Aroostook Outdoor News: 12.18.14 edition

Speaking of outdoor stuff: November = nondescript. December = decent. But January = coming in HOT!

In this edition: 1) Skiing, snowshoeing, sliding, and SANTA in Madawaska. 2) Myriad on-snow and off-snow activities coming up at a Fort Kent festival. 3) Start 2015 on the run on New Year’s Day in Presque Isle. Plus lots more! offugo…

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

*Thursday, January 1, 2015
CompetitorME Resolution Run, Presque Isle. Meet at 11:00 a.m. at North Street Health Center. This run is not a race! It is a 1.5-mile looped course; run 1.5 miles, 3 miles, or 4.5 miles. Pace: between 10- and 12-minute miles; no dropping of runners. We hope to see YOU there to get 2015 started off right! Contact Jonathan Kelley competitorme@gmail.com FMI

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

*Saturday, January 3
CompetitorME Full Moon Frolic, Presque Isle. 6:00 p.m. at Nordic Heritage Center Lodge. Join us for a 2.5-mile full moon snowshoe hike on Eric’s Around The Mountain Trail. Bring refreshments and food for a celebration afterwards. Also, a headlamp or flashlight isn’t a bad idea. See YOU there! Contact Jonathan Kelley competitorme@gmail.com FMI

*Saturday, January 3
10th Mountain Ski Club Full Moon Snowshoe Poker Run, Fort Kent. 6:00 p.m. at Fort Kent Outdoor Center. Poker run for fun and fundraising, usually a 50/50; winner takes half and club gets half. Visit www.10thmtskiclub.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

*Sunday, January 18
10th Mountain Ski Club Frostbite XC Ski Event – Aroostook Cup #2, Fort Kent. Distances: 30k, 15k, 5k. Registration: 10:30 a.m.; Race start (all events): 12:00 p.m. Fee: $20. Visit www.10thmtskiclub.org FMI

*Thursday, January 22
Aroostook Birders Meeting and Presentation, Presque Isle. Dave Putnam will present “A Few Birds of Mongolia, and other things.” Contact Bill Sheehan (207-227-7301) or bill.j.sheehan@gmail.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 competitorme@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

*Caribou Rec. Ski-Daddle Program, Caribou. Tuesdays & Thursdays; 3:00-4:30 p.m. Jan. 6–March 3. Designed for Grades 3-5. Lessons include intro to XC ski equipment and techniques and lots of outdoor fun. Cost: $10; includes Ski-Daddle CPRD hat. Ski equipment available; pre-registration required. Contact Neal Sleeper (207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org 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).