Sledding Trails Open?

[Old Hubbard Rd]

Trails open?? Snow amounts? Lakes freezing?

[Belmont Resident]

The first storm had so much wind that many areas especially exposed ones were bare with the snow settling in the woods or drifting.
Last night we got 3-5 with no wind and it stuck.
All the snow that we got here was light not packing snow.
As for ice it has been way to windy for ice to form.
But I'm sure some will be out riding, rocks and stumps will be a problem because there is no base at least on this side of the lake.
Last i heard Center Harbor only got 3" the last storm, not sure how much they got this time around. The further north you were the less you were suppose to get.
Heading to Maine in a bit, they got 30+ inches up there.

[ishoot308]

A friend of mine just came back from Pittsburg and said the riding was great! Lots of snow and the groomers are out! The big lakes are not safe enough to cross yet though...

Dan

[COWISLANDDONZI]

Rode around Barnstead for a good 30 mile loop this AM- trails were pretty good! Going back out later -hope this weeks weather starts the big lake freezn!

[MAXUM]

Local trails around my house, Bear Brook, Tower Hill and Massebessic are shaping up nicely as well, haven't broken my access trail out to Tower Hill yet, want to let the past two snow falls to firm up a bit. They have been out grooming though.

Rode Twin Mountain a couple of days ago and it was fantastic. Matter of fact there were a number of trails that had either just barely been broken or hadn't seen a sled at all. Up around Jericho Mountain the snow was over 3 feet deep. About time we get some good cold weather and snow.

Hope the lake locks up soon with ice. I got a pile of stuff to haul out to the camp that I'm tired of looking at!

[BroadHopper]

There were a number of machines at the watering hole last night. I'm surprise to see them when Paugus Bay is open! I woder where they came from? The Old Lakeshore railroad ends at the Laconia Water Works and Lowes parking lot.

[Belmont Resident]

Lots of sleds riding the trail along 11 from Alton to Farmington. Trails looked rough with lots of dirt and rocks starting to get kicked up.
Definitely not enough snow to groom it and with all this wind blowing the snow off that the sleds kick up it going to get thinner.

[VitaBene]

We do not have enough snow in Moultonborough to groom. Some of our gates are down but given the lack of snow cover and frozen lakes, there is little snowmobiling to be done. C'mon snow!

[Winnisquamguy]

RANGELEY — The body of a 45-year-old Yarmouth woman was recovered Monday from Rangeley Lake and three men are presumed dead there as well, after two snowmobiling incidents over the weekend.

People seen hugging and holding each other approach Maine Warden Service personnel wearing survival suits, at the boat launch on Rangeley Lake on Monday. The body of Dawn Newell was recovered earlier in the day after her snowmobile went through the ice Sunday night. Staff photo by David Leaming



Maine Warden Service personnel return to shore in an airboat on Rangeley Lake on Monday, after motoring over ice. Wardens said Dawn Newell's body was recovered Monday after the snowmobile she was riding broke through the ice Sunday night.
Staff photo by David Leaming
Dawn Newell, 45, of Yarmouth, was recovered at 11:30 a.m. Monday in the Franklin County lake (http://www.kjonline.com/news/One-dead-three-missing-in-Franklin-County-snowmobiling-accidents.html#) after an intense search effort by the Maine Warden Service's dive team, aircraft and wardens, and Rangeley Fire and Rescue.


Hers is the first fatality of the 2012-2013 snowmobiling season, wardens said.
In a separate incident, three men who were reported missing about 2:30 a.m. Monday are believed to be in the lake as well, said Cpl. John MacDonald, spokesman for the warden service. The men were identified Monday night as Kenneth Henderson, 40, of China, Glenn Henderson, 43, of Sabattus, and John Spencer, 41, of Litchfield.
During the search for Newell, wardens recovered several pieces of evidence suggesting the three men went into Rangeley Lake as well. They left on snowmobiles from Carrabassett Valley about 6 p.m. Sunday and were last known to be in Eustis.
The warden service suspended its search for the men at sundown Monday and planned to resume efforts Tuesday, weather permitting, using airboats, sonar and aircraft. MacDonald said he would provide an update on the search during a news conference Tuesday morning.
Newell went into the water about 7 p.m. Sunday when the snowmobile she was driving broke through the ice on Rangeley Lake and sank, according to the warden service. The woman's 16-year-old son, who was driving behind her on his own snowmobile, was able to avoid the open water and called 911.
Game wardens searched overnight in extreme cold conditions and resumed efforts Monday morning.
The lake, which is only partially frozen, was abuzz Monday as three airboats and a motorboat scanned the waters for the missing people. About 15 wardens wearing orange survival suits were on scene, along with members of Rangeley Fire and Rescue, Franklin County Sheriff's Office and local (http://www.kjonline.com/news/One-dead-three-missing-in-Franklin-County-snowmobiling-accidents.html#) police.
Friends and family of Newell gathered downtown Monday afternoon but declined to talk to a reporter.
Jim Tribou, a frequent visitor to Rangeley from New (http://www.kjonline.com/news/One-dead-three-missing-in-Franklin-County-snowmobiling-accidents.html#) Hampshire, said the lake is a popular route for snowmobilers crossing from one side of downtown to the other. Snowmobiling through town is prohibited, and a trail around the town adds about 5 miles to the trip.
The shortcut across the ice is tempting, he said.
Rangeley resident David Wright said the ice is unsafe now. Recent snow has added an insulating (http://www.kjonline.com/news/One-dead-three-missing-in-Franklin-County-snowmobiling-accidents.html#) blanket to the ice, which can trap relatively warmer temperatures that rise from the lake. Also, persistent wind in the area has prevented the formation of additional ice, he said.
Today also marks the opening day of ice fishing season in Maine. The warden service is urging extreme caution, whether on foot or recreational vehicle. Ice conditions remain hazardous, according to a warden service press release.
Ben McCanna — 861-9239
bmccanna@centralmaine.com
http://www.kjonline.com/news/One-dead-three-missing-in-Franklin-County-snowmobiling-accidents.html

Still way to early to be crossing water at this time of year.