63 FALL 2019 ISSUE 01 / VOL . 01 SNOWGOER . COM
64
early that morning and had already covered more than 400 kilometers ( 250 miles ) – and it was only mid-day . His odyssey proved not only his intrepid nature , but also the quality of the trail network throughout northwestern Maine .
After savoring a delicious bowl of chunky New England clam chowder , it was time to hit the trail again for the homeward journey back to the 5 Lakes Lodge . Our route took us past Millinocket Lake and featured several sections of roller coaster riding along a series of power lines as we cruised through a mixed forest of hardwood and conifers . On the way , we visited the New England Outdoor Center , where we made a dinner reservation for later that evening . We returned to the lodge at sundown after a circuitous , 94-mile excursion .
MORE BEAUTY
The destination on our final day was the Chesuncook Lake House , a structure built in 1864 at the northern end of the 20-mile long lake of the same name . It was a glorious , sunny day and again the trails were groomed to perfection .
Along the way , we stopped at the site of Grant Farm , a long-abandoned crop and cattle operation that supplied food for decades to loggers of the Great Northern Paper Company . According to Rick , these farms were established approximately 14 miles apart , the optimal distance given the limitations of transport in the late 19th century . Now all that remained were a large open field , the barn foundation and several stone pillars that overlooked this now-tranquil but once-bustling place .
“... Maine might not be easy to reach , but its allure is magnetic ...”
Arriving at Chesuncook Lake , we found the trail – a 16-foot wide ribbon amid a vast expanse of snow-covered ice – to be well marked and smooth , making our 17-mile cruise up the lake a pleasure instead of an ordeal . Along the way , we overtook the Chesuncook groomer and stopped to take some photos with majestic Mount Katahdin as the distant backdrop . Its 5,268-foot altitude is exaggerated by surrounding lowlands that make it really stand out .
When we reached the Lake House for lunch and refueling , there were at least a dozen other snowmobiles parked outside . “ Even though it ’ s on the edge of the trail network , this is a popular destination ,” Rick said . “ It ’ s also the staging point for snowmobilers who want to follow a secondary trail to ‘ the trains ,’ two steam locomotives that were abandoned in the woods about 25 miles from here .”
Those who make that journey earn the right to display an “ I made it to the trains ” sticker on their sleds . Our time was limited on this day , so we left that experience for another time .
On the return trip south , Rick veered off the beaten path and took us down another arm of Caribou Lake . As we bounded over small drifts and looked left and right , we saw shoreline ice shelves and a far-off patch of open water glistening in the afternoon sun . Before long , we were ashore and winding our way along what Rick dubbed a “ goat path ,” an untracked shortcut through the forest . After pushing powder and dodging overhanging branches for half a mile , we emerged onto a groomed connector trail that hooked into the KLT .
Just before reaching home , Rick took us