'We’re losing the fight with Mother Nature': Snowmobile clubs fear difficult comeback after Wednesday's expected storm - NewsCenterMaine.com WCSH-WLBZ

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The mid-December storm destroyed infrastructure, costing clubs thousands of dollars to get the trails back into shape with another storm on the horizon.

LIMERICK, Maine — The weather this winter has been detrimental to the state's snowmobile trails as some clubs are saying they're not sure what the future holds this season.

"It’s really hitting us hard. It’s costing us a lot of money," Route 11 Streakers Snowmobile Club President Matt Baron said. "We’re all feeling pretty worn out, frustrated."

Baron and volunteers have been preparing trails since November, but the mid-December storm last month destroyed infrastructure, costing clubs thousands of dollars to get the trails back into shape.

"There's other clubs that got it way worse than we do, and my heart aches for them because I know the work I put in in my club and I can't imagine a $20,000-plus bridge just floating downstream," Baron said.

Clubs like the Wild River Riders said their trails cannot take any more rain. A few weeks ago, the storm washed away brand-new bridges built for this season, blew trees down, and washed out culverts.

In the past few weeks, club leaders and volunteers have put in 137 volunteer hours to get the trails ready to ride. However, Wild River Riders club president John Walker said they may not be able to bounce back after this Wednesday's expected storm.

"If we get another big rain event like we did a few weeks ago, we're out of luck. It's just not possible for a group this small," Walker said.

Walker, his father Toby Walker, and Carol and Jim Bourque are the main volunteers keeping the trails ready for riding. They said it's been challenging to recover after the December storm, and if Wednesday brings more rain, they're going to be faced with a tough decision.

"If the water comes up again, we’re just out of money and energy," Carol, the club's secretary and treasurer, said. "We’d have to close for this year. If we lose any bridges, we’d have to close for this year. There’s just no time and money to fix them," her husband Jim, the trail master, said.

While the group is hoping for the best, Walker said it wouldn't surprise him if they're not able to open many of their trails this year.

"All the clubs are having the same problems. Roads washed out, culverts washed out, water where there never was water," Jim said.

The Maine Snowmobile Association has been urging all clubs to assess their trail infrastructure damage from last month's storm and report it to the state to get funding for the repairs.