8722_MSA_Here&Back_SpecialEdition

JoMary

much warmer as the wind is still whip ping through the open doors, but I lin ger anyway to look over all of the raf fles the club has going on as well as their club shirts and hats they are sell ing. As my hands slowly begin to grow numb I begin to wonder if they have any gloves for sale to match the hats. I chat with the crew for a bit as hypo thermia slowly sets in.Truthfully I could have spent more time here talking with the club members as one can tell this is a fun-loving crew who despite the cold weather appear to be having a great time. I snap a quick photo of Mt. Katahdin in the distance and then make a hasty retreat to my compara tively warmer car. It’s right around 11 a.m. and I’ve fin ished off my first hand . . . I’ve got a King and Queen, but unlike my cousin who is counting on winning the Mega Millions as her retirement plan, I sus pect I’m not going to win the $1,500 first prize for the winning hand based on the other cards I drew this morning.

I pull into the final stop of the morning – the last stop to fill out my poker hand – 5 Lakes Lodge where the Jo Mary Riders Snowmobile Club has set up a trailer outside. The view here of Mt. Katahdin against the bright blue sky is rather picturesque. The Jo Mary Club is one of the younger snowmobile clubs I am visit ing today, having formed in 2000.That said, they also maintain one of the largest trail systems with a whopping 146 miles of trail, which are groomed with their four Bombardier groomers. Today the club members huddle around the warming BBQ grills as the club members get ready to cook up burgers for the lunch-time crowd. Other club members are dressed as if they are ready to go riding . . . and it’s no wonder . . . the wind coming off SouthTwin Lake is making me well aware that my choice of a fleece jacket and hoodie are not really adequate to stay outside for much more than 15 or 20 minutes. The inside of the Jo Mary trailer isn’t

JoMary Riders

Founded: 2000

Members: 200

Miles of Trail: 146

Groomers: 3 BR 275 Bombardier and 1 BR 350 Bombardier groomers

Best Tip: Ragged Mountain Lookout, Greenleaf Mountain Lookout, the High Cross Over alongTrail 109 Why volunteer? “I do it for the enjoyment of others. It’s quite something when you realize the work you’ve done on the trails is attracting folks from all over New England.This sport really brings a lot of people to this area.”

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JoMary Groomer