17 WINTER 2021 ISSUE 02 / VOL . 02 SNOWGOER . COM
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Outside Berlin , sledders are treated to a view of the rushing Androscoggin River while cruising on this beautiful rail trail . of-way were like a roller coaster , with several exhilarating dips and climbs . The trail continued into the woods , with lots of twists and turns over undulating terrain . The new snow had been churned up by some sled traffic , but it wasn ’ t long before we encountered an oncoming groomer . That made our ride smoother , but there were still occasional snowy twigs hanging over the trail , clacking on our hoods and helmets .
At the border , we crossed the Wild River on a new steel bridge , turning the sleds around on the other side and admiring the impressive arched span . “ There used to be a beautiful suspension bridge here ,” Roger explained . “ It was only five or six years old when it got washed away during the flooding caused by Hurricane Irene in 2011 . This is a key route connecting the two states , so that was a real blow to the trail system . Because there was so much devastation throughout the region , it took awhile for the Forest Service to get this replacement approved , funded and built .” It was sunset when we parked the sleds back at the hotel . Our adventure had covered almost 100 miles , made all the more enjoyable by the new snow and well groomed trails . To top it all off , we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the T & C restaurant .
Sunshine & Groomers
Our objective the next day was to make a loop trip north with the town of Errol as our lunch destination . Besides Roger and Gail , our group included Errol club members and longtime sledders Charlie and Dottie Kurtz , Lieutenant Wayne Saunders of the state Fish & Game Department and district supervisor Clint Savage of the state Bureau of Trails . The weather conditions were ideal – 25 degrees F and sunny – so we knew we had a glorious day ahead of us .
Our first leg was over the long trestle and then along the Androscoggin River before heading into the woods on a beautifully groomed trail over rolling terrain , with plenty of curves to make it interesting . Along the way , we overtook a groomer – the first of six we ’ d encounter this day – and stopped briefly to chat with the operator and admire the impressive equipment .
After a stop at the Roger Marois Sr . Memorial Bridge , we encountered two moose within a mile , both looking us over from the woods as we passed . Before reaching Errol , we crossed the Androscoggin and cruised through the 13 Mile Woods Community Forest , which was acquired by the town in 2005 to preserve logging and recreational opportunities , including ATV and snowmobile routes . The property adjoins the huge Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge and provides a haven for all kinds of wildlife .
Our lunch stop was at the Hawg Trawf , a rustic , family-owned restaurant famous for its variety of barbecue offerings . This is a popular trailside pit stop and it was easy to see why – the welcome was warm and my pulled