Aroostook Outdoor News: 11.26.14 edition

offugo… is Aroostook’s longest running and most comprehensive Outdoor Event Calendar. First published in 2007, the offugo calendar features one-off and ongoing outdoor, people-powered, or active lifestyle events taking place in The Crown of Maine. It is the only place to find outdoor event news for Aroostook County (and nearby New Brunswick and Quebec) venues in one convenient package!

Thursday, November 27
Valley Rivers Middle School Booster Club Turkey Trot 5k, Fort Kent. Registration: 7:00 a.m. at FKCHS soccer field. Walk start: 8:00 a.m. Race start: 8:30 a.m. Cost: $20/person; $45/family. T-shirt to first 50 registrants. Awards: Fresh baked pie to first Male & Female finishers per age group/category. Contact Peggy Carson peggycarson2000@yahoo.com FMI

Saturday, November 29
Turkey Trot 5k, Caribou. Race start: 10:00 a.m. at Caribou High School. Cost: $13. T-shirts available to first 90 entrants. Contact Evan Graves (207-226-0711) or egraves@rsu39.org FMI

*Thursday, December 4
UMPI Outing Club Women’s Climbing Night, Presque Isle. 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Gentile Hall Rock Wall. Experience the excitement of climbing. State-of-the-art rock wall features climbs for all abilities. Staff on hand to provide assistance; helmet and harness provided, climbing shoes available for fee. Contact Gentile Hall front desk (207-768-9772) FMI

Saturday, December 6
Lonesome Pine Trails Annual Ski Patrol Training, Fort Kent. 8:00 a.m.-Noon. Ski Patrol 101 to follow. Cost: $5 for CPR and First-aid card. Contact Dr. Lucien Daigle drlucienski@gmail.com FMI

Saturday, December 6
10th Mountain Outdoor Club Deck the Lodge Coffee House, Fort Kent. 6:00-9:00 p.m. at 10th Mountain Lodge. This will be a social, membership drive, and fundraiser all in one; snacks, cash bar, live music, door prizes. Let’s kick off the winter season together! Cost: $3/member; $5/non-member. Visit www.10thmtnskiclub.org FMI

*Tuesday, December 9
UMPI Outing Club Appalachian Trail Presentation, Presque Isle. 7:00 p.m. in the Allagash Room, UMPI Campus Center. Join us for a presentation by AT thru-hiker Alison Kieffer, who hiked the 2185-mile solo and is here to share her beautiful pictures and the amazing tale of a long walk home. Contact Amanda Baker (207-768-9401) or amanda.g.baker@umpi.edu FMI

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
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

*Friday, December 19
Mont Farlagne Opening Day, Edmundston, NB. 9:00 a.m. (Atlantic time). It’s today at 9h00 that the lifts open for our 46th season! Visit www.montfarlagne.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

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

* = New or updated event

Got info on an outdoor, people-powered, or active lifestyle event that you would like to share with others? Please contact Mark Shea mwscshea@gmail.com to list your event!