Good year for Snowmobiling in Maine (Auburn, Eastport: real estate, home, dangerous)

[Maineah]

This is the first year in about the last four we've had the snowmobiles out of the barn. I know a lot of people don't mind hauling their machines up country on a trailer to go riding but I'm not one of them. I like to get on it in the back yard and take off from here. In a good winter we can hook up with the local Tri Town Penguins trail system and get to the well maintained trails south of the ITS system in Auburn in about an hour. This year has been good with the exception of the few rain storms we've had making some brooks impassible until the flows subside or they refreeze. I've been impressed with how good some of these southern Maine trails are. We saw a couple of guys out grooming in North Pownal with a Chevy Blazer all decked out with four tracks instead of wheels, hauling a professional grooming sled. We never used to see these unless we were on the Interconnecting Trail System (up north).
That thing did a great job on the trails! We've seen lots of deer,turkeys, and a huge bald eagle feeding on a frozen deer carcass during our travels. People on the trails have been friendly(for the most part) and courteous. There seem to be less "snow cross" types pretending they're in a race mowing down everything and everyone in their path than in past years too, much to our relief.

[AliceT]

Speaking of which, are the ITS trails strictly limited to snowmobilers or is it acceptable to be in a pony or goat sleigh?

[Northern Maine Land Man]

A pony or goat would find it hard going on a snowmobile trail. They would punch through and stumble. When I briefed dog team drivers from NJ and CT before a race I told them that any apparent post holes in the trail are moose tracks. Coyotes can easily outrun deer now. Deer are adapting to this new threat. When I was a kid there were large deer yards in late winter where deer could get shelter from the wind and wait for spring. Then they would disperse. Deer are learning now that it is dangerous to "yard up" as they say. Coyotes have easy pickings in a deer yard. Today, deer bunch up in small groups in sheltered areas.

[Maineah]

Evidently not a lot of snowmobilers here!

[Northern Maine Land Man]

I have about 59 miles on my snowmobile this winter. Some 48 miles of that was taking photos for my business. My son is coming up next weekend so I got out another snowmobile this afternoon. I'll service it and get it running tomorrow. It's supposed to snow here from Tuesday noon to Wednesday noon. The trails should be in great shape next weekend.

[Maineah]

We rode about 45 miles today before the starter on my wife's sled broke. It seems like snowmobiles never go more than a couple hundred miles without something breaking on them. We got about five inches of snow yesterday so the trails were smooth. There weren't too many people on the local trails today which was odd given the good conditions. There certainly were plenty of cross country skiers on the trails. My wife had such a good time snowmobiling I took her smelting when we got back. Great date for a Saturday night! (I'm such a romantic fella). She fell asleep in the chair the minute we got home from the shack!.... Full winter day! NMLM are you a real estate agent?

[dramamama6685]

I can't wait to learn to snowmobile. I always thought it would be fun to use that as my winter transportation, but I imagine the snow removal is too efficient to ride through the streets of Eastport on my snowmobile.

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by AliceT

Speaking of which, are the ITS trails strictly limited to snowmobilers or is it acceptable to be in a pony or goat sleigh?

Alice in my opinion I would never take anything else out on those trails. Cross country skiers can jump out of the way when the hear one of those fast sleds come screaming up the trail. I fear that your goat or pony might not be so fortunate. I don't know which ITS your located near, but do know that even the slower riders ( average speeds 30mph +) might not be able to stop in time. Of course you would hear them before they saw you, but how are your goats/ponies going to handle the really deep snow if you are able to jump off the trail?

Just a thought...

[Northern Maine Land Man]

"NMLM are you a real estate agent?"

I'm a broker. PM me if you have any business questions. I can answer any general questions here.

[AliceT]

Originally Posted by Maineah

We rode about 45 miles today before the starter on my wife's sled broke. It seems like snowmobiles never go more than a couple hundred miles without something breaking on them.

exactly the reason I am so smitten with donkeys, ponies and goats. No mechanical breakdown issues.