Aroostook Outdoor News: 1.6.17 edition
In this edition: 1) The #AroostookCup
#XCSkiRace series kicks off in #MadawaskaME. 2) A #FullMoon #Snowshoe #Hike in
#FortKentME. 3) #GetReadyForSummer at the opening day of #summer #camping
reservations at #BaxterStatePark in #Millinocket. Plus lots more! #offugo…
#AroostookThing of the
week: The
Four Seasons Trail Association Deprey Classic Ski Race in Madawaska.
Cross Country ski
trails and events are abundant in Aroostook!
The
Aroostook Cup Race Series, comprised of six races at venues throughout the
Crown of Maine from January through March, kicks of this weekend with the Deprey
Classic Ski Race, hosted by Four Seasons Trail Association in Madawaska.
Though
self-billed as a race series, the Aroostook Cup really is much more than that.
It is a celebration of the winter season, of getting outside and being active,
and of sharing it all with friends old and new.
To
put everything in a nutshell: you don’t have to be a ski racer to be a part of
the fun.
Many
of the events have a touring division for those that would rather enjoy the
experience than race the clock. Additionally, most event organizers plan for
and even set up special race courses and distances for young skiers, sometimes
at no cost.
In
a way, these community-driven grassroots events have taken the place of the
local Winter Carnivals that Aroostook County was known for in the
not-too-distant past. A closer look at this week’s feature event bears this
out.
The
Deprey Classic is a 6k Freestyle event, meaning that skiers may use either
skate or classic technique. Registration is at 11:30 a.m. at the Four Seasons
Lodge, which you will find at 425 Spring Street in Madawaska.
The
Youth Race starts at 12:15 p.m. and the 6k race starts at 1:00 p.m. The cost is
$10 per skier, and there will be a pasta meal available for purchase after the
race.
If
you’ve never been to the Four Seasons Lodge before, I would highly recommend it
– even if you go just for a hardy helping of pasta!
This
lodge, thanks to the Four Seasons Trail Association members who helped build
it, is a shining example of community spirit and can-do attitude. It is both
aesthetically pleasing and a hub, as the name asserts, for year-round activity.
To
find out more about the event and the FSTA Ski Club, contact Colin Jandreau
(207-728-6103) or jandreau@roadrunner.com
or visit www.fourseasonstrail.org
#AroostookNote: Aroostook County
Tourism has a new blog feature on its
website. Written by select guest bloggers and members of the ACT Board, the
blog will present timely, adventurous, and nostalgic stories that underscore
life in all seasons in the Crown of Maine. To read the blog, you can quite
literally “Visit Aroostook” at visitaroostook.com or via facebook.
Events:
Saturday, January 7
Four Seasons Trail
Association Deprey Classic Ski Race, Madawaska. Aroostook Cup Series
Race #1. Distance: 6k Freestyle. Registration: 11:30 a.m. at Four Seasons Lodge,
425 Spring Street. Youth start: 12:15 p.m. Race start: 1:00 p.m. Cost: $10.
Pasta meal available for purchase. Contact Colin Jandreau (207-728-6103) or jandreau@roadrunner.com FMI
*Saturday, January 7
Fort Kent Outdoor Center
Full Moon Snowshoe Poker Run, Fort Kent. 6:30 p.m. at FKOC lodge. Come join us for fun
on the trails and food and socializing afterwards. Bring friends and a snack to
share! Best poker hand wins half the pot! Proceeds support FKOC. Snowshoe
rentals available. Cost: $5/member or UMFK student, $8/non-member. Visit www.fortkentoc.org FMI
Saturday, January 14
Baxter State Park Summer
Camping Reservations Opening Day, Millinocket. 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
in-person only at Baxter State Park Authority Headquarters, 64 Balsam Drive.
Only 20% of each campground may be reserved; two reservation limit per person
or camp group. Contact Baxter State Park (207-723-5140) or visit www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/reservation/summerReservations FMI
Thursday, January 19
Aroostook Birders Movie
Night, Presque Isle. 6:30-8:00
p.m. at Maine Department of Environmental Protection, 1235 Central Dr. Please
join us for a viewing of the documentary “The Messenger” that explores the
secrets of songbirds and their recent decline. There will be popcorn, coffee
and hot cocoa! Visit www.messengerfilm.com and www.aroostookbirders.com FMI
Saturday, January 21
Fort Kent Outdoor Center
Frostbite XC Ski Event, Fort Kent. Aroostook Cup Series Race #2. 7.5k, 15k
Classic races, 2.5k Classic youth (12 & under) race. Registration: 10:00
a.m. at FKOC, 33 Paradis Circle. Race start: 11:30 a.m. Youth race start: 12:00
p.m. Cost: $15/FKOC member, $20/non-member; $5/youth FKOC member, $10/youth
non-member. Contact Paul Cyr (207-834-6478) or bpcyr@fkglobal.com FMI
Saturday, January 28 &
Sunday, January 29
12th Annual Long Lake Ice
Fishing Derby, Sinclair. Maine's largest cash prize ice fishing derby;
$16,000 in cash prizes! Derby Waters: Long, Cross, St. Froid, Square, Eagle,
Glazier, Beau, Portage Lakes, Carr Pond, St. John River. Registration: at Long
Lake Sporting Club, 48 Sinclair Rd. Proceeds benefit Paradis Cancer Fund. Visit
www.stagatha.com/derby FMI
Friday, February 3-Sunday,
February 5
Moosestompers Weekend,
Houlton.
Activities include: Moonlight Snowshoe Hike, Daytime Snowshoe Hike, Sliding on
Derby Hill, Snow Creation Contest, Wild Katahdin Trust Snow Run, Cross-country
Skiing, Moosestompers Fishing Derby, giant bonfire, more! Visit www.moosestompers.com FMI
Saturday, February 4
33rd Annual Wild Katahdin
Trust Snow Run, Houlton. 2017 Aroostook Musterds County Challenge Series
Race #1. Registration: 9:00 a.m. at Millar Arena, 94 Randall Ave. 2-mile walk
start: 10:45 a.m. 5k run start: 11:00 a.m. Course: Pretty flat and fast
(depending on weather). Cost: $12. T-shirts to first 50 registrants. Proceeds
support Houlton Area Backpacks For Kids Program. Refreshments, traditional
chicken stew after event. Contact Larry Tonzi tonzimaine@gmail.com FMI
*Saturday, February 4
TAMC Total Health Team Free
Snowshoe Hike #1, Presque Isle. 9:30-11:00 a.m. at Aroostook State Park, 87
State Park Rd. Open to the community. Cost: FREE! Limited number of snowshoes
available to borrow at no charge. Preregistration required. Contact Linda
Menard (207-768-4172) or lmenard@tamc.org FMI
Ongoing Programs:
County Strides Running
Group, Presque Isle. Sundays; 10:00 a.m. at various locations. Open to all
abilities; be ready for an easy run of 30-45 minutes, and bring friends! Visit County
Strides at www.facebook.com/groups/447181508818122 FMI
*Bigrock McCain
Ski4Life Program, Mars Hill. Sundays; 10:00 a.m. at Bigrock, 37 Graves Rd. Learn to
ski program for students in grades K-12. Begins January 8 and runs for 10
weeks. Cost: $15/student; includes lift ticket, lesson, equipment rental for
students K-12 only. Parents
of students enrolled in the program may purchase lift tickets for $20,
equipment rental for $15. This program is open to everyone. Contact Bigrock
(207-425-6711) FMI
Bootlegger Snowshoe
Hike, Rivière-Bleue, QC. Fourth Sunday of each month at 1:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) at
the end of Path Brissette. Get to know the magical setting of the Bootlegger
trails on this guided hike. Contact Jean Lebrun (418-893-1033) or info1@routedesfrontieres.com FMI
Francis
Malcolm Science Center Walk-in Tours, Easton. Weekdays; 9:00
a.m.-3:00 p.m. Experience our planetarium’s new, full-dome, digital projection
system, featuring a 30-minute activity; 15 minutes in the star theater, 15
minutes to visit the facility at large. Cost: $5/visitor;
reservations requested. Contact FMSC (207-488-5451) FMI
Sportsmen’s, Inc.
Meeting, Stockholm. First Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Axle Siding Clubhouse
(intersection of Lake Street/Rt. 161). Outdoors men and women promoting the
traditions of the outdoors. If you're interested in joining, you're welcome to
attend as a guest. Kids are welcome too! Visit www.facebook.com/Sportsmens-Inc-568794129811741 FMI
Friends of Aroostook
National Wildlife Refuge Meeting, Limestone. Second Monday of each month; 6:00
p.m. at ANWR headquarters and Visitor’s Center, 97 Refuge Rd. Founded in 1998, Friends
are involved in a number of volunteer projects on the ANWR in an effort to
balance the enhancing of habitat with the public access privilege to enjoy
wildlife in an unmolested environment. Contact Friends of ANWR (207-328-4634)
or friendsofanwr@gmail.com FMI
Nordic Heritage Sport
Club Meeting, Presque Isle. First Tuesday of each month; 6:00 p.m. at Nordic
Heritage Center, 450 Fort Fairfield Rd. The club promotes healthy outdoor
recreation, economic vitality in Central Aroostook County by providing
first-class facilities and programs to area residents, athletes, visitors.
Visit www.nordicheritagecenter.org FMI
Presque Isle Fish and
Game Club Meeting, Presque Isle. Last Tuesday of each month; 5:30 p.m. at PIFG clubhouse,
Parsons Road. Established in 1947 to help protect, conserve, maintain and
restore our natural resources as well as to protect and promote our outdoor
heritage. Meetings
include a delicious supper, cash bar, short business meeting. Visit www.pifg.org FMI
Four Seasons Trail
Association Meeting, Madawaska. First Wednesday of each month; 6:30
p.m. at Four Seasons Lodge, 425 Spring St. Non-profit organization dedicated to
promotion of healthier lifestyles for this community; participation open to
anyone interested. Visit www.fourseasonstrail.org FMI
Fort Fairfield Frontier
Fish and Game Club, Fort Fairfield. Second and fourth Wednesdays of each month (fourth Wednesdays during summer);
6:00 p.m. at FFFFG clubhouse on Monson Pond, 550 Dorsey Rd. Founded in 1958 to
help conserve, protect, maintain, and restore our natural resources and to
promote our outdoor heritage. Visit www.heyevent.com/venue/bmyulgbaawlhca FMI
Fort Kent Outdoor
Center Jalbert Youth Biathlon Program, Fort Kent. Saturdays; 1:00-2:30
p.m. at FKOC, 33 Paradis Circle. Jan 7-Feb 11. Open to youth ages 4-14; Nordic
skiing, rifle shooting, and LOTS of games! Cost: Free; participants are asked
to purchase FKOC memberships or daily trail passes. Contact Gail Johnson stegacosa@yahoo.com FMI
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