Conservation has developed extensive trail systems that follow aban-

in Fort Kent and goes on to St. Francis,” she said.

• The Bangor Aroostook Trail, divided into a 32-mile stretch from Houlton to Phair Junction in Presque Isle and an intricate 60.1mile route extending from Mapleton north to Washburn, Caribou, and Van Buren. Caribou Parks & Rec maintains 24.2 miles of the BAT. “The Aroostook Valley Trail connects New Sweden to Carson, then on to Washburn and either north to Caribou or south to Presque Isle,” Mazzuchelli said.

“The Bangor Aroostook Trail connects Van Buren to Stockholm.

Then the eastern section goes to Caribou, while the western section travels to Perham and Washburn and on to Mapleton.”

Each winter, snowmobilers enjoy long rides along the trails,

NEWS PHOTO BY BRIAN SWARTZ

A snowmobiler steers his Polaris through the Washburn intersection of the Aroostook Valley Trail and the Bangor Aroostook Trail.

The Caribou Parks & Recreation Department maintains and grooms 15 miles on the AVT and 24.2 miles on the BAT.

doned railroad corridors in southern and central Aroostook County.

Mazzuchelli indicated that: • The Aroostook Valley Trail, which follows the former Aroostook Valley Railroad corridor, encompasses 27.9 miles in Caribou, New Sweden, Stockholm, Washburn, and Woodland. Caribou Parks & Rec maintains 15 miles “summer and winter,” Mazzuchelli said.

• The 17-mile Heritage Trail, “which is part of the trail [and] is

which occasionally cross wide rivers and frequently span smaller streams. “There are a minimum of 40 [bridges] of varying sizes, with the larger ones in Stockholm, Crouseville, Washburn, and Littleton,” Mazzuchelli said. Without state and local support, however, those bridges would have likely fallen into disrepair — and the railroad-based snowmobile trails probably would not exist.

According to Mazzuchelli, the Aroostook Valley Railroad started

This supplement was produced and published by the

“as an electric railroad on July 1, 1910.” For some 40 years the railroad hauled “freight and passengers from Washburn, Woodland, and New Sweden to major railroad connections in Caribou and Presque Isle,” she said.

Improved highways and freight transition to trucks led to “most of the line” being “abandoned in the late 1950s and early 1960s … and nature began to take its course” by “reclaiming much of the right of way,” Mazzuchelli said.

“In 1985 a small contingent of area residents, primarily snowmobilers, began to see the potential value in acquiring” the abandoned railroad corridors for use by “motorized and non-motorized recreation,” she said. After state voters approved a “Land for Maine’s Future bond issue in 1988, a concerted effort led by the City of Caribou Parks and Recreation Department” lobbied the MDOC to purchase the AVT corridors, Mazzuchelli said.

She recalled that the MDOC “purchased its first [18.5-mile] railroad right-of-way in 1992.”

Caribou served as “the hub community for securing funding and managing reclamation and restoration, negotiating contracts, applying for grants, and applying with abutting communities” to reclaim the abandoned Aroostook Valley RR and B & A corridors, Mazzuchelli said.

Within two years, the state purchased 58 miles of the abandoned B & A corridor. By 1996, supporters had raised more than $1.3 million to restore the longest contiguous rail trail in the Northeast at the time.

According to Mazzuchelli, reopening the overgrown rightsof-way took “great cooperation and collaboration” and “lots of sweat equity and seat-of-the-pants engineering and construction.”

Period photos reveal volunteer crews cutting and chipping treefilled rights-of-way that resemble logging roads abandoned in the deep woods.

All that “sweat equity” paid off for snowmobilers, ATVers, bicy-

PHOTO COURTESY OF CARIBOU PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT

Volunteers and snowmobilers enjoy a winter cookout along a rail trail maintained and groomed by the Caribou Parks & Recreation Department.

clists, and other outdoor recreationists. Well-maintained trails radiate outward from Caribou to connect with other trails to the north, east, south, and west. On any winter’s day, as long as trail conditions permit, sledders zoom throughout central Aroostook County — and often on trails maintained by the Caribou Parks & Recreational Department.

“It is our legacy, and we are proud of the fact [that] we were able to play an integral role in saving recreational access and hopefully promoting a struggling economy,” Mazzuchelli said.

“By developing an interconnected [trail] system that is stable” and not subject to changing landownership, “we have seen the growth of gas stations, restaurants, motels, and B & Bs,” as well as businesses that specifically sell and maintain snowmobiles and ATVs, she said.

“It is estimated that snowmobiling alone brings $3.2 million in revenues to Caribou over a 12week season,” Mazzuchelli stated.

“The ATV industry has grown exponentially over the last four to five years, outselling snowmobiles 5-to-1 and expanding the motorized recreational industry in the area. We are currently working to promote the off-road opportunities for cyclists and

Editing/Layout: David M. Fitzpatrick Writing/Photography: Debra Bell, David M. Fitzpatrick, Brian Swartz, et al.

Sales: Jeff Orcutt Cover Design: Sam Wood

horseback riders.”

Helping to sign and maintain the AVT, BAT and Heritage Trail are the: • Fort Kent Snowmobile Club; • Van Buren Snowmobile Club; • Van Buren ATV Club; • Caribou Snowmobile Club; • Caribou ATV Club; • Nordic Lakers in New Sweden; • Washburn Trailrunners; • Aroostook River Snowmobile Club; • Presque Isle Snowmobile Club; • Presque Isle ATV Club; • Mars Hill Snowmobile Club; • Easton Snowmobile Club; • Easton ATV Club; • Meduxneag Ramblers; • Littleton Snowmobile Club; • Houlton Snowmobile Club.

The Maine Department of Conservation plays a key role, too, by providing funding and helping tackle major maintenance issues, such as rebuilding the AVT bridge abutments on the Aroostook River in 2009. “The MDOC has parttime trail managers that assist with overseeing the extensive network,” Mazzuchelli said.

“We continue to work with the MDOC and other local communities to develop capital-improvement plans to insure continued maintenance throughout the system,” she said.

If you’d like to participate in next year’s snowmobiling editions, or if you’d like information on running a special section for your organization, contact Jeff Orcutt at (207) 990-8036 or jorcutt@bangordailynews.com.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | December 2, 2010 | 3

Lagrange-Medford: MDOC adds to trail network

By Brian Swartz SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

Maine has added another 9.52 miles to its multi-purpose trail network — not that sledders haven’t been using the route anyway.

Since the late 1980s, the Maine Department of Conservation has leased the Lagrange-Medford Multi-Use Trail, an approximately 14-mile trail that follows the Medford Cutoff abandoned by the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad in the 1970s. Starting at a marked trail head on Route 16 in South Lagrange, the trail runs north to Medford Center and crosses the Piscataquis River on a 565-foot trestle.

The Lagrange-Medford MultiUse Trail connects with key snowmobiling trails, particularly ITS 83 east of Milo, ITS 111 near Schoodic Lake, and club trails in Alton, Lagrange, and Lakeview Plantation. For years, sledders have cruised along the scenic trail, which passes near farm fields and large marshes while crossing such roads as Route 6, rebuilt two years ago between Howland and Lagrange. The trail is also open to ATVers and other outdoor recreationists in warm weather.

According to Skip Varney, a senior planner with the MDOC’s OffRoad Vehicle Division, Maine recently purchased the trail’s southernmost 9.52 miles from Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway Ltd. This section runs from South Lagrange to the Paddy Hill Road in Medford.

“The acquisition cost was

PHOTO BY JACK GIFFORD

The Lagrange-Medford Multi-Use Trail is popular with snowmobilers because it links local club trails with ITS 83 and ITS 111. The Maine Department of Conservation recently purchased the southernmost 9.52 miles of this trail, which the state has leased since the late 1980s.

$246,000,” Varney said. “Funding for the acquisition was derived from [the] Land for Maine’s Future ($128,000) and from [the] Bureau of Parks and Lands’ ATV Recreation Management Fund ($118,000).” The latter fund, derived from “ATV license revenues,” also provided $60,000 to buy a 32-acre site adjacent to the trail in Lagrange, he indicated.

“The ATV program has updated all of the bridges, installed gates at all of the road crossings, replaced culverts, and graded and mowed” the Lagrange-Medford Multi-Use Trail “as necessary over the years,” Varney said. “The [Off-Road Vehicle] division has invested over

$100,000 over the past 20 years” to maintain the trail.

With the acquisition, “we will continue to upgrade the [trail] surface,” he indicated. “We will possibly develop the additional 32acre parcel we acquired in Lagrange for parking and [for] a play area for ATVs.” Besides the state’s maintenance

expenditures, the Lagrange Railroad Riders ATV Club and the LA Sledders Snowmobile Club have assisted with maintenance and signage, according to Varney. The clubs’ involvement reflects user reality; “the trail does receive quite a bit of snowmobile and ATV traffic, but very limited bicycle and equestrian use,” he said.

As of this time, the state has “no plan to build additional trail heads” along the Lagrange-Medford Multi-Use Trail, Varney said.

“We hope to eventually secure permanent access for the trail by acquiring either in fee simple or through an easement land all the way to the Seboeis Public Unit and ultimately to Millinocket.”

4 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | December 2, 2010

Down East Sunrise Trail provides over 90 miles of fun

By Brian Swartz SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

When the 87-mile Down East Sunrise Trail officially opened on Sept. 21, 2010, snowmobilers could only dream about the scenic riding that awaits them this winter.

Many sledders don’t realize that they’ve gained an additional 4½ miles and access to food and fuel at the DEST’s eastern terminus, thanks to extensive maintenance work undertaken by the 58-member Dennysville Snowmobile & ATV Club.

The DEST currently ends at the Ayers Junction trail head on Route 214 in Pembroke. East of Route 214, the Maine Department of Transportation owns another 10-11 miles of abandoned Maine Central Railroad right-of-way extending to Route 1 in Perry.

This right-of-way crosses several streams and the Pennamaquan River.

No stores exist near Ayers Junction, but this winter snowmobilers can reach Johnson’s Mobil and the Pembroke Circle K (Irving) on Route 1 by heading east 3½ miles on the MCRR right-of-way (Trail P-1).

Then, “just before it gets to the Little Falls Road,” sledders can turn south on “a club trail that goes right to the Route 1 stores,” said Joseph McPhail, the Dennysville Snowmobile & ATV Club president. The club trail is numbered P-2.

“When we started out, we were based in Dennysville, but now we’re of a catch-all [municipality] club,” he said, explaining that members live in Dennysville, Eastport, Lubec, Pembroke, Perry, and Whiting.

“We’re a combination club; we have the same officers. We get more trails done that way.”

McPhail indicated that “we have 57 [snowmobile trail] miles that we’re maintaining right now. ATV-wise, it’s also 57 miles, and we’re expanding. Every year we

add more trails. Everything we do on the trails, we try to do for everybody, ATVers and snowmobilers alike.”

According to McPhail, “we got permission from the Maine Department of Transportation to use the old railroad bed so we could have access to food and fuel on this end.” Club members donated their time, effort, and equipment — bulldozers, dump trucks, and excavators — to rebuild the right-of-way, which Mother Nature had attempted to reclaim.

“We’ve rebuilt one trestle across Ohio Brook” near Route 214, McPhail said. “I think it’s 30 feet [long]; I know it’s 8 feet wide. It was pretty much impassable to anyone but those with a brave heart.

“We redecked it, put new hemlock plank down on it.

We’ve done a lot of dirt work to the approaches to it,” he said.

Dennysville club members faced a daunting challenge at the Pennamaquan River, crossed by a 230-by-8-foot trestle. “We used 270 railroad ties to plank it over,” McPhail said. “It has side rails to a point; we haven’t finished putting side rails up on it yet.”

The Pennamaquan River trestle “is passable,” he said.

East of the Pennamaquan River, the rightof-way “is grown up and in need of a lot of maintenance,” McPhail noted. “It is an undeveloped trail. That part of the trail has not had any maintenance done on it for 15 years or more, probably since it was aban-

NEWS PHOTO BY BRIAN SWARTZ

A snowmobiler steers his sled on ITS 84 in eastern Washington County.

doned.”

Working with two landowners, the Dennysville Snowmobile & ATV Club developed the half-mile trail connecting the railroad right-of-way with Route 1 businesses in Pembroke. Currently limited to snowmobilers, the trail “is in pretty reasonable shape,” McPhail said. “We groom it with a pipe drag.”

Next spring, club members will widen this trail “in some spots” and replace “some narrow bridges” to open the route to ATVers, he noted. “On the ATV side, we have permission from the Town of Pembroke to

use the town roads as ATV access roads.

They go down the Little Falls Road and go into Pembroke using the town roads.” Statemaintained roads in Pembroke are presently closed to ATV use, McPhail pointed out.

“We’re working on getting [ATV] access to Pembroke Irving (Circle K),” which lies on the south side of Route 1, he said.

According to McPhail, “we’ve spent about $10,000 trying to make the [abandoned railroad] trail so it’s safe for snowmobile and ATV passage. It’s all volunteer work. WithSee SUNRISE, Page 9

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | December 2, 2010 | 5

2011 Arctic Cat models impress across the board

By Brian Swartz SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

With the excellent balance of high horsepower and a longer 15x 144- x 1.25-inch track, the Z1 Turbo EXT was the surprise hit on the 2010 line. Arctic Cat has responded by adding an F8 EXT for 2011. The adjustable IRP “trail” handlebar suggests this is more of a trail sled than a crossover.

Joining the F8 LXR and F8 Sno Pro for 2011 is the F8 Sno Pro Limited, which adds to the package hand guards, a rear storage bag, sport front bumper, electric start, and a Sublime Green paint scheme.

An F6 Sno Pro, F5 LXR, and F 570 complete the F Series lineup.

With the exception of the F 570 and F8 EXT, all 2011 F Series models are either in Sno Pro or LXR trim.

Back for its second year, the Sno Pro 500 gets a few changes aimed to keep its retail cost low, while the fun factor is high.

The 2011 Sno Pro 500 will come without a hood-mounted brake duct, sway bar, and tunnel-edge grip plates; the last two are available as accessory items. As many racers opted for the faster 1-inch lug Hacksaw track this season, Arctic Cat has switched to it as a pro-

a coil-over Fox Zero Pro shock on the rear arm, eliminating the torsion springs to deliver a lighter package without a sacrifice in ride quality.

Joining the M8 and M8 Sno Pro for 2011 is the M8 Sno Pro Limited, with extra goodies like hand guards, a BCA backpack, ice scratchers, a handlebar bag, a goggle holder, a rear storage bag, and Sublime Green coloring.

The M8 also comes with Fox Zero Pro shocks with coil-over springs on the rear arm, eliminat-

duction hoop. And, finally, a switch to 5.5-inch-wide plastic skis satisfies all states’ maximum skistance rules.

The mystery machine for the Arctic Cat 2011 lineup turned out to be the new for 2011 Z1 Turbo Sno Pro Limited, which takes the Sno Pro-specific Fox Floats/low windshield/taller handlebar riser and adds hand guards, a rear storage bag, a sport front bumper, and an electric heated seat.

The Z1 Turbo Sno Pro and Z1 Turbo LXR returned unchanged for 2011, save for a higher windshield on the LXR. A huge hit last season, the Z1 Turbo EXT returns for 2011 with an electric-heated IRP adjustable seat. The non-

turbo Z1 LXR and Z1 Sno Pro are unchanged for next season.

Arctic Cat indicates significant improvement to the ride calibration of the 2011 M Series Sno Pro and HCR models, benefitting both hill-climbing ability and on-trail manners.

The M8 HCR keeps its 15 x 153 x 2.25-inch Power Claw track, but gets the longer 162-inch rear tunnel extension to accommodate the additional clearance required by certain traction mods. Other changes include spacers to stiffen the rear idler wheels, swapping a tether cord for the key switch, and additional protection for the rear coolant hoses.

The standard M8 transitions to

ing the two torsion springs for reduced weight without sacrificing ride quality.

The Bearcat 570 gets a 2-up riding focus to complement its utility focus, with a new rear passenger seat, foot rests, fiberglass overload, springs, and standard electric start.

Check out the 2011 models at your local Arctic Cat dealer: • Bangor Motor Sports, Bangor • Cat Trax, Lagrange • Kramer’s, Sidney • Jackman Powersports, Jackman

6 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | December 2, 2010

A trio of Ski-Doo Grand Touring models

If you need to piggyback a second rider — or even two more — when you hit the ITS system, SkiDoo has the right selection for you. With three models in the

The Ski-Doo Grand Touring SE is the high-end model, capable of seating three riders and featuring a load of exciting amenities.

Grand Touring line, you’ll be ready to hit the trails with extra people along for the ride.

These two-up models feature exceptional fuel economy and loads of comfortable features for driver and passenger. All three models feature dual A-arm front suspensions, Pilot 5.7 SL skis, electric start, and extra-high windshields. But that’s just the beginning.

Grand Touring Sport At a price that’s bound to impress, the Grand Touring Sport is perfect for riders looking for longer rides at a friendly price.

Featuring plenty of style, comfort and room for two. The Sport features your choice of the Rotax 600 ACE, Rotac 600, or Rotax 55F engine on the REV-XP platform.

The two-up seat is removable with tools, and the sled features a cargo rack, RER electronic reverse, an SC-5M rear suspension, and Motion Control front and rear shocks. It comes in black only.

MSRP starts at an impressive $7,249.

Grand Touring LE This comfortable sled is built for

the long haul and features incredibly fuel-efficient engines, loads of features, and plenty of room for a passenger and all your gear. The LE comes with either the Rotax ETEC H.O. or Rotax 4-TEC 1200 engine on the REV-XR platform.

With the SC-5 rear suspension, HPG front and HPG-VR rear shocks, SilenTrack technology, a cargo rack, the quick-attach modular seat (with 2+1 capability), and more, this is the perfect mid-range Grand Touring model. It comes in black only. MSRP starts at $10,749.

Grand Touring SE When it comes to three riders and all the perks in a touring sled, the SE model is the pinnacle of trail comfort. This touring sled is

By David M. Fitzpatrick BDN SPECIAL SECTIONS

loaded with additional storage and luxury features for both driver and passengers. It comes in black or blue and features the Rotax 4-TEC 1200 engine on the REV-XR platform. The SE also features HPG front, center, and rear shocks, with air-control suspension on the rear.

There’s the SC-5 rear suspension, SilenTrack technology, four-position tilt steering, and electronic push-button reverse. If that isn’t enough, there’s the multi-function digital gauge, side-panel wind deflectors, a padded sonsole, and adjustable passenger grips and backrest. Not enough? How about front and rear 12-volt outlets, heated visor outlets, and heated seats. And all of this for an MSRP starting at just $13,149.

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FORT KENT SKI-DOO 5 St. Joseph Street, Fort Kent FortKentSkidoo.com

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JACKMAN POWER SPORTS 549 Main Street, Jackman JackmanPowersports.com

LINCOLN POWERSPORTS 65 West Broadway, Lincoln LincolnPowersportsMe.com

THE SLED SHOP 108 Main Street, Presque Isle www.TheSledShopInc.com

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | December 2, 2010 | 7

Reenactment of historic Polaris ride on tap for February

By Brian Swartz SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

In mid-February 2011, at least 25 intrepid snowsledders will re-enact the 50th anniversary of the first long-distance recreational snowmobile ride in Maine history.

They will ride the first day from Chesuncook Lake to Nugent’s Camps on Chamberlain Lake. The next day, they will ride to a point “as close as we can [get] to Churchill Lake” in the Allagash, according to Steve Campbell, a re-enactment organizer.

The event will commemorate the February 1961 Polaris test ride undertaken by nine snowsledders, including Campbell’s father, Earlan Campbell.

Weekend festivities in Millinocket will highlight the commemorative ride, slated to depart the Chesuncook Lake boat ramp after dawn on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011. Organizers anticipate that 25-28 snowmobilers will participate in the ride, which will “complete re-enact the [1961] trip, using the same trail with two of the actual machines” that went on the original journey, Campbell said.

He believes that the nine snowmobilers who departed Chensuncook Lake on Polaris test sleds on Saturday Feb. 11, 1961 launched “recreational snowmobiling in the State of Maine. As far as we can tell, no one

had ever done a ride like this before, especially to the Allagash. We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of recreational snowmobiling in Maine.”

In summer 1958, Earlan Campbell became “the fifth Polaris dealer in the country and probably the first in the state,” Steve Campbell said. In that era, Minnesota-based Polaris built its sleds to operate in Land of 10,000 Lakes winters.

“In Minnesota, after they built the first Polaris in 1956, they were doing well with them,” Campbell said. “Once Dad became a dealer in Maine, he discovered they didn’t work very well here.”

Campbell explained that “it is flat and wind-swept and cold in Minnesota. Maine has hills, valleys, slush, different weather conditions even in the same area on the same day. The first Polaris sleds couldn’t handle Maine winters.”

Earlan Campbell voiced his concerns to Bob Morrill, a Yarmouth-based Polaris distributor. Campbell and Morris “finally convinced Polaris to come here and test their sleds rather than out there,” Steve Campbell said.

Polaris sent multiple test sleds and a few representatives to Millinocket. On Feb. 12, 1961, Earlan Campbell and Bob Morrill departed Chensuncook Lake on Polaris sleds. Riding with them were Polaris President Alan Hetteen, Polaris engineer Arthur

Erickson, Reggie Boynton, Millinocket Journal publisher Bob Hume, Dick Rideout, Ralph Stevens, and Bob Drew from the Bangor Daily News.

Breaking trail as they went, the sledders traveled via Mud Pond Carry to Levesque Camps at Telos Lake and then pushed on to Chamberlain Lake. “They had a final destination of Churchill Lake,” Steve Campbell said.

“Their biggest problem was slush, but hills and towing loads in deep snow were also problems,” he said. “Some hills had to be snowshoed first” to break a trail for the snowsleds.

Of the nine sleds, one was an SR Ranger ridden by Earlan Campbell. Another was a Polaris Scout B-55, “a little teeny thing that put the rider’s weight on the tracks,” Steve Campbell said. “It was a new theory they were testing on their ride.”

Today, that Polaris SR Ranger and Scout B-55 are displayed at the Northern Timber Cruisers Snowmobile Museum, located at the Northern Timber Cruisers Clubhouse on the Lake Road in Millinocket. Both sleds will accompany the February 2011 commemorative ride.

Millinocket festivities celebrating the ride’s 50th anniversary will kick off on Friday, Feb. 18, with a 6 p.m. snowmobile parade from Stearns High School to Penobscot Avenue to Veterans Memorial Park on

Tips for staying safe during winter sports

(NewsUSA) - The weather outside might be frightful, but that doesn’t stop winter sports enthusiasts. While some want to sit inside with hot cocoa and a book, others hit the slopes, lace up their skates or pull out their sleds.

But when Americans are unprepared for winter exertion, they can set themselves up for injury. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 84,000 skiers, 30,000 skaters, 30,000 hockey players, 20,000 sledders and tobogganers and 19,000 snowmobilers enter emergency rooms each season.

With a little preparation, winter sports enthusiasts can lessen their risk of injury.

Here are some tips for athletes who want to hit the slopes more than once this winter: Take a lesson or two. You probably didn’t ski, skate or snowmobile over the summer, so taking a refresher course with a professional can help you brush up on basics.

Beginners sustain more injuries than experienced athletes, so arm yourself with knowledge before you put the ski to snow.

Learn about any new gear. Ask your

instructor to explain equipment. Many injuries result from ill-fitting or improperly applied equipment.

Dress properly. Jeans and a hoodie won’t cut it on the slopes. Wear layers, because your body temperature will change as you exercise at different levels of intensity. Wear a head band or hat to keep in warmth, and wear waterproof gloves. Use several layers of warm socks.

Prepare yourself for sore muscles. If you haven’t skied since last winter, you’re going to work some new muscles. Prepare for inevitable aches and pains by taking an internal pain reliever, such as ibuprofen, and applying a topical liquid pain reliever like Absorbine Jr., which penetrates muscles to help soothe pain.

Stay hydrated. Drinking water is just as important in the winter as it is in the summer. If drinking cold water sounds like torture, opt for hot tea, which can both warm and hydrate your body.

For information on Absorbine Jr. and where you can find it, visit www.absorbinejr.com.

Central Street.

At the park bandstand, ride organizers will introduce the special “guest riders”: 88year-old David Johnson, a Polaris cofounder; his son, Mitchell Johnson, a Polaris engineer; Mike Hetteen, a Polaris vice president and son of Alan Hetteen; Scott Ramsay from the Maine Department of Conservation; and Bob Meyers of the Maine Snowmobile Association.

Representing Earlan Campbell on the ride are: • His son, Wayne Campbell, and his son, Jeff; • Steve Campbell and his son, Steve, who will ride the 1961 SR Ranger.

A fireworks display will be launched at Stearns High School at 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Feb. 19, an antique snowmobile show will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the North Timber Cruisers Clubhouse. At 10 a.m., snowmobilers will ride “a bunch of oldies (vintage sleds) to the new downtown access trail in Millinocket and go out to the new multi-use bridge that has been built” alongside Route 11, Steve Campbell said.

A supper will be held at 4 p.m. at the NCT Clubhouse.

On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 19-20, the NTC Snowmobile Museum will be open to the public. The museum displays 43 snowmobiles; the oldest sleds date to the 1940s.

Wayne Campbell is the museum curator.

8 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | December 2, 2010

Yamaha’s premier trail sled, the 2011 Apex SE Yamaha says its new premier trail sled, the Apex SE, is the most advanced consumer snowmobile ever created.

“The Apex SE is an amazing all-around trail sled,” said Rob Powers, Yamaha snowmobile product manager. “Not only does it come with the industry’s first Electric Power Steering technology, it also sports Fox Float 2 shocks up front and a Fox Mega Float in the rear, giving this sled a completely springless suspension.”

The industry-first electric power-steering system is velocity-sensitive, delivering maximum assist up to 35 miles per hour and gradually tapering off from there. The EPS system helps isolate the rider from uncomfortable trail feedback, eases the effort required to move the bars, and provides excellent handling and predictability.

The new skis have great cornering ability and work in tandem with the EPS to significantly reduce hunting and darting. The new 15-millimeter trail offset on the ski mount helps offset inside ski lift due to centrifugal force during turns.

And optimizing the amount of resistance from the snow surface that’s applied to the rear of the ski, including forces from bumps and ruts, helps the Apex SE achieve its amazingly smooth handling, including its excellent straight-line performance.

The 2011 Apex SE also features the Yamaha-exclusive Exhaust Ultimate Performance valve technology, which controls the exhaust pressure waves for optimum intake and exhaust efficiency, delivering unmatched overall performance with more mid-range torque. Additionally, the exhaust pipes have been enlarged to 38 millimeters from 35 millimeters for added exhaust pressure-wave

efficiency. This technological achievement makes the industry-leading Top Performance Genesis 4-Stroke engine even more powerful.

The all new Apex SE is also loaded with comfort-minded features that give this sled the most luxurious ride on snow. The new windshield and side deflector design, developed using computer modeling, provides maximum wind protection with minimum aerodynamic drag and swirl-in.

The new seat raises the rider’s hips approximately 2 inches for all-day trail-riding comfort and has a roomy storage trunk at the rea.

The new 128-inch Ripsaw track is longer to harness the Apex SE’s huge mid-range torque for great acceleration. The track has an open design to accept extrovert drivers.

The Apex SE offers two styles of DC outlets. This sled comes with a standard automotive-style outlet for cell phones, GPS, or other electronic accessories; the Apex SE also comes standard with an RCA-style plug near the left hand grip to power up heated helmet visors or other small-plug accessories.

“The flagship Apex SE is stacked with the best technology in snowmobiling,” said Wade West, Yamaha snowmobile marketing manager. “If you demand the very best, this is your sled.”

Check out the Apex at your local Yamaha dealer: • Houlton Powersports, Houlton • Jackman Powersports, Jackman • Moosehead Motorsports, Greenville Junction • Newport Motorsports, Newport • North Country Powersports, Oakland • Roger’s Sport Center, Fort Kent

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | December 2, 2010 | 9

Andy Santerre to headline snowmobiling fundraiser

By Debra Bell SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER

On February 6, 2010, a renowned NASCAR driver shed the stockcar for a snowmobile and joined 160 snowmobilers to raise money — and awareness about childhood sexual abuse. And on February

12, 2011, he’ll do it all over again.

That’s when the seventh annual Andy Santerre Sno-Run Fundraiser will be held.

Santerre, a Cherryfield native, has lent his name to the annual event since it began in 2004. In six years, over $182,000 has been raised to benefit sexual abuse victims.

“The reason we started this fundraiser was because a lot of people don’t know that

PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL CYR, NORTHERNMAINEPHOTOS.COM

The snowmobilers participating in the 2009 Andy Santerre Sno-Run Fundraiser aligned their sleds to honor the state of Maine.

Sunrise Continued from Page 4 out the volunteers, we’d be dead in the water.”

“Looking ahead, we’re trying to acquire a piece of property that we can have functions on the weekend and a place to go and get hot dogs,” he said. “Our biggest thing is to get people down into Pembroke so they can buy food and fuel.”

The Dennysville Snowmobile & ATV Club grooms the DEST’s easternmost 19 miles, plus club trails, which all lie east of Route 191. “The whole thing (trail system) is beautiful. It’s right out in the wilderness,” McPhail said.

“We try to groom at least twice a week,” he said. “We pride ourselves on having the best groomed section on the Sunrise Trail. Everybody I’ve talked to out there has said it’s as good as or better than anything in Aroostook County.”

Volunteers groom the trails. In January 2010, the Dennysville club “bought a used [1995] Gilbert snow groomer” that “came from the Oakfield snowmobile club,” McPhail said. “With the Gilbert, we can cut,

grade, push things over. My trailmaster says you can go from grooming to grading real easy with it. It has full tracks on both sides of it.

“That was a $14,000 investment for a small club,” he said.

Last winter, the MDOT granted the Dennysville Snowmobile & ATV Club permission “to use the existing rail line from Ayers Junction north to Route 1 in Calais,” McPhail indicated. “There is rail there, so we have to have enough snow to be able to groom it, but snow conditions were poor, and the equipment we had to work with was not enough to do the job.

“That Gilbert we bought will be able to handle it this winter,” he said. “Once we do, we will have a decent connection to Calais.”

The DEST was officially open from Whitneyville to Pembroke last winter, and despite a short riding season, sledders responded enthusiastically to the new trail. “Goodness, gracious, you wouldn’t believe the amount that’s coming over here,” McPhail said. A Dennysville club member who lives alongside the DEST in Dennysville “reported more than 200 sleds going by his place one Sunday” in winter 2009-10, he said.

there’s no money to help kids who are the victims of sexual abuse and assault,” said Joe Chamberlain, the Sno-Run organizer. “I’ve known Andy for years and he’s agreed to lend his name to this fundraiser. He comes up from Charlotte [North Carolina] every year and always brings other NASCAR drivers with him.”

And, Chamberlain said, the Sno-Run continues to gain popularity among snowmobilers and Mainers alike. In 2010, the Sno-Run had its largest turnout yet: 160 snowmobilers who took part in the 100mile ride and 320 attendees at the social hour, autograph event, dinner, and auction held at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center.

“This year we raised $47,000 in one day,” Chamberlain said. “It’s a fun time and benefits a great cause.”

The money generated from the Sno-Ride, dinner, and auction go to Aroostook Mental Health Services — a non-profit 501c agency — for its Sexual Assault Services program.

The Sexual Assault Services program is the

only victim rape crisis center in Aroostook County. In 2010, AMHS provided services to 312 children in Aroostook County and helped in the development of three support groups for children in 2010, Chamberlain said.

“We have a lot of kids in this area,” he said. “The first reason we sponsor this ride is to create awareness, the second is to help the program, and the third reason is to get together and have fun.”

Even if you’re not a snowmobiler, there’s something to do. The dinner and auction are open to the general public to purchase tickets for, or donations to the cause can be made. Many local businesses make donations of products and services and NASCAR memorabilia is also available in the auction.

For NASCAR fans, drivers are on hand for an autograph session at the Caribou Inn after the ride is over.

For more information and to purchase tickets, contact Pam Wyman at (207) 498-6431 or e-mail her at pwyman@amhc.org.

10 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | December 2, 2010

Wanted: Willing volunteers to groom Maine’s trails

By Brian Swartz SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

Maine snowmobiling needs you, on the trail and in the clubhouse.

“Snowmobilers enjoy a sport [that is] based on the efforts of a small number of volunteers,” says Maine Snowmobile Association President Ken Ingalls.

“If it weren’t for the volunteers, trails wouldn’t be groomed,” he explains during a telephone interview. “There are tens of thousands of people out there riding on the trails, and all of the clubs could use more volunteers to help get the work done.

“I really think that if you’re going to ride, you can volunteer in some way, even just by joining a club,” says Ingalls, a retired Embden paperworker who belongs to the AnsonNorth Anson Snowmobile Club and the Embden Travelers Snowmobile Club.

The MSA “works hard” to boost clubrecruiting efforts, according to Ingalls. The

MSA mails its newspaper, The Maine Snowmobiler, to all snowmobile registrants in Maine; every issue includes ads urging snowmobilers to join a local club. More than 290 snowmobile clubs belong to the MSA; their members axiomatically do, too.

Ingalls indicates that “I want to grow the clubs as well as grow the MSA,” which has some 30,000 members. Membership Committee Chair Phyllis Ouellette of Auburn leads current efforts to boost MSA membership; “She’s young, and that’s what we need,” Ingalls says. “Young people are busy with their families, but the clubs throughout the state need their memberships.

“Snowmobilers need a voice, not only in Augusta, but all across Maine,” he says. “We can be that voice. In order to do that, we need the members.”

New Hampshire boosts club membership by requiring a snowmobiler “to belong to a club in order for you to register a snowmobile,” Ingalls says. “This would not work in Maine. Club membership should be volun-

tary, not something you’re told to do.”

He encourages Maine snowmobilers to register their sleds, even if early winter weather lacks promise. “The more registrations there are, the more money that’s available for trails and maintenance,” he explains. Sled registration funds are disbursed by the Maine Department of Conservation as club and NEWS PHOTOS BY BRIAN SWARTZ municipal grants.

Without dedicated volunteer groomers, the more than Winter 2010 saw sled registrations 14,000 miles of trails in Maine wouldn’t be easily accessible to the 30,000 members of the Maine Snowmobile Associadrop as unseasontion and the countless others who enjoy use of the trails. ably warm weather The MSA is seeking more volunteers to help keep the trails started melting groomed. Above: A snowmobiler smiles for the camera with many trails by midFebruary. However, Schoodic Mountain in the background. Below: Sledders take five on the Scott Trail on Schoodic Mountain. “the people that did register their machines paid a little extra,” so revenue actually rose, Ingalls says. Ingalls says. “Partnering with them allows us “The trail funds really weren’t hurt because to do it right.” the clubs did less grooming.”

In September 2010, MSA representatives He crosses his fingers and hopes “for real- attended “a pilot program” offered by the ly good riding conditions this winter.” Maine Sustainable Forestry Initiative at TitAlthough the MSA has printed its 2010-11 comb Mountain ski area in West Farmingtrail map, Ingalls cautions that “things can ton, Ingalls says. “They were teaching us change on the ground [even] after we go to [about] water quality, how to keep streams press.” clean if we were putting in bridges and culIngalls explains that “the toughest issue verts, how to do it using BMP techniques.” [in creating accurate maps] is that some The Maine Snowmobile Association has clubs don’t know until mid-October or also joined the Small Woodlot Owners AssoNovember where their trails are going to ciation of Maine. “A lot of our trails are on be.” Logging operations “can close trails in small wood lots,” Ingalls points out. “Withwinter, and the clubs have to re-route those out landowners, there would be no trail systrails,” he says. “It does create a last-minute tem. The landowners are the key. We value rush for the club members to get that our landowners.” accomplished.”

According to Ingalls, the MSA has joined the Maine Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

“They’re working on woodlands, and that’s where a lot of our trails are,” he says. “They do best-management practices (BMP) in building their roads and bridges; it’s good for us to learn how to do that the best way, too.

“We put in bridges for snowmobile trails,”

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | December 2, 2010 | 11

A few great overnight stops worth making during your long weekend of snowmobiling across Maine

By David M. Fitzpatrick BDN SPECIAL SECTIONS

The phrase “the middle of nowhere” has a special meaning for backcountry snowmobilers — getting out into the rugged Maine woods is what it’s all about. But unlike summer camping, most of us don’t want to pitch tents in subzero temperatures at night; we’d rather pack it in somewhere with an indoors. And heat. And maybe room service.

The good news is that the vast Maine woods features many oases of civilization, and it isn’t tough to find a great place to bed down for the night. And you’ll need that comfortable rest for the next day’s adventures through the wilderness!

Caribou Inn and Presque Isle Inn

Both of these are owned by the same people, and either offers a strategic launching point to hit the trails. Either features a convention center which is ideal for your organization’s gathering… particularly if the event ends with jumping on your snowmobiles and heading for the hills. In fact, the Caribou Inn is the starting point for the Andy Santerre Sno-Run Fundraiser that will happen Feb. 6. Both facilities are top-of-theline places, with 72 rooms in Caribou and 142 in Presque Isle. No matter how you cut it, either gives you great access to the broad network of trails that will keep you busy for days. For more information, visit www.CaribouInn.com or www.PresqueIsleInn.com.

Dean’s Motor Lodge

On to Portage, at the junction of ITS 85 and ITS 90, a great gateway to head north to Eagle Lake, Fort Kent, Allagash, and beyond,

south toward Penobscot County, or east to the trail-heavy part of Aroostook. Snowmobilers know the Portage Lake area is a great sledding crossroads, just as hunters and fishermen know its value for their outdoor enjoyment.

This is a perfect summer spot, with plenty to do in the warm season. But in the winter, Dean’s Motor Lodge is an ideal lodging stop-off on your trail-riding adventures.

Dean’s features 18 rooms, and if the access to the ITS trails isn’t enough, there’s plenty of frozen lake right there for some serious sled racing. That’s about 3.8 square miles of water, if you’re wondering — ample acreage for high-speed, powder-busting fun. Bonus: The area is great for cross-country skiing, so if someone in your family is more interested in foot skis instead of snowmobile skis, you’ll score twice with this stop.

Learn more at www.DeansMotorLodge.com.

Mt. Chase Lodge Skip on over to Upper Shin Pond to enjoy beautiful views of Mt. Katahdin and within a tread’s roll of Baxter State Park, and spend a night at Mt. Chase Lodge. You can get yearround full-service cabins with heat, electricity, and cooking equipment. The Lodge is famous for its home-cooked meals, breads, pies, muffins, and other goodies. Snowmobilers know the Lodge has direct access to hundreds of miles of trails going in every direction, and the vistas you’ll enjoy while tearing up the powder are hard to beat.

Rick and Sara Hill have run the lodge since 1976. Rick is an accomplished master guide and outfitter, so he knows what outdoor recreation is all about. And Sara keeps the home-style cooking coming.

For more information, www.MtChaseLodge.com.

visit

Niboban Camps In Western Maine, Niboban Camps is the wilderness spot for snowmobilers to launch excursions across the remote wilds of Franklin County. You won’t likely trek from either of the two previous stopping points in one day, but Niboban Camps is a great base to access the extensive trails in that region.

Located near the ITS 84/89 intersection, this spot offers unprecedented access to Somerset County, Southern Maine, and Central Maine. Niboban, on the south shore of Rangeley Lake, overlooks the mountains of Western Maine in a wilderness privacy you have to experience to appreciate.

Niboban features two-bedroom, rustic cabins complete with full kitchen facilities, full bathrooms, and central heat to warm you up after a hard day’s fun on the trails.

Niboban features off-season rates and caters to snowmobilers who can hit the trails “right from your back door,” as Niboban’s Web site reports.

The Niboban folks refer to the tranquility and simplicity of the way life used to be, and anyone who has driven or sledded through that part of the state knows what they’re talking about.

Learn more at www.Niboban.com. To learn more about the beautiful region, visit the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce at www.RangeleyMaine.com.

Russell’s Motel is open year-round and is no stranger to catering to snowmobilers.

The rooms are affordable and quiet, and feature amenities like cable TV, microwaves, refrigerators, high-speed Internet access, and the ever-important coffee pots. You’ll never find any of those perks camping out in a tent near Square Lake, I can tell you. The rooms were recently renovated and you’ll enjoy relaxing nights on Sealy mattresses.

And if you’re bringing the young ones with you, if they’re under age 12 they stay free.

Russell’s is right on Main Street, so if your desire to adventure deep into the wilderness is matched by your desire to find a restaurant, grocery store, or even a movie theater at the end of a long day, you won’t find the city lacking in anything. Check out www.connectmaine.com/russells for more info, or www.CaribouME.net for more information about Caribou.

Russell’s Motel There’s no lack of ITS trails converging in the Caribou area, so The Most Northeastern City in the U.S. is a great launching point for a long weekend — or, heck, a vacation week.

RANGELEY LAKES Happy Trails ToREGION You. Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce 1-800-MT-LAKES www.rangeleymaine.com PO Box 317, Rangeley, ME 04970

• Large and active snowmobile club.

• Great Day Trips • 65-mile loop around Rangeley Lake.

• Rangeley features over 150 miles of groomed trails.

• Trail systems throughout Maine, New Hampshire, and Canada all come together in Rangeley.

• Cookout areas, trail maps, trail-side services, and accommodations assure a quality riding experience.

• Events are scheduled throughout the season.

12 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | December 2, 2010

Is the 2011 Polaris Switchback Assault 144 the ultimate crossover?

By David M. Fitzpatrick BDN SPECIAL SECTIONS

For the off-road rider who still likes to cruise along tamer trails, the crossover Switchback Assault 144 just might be the ultimate snowmobile for both trail and mountain riding.

Polaris said it best in its promotional materials: “Is it a Rush? Is it an RMK? What exactly is it? Quite simply, the perfect 50/50 sled. Trail gearing with added flotation. The Assault for the flats. This is the weapon of choice for all-around terrain domination. A blend of RMK heritage and trail-proven Rush technology. The Switchback Assault can run the logging roads or head for the trees.”

I could just stop writing now, because although it might sound like marketing, that paragraph very nicely says it all. It sums up the Switchback Assault 144 well enough that the only way you’re going to get a better picture is to actually go out and ride the thing.

But I’ll tell you a little more anyway, because this baby’s list of perks will only tease you all the more.

Essentially, the Switchback Assault 144 is the perfect merger of the RMK (that’s “Rocky Mountain King”) Assault and the Rush Pro 800. It provides equally fantastic performance whether you’re beating the snowdrifts in the wild woods of Maine or

sticking to the well-groomed trails. The Switchback will take a beating, and in fact seems like it’s begging you to put it through its paces.

For those of you who want to know the hard facts, you won’t be disappointed. The Switchback roars to life with the Polaris Liberty 795cc, 150-plus horsepower motor. This two-stroke, liquid-cooled, Cleanfire fuelinjected, twin-cylinder champion is paired with a P-85 Team LWT driven clutch.

You’ll enjoy the rugged Pro-Ride front suspension with 9 inches of travel and Switchback 144 Tipped rear suspension with 14.5 inches of travel. The Switchback features a strong, lightweight aluminum bumper, high-rise ProTaper Bars, Walker Evans Needle Shocks, and Hybrid running boards.

The Switchback won’t replace a dedicated Polaris RMK mountain snowmobile, but it will sure give it a good run for its money in deep powder — even while letting you tear up the groomed roads with the best of the trail sleds. Rarely has any crossover product in any arena done so good a job melding two purposes. The Switchback Assault 144 is the best of both worlds, and perhaps as good a crossover sled as you could ever expect.

Check out the Switchback at your local Polaris dealer: • Jackman Powersports, Jackman • Tidd’s Sport Shop, Hodgdon • Victory Motorsports, Abbot