59 FALL 2019 ISSUE 01 / VOL . 01
SNOWGOER . COM 60
Our route led us over the Nicatou Bridge , a large highway span that takes its name from the Penobscot word meaning “ where the waters meet .” We stopped on the bridge , looking upstream to admire the water cascading over the dam and downstream to see the confluence of the river ’ s two branches . It was an impressive view , despite being partially obscured by the falling snow .
The intensity of the precipitation increased as we veered off the KLT for the last leg home , necessitating constant glove wipes of our faceshields . We arrived back at the lodge with 124 miles logged for the day – all of it on smooth , well-groomed trails . We capped off our evening with a delicious dinner in Millinocket at the Pelletier Loggers Bar & Grill .
FRESH SNOW & GROOMED TRAILS
That day ’ s escalating snowfall was the leading edge of a blizzard that buffeted the lodge all night with its spirited winds . The snow quit by mid-morning and after Rick spent some time plowing ( while Dan and I enjoyed another of Debbie ’ s tasty breakfasts ), we suited up for our ride .
With the late start , Rick decided to show us the nearby trails and sights , starting with the aforementioned climb to the top of Ragged Mountain , where a tall metal framework was the only remnant of a former fire tower . That was followed by a tour of keeps the trails in magic carpet condition , with three full-size Bombardier tractors and drags based out of 5 Lakes Lodge .
After passing through the edge of historic Millinocket – founded as a mill town in 1901 – we turned north on Interconnected Trail System trail 85 / 86 , which would be our route most of the way to Shin Pond , our lunch destination . Many of the miles were over gently rolling terrain on unplowed but smoothly groomed forest roads with broad , sweeping turns .
This trail took us east of Baxter State Park and Mount Katahdin , carrying us over the east branch of the Penobscot River at Whetstone Falls and across the Seboeis River on the Phillpott Bridge . Both of these spans were more than 100 feet long , affording us a view of water tumbling over the rocky rapids below .
During a trail stop , Rick explained that the area where we were traveling is under consideration as a potential National Monument , something that has stirred strong feelings among local residents for years . If snowmobile trails are part of the plan and access is assured , Rick believes that the increased tourism year-round will be beneficial to the region .
After lunch at the Shin Pond Village , we backtracked halfway , and then took the Katahdin Loop Trail ( KLT ) south to the town of Medway . After passing the East Branch Snow Rovers club house , the trail took us by a dam and hydroelectric power plant , giving us a view from the bluff above .