9245-R2_MSA_January2026_Newsletter
The SnMowaimneobiler r
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Vol. 57 • No. 5 January 2026 MSA, PO Box 80 Augusta ME 04332 www.mainesnowmobileassociation.com
An Official Publication of the Maine Snowmobile Association
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Find us on Facebook
☛ United we trail, divided we fail!
Your Guide to Central Maine Snowmobiling: 100+ Miles of Scenic Trails
T he Central Region of Maine Snow mobile Trail System is a wondrous winter Playground, stretching over 100 scenic miles from Gardiner to Jack man. The expansive corridor offers some of the most exhilarating and
diverse riding in the state. Riders can explore dazzling lake regions – from the serene shores of West Gardiner to the sparkling waters of Belgrade and the majestic expanse of Flagstaff Lake. The terrain shifts beautifully into roll-
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ing hills and forested valleys, wind ing through Wayne, Lexington and The Forks, before reaching the rug ged beauty of Jackman. The wide variety of trails cater to all levels of snowmobilers. Whether you’re cruising along miles of smooth railbed trails or tackling the thrilling ascent of Coburn Mountain and the remote border trails, there’s something for everyone. The ITS trail system – Routes 84, 85, 86, 87, 89 – and connectors 113 and 115 – form the backbone of this region, supported by thousands of miles of
club-maintained trails. Along your ride, you’ll encounter a vibrant network of trail supporters. From cozy restaurants and lively pubs to welcoming hotels, gas stations, snowmobile clubhouses, Airbnb’s, dealers, and sled rental shops-Hos pitality is never far away. These local businesses and organizations make the journey not just scenic, but also convenient and memorable. For those looking to connect with the community, check out the nearly 60 snowmobile clubs in the Central Region. Their websites and Face
book pages are treasure troves of information on upcoming events like snowmobile shows, sizzling barbecues, hearty breakfasts, radar runs, poker rides, club outings, and even guided tours. Social media platforms and resources like the Maine Snowmobile Association and local newspapers also offer timely updates and insights to help you plan your adventure. And above all – always remem ber. Ride Smart Today. Ride Again Tomorrow.
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Maine by Sled: 4 Unforgettable Sights on the Snowmobile Trails
1. The Majestic Views of Mount Katahdin There’s a reason the Penobscot Nation named it Katahdin, "The Greatest Mountain." Seeing its formidable, granite peak dominate the horizon is a humbling experience. While Baxter State Park itself is closed to snowmobiles, the trails surrounding it offer some of the most breathtaking vantage points in the state. Why it’s a must-see: Riding through the vast wilderness with Katahdin as your backdrop is the quintessential northern Maine experience. On a clear day, the snow-covered mountain against a brilliant blue sky is a sight you will never forget. Where to find it: The trails around Millinocket, Shin Pond, and the Katahdin region (ITS 83, 85, and 86) provide spectacular and ever-changing views of the mountain from different angles. Stop at a scenic overlook, shut off your engine, and just soak in the silence and the scale.
2. The Grand Tour: Circumnavigating Moosehead Lake - Moosehead Lake Region While not a single “spot,” the journey around Maine’s largest lake is an epic adventure that showcases the incredible diversity of the state’s landscape. The loop around Moosehead Lake is a full-day ride (around 130 miles) that takes you across vast, open stretches of the frozen lake, through winding woodland trails, and past charming lakeside towns like Greenville, Rockwood, and Kokadjo. Why it’s a must-see: The scenery is constantly changing. One moment you’re gazing at the sheer cliffs of Mount Kineo rising dramatically from the ice, and the next you’re cruising through a silent, snow-laden forest. This ride gives you a true sense of the scale and wildness of Maine. It’s a bucket-list trip for any snowmobiler and a perfect way to experience the grandeur of the region in a single, unforgettable day. Where to find it: Access the lake from towns like Greenville on the southern tip or Rockwood in the middle. The trip across to Mount Kineo, which rises dramatically from the center of the lake, is an iconic ride. Safety first: Always stick to the marked trail and confirm ice conditions with local clubs before heading out. 3. The Somber B-52 Crash Site
Deep in the woods near Elephant Mountain lies a powerful piece of history. In 1963, a B-52 Stratofortress on a training mission crashed here during a winter storm. Much of the wreckage remains, preserved by the remote location and serving as a solemn memorial to the seven airmen who lost their lives. Why it’s a must-see: This isn't a thrill-seeking stop; it’s a place for reflection. Seeing the massive pieces of the aircraft scattered among the trees is a stark and moving reminder of the past. An American flag and various plaques mark the site, which is impeccably maintained by local snowmobile clubs. Where to find it: Located just off a spur trail near Greenville, the site is well-marked and easily accessible from the main trail system. Please treat this historic site with the utmost respect.
4. The Ghost Trains of the North Woods For the truly adventurous rider looking for a story to tell, there’s nothing like finding the abandoned locomotives of the Eagle Lake & West Branch Railroad. In the early 1900s, these massive steam engines hauled pulpwood from one waterway to the next. When the operation ceased in 1933, they were simply left in the woods, too remote and massive to move. Why it’s a must-see: It's like stumbling upon a lost world. These rusting iron giants, slowly being reclaimed by the forest, are a surreal sight against the pure white snow. It’s a tangible link to Maine’s rugged logging history and an adventure just to get there. Where to find it: This is a remote destination. Located deep in the North Maine Woods near Chamberlain Lake, reaching them requires a long ride and careful planning. You’ll need to be prepared with extra fuel, supplies, and knowledge of the area. The reward is an unforgettable glimpse into the past.
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MAINE PARK & RIDE LOCATIONS
Attention MSA Clubs if you would like to add your local Park & Ride please visit: mainesnowmobileassociation.com and fill out the form under MSA Forms.
REGION CLUB
ADDRESS
TOWN Madison
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Central Central Central Central Central Central Central Coastal Coastal Coastal Coastal Coastal Eastern Eastern Eastern Eastern Eastern Eastern Eastern Eastern Coastal
Abnaki Sno-Riders Anson-North Anson SC Lexington Hilanders SC Minnehonk Ridge Riders
1463 Lakewood Rd
Club house parking lot
18 High Street
North Anson Lexington Twp1
1654 Long Falls Dam Road
Corner of North Rd & Bean Road Mount Vernon
Park & Ride trail connects to the Mount Vernon trail system Trail maps are posted at Park & Ride parking lot and all trail intersections.
Norridge Sportsmen Alliance 444-328 Martin Stream Road
Norridgewock
Ashley Wing Memorial Park Direct Access to Kennebec Valley Railtrail KVT
Smithfield Moonshiners SC
1232 Village Road
Smithfield
The park in ride is the paved parking lot directly in front of the ball field. Please do not block the driveway/parking area in front of the salt/sand shed. Thank you
Town and Country Trailriders 35 Clubhouse Road
Clinton Cornish
Parking lot of Town and Country Trailriders snowmobile club.
Cornish Sno-Cruisers Moonlite Sno-Skimmers
Rt #5 (Sokokis Trail) 60 Val Halla Road
About 3/4 a mile south from Rt 25, Vacant lot and Approx 7 miles North of Limerick on Rt #5
Cumberland
Rachels on the green - breakfast- lunch - dinner - large parking lot for the Val Halla Parking lot. 15 minute drive from Portland with direct access to main trail system leading to destinations west and north of Cumberland.
Norridgewock Sportsmen
444 Martin Stream Road
Norridgewock
Ashley J Wing Family Memorial Park and Ride. Direct access to the Kennebec Valley Trail (Rail bed)
Association
Westbrook Trail Blazers Westbrook Trail Blazers Westbrook Trail Blazers
429 Bridge Street
Westbrook Westbrook Westbrook
Westbrook Little League Parking lot Sunset Ridge Golf Course parking lot
771 Cumberland Street
235 Pride Street
Prides Corner Congregational Church Parking lot will be busy Sunday mornings till about noon time. EMSC is located directly in Connector Trail 107. The yard has ample parking and an unloading ramp. Located just north of the road crossing on ITS 111 North (Wildwoods trail) Located just north of the Jo Mary Trail on the left 1.5 miles north of Ebeemee Club House
Eastern Maine Snowmobilers EMSC clubhouse , 263 Levenseller Rd Holden
Ebeemee SC Ebeemee SC
US Route 11, ITS 111 Intersection Ebeemee Twp
US Route 11
Ebeemee Twp
East Branch Sno-Rovers & ATV 6 Clubhouse Drive
Medway
Lots of room for parking. Lunches usually served on weekends. The club has a large parking area at their clubhouse that is plowed for trailer parking. Trailers can be parked for a day or an extended period. Plenty of parking available. Trailhead is across the road, access to local club trails , ITS 83 can be picked up in Corinth , Maine.
Glenburn Lakeside Riders SC 2838 Ohio Street
Glenburn
LA Sledders
Club House, 3346 Bennoch Road Alton
Also the Rail Trail Parking lot off Bennoch Rd in Lagrange as well as Lagrange General Store Also, 2 miles down East Shore Rd, Lakeville, ME 04487 Large Parking Lot next to ITS 105
Quad County SC Inc. Sebasticook Valley SC
976 Lee Rd (Rt 6) 238 Moosehead Trail
Springfield
Newport
Very Large parking lot with direct ITS 85 trail access. Located right on RT. 7 just 1 mile from I-95. Food/Gas services available in both directions. Great take off spot for day or overnight trips. Contact Sebasticook Valley SC Facebook page for the latest grooming information. From Rt. 15, head West on either Upper Shirley Rd. or Lower Shirley Rd, to the intersection. The parking lot is just West of that intersection at the junction of West Road and ITS 85 (B&A Railroad Road S.). It is located diagonal to the small town park/pavilion at Shirley Pond. Room for 4 rigs. (no overnight parking except residents of the street) Immediately off I-95 northbound exit. Located at Brooks Equipment Service . Direct access to ITS 83 Oils, parts, and services available at this site, as well as 2 gas stations located within 900’ of park and ride location (one of which has 24 hr. card service with non-ethanol gas also) As your leaving Caribou on Rt.89 heading east towards Limestone Otter St. will be on your left just before you reach the underpass. Drive all the way straight in and that is where the Park n Ride will be. As you come into Stockholm off 161 turn left onto Main St. and go across the bridge. Right after the bridge on the left you’ll see a sign for a public boat landing. Turn left into there and that in the parkn ride. There is a small maintained trail that will lead you thru the ballpark up to ITS 83 or you can ride the shoulder of Main St. from the park n ride and get on ITS 83 next to Eureka Hall. This is the location of our clubhouse. The clubhouse is not open to the general public w/o notice. There is lots of room for parking, but Located right at the I-95 Sherman exit
Eastern
Shirley Bog Trail Busters
B&A RR Road South
Shirley
Northern Benedicta Snow Gang Northern Big Valley Sno Club
Sherman Citgo 1160 Crystal Road 478 Houlton Road 10 Otter Street
Sherman Island Falls
Northern Big Valley Sno Club
Island Falls
Northern Caribou SC
Caribou
Northern Caribou SC
Main Street
Stockholm
Northern Chapman Ridge Runners
94 Town Hall Road
Chapman
Snowmobile & ATV Club
please not in front of our groomer barn, “The Bullpen.”
Northern Dwinal Pond 4-Seasons Club 174 Springfield Road
East Winn
Parking lot across the road from the clubhouse (If space is filled please use clubhouse circle driveway)
Northern Linneus Sno-Sports Northern Madawaska SC Northern Madawaska SC Northern Moosetown Riders Northern Portage Lake SC Northern Portage Lakers Northern Smoki Haulers SC
45 Mill Road
Lineus
19 Fournier Road 195 Dufour Road 20 Little Black Road
St. David (Madawaska) Ramp available for truckbed sleds. Please do not block garage overhead door where groomer is parked, or park in front of it. Free parking.
Madawaska
This is a private driveway located on trail ITS 81. Call 207.316.9118 for permission to park (limited space)
Allagash
Park Ride behind the Little Black Checkpoint.
Station Road
Portage Lake
This is a dirt road that connects east and west cottage road in Portage. There will be available parking on the west side of this road and will be marked with signs. Exit 286 on I-95. Heading North: take Exit 286 and take a right off the ramp. Take the first driveway on the right - big sign board out front. The driveway snakes between two homes - our log cabin Clubhouse is located in the back. Unload and you’re off and running on ITS 83! Parking is alongside Station Rd in downtown Portage. There is room for approximately 12 rigs.
Station Road
Portage Oakfield
317 Oakfield Smyrna Road
Northern Washburn Trail Runners SC
48 Station Road
Washburn
Western Western
Bog Hooters SC
Rte 11
Mechanic Falls
Fireman’s field next to the little Androscoggin River.
Fryeburg Area Snowmobile 322 McNeil Road
Fryeburg
Assoc.
Western
Fryeburg Area Snowmobile Across from 330 Bridgton Road
Fryeburg
Assoc.
Western
Fryeburg Area Snowmobile Weston’s Beach on River Street
Fryeburg
Assoc.
Western Western Western Western Western Western Western Western Western Western Western Western
Crooked River SC
661 Meadow Road Vacationland Road 219 North Main Street
Casco
Harrison Friendly Riders
Harrison Strong Norway Bridgton Rumford Rumford
Take Vacationland Rd, Follow Signs.
Narrow Gauge SC Norway Trackers SC
Look for sign at entrance, indicating parking area for Narrow Gauge Snowmobile Club Park & Ride
95 Lake Road
Located at the Lake Pennesseewassee Boat Launch/ Parking Area.
Pleasant Mountain SC (Formaly Brag Way
Parking lot is across from the Ham Athletic Fields at 40 Brag Way. 2/10 of a mile from the intersection of Brag Way and Route 302. Easy
Bridgton Easy Riders)
access to ITS 89.
Rumford Polar Bears Rumford Polar Bears Snow Valley Sno-Goers
Route 2
Located at the top of Falls Hill at the corner of Route 2 and South Rumford Road across from Adley’s Auto Next to Sherwin Williams at the parking lot of the old bowling alley site. McDonald’s is 3 properties away
1019 Route, Rt 2
120 Just East of Andover Village Andover
Take a right at Andover Village (Rt. 120) just down over the hill on right Parking lot holds 30 plus trailers and direct access to ITS115.
Sno Wanderers
171 Main Street 1771 US Rt 201
Kingfield
The Forks Area Trail Club
The Forks PLT
FREE PARK & RIDE LOT at Northern Outdoors on Route 201. Lot is located 1/4 mile south of Northern Outdoors and marked with a sign. The lot is large, well plowed and has plenty of room for trailers. This lot opens as soon as groomers have been able to hit the trails! Ample space for whatever trailer you might be hauling. P&R is directly across from WRVSC grooming hut. Open every day. Located on the right hand side of Route 2 after entering Gilead from the west and passing the rest area or on the left side of the highway if coming in from the Bethel area. Long, thin parking lot for about 4 trucks with trailers. Kiosk and map in parking lot.
Webb River Valley S.C.
55 Shanie Lane
Carthage
Wild River Riders
Route 2
Gilead
Open Mic Night
Join the MSA Snowmobile Club of your choice, by scanning the QR Code below and join the fun! MSA, PO Box 80 Augusta ME 04332 207-622-6983 Fax: 207-622-7669
mainesnowmobileassociation.com
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From The Executive Board
From the President
ready. It is amazing the work it takes to be ready for trails to be groomed. I thank each and every one of you for the effort you put into the snowmobile trail systems across Maine. If it was not for all your dedicated hours so many families would not be able to enjoy snowmobiling in Maine. The snowmobile volunteer group in Maine is amazing, and I am proud to be part of it. If your club struggles with having new people show up to help with the workload, please invite a new friend or acquaintance to your next meeting or workday. We all can use some new helpers and there is no better way to get them hooked than to show them the rewarding work we do. You do not need lots of special skills, there are so many ways to help, some you probably haven’t thought of yet. CLUBS: Please respond to offers of help, even if the answer is “not right now”. SNOMOBILERS: Step up, reach out & help. If we do not take the time to welcome new people, we will have to do it all forever! The MSA has been working throughout the summer and fall on updated legislation to improve funding to the trail maintenance & capitol equipment funds. Our bill was “carried over” from last winters’ session which means we can go back in front of committee to plead our case again. It has been about five years since the last legislation added to these accounts from the last registration increase. We all know the cost of doing business has increased significantly since then. Thanks to everyone for all the ideas that you continue to 2. If you stop at a restaurant or gas station, a lot of times there will be a donation jar to help fund the club’s grooming activities. Show them that you enjoy their efforts and throw in a couple of bucks, trust me er-wise back in November and early Decem ber with snow and cold weather. Then the rain came. At least things will freeze up the snow insulated the ground and right now it’s only 15 degrees at my house with snow and colder in the forecast. The Super Raffle went well this time around. The prizes were much appreci ated by our vendors. They’re the best in the business. From Kittery to Madawaska, they come through every year supporting our clubs. Thank you all for your support. The best time in my raffle life is giving away the prizes. The winners face light up like a Christmas tree! It’s a special time. Thank you to the clubs for all your hard work. It’s not just the top prizes, the sleds and trailers and $5,000.00 gift card Shin Ponds generosity, you all make it happen and landowners as they are the gateway to our trail system and without them we would be riding in circles on our own land and that certainly wouldn’t be fun for very long, I think we could all agree. If we think about it for a minute, our snowmobiling family and communities are comprised of tens of thousands of riders across the State, 285 snowmobile clubs, over 12,000+ members with thousands of active members working hard and doing whatever it takes to ensure that Maine puts out the best product on the snow by far. But it doesn’t stop there, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention all the time and work put into the sport by the Dept of ACF Snowmobile division and the Maine Snowmobile Association and its volunteers. Let’s not forget all of the businesses and outfitters that are out there to make it convenient, enjoyable and safe for the rider to have a successful experience. Now in order to make this sport succeed and flourish all of the aforementioned must work together and help one another be the best that they can be. It is important to remember that the clubs and volunteers rely on your support as a snowmobiler. It is without a doubt a very expensive proposition for a club to support itself, and cannot do it on grant money alone, and there are a few simple things that you as a snowmobiler can help out. 1. Join a Club (I know that most of you reading this paper already belong to a club) But do you know that you can join online to as many clubs as you like, maybe support the clubs where you ride, every little bit helps.
they really do appreciate that. 3. If you are not able to help with boots on the ground work, reach out to the club, there are many other ways in which to help a club, and believe me they will appreciate that as well because most clubs are working on a skeleton and aging core group. 4. One good way to get involved is if you see that a club is holding an event (and we all read social media) get in touch with a member and see if you can help in some way. It can be a fun and rewarding way to give back to the sport. 5. And lastly, be courteous and appreciative to the groomers and maintenance workers on the trail if you happen upon them. Give them a thumbs up or stop and simply thank them for their work. A simple thank you goes a long way. These are very simple things that we can all do to help give back to the sport that we all enjoy, and as I said before, we all need to work together whether you are a rider, an active member or part of one of the associations or departments, the more involved you are the easier the work for everyone. This is my take on the sport being involved from the inside. Snowmobiling has a Very powerful positive impact on our State’s economy but is very fragile at the same time but if we all work to make it prosper we will be able to enjoy this sport for a long time to come! Well that’s it for now, I hope to see many of you either on the trail or at one of the showcase director’s meetings, but if I don’t and you would like to talk about anything snowmobile related please reach out to me. As always, my door is open, until next time enjoy the snow and be safe on the trail. Mark share on ways to increase funding. We have not forgotten any of them and will continue to work to make sure clubs are well funded for trail work. I hope you are as anxious as I am to get out on the trails, but please be safe. The MSA’s “Ride smart today, ride again tomorrow” is how we should all think when planning a ride & heading out. Take the time to talk to others in your group about snowmobile safety and trail etiquette. Every rider approaches trail safety differently and we can all learn from other experiences and stories. Please heed signage along the trails, the club members who install & maintain them put them up for a reason, to direct you or share information with you. This is especially true of “Caution plowed road/logging”. Clubs gather information from landowners on where they can be, where landowners do not want us and following that signage make the difference of keeping that trail open. Where snowmobilers interact with logging & trucking operations the landowner & clubs have worked together to allow us to continue access through the active job. WE MUST BE RESPECTFUL of the workers there. We (snowmobilers) are out having fun, recreating, but those folks are working. Follow signs, wait for operators to motion us past, ride slow & to the right, yield to vehicles, etc. If we don’t, access could be lost not just for that section, but for other locations and years as well. Landowners often own more than one parcel and if shared access doesn’t work in one location, they are likely to we appreciate you very much. My time is up on the IF&W’s Landowner Relation Committee. It was a learning time for me, and I appreciate those folks very much. I made some lifelong friends related to what I enjoy the most protecting the landowners and our trails. We have made new laws to protect the landowners, and the committee will carry their mission on to have everyone involved. We have many challenges in the years ahead if you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know. I’ll try to answer or send you in the right direction. Access to private land is an issue we need to get a handle on. We ride on their land and anybody that disrespects their land should be banned or punished. Most complaints from landowners are liter, noise and land getting dug up. Wood harvesting can close a trail very quickly and send a club look
Treasurer’s Report
Lori Hemmerdinger (207) 890-5455 544 Plains Road • Poland, ME 04274 Treasurer@mesnow.com Respectfully Submitted, Lori Hemmerdinger, Treasurer
Mark Chinnock, President 207-754-9874 544 Plains Road, Poland, ME 04274 napadude66@hotmail.com
H ello Everyone, First things first, I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year! Yes, we have successfully completed another snowmobiling year and are now embracing the 2026 season full steam ahead. It’s hard to know what mother nature has in store for us in the months to come but as of this writing I can see many areas with rideable snow with grooming activities in some areas of the State. Clubs as well as riders are very anxious to get out on the trails to put on some well-needed miles and smiles! We all get super excited for the first rides of the season but please be cautious, courteous and respectful of not only our fellow riders but of our very gracious From the Executive VP
Monthly Income Monthly Expense
$ 65,436.87 $ 43,576.69 $ 21,860.18 $ 93,956.22 $156,153.23 $188,576.36 $ 1,414.43
Net Revenue
Short Term CD (12/31/25)
Checking (12/31/25)
Dedicated Account (12/31/25)
Pay Pal (12/31/25) Square (12/31/25)
$
332.00
Stripe (12/31/25) - Online Super Raffle $ - Special Events Account (12/31/25) $ 4,987.53 Credit Line (12/31/25) $ - Building Fund (12/31/25) $ 57,339.60 Brian Wass Safety Fund (12/31/25) $ 3,997.80 Scholarship Savings (12/31/25) $ 68,046.37 ($60,000 to be moved to Northeast Bank) Scholarship CD (12/31/25) $ - Scholarship 12 Month CD (12/31/25) $ 5,158.91 Larry Lafland scholarship Fund (12/31/25) $ 3 ,078.47 say no the next time. There are many events planned by clubs this winter, check out the calendar in the paper and follow club news where you ride or plan to vacation for information on these events so you can make them part of your winter. Check out the calendar in the back of the paper, club Facebook pages & websites as you plan out your winter. I personally love starting my ride days with a club breakfast. Every month in the winter there are regional rides & directors meetings planned. If you have not attended one, they are good time, led by folks from the region and are a great opportunity to learn more about the area and to meet some of the local club & MSA folks. January is Western (Norway), February is Eastern (Millinocket), March is Northern region (Van Buren). Check out the regional VP articles for more information. If you have a question, problem, concern, or idea on snowmobiling in Maine, please get in touch with me. You can contact me at the phone # or email below. Matt ing for a reroute that is more work and labor intensive. Communication is the key; large or small landowners need to be your first stop to solve the problem. Remembering 2025 I’d like to thank the team for all you do. Maine snowmobiling is a nationwide destination point, people from all over the country come to ride our trails. Our ITS network is very unique stretching from extreme Southern Maine to the extreme North. Eastern Maine offers some spectacular trails along with the Western Mountains they have some very well-kept secret trials in those areas worth riding. We will be getting the 2026 Super Raffle going in a few months or weeks. If you have any ideas let me know. I wish you good health and happiness! Be Safe Out There! AL
Matt Stedman 207-557-1921 (call or text) PO Box 621, Ashland ME 04732 Stedman.matt@jdirving.com
H appy New Years’ fellow snowmobilers, I hope you had the opportunity to spend time with family and friends over the Christmas season. This December did allow for a bit of early season riding in a few places, which was a great change of pace. But then it disappeared again…oh well, the base should freeze good now! Clubs across the State have been extremely busy all fall and through December preparing for a long winter. Hopefully it comes in with the new year. There have been thousands of hours of volunteer work done just to get
Director of Operations W elcome to year 2026! Happy New Year! Well, we started off pretty good weath
Alan Swett, 207-872-7282 234 County Rd, Waterville ME 04901 snowtraveler@roadrunner.com
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From The Executive Board Secretary’s Report - Shanna Towle Directors Meeting - At Jeff’s Catering, Brewer Maine - December 11, 2025
VP Regional Reports: Western: Jerry- not much, but ITS 82 Newry to NH closed & 89 Oxford. Coastal: Dave- it snowed everywhere, keep snow dance going. Northern: Nick- got fresh snow last night, some clubs out panning getting ready, getting more snow tonight. Central: Ron- thanks for coming, about a foot in central, Bingham having some trail issues, watch Facebook for events. Eastern: Eileen- thanks for being here, 179 thanksgiving dinners given away this year by Quad County SC. Membership: Eileen- as of 12/10/25- 208 of 285 clubs sent in so far. Central 813, Coastal 736, Northern 1254, Eastern 1326, Western 1498. Trying to establish when clubs when established and fully part of MSA. Director of Operations & Safety: Al- challenges but we will make it happen, be safe out there. Scholarship: Barry- deadline for scholarship April 1 st Trails: 82/83 logging Brownville working on it, section of 81 through Nikatowas limited hours for fuel, clubs want to be on app please send in data, colors on app changed to new color scheme, trails@mesnow.com, on Saturday 12/13 Black Mountain signage workshop. Funding: Matt- Maine Trails bond round 1 results is out, met with IF&W about MOSES
John Monk, Kim Turner, Joe Walsh, Mike Grass Jr, Dave Tylor, John Spence, Steven Lane, Charlie Huntington, Donna Farrington, John Farrington, Brian Manzo, Andy Osborne Sr, Brad Porter, John Nelson, Theodore Misiaszek, Bob Corthell, Mary Corthell, Andy Merrill, Brent Spaulding, Terry Berube, Allen Chase, Brenda McRobbie, Louanne Parker, Dottie Patria, Gail Ryan, Eddie Pinkham, Marion Pinkham, Kevin O’Brien, David Cogley, Cheryl Kroemer, Charles McFarland, Dale Clement, Jo Clement, Tina Ryan, Marshall Ryan, David Poll, Hunter Poll, Jacob Lynch. Via Zoom: Laurie Plourde, Brad Barker, Randy Bates, Deb Long, Mark Guerrette, Carol Bourque, Kevin Freeman, Lisa Sutherland, Nick Morrill, Steve Richard Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm by President Mark C. Secretary’s Report: Jerry Major motion, Ron Nunes second, passed. Treasurer’s Report: Read by Barry Ryan, motion to accept as read & placed on file at office. President’s comments: Welcome going to be short meeting, go around and say what clubs attending, can’t believe in 4 months I’m going to pass the torch on. Ex VP Comments: thanks for all coming out, excited we have snow & first time live at super raffle. our calendars to January it is a great time for MSA families with children either currently in post high school programs or going to be in the coming year to consider applying for the MSA scholarship. The scholarship committee recognizes the high cost of post high school education and the financial challenges this can create as our youths continue on their educational journeys. Just in the past few years we have increased our annual awards from $500 to $1,000 and now $1,500. Our goal has always been to do as much as we can for as many as we can. With a lot of student’s home for holiday break it’s a great time to think about applying for the MSA Scholarship. The committee has worked hard over the past few years to try and streamline the application as a way to encour age more members to apply. The application can be found online on the MSA website and the office staff is always willing to help support anyone that might have questions or thoughts about the process. The committee is looking for support, ideas, questions, concerns and I speak for the group when I say that we are always available to help in any way. Thanks for all your past support and here’s to a safe and Happy New Year with lots of riding Statewide! blowdowns! Thank you all for the steadfast dedication and effort! There are a few areas that have issues with continuity for various reasons. Multiple log ging operations have shut down a section of ITS 82/83 east of Schoodic Lake between PS8 and PT9. That section will be rerouted to use CONN 109 and CONN 111 for most if not all of this season. In Newry, ITS 82 is not open west of town to the NH border. A work around is being attempted, but no solution yet. As always, LOCAL SIGNAGE SHALL TAKE PRECEDENCE so pay attention and heed directives. Inspections should already be underway, conditions permitting, so I’ll be on the look out for your report. The data for club trails continue to fill in areas in the APP—KEEP ‘EM COMING! Send trail plots or POI data to TRAILS@MESNOW.COM . Many clubs have reached out to Joe Higgins and his trail coordinators for trail data. Our original proto col was to get data directly from the clubs for the most accurate and timely information, but we are currently in discussions to get data from state sources as well. Stay tuned on this topic. All for now. Get out enjoy our great state!! Brent
system to look into more funding. Hospitality & Hall of Fame: Gail- sent out cards out to several people, and told Christmas j oke. Old Business: Super Raffle: is here. Special thank you to Mark Gardiner for fixing the ticket drum. Funding: already discussed earlier. Announcements: • January 24 th Director’s meeting Norway commons near Domino’s if snow maybe a ride. • January 31 st snowball run for cancer from timber cruisers. • Feb 7 th Timber Cruisers showcase ride leaving at 8:30am & meeting that night at Timber Cruisers. • Feb 7 th Groomer Rodeo in Medway. • March 14 th Van Buren showcase ride & Director’s Meeting that night, more details to follow. • Quad County selling calendar raffle only 400 total. Pot of Gold: M Mixed by Matt, drawn by Little Joe- East Grand SC in Danforth not present put back in. 50/50: Winning ticket # 951380 winner David Cogley $188, give back $100 to scholarship fund. Adjourn the meeting at 7:51pm & took 10 min break to start super raffle drawing. od at the end of the month almost 700 member ships were entered! The early snow and cold weather must have reminded people to renew or join. Thanks to the clubs that have submit ted memberships. As this is written on December 23 rd , 226 clubs have sent in memberships compared to 220 at this point last year. With snow in the forecast for Christmas Day I am sure by the time this is published and you are reading it the totals will have increased greatly. Dec. 23 rd numbers 5,484 family memberships and 1,261 business memberships have been submitted and entered. That is only thirty memberships less than last year. There is one club with over 400 member ships, one club with over 200 memberships, five clubs with over 100 memberships and twen ty-six clubs with over 50 memberships!! Totals by Region Central-1,016 Northern-1,456 Coastal-870 Western- 1,817 Eastern- 1,578 Most accidents happen in the first month of the season. Why? Because we have not been on our sleds for a while and we seem to need to be reprogrammed on our riding skills. Stay focused always. Start off slowly. Before you go check over your controls, track, skis, any defects? A full tank of fresh gas, motor oil, spare key, flashlight, first aid kit, map, com pass, spare belt. Check the weather ride in good conditions avoid riding in storms. Tell someone where you’re going and don’t ride alone. Dress in layers, wear a helmet, wear waterproof and wind proof clothing good boots warm gloves. Take a snowmobile safety course. Maine IF&W has courses available Statewide check with their website for dates and locations. Avoid water staying off the ice. Be cautious around any body of water. Approach road and railroad crossings carefully. Never drink and drive. There are many fatalities due to folks driving intoxicated. Lots of deadly crashes happen at night after the bars close. In North America, we had around 200 deaths and 14,000 injuries last year. Let’s hope for a wonderful white season. And a safe one. Be safe out there! Al aware of. Downed trees and branches wash outs wildlife and or disabled sleds. Maybe a groomer broke down, be aware of that.
Shanna Towle, Secretary 207-341-1747 878 Main Steet, Palmyra, ME 04965 shannatowle@gmail.com
ATTENDEES: In person: Mark Chinnock, MSA President, Matt Stedman, EVP, Lori Hemmerdinger Treasurer, Barry Ryan, Assistant Treasurer, Shanna Towle, Secretary, Ron Nunes, Eileen Lafland, Jerry Major & Dave Watson, Regional Vice Presidents, Al Swett, Director of Operations Liz Mahaleris, Office Manager, Catherine Horne, Richard Horne, Paula Huff, Lori Nunes, Bob Flagg, Terri Major, Tom England, Edward Brownell, Jeff Brooks, Calvin White, Alan Dugas, Randy Turner, Melanie Monk,
Scholarship Committee
From The Membership Corner
Eileen Lafland, 207-843-7813 PO Box 733, Holden ME 04429 L.andE.lafland525476@gmail.com
W elcome snowmobile friends to 2026, I hope everyone had a good holiday and that the New Year finds us all healthy and well. With an unusually cold December and snow on the ground and more in the forecast, maybe, just maybe we are looking at a good, long riding season. Now that we have turned Harvey Chesley, 207-314-0637 25 Hillcrest Dr, Clinton ME 04927 harv.chesley@gmail.com
W
elcome to the New Year 2026 Everyone! December saw many, many member ships come in to the office. In a three-day peri
Safety Committee
Trails Committee Chair Report
Alan Swett 207-872-7282 234 County Rd, Waterville ME 04901 snowtraveler@roadrunner.com W elcome year 2026! Ride within your ability. Be a safe and responsible rider. Educate yourself with common sense, pre paredness, Maine laws are made to protect you and our landowners. Over 95% of our trails are on private property, yes, 95%. We are so fortunate to have the landowners we have. Stay on the trail. Off trail riding makes for a bad relationship with the landowners. There are many obstacles on the trail we have to be
Brent Spaulding, MSA Trails Chairman 207-944-7762 41 Madison Ave Brewer ME 04412 msatrailchair@gmail.com G reetings from Brewer, It’s snowing as I write and I hope most of the state is up and running as you are reading this article. We were off to a promising start until the warmup in mid-December that also brought high winds. Many clubs that were all but ready had to revisit their system to clear
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From The Executive Board
H appy Winter to All Central Region Members! We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and holiday season. Now that winter is here, let’s pray for good snow and cold temps! Our hardworking members have been busy preparing trails, so now it’s time to enjoy them. Be sure to monitor your local clubs, ride responsibly, and participate in the great events they host-ice fishing derbies, club rides, ice drags, and more. I say this often because it matters: join a club, support a club, and support the MSA. Without these groups, there would be no trail system. Remember, there are many ways to help beyond working on trails-grant writing, fundraising, and other support are vital to club operations. We’re due for a great winter, so let’s get ready to help our amazing volunteer clubs succeed. Thank you for all you do! As I sit here typing on Christmas Eve morning at 9:30am, it is still snowing, (due to be done soon), we have gotten 10 inches, so far. A couple more of these and we could have our ride before the January meeting here in Norway. Regardless of snow I URGE ALL WESTERN CLUBS TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO THIS MEETING, on January 24th at the Norway Commons. Not a lot of news, the clubs have been out in numbers getting the trails ready. It is so sad, we know a dedicated FEW does so much for so many. Wouldn’t it be nice if every sled owner joined a club, and all clubs were 100% in with the MSA. WE (the MSA) need your support to finance our staff and our lobbyist. What a great job he is doing. And our officers are working tirelessly to keep us running smoothly and finding more money for the trails. OK enough babbling, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and wish you all a HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR. GOD BLESS Jerry Major PS: congratulations to all the SUPER RAFFLE WINNERS.
three Eastern clubs were Quad County, Glen burn Lakeside Riders, and Moosehead Riders. Also, congratulations to the winners of prizes. For the first time, we believe, we had a person win twice and he was present at the drawing: John Spence of Millinocket. MSA Secretary Shanna Towle also was a winner and was present. The top prize went to a lady from the Lexington Highlanders SC. The first round of grants for the Maine Trails Program has been announced. Congrat ulations to the snowmobile clubs that received one of these grants. Again, Eastern Region clubs were chosen to receive some funding for some large projects. Great Job: Dennys ville Snowmobile and ATV Club, East Branch Sno- Rovers and ATV club, E-Ville Riders, Kokadjo Roach Riders, and Twin Pines SC. These clubs will be doing some trail rehabili tation and some bridge replacements with the funds they received. REMINDER TO EVERYONE- The Febru ary MSA Directors meeting will be held Sat urday, Feb 7th at the Northern Timber Cruis ers SC in Millinocket. Weather permitting there will be an Eastern Region showcase ride that morning starting at the Timber Cruisers. Eastern Regional Director Charlie Hunting ton will be leading the ride from there down to the East Branch Sno- Rovers club for their Groomer Rodeo and a chance for riders to pur chase lunch. Then the ride will proceed to Jo- Mary Riders trail system and back to Northern Timber Cruisers. If you plan to join the ride, PLEASE be at Northern Timber Cruisers by no later than 8:30. The ride will leave at 9:00. With the stops at East Branch included, the ride should return to Timber Cruisers in mid -afternoon. The MSA directors meeting will begin with a social hour at 5, dinner at 6, and the meeting to follow the dinner. If you plan to attend the meeting, PLEASE go to the MSA website and make a reservation. I hope to see many people join the ride and at the meeting. That’s it for January everyone. Please be safe out there and enjoy the season. Eileen David Watson • 207-205-1558 412 Roberts Ridge Rd, E Waterboro, ME 04030 Dwatson6841@gmail.com O ur season is off to a pretty good start, with colder temps and Snow, I actually went riding already and hopefully it will continue for all of Maine. Once again, I’m hearing from clubs that they don’t have enough help to maintain trails, put up signage or grooming. More & more we struggle with this. To all the hard-working volunteers, Thank You for all you do. For all people reading this who are not helping, we need your help..... We also need you to reach out to “free mobilers” join a club, help if you can. If you’re on a trail and there’s brush or small trees stop and move them out of the trail. This is our sport, our time to enjoy the great outdoors Please get involved.
Western Region VP
Eastern Region VP
Eileen Lafland 207-843-7813 PO Box 733, Holden ME 04429 L.andE.lafland525476@gmail.com W elcome to the year of 2026 Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with family and friends and that the new year finds you all well. This article is being written on Dec. 20th in order to make the deadline. I can honestly say these few days before the hol iday have been a roller coaster ride of weather. We had freezing temps in the single digits to teens with below wind chill temps, snow that left six to eight inches on the ground in The County and other parts of the state, then temps in the 40’s and 50’s and rain, high winds with 60 mph gusts, then temps back down in the 20’s!! Who ever made Ole Man Winter and Mother Nature mad, can you please apolo gize? The cold temps and snow on the ground got everyone excited for a good ole fashion Maine winter. There were clubs packing trails in early December and people were out rid ing. Then the bottom fell out. I hope by the time you read this; the forces of Nature have decided to bless us again with snow, snow, and more snow! I want to say great job to all clubs, and East ern Region clubs in particular for all the work you did selling Super Raffle tickets. The top
Jerry Major, Cell: 207-838-0892 137 Morrill Rd, Norway ME 04268 mrfun101jem@gmail.com W ell, we don’t have to dream about a white Christmas, IT IS Here.
Central Region VP
Ron Nunes, 401-527-5370 260 Last Round Up Rd, Lexington Twp, ME 04961 Thelastroundup2018@gmail.com
Coastal Region VP
MSA CLUBS: TO ORDER CLUB TRAIL SIGNAGE
TO ORDER NEEDED ITS & JCT SIGNS Contact Mike Grass Sr. MSA Trails Committee
Contact Vanessa Haas DACF/Snowmobile Program Phone (207) 287-4957 Fax (207)287-8111 Vanessa.Haas@maine.gov
252 Condon Road, Plymouth, ME 04969 207-368-4914 home • 207-745-2745 cell Grasslands252@gmail.com
MSA MEMBERS CHANGE OF ADDRESS Let us know when your USPS mailing address has changed - so you won’t miss an issue of the Maine Snowmobiler Members Name: _____________________________________ Old Mailing Address: ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ NEW MAILING ADDRESS: ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Mail to: Maine Snowmobile Association, PO Box 80, Augusta, ME 04332 fax: 207-622-7669 or e-mail info to: editor@mesnow.com
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MSA Club News
Club Meetings We hold our monthly meetings on the first Friday of each month at the Groomer Shed in Portage Lake , starting at 6:30 pm . Come for the meeting, stay for the camaraderie—and maybe catch up with an old friend or make some new ones. December Recap December’s Pizza Night was a roaring suc cess! We provided pizza for everyone who showed up, and over 60 people came out. Turns out snowmobilers will brave almost anything for free pizza and good company. Thanks to everyone who joined us, thanks to Kristi and Kyle for preparing all those pies, and to Bruce for cooking them! Who knew you could cook a pizza in like 3 minutes flat?!—it was a great night! Upcoming Events January 2 nd -Monthly Meeting/Potluck Dinner Join us for our monthly meeting and bring a dish to share and something to drink. We have some great cooks in this group; you will not go home hungry! This is a family friendly meet ing, bring the kids and grandma too. There will be games following the meeting and din ner, corn hole, darts, Tuck, or cards. January 17 th – Chad the Hypnotist Join us for dinner and a show you won’t forget (or maybe you will—depending on Chad’s skills!). This guy does not disappoint, and there’s a good chance someone you know ends up being part of the show. If you have seen your buddy play his tuba or teach some one how to brush their teeth while hypnotized, you surely will want to see what someone else might do. Follow us on Facebook for all the details! January 30 th – Fas Phil Poker Run This special day starts with breakfast sandwiches at 8:00 am , and registration starts at 10:00 am . Riders will enjoy three stops throughout the day , ending back at the groomer barn . After the ride, dinner will be served, followed by live music by The Echo . Donations for this event have been rolling in, and they’ve been incredibly generous. A heart felt thank you to Mark and Carrie Wall, Jay Hackett, Kevin Call, and Josh Michaud for all their hard work putting this together. And a very special thank you to Julie, Phil’s wife, for giving us her blessing to host this event to keep Phil’s memory alive. Most of all, thank you to the generous donors and everyone who shows up to ride. We know Phil will be riding right along with us —in the stories that will be told, the laughs, the tears, and the memories made. We all miss you, Phil. Look for our flyers around the state or check us out on Facebook Portage Lakers or at our website portagelakers.org for more information. February 6 th - Monthly Meeting/Potluck Dinner 6:30pm February 14 th - Annual Pie Auction
If you haven’t made your reservations yet for a place to stay, you had better get on the phone, because Saturday Feb. 14th is our annual Pie Auction . Grab your sweetheart and make a date with the Portage Lakers. We pack the Town Hall for this event. Bring your cool ers and credit cards, dancing shoes and sense of humor, most of all don’t forget a designated driver. This year, we have changed it up a little and it will start earlier. Social Hour starts at 4 pm, the auction starts at 6:00pm sharp! Guilty Pleasure will be rocking the house. Remember, respect landowners, follow signs, and stay on marked trails. That is all I have for now, & as always: Ride Safe, Ride Right, and Be Courteous. Happy New Year from the Portage Lakers! Keep Snow Dancing, Dear Members, I hope you were able to spend quality time with your families and friends for the holi days. We wish you a snowy and prosperous New Year. Now let’s get some snow! We had packed our trails with about 1 foot of snow and then, we got rain. We didn’t lose it all and now we’ve got more! So hopefully we’ll be able to groom after Christmas. We are all so anxious to get snow and to get riding. Much work was done on trails 74 and 105. Trail #74 was widened, bulldozed and ditched and it should be a “WOO-HOO” ride from the Carvell Rd. east to the Presque Isle Stream and west to Scopan Lake. I can hardly wait to ride it! We did some dozing on the trail from the town of Mapleton to Scopan Lake too. That’s always a nice ride and now we have 2 new bridges on that trail. Our crew works year round for our snowmobile and ATV members. And to think, it’s all volunteer work. We did have a contractor to help with our bridges and Nick Powers did a fantastic job, with the help of our crew and a crew from the Mapleton ATV Club. Make sure you have paid your dues and your sled is ready and licensed. We’ll soon be out there! Sue Maynard Secretary Hi there Big Valley Sno Club Members and to all the snowmobilers out there that ride our trails. We’ve been busy in the month of November. We have built a new bridge on ITS 83 N/S North of the JCT 112. It is one of our high-water spots on ITS 83. This is a one-way bridge so please use caution. This is for sleds only. We hope you all had a good holiday. These next few months it’s going to be busy! Big Valley Sno Club would like to have a ride on Jan 10 th but the snow is low. In February the BIG VALLEY SNO CLUB Island Falls, ME Tammy Kenney Club Secretary CHAPMAN RIDGE RUNNERS SC Chapman, ME
Deadlines for club news is the 25 th of the month prior to the publications. Please submit articles to editor@mesnow.com
NORTHERN REGION
ATTENTION ALL MSA SNOWMOBILE CLUBS!! WE NEED YOUR HELP! In order for MSA to have ALL the correct information about your club you need to complete an OFFICER UPDATE FORM EVERY YEAR. Please go to the MSA web site: www.mainesnowmobileas sociation.com click on member ships, scroll down to MSA forms, open it and you will see Officer update form. Fill it out with all the information and submit it. This information has a variety of uses for MSA including membership info, club address, officers and more. It is placed on file and if someone con tacts to MSA asking about your club it is used to give them information. Thank you Happy New Year from the Portage Lakers Snowmobile Club! If your sled has been star ing at you from the garage a little earlier than usual—you’re not imagining things. As I write this a week before Christmas, we’ve got snow on the ground , and even better, the groom ers have already been out! A little early? Yes. Are we smiling about it? Also yes… very much yes. Glenn and the guys have been busy getting the New Holland outfitted with brush guards. Thank you to our Southern Maine boys Alan and Matt for building it and coming up to install it. We appreciate you guys more than you know! If you haven’t joined the fun club yet, now’s the time! Become a member at portagelakers. org and be sure to follow us on Facebook at Portage Lakers for updates, events, and the occasional trail-side laugh. MOLUNKUS VALLEY SNO-DRIFTERS Sherman, ME Greetings from Sno-Drifters, yes as I write this its 9 degrees n freezing things up like we need is very windy. We had a busy Dec getting things ready. We have heat in our groomer garage thanks to our fundraisers n supporters. Dec. super raffle winners were as follows 1st Colin McClaskey n was also drawn for 2nd n donated it back to club....3 rd was Mike Guiggey who also donated back to club 4th was Laurie Wilbur of Hampden 5th was Dee Hunt of Oakfield .... thank you all so much for your support!!!!!! Coloring contest winners were: age 5 n under went to Brooklyn Ploude n Baylynn Cum mings, age 6-9 went to Macie Perry, age 9-12 went to Paisley Qualey Congratulations to all winners cant wait to see you next year. the Christmas Parade was held n our very own Snow Queen was there! It even snowed n the heat witched showed up with no luck it was snowing :) everyone had a great time Santa came to clubhouse after where chil dren got bags of goodies n cookies n milk with Santa. Thank you snow much to all the businesses that donate to this yearly event. We appreciate you all! afterschool children pro gram came n sang carols. Beautiful job thanks to Cathy Evans n Gail Pocock too!!!!!Santa’s mailbox had lots of letters to send back!!!!!!! can’t wait till next yr and a SNOWY UPCOM ING SEASON....Merry Christmas n Happy Healthy New Year! Keep on Keeping ON! Deb Long :) Molunkus Valley PORTAGE LAKERS sc Portage Lake, ME
CLUB MEMBERS Once grooming begins submit your trail reports to: EDITOR@MESNOW.COM Please include your name and club affiliation
Know Before You Go!
Always Check Local Ice Conditions
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