By PAIGE STEELE and LORI SCHAEFER

Passion, perseverance, and partnership. That pretty much sums up the success of the Acadia Winter Trails Association (AWTA) over the last 30 years.

When you combine the passion and perseverance of the dedicated volunteer groomers with the partnership of Acadia National Park’s expert mechanics and maintenance crew, and the stability that Friends of Acadia provides through ongoing funding and structural support, it’s a win for cross-country skiing enthusiasts at Acadia.

The beauty of the carriage roads is unparalleled in winter, with vistas that reveal snow-capped islands in a sparkling ocean, mountains of evergreen trees draped in white snow, and ice cascading from the rocks. This January, USA Today voted Acadia National Park as the number one national park to visit during the winter, with groomed carriage roads being the top attraction to enjoy. The efforts of the AWTA volunteers are being noticed!

A cross country skier utilizes a freshly groomed Carriage Road around Eagle Lake in Acadia National Park. (Photo by Ashley L. Conti/Friends of Acadia)

A Program Rooted in Commitment & Dedication

In the early 1990’s, trail-blazing volunteers such as the late Bob Massucco, a Somesville dentist, worked with their own snowmobiles and drags made of old bed springs weighted by cinder blocks, to pack the snow on the carriage roads. When Bob and his friends first began their DIY grooming, there were very few staff members to assist them with this endeavor. And winter visitation to the park consisted of mostly area residents so they could keep up with demand.

Today, on a nice weekend in February, parking areas near carriage road entrances and trail heads can resemble a July day, with cars lining the road. When a snowstorm is forecast, the Acadia Winter Trails team readies so that skiing enthusiasts from near and far can hit the carriage roads and enjoy the fresh snow.

Perseverance Creates the Excellent Snow Conditions

Today’s volunteer groomers often spend two to eight hours after each storm packing snow, setting ski tracks, refueling machines, and reporting out their contributions.

When a late January blizzard dropped more than a foot of snow, groomers were out packing and tracking even before the wind stopped. Frequently, their work stopped. Frequently, their work continues for days afterward as they even-out drifts, freshen classic tracks, smooth the center lane for skate skiers, and pack the outside line for snowshoers and walkers.

Thanks to the groomers’ consistent efforts, skiers are able to enjoy loops around Witch Hole Pond, Paradise Hill, Upper Hadlock Pond, the Amphitheater, Around the Mountain (Sargent and Penobscot Mountains), as well as the Eagle Lake Connector from Witch Hole Pond.

“The beauty of the carriage roads is unparalleled in winter with vistas that reveal snow-capped islands in a sparkling ocean, mountains of evergreen trees draped in white snow, and ice cascading from the rocks.”

A sign reminds visitors to stay in their lane while enjoying winter recreation on the Carriage Road around Eagle Lake in Acadia National Park. (Photo by Ashley L. Conti/Friends of Acadia)

Following the construction of new multi-use trails at Schoodic Woods, grooming also expanded to the Schoodic District of the park. Two volunteers offer their time at Schoodic to enable skiers to enjoy quality conditions without traveling to Mount Desert Island.

Partnership Makes the Program Successful

The winter grooming program would not be successful without the support of Acadia National Park staff and Friends of Acadia resources backing the volunteer efforts. Acadia National Park staff plow parking areas for skiers after storms, clear downed trees, maintain the grooming equipment, and help train volunteers in safe chainsaw usage, snowmobile operations, and more.

Friends of Acadia staff partners with the park to purchase the correct grooming equipment, which is then donated to the park for maintenance and storage. Additionally, Friends of Acadia recruits and supports volunteers, purchases fuel and supplies such as handsaws and first-aid kits, and communicates grooming reports to the public.

Endowment Buoys Acadia Winter Trails

In 2005, the family of Elizabeth R. (Leila) Bright established an equipment fund and an endowment in Leila’s memory and in honor of her love for skiing in Acadia. The endowment helps underwrite fuel costs, safety training, and the maintenance of the snowmobiles, drags, tracksetters, and other equipment purchased throughout the years.

As funding allows, Friends of Acadia works to modernize the equipment, which has come a long way since the early days when old bed springs were used. Currently in the fleet are two Arctic BearCat XT 7000 Groomer Special sleds and one Kubota-X1100C, all outfitted with Yellowstone Track Systems Ginzugroomers. If you’re interested in helping support the Acadia Winter Trails Association, the program needs two more Kubota RTV-X1100Cs.

Volunteer groomer Brett Binns rolls the bike path at Schoodic Woods in Acadia National Park. (Photo by Ashley L. Conti/Friends of Acadia)

#SkiAcadia

The Acadia Winter Trails team will continue grooming when weather allows, and Friends of Acadia communicates the grooming report on social media and on a dedicated webpage using the hashtag #skiacadia.

While in the park this winter, please remember to be courteous of the many visitors enjoying different activities: classic and skate skiing, snowshoeing, and walking. Pay attention to signage at the carriage road entrances for best practices in how to enjoy these activities on groomed carriage roads.

A cross country skier utilizes a freshly groomed Carriage Road around Eagle Lake in Acadia National Park, Wednesday. (Photo by Ashley L. Conti/Friends of Acadia)

Acadia Winter Trails Association

PAIGE STEELE is Friends of Acadia’s Conservation Projects Manager and LORI SCHAEFER is Friends of Acadia’s Communications Director.

This article appeared in the 2022 Winter/Spring Acadia magazine.