61 FALL 2019 ISSUE 01 / VOL . 01 SNOWGOER . COM
62 trail segments , loops and connecting routes maintained by the Jo Mary Riders , including a climb to another scenic lookout on Greenwood Mountain , where we could fully appreciate the job of the club members .
“ We groom over 100 miles of trail ,” Rick said . “ In addition to state grants that cover a portion of our expenses , we rely heavily upon our members – many of them from southern Maine or out of state – to finance our efforts . Providing high quality trails is our goal and we take pride in what we do .
“ During high traffic times , we groom five or six nights per week ,” he said . “ By grooming frequently and at night our trails can withstand a lot of use and hold up well .”
As avid riders , Dan and I know what a superb trail network looks and feels like – and we were both impressed . We also saw the trio of groomers go out at sunset each night , even though it was midweek , and in mid-March . These guys take grooming seriously , folks ! As testimony to that , groomer operator Dave Silvia was named the Maine Snowmobile Association ’ s Groomer of the Year as the season concluded – an honor Rick also received in 2007 .
Heading north , we crossed the northwest end of Pemadumcook Lake and set course for Abol Bridge , where adjacent road and snowmobile bridges span the Penobscot River ’ s west branch . We enjoyed a hearty lunch there at The Northern Restaurant , where we met a solo Canadian rider who said he had departed Quebec