Aroostook Outdoor News: 2.12.15 edition
It’s
#ValentinesDay! #GetOutside with your #sweetie, revel in the cold weather, go
back inside and warm up together!
In
this edition: 1) LOTS of new stuff! 2) Great Maine Outdoor Weekend events in
Baxter, Madawaska, Limestone, and Fort Kent. 3) Outdoor adventures for adults
with Caribou Rec. in March. Plus lots more! offugo...
Thursday, February
12-Sunday, February 15
Katahdin Communities Outing
Club Head North Ski Weekend, Mt. Chase
10:00
a.m.-3:00 p.m. each day at Matagamon Ski Trails, end of Matagamon Rd. Join us
for groomed trails along the East Branch of the Penobscot and fun activities.
Ski equipment available. Cost: $5/day suggested donation. Contact Susan Adams
(207-852-1291) or lunksoos@gmail.com FMI
Saturday, February 14
River Valley Runners Cupid
Run for Haiti, Woodstock, NB
Registration:
9:30 a.m. at St. Gertrude’s Hall, 111 St. Gertrude St. Cost: donation.
Contact River Valley Runners rvrunners@gmail.com FMI
Saturday, February 14
NMMC/FSTA Rally in the
Valley Winter Festival, Madawaska
Kids
of all ages are invited to attend a fun outdoor snow day; skiing, snowshoeing,
tubing, games, and more! Registration: 10:00 a.m. at Four Seasons Lodge. Event:
11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Cost: $5; includes t-shirt and water bottle. Contact Gail
Lamarr (207-834-1459) or gail.lamarr@nmmc.org FMI
Saturday, February 14
Limestone Ski Club C-Me-Ski
– Aroostook Cup #3, Limestone
A
great classic tour and race. Distances: .5k-2k/ages 12 and under; 7k/ages
13-18; 21k/adults. Registration: 12:00 p.m. at Aroostook National Wildlife
Refuge. Youth race start: 1:00 p.m. Adult race start: 1:30 p.m. Cost:
$10/adult; FREE/youth. Contact Limestone Ski Club (207-328-7491) FMI
*Sunday, February 15
Fort Kent Outdoor Club Snowshoe Hike, Fort Kent
1:00
p.m. at 10th Mountain Lodge. Hike to top of Lonesome Pine, roast wienies over a
fire, hike to Mike’s Mountain and roast s’mores! Fee: $5/FKOC member,
$10/non-member; includes food, hot cocoa, water, roasting sticks. Contact Laura
Audibert (207-834-6773) or la4568@roadrunner.com FMI
*Friday, February 20
Caribou Rec. Youth Ice
Fishing Trip, Madawaska Lake
A fun-filled
day of ice fishing for kids in grades 3-6; bring skis, sleds, bag lunch, snacks
and warm clothes and boots. Fee: $5; includes transportation and all ice
fishing equipment. Pre-registration required by Feb. 18. Contact
Neal Sleeper (207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI
Saturday, February 21
Fort Kent Outdoor Center
Winter Women’s Day, Fort Kent
9:00
a.m.-4:00 p.m. Skiing and snowshoeing lessons, yoga or other fitness programs,
food and snacks, and a guest speaker. Fee: $20/club members; $25/non-members.
Contact Laura Audibert la4568@roadrunner.com FMI
Saturday, February 21
Aroostook State Park Winter
Family Fun Day, Presque Isle
10:00
a.m.–3:00 p.m. Cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating (bring skates),
sliding, snowmobile tote-rides, nature walks, warming hut, bonfire, hot food,
and Smokey the Bear. Fee: $1.50/person ages 12-64; all others FREE. Contact
Aroostook State Park (207-768-8341) FMI
*Thursday, February 26
Aroostook Birders February
Meeting/Talk, Presque Isle
6:30
p.m. at UMPI Campus Center Alumni Room. Dr. Jason Johnston, ornithologist and
associate professor of wildlife ecology will present “Forest, Food and
Phenology: Research on Northern Maine Birds,” highlighting area birds and habitats.
Contact Bill Sheehan (207-227-7301) or bill.j.sheehan@gmail.com FMI
Saturday, February
28–Sunday, March 1
February Frolic Ski Festival
– Aroostook Cups #4 & #5, Caribou
Get
ready for one big weekend of winter fun! Planned events include Aroostook Youth
Ski Festival, Aroostook League Middle School Ski Sprints, Maine State Ski
Sprints (A-Cup #4), Henry Anderson Ski Dag (A-Cup #5), and MUCH more! Contact
Mark Shea (207-498-9952) or mwscshea@gmail.com FMI
*Sunday, March 1
Cam-Am Crown Skijoring
Races, Fort Kent
Skijoring:
a blend of XC skiing and mushing, where skier and animal(s) work together. As
part of the annual Cam-Am Crown Sled Dog races, the organization will be
hosting 5k, 10k, 15k skijoring races at the beautiful Fort Kent Outdoor Center
trails! Contact Laura Audibert (207-834-6773) or la4568@roadrunner.com FMI
*Wednesday, March 4
Caribou Rec. Ski4Life
Program, Mars Hill
Learn
to ski at Bigrock! Open to grades 6-8. Program dates: March 4, 19, 26, April 3.
Fee: $80; includes transportation, lift ticket, ski rental, mandatory lesson. Contact
Neal Sleeper (207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI
*Saturday,
March 7
Himie
Towle Memorial Ski Frolic – Aroostook Cup #6, Presque Isle
Mass-start 10k event is freestyle cross-country
(classic track also set). Race start: 11:00 a.m. at Nordic Heritage
Center. Fee: $20/family, $10/adult, $5/youth; includes lunch. Contact Steve
Towle (207-227-6908) or towlesteve@gmail.com FMI
*Saturday, March 7
2nd Annual Angel Snowfest, St.
Agatha
All-day
event at Lakeview Restaurant; live music, outdoor Ice Bar, Snowshoe/Walk, Luminary
Walk on the breathtaking Lakeview trails. Proceeds benefit Angle Flight NE and
Edgar J. Paradis Cancer Fund. Fee: $15; includes neck-warmer, stew,
entertainment. Visit www.facebook.com/angelsnowfest FMI
*Tuesday, March 17
Caribou Rec. Take It Outside
Series Adult Ice Fishing Trip, Madawaska Lake
Depart
Caribou Rec. at 9:00 a.m.; return by 3:00 p.m. Fee: $25/ages 18-69; $20/ages 70
and up; includes transportation, ice traps, bait, ice auger, lakeside lunch,
campfire. Bring folding chairs, warm clothes. Contact Neal Sleeper
(207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI
*Friday, March 20-Sunday,
March 22
Caribou Rec. Take It Outside
Series Adult Ski Trip, Baxter State Park
Join
us for a two-night trip to Katahdin Lake Wilderness Cabins, featuring a 13-mile
round trip ski to Chimney Pond. Fee: $175; includes skis and trekking poles,
cabin lodging, all meals (excluding first day lunch). Contact
Neal Sleeper (207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI
*Tuesday, March 24
Caribou Rec. Take It Outside
Series Adult Snowshoe Adventure, Caribou
Join
us for a snowshoe adventure at Caribou High School Ski Trails. Fee: $20;
includes snowshoes, trekking poles, instruction, hot dog roast. Depart Caribou Rec.
Center at 10:00 a.m.; return by 3:00 p.m. Contact Neal Sleeper
(207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org 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 competitorme@gmail.com FMI
Van Buren Rec. Youth Hockey,
Van Buren
Sundays; 11:00 a.m. and Mondays,
Wednesdays, Fridays; 3:30 p.m. at the Van Buren Ice Skating Rink (weather
permitting). Come play hockey outdoors! Donations of “real” ice hockey sticks,
helmets, pads, would be greatly appreciated! Contact Michael "Miles"
Garcia (207-868-5059) or vbchamber@gmail.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; 4:00 p.m. at Fort Kent
Outdoor Center. 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
Tuesdays; 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 Johnsonstegacosa@yahoo.com FMI
MWSC Active Maine Project
Adult Nordic Program, Fort Kent
Tuesdays; 6:00 p.m. at Fort Kent
Outdoor Center. The program runs January 20-February 10 and is a fun, social
way to improve your ski skills. Cost: $55. Contact Mike Smith (207-227-0250)
or mikes@mainewsc.org FMI
MWSC Active Maine Project
Adult Nordic Program, Presque Isle
Thursdays; 6:00 p.m. at Nordic
Heritage Center. The program runs January 22-February 12 and is a fun, social
way to improve your ski skills. Cost: $55. Contact Mike Smith (207-227-0250)
or mikes@mainewsc.org FMI
Lonesome Pines Trails Junior
Ski Program, Fort Kent
Saturdays; 9:30-11:30 a.m. For grades
K-8; runs for eight weeks, starting Jan. 31. Fee: $45; includes sweatshirt and
fee waiver for LPT Annual Invitational Race on March 21. Contact Mike Voisine
(207-834-5202) or info@lonesomepines.org FMI
Nordic Heritage Sport Club
Youth XC Ski Program, Presque Isle
Saturdays; 10:00-11:30 a.m. Starts
January 10. Join us for a fun-filled free ski lesson! Grades K-8 welcome; ages
5 and under invited if with adult. Lessons designed for all levels. Visit www.nordicheritagecenter.org FMI
Four Seasons Trail
Association Youth Ski Program, Madawaska
Saturdays; 1:00 p.m. at Four Seasons
Lodge. Visit www.fourseasonstrail.org FMI
Bigrock Multi-week Youth
Lesson Programs, Mars Hill
Saturdays and Sundays; time and cost varies.
10-week programs start first Saturday in January. Specially designed for junior
skiers/snowboarders of all abilities, including first‐timers;
focus on developing fundamentals in a safe, fun‐filled environment. Contact
Ryan Guerrette (207-425-6711) FMI
