offugo... Aroostook Outdoor Event News

If you ski, here are the deets on where to be. If you don’t ski, our data on other events will fill you with glee. Click here to see!

In this edition: 1) Dress like Santa for a very merry 5k in Mars Hill. 2) FOUR local ski areas open for the season in the next few days. 3) Learn about the outdoors at two local dinner meetings. Plus lots more! offugo...

Saturday, December 13

Bigrock Mountain Opening Day, Mars Hill. 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. It’s the day you’ve waited eight months for: Bigrock opens for the season! Kick off the ski/snowboard season at Bigrock! Visit www.bigrockmaine.com FMI

*Saturday, December 13

Lonesome Pine Trails Opening Day, Fort Kent. 9:00 a.m. Visit www.lonesomepinetrails.org FMI

Saturday, December 13

Bigrock Mountain Opening Day Santa 5k, Mars Hill. Dress like Santa for your chance at a prize! Registration 12:00 p.m. at Bigrock Base Lodge. Race start: 1:00 p.m. Cost: $12/person. Pre-register by Dec. 8 for race t-shirt; all participants receive a Santa hat. Contact Ryan Guerrette (207-425-6711) or visit www.racewire.com/event.php?id=2718 FMI

Sunday, December 14, 2014 and Saturday, January 3, 2015

Audubon Christmas Bird Counts, Aroostook County. We invite you to join us for all or part of these day-long counts; all welcomed! Caribou area: Dec. 14; Presque Isle area: Jan. 3. Contact Bill Sheehan (207-227-7301) or bill.j.sheehan@gmail.com FMI

*Monday, December 15

Katahdin Communities Outing Club Holiday Open House, Island Falls. 5:00 p.m. at Sewall House. Discuss ideas for future outings; hear about winter prospects in Katahdin Woods and Waters Recreation Area; learn about new national park and recreation area proposal. Questions/comments welcome. Contact Susan or Mark Adams (207-852-1291) or lunksoos@gmail.com FMI

Friday, December 19

Mont Farlagne Opening Day, Edmundston, NB. 9:00 a.m. (Atlantic time). It's today that the lifts open for our 46th season! Visit www.montfarlagne.com FMI

*Friday, December 19

Aroostook County Conservation Association Meeting: Save Our Whitetail, Presque Isle. 6:30 p.m. at Northeastland Hotel. Guest Speaker: Rich Hoppe. Agenda: Talking about deer feeding and habitat. 30-06 Rifle drawing. Everyone Welcome! Contact ACCA (207-592-2516) or jmguideservice@yahoo.com FMI

Saturday, December 20

Quoggy Jo Opening Day, Presque Isle. 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Start doing your snow dances! Contact Gene Cronin (207-540-1496) or gene@skiquoggyjo.org FMI

Sunday, December 21

Four Seasons Trail Association Christmas at the Lodge, Madawaska. 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.   Pasta lunch, sleigh rides, tubing, skiing, snowshoeing, and SANTA! Bring the kids! Visit www.fourseasonstrail.org FMI

Saturday, December 27, 2014-Thursday, January 1, 2015

Fort Kent Nordic Ski Festival, Fort Kent. Ski in the New Year on groomed trails open for training/skiing! Activities include: Freestyle, Classic, Sprint Races; Wildlands Film Festival; Try-it Biathlon; New Year’s Eve Open Mike Social; Snowshoe Safari; Ski Cross; Ski Demos; Wax/Ski Clinics; Alpine Skiing. Contact Carl Theriault theriaultcarl@hotmail.com FMI

*Tuesday, December 30

Caribou Rec. Bigrock Trip, Mars Hill. A fun-filled day of downhill skiing or snowboarding for grades 5-9. 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Cost: $5/trans. only; $25/trans. and ski ticket; $40/trans., equipment, ski ticket; $50/trans., equipment, ski ticket, lesson. Pre-registration required by Dec. 26. Contact Neal Sleeper (207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI

*Saturday, January 10

Friends of Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge Second Saturday Series: Bird Feeders, Limestone. 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Learn all about bird feeders and hike or ski on our trails! Contact Friends of ANWR (207-328-4634) or visit www.friendsofaroostooknwr.org FMI

Sunday, January 11
FSTA Deprey Classic – Aroostook Cup #1, Madawaska. Kick off the Aroostook Cup series; 6-6.5k freestyle race and tour and age-appropriate kids’ race at Four Seasons Lodge. Registration: Noon. Kids’ race start: 12:30 p.m. Race start: 1:00 p.m. Cost: $2/youth; $5/adult. Contact Colin Jandreau (207-728-6103) or jandreau@roadrunner.com FMI

*Wednesday, 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, Millinocket. Only 20% of each campground may be reserved; two reservation limit per person or camp group. Contact Baxter State Park (207-723-5140) FMI

Ongoing Programs:

Sunday Saunter Running Group, Presque Isle. Sundays; 10:00 a.m. at UMPI's Gentile Hall. Open to all abilities; be ready for an easy run of 30-45 minutes, and bring friends! Contact Jonathan Kelley info@triaroostook.com FMI

Bootlegger Snowshoe Hike, Rivière-Bleue, QC. Sundays; fourth Sunday of the 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

10th Mountain Outdoor Club Jalbert Pee Wee Biathlon Program, Fort Kent. Tuesdays; 4:30 p.m. at Fort Kent Outdoor Center. Starting in December. Open to youth ages 9 and under. Kids will learn basic skate skiing skills, go on ski adventures, and play LOTS of games! Cost: FREE! Contact Gail Johnson stegacosa@yahoo.com FMI

10th Mountain Outdoor Club Jalbert Youth Biathlon Program, Fort Kent. Wednesdays; 6:00 p.m. at Fort Kent Outdoor Center. Open to youth ages 10-14; roller skiing, rifle shooting, trail running, and LOTS of games! Cost: FREE! Contact Gail Johnson stegacosa@yahoo.com FMI

Four Seasons Trail Association Youth Ski Program, Madawaska. Saturdays; 1:00 p.m. at Four Seasons Lodge. Visit www.fourseasonstrail.org FMI

* = New or updated item(s).