Great Escapes Fall 2022 | Page 11

21 WINTER 2022 VOL . 04 / ISSUE 02
Northern Maine
SNOWGOER . COM 22
You won ’ t find a lot of gas station , hotel or fast food chains up here . Instead , the area is populated by charming , independent ma ’ and pa ’ businesses .
out a bolt on the bottom of the ball joint . Blaine – once he shook the cobwebs out of his head – would have to ride his sled
the next 30-plus miles to Fort Kent while
standing on the right side running board
to help keep the ball joint in place .
The slower pace may have been a
blessing , as it allowed us to truly soak
in the scenery . We didn ’ t go all the way
out to the Allagash , opting instead to
jump on Trail 92 toward Fort Kent , home
fast and straight stretches , more tight and
twisting sections than we ’ d experienced
country Renegade came apart , with a spindle separating from the A-arm . Blaine
of the nearest Ski-Doo dealership . That trail was my favorite of the day , with real tight and weaving sections and more
When we reached upper Aroostock County , the trails cut across potato fields and following power line cuts .
to this point and a mix of dense woods
was suddenly and unexpectedly pitched
rugged terrain that had us going up and
and open fields . We were making great
violently from his sled when the now
down hills and crossing more creeks – it
fish cops and some finagling / bribes at a
time and having the same with Craig now
disconnected right ski turned at a sharp
really was spectacular .
dealership , but eventually we were able
leading since he was more familiar with
right angle and dug into the trail . While
The variety of scenery stopped for a
to get Blaine ’ s sled fixed correctly and get
the trails in the north part of the county
following behind him we saw a sled sud-
while after our next gas stop at the de-
back on the trail . Local-boy Craig took us
than Blaine . We stopped for pictures
denly tumble in the snow dust one way ,
lightful Joe ’ s in St . Francis , as Trail 92
off of the main trail onto some wonderful
on Togue Pond , which was surrounded
and the driver fly the other .
turned into an arrow-straight rail trail
club trails , including 73b , which featured
on three sides by towering hills , but we
As it turns out , neither the sled nor the
that took us along the border between
riding through wide fields filled with deep ,
couldn ’ t see far in the blowing snow , so
driver was seriously damaged – anywhere
Maine and New Brunswick , following
fresh snow – getting stuck was a legitimate
we returned to Trail 20 . Shortly thereafter
else during our ride the incident could
the St . John River that separates the U . S .
concern as we busted through drifts and
the hand of luck both cursed and kissed
have been extremely serious , but Blaine
from Canada . Looking across the river ,
up and down steep hills in farm territory ;
Blaine again .
and his sled both landed in relatively soft
we gazed at the bluffs and tall hills in the
the locals said up to 20 inches of snow fell
While traveling at a fairly high rate of
snow in a broad clearing . We were able to
neighboring country .
in the area over the previous 24 hours .
speed on a straightaway next to a swamp ,
cobble the front suspension back together
It took a couple of stops at local busi-
We made it to our dinner spot – the
the front suspension on Blaine ’ s Back-
( yes , duct tape was involved !) but with-
nesses in Fort Kent , a meeting with the
Sportsman on the shores of Long Lake –