experience maine winter/maine adventures 2011

By Brian SwartzCUSTOM PUBLICATIONS EDITOR

Take a sled ride across the Crownof Maine this winter and enjoy win-ter in all its natural beauty.

Snowmobile trails crisscrossAroostook County, from east to westand north to south, and connect theCountys cities and towns with trailsin New Brunswick and Quebec. Theability to take a long ride lures manysledders to organize multiple-daytrips in the County, where, for exam-ple, snowmobilers can:

Head north from Houlton orIsland Falls at dawn and stay in FortKent or Madawaska that night;

Explore the St. John Valley thenext day (east to Van Buren or westto Allagash);

Stay that night in Caribou orPresque Isle;

Arrive home for lunch on the

third day.Two major ITS trails, 81 and 83, con-

nect eastern and central AroostookCounty with points farther south. Run-ning north of Mattawamkeag, ITS 81enters Aroostook west of Macwahocand extends all the way past Sherman,Shin Pond, Masardis, Mars Hill, FortFairfield, Limestone, and Van Buren toMadawaska. Just east of Limestone, ITS81 actually stretches along the Canadi-an border. As long as they stay on themarked trail, snowmobilers need notreport to Canadian customs.

Connected to the Millinocket trailsystem, ITS 83 enters AroostookCounty at Sherman, runs throughIsland Falls and Oakland to Houl-ton, and then follows the formerBangor & Aroostook Railroad corri-dor north through Westfield beforereaching Presque Isle. This trailextends north to Madawaska.

Other ITS trails range fartherafield. From Fort Kent, sledders can

follow ITS 92 west to Allagash andthen north to Estcourt Station onthe Quebec border. From its inter-section with ITS 85 in Portage, ITS90 extends east past Caribou tointersect ITS 81 near Limestone.Meandering from Ashland toPresque Isle to Caribou and FortFairfield, ITS 88 introduces sleddersto the Aroostook River Valley.

Besides the Interconnecting TrailSystem, many local club trails exist,too. These provide important linksto the ITS trails; for example, theNumber Nine Lake Trail connectsITS 81 and ITS 83, respectively westand south of Bridgewater, and servesas a shortcut for sledders travelingbetween Ashland and Houlton.

Each County snowmobile clubextensively grooms the trails withinits jurisdiction. Sledders must alwaysyield to a groomer while on the trails.

Sledders can reach TThhee HHoommee--

Start winter off right with a snowmobile ride in the County

See COUNTY, Page 2

sstteeaadd LLooddggee in Oxbow with ease; accordingto the lodges Web site, www.homestead-lodgemaine.com, the fully groomed ITS 85runs through the lodges 220 acres. Sledderscan stay overnight or for a weekend andenjoy easy access to trails throughout centraland northern Aroostook County.

Gasoline, engine oil, and a trailer-storagefacility are located on site, and snowmobilersare invited to enjoy the hearty fare at the aptlynamed Ride-In Restaurant. A buffalo herdroams the lodges fields and woods, and, ofcourse, buffalo appears on the restaurantsmenu. Think Buffalonof, All-in-One BuffaloStew, Buff a Loaf, and the Ride-In Prime Buf-falo Burger, among other delicious meals.

At DDeeaannss MMoottoorr LLooddggee (2075 PortageLake Road, Portage), we are considered thehub for snowmobiling in the northernregion, said Angie Burton. You can leaveour business and do a very enjoyable loopthat will bring you through Eagle Lake, LongLake, [and] Cross Lake [and] down the railbed back through Washburn and right intoour dooryard via ITS 90.

ITS 85 runs through our parking lot, with

many connecting trails close by, she said.For sledders seeking a home away from

home, the CCaarriibboouu IInnnn && CCoonnvveennttiioonn CCeenn--tteerr and the PPrreessqquuee IIssllee IInnnn && CCoonnvveennttiioonnCCeenntteerr offer modern accommodations andtrail accessibility.

Located at the intersection of Routes 1-164 in Caribou, the Caribou Inn & Conven-tion Center lies near ITS 88; from the inn,snowmobilers can quickly reach trails lead-ing to almost every municipality in centraland northern Aroostook County.

Located on Main Street (Route 1) justsouth of the University of Maine at Presque

Isle, the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Cen-ter provides snowmobilers with easy accessto ITS 83 and the Star Citys outstandingtrail system.

Snowmobilers have easy access to thetrails from NNoo.. 99 LLaakkee OOuuttffiitttteerrss in Bridge-water, where the groomer comes off ITS 83across the field and into our cabin area,said Don Burnett. He indicated that theconnector trail runs less than half a milebefore reaching ITS 83; about a mile to thenorth lies a key intersection with ITS 81 andpoints west.

Guests can access the nearby countryside

for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, andsnowshoeing; a guide can take our guestsoff-trail for photo opportunities, he said.Alpine skiers can quickly reach Big Rock SkiArea, which rises about 8 miles to the north.

Among the scheduled snowmobilingevents taking place in Aroostook Countythis winter are:

Jan. 12, 6 p.m.: The Chapman RidgeRunners will sponsor a potluck supper at theclubhouse on Town Hall Road in Chapman;

Jan. 15, 10 a.m.: The Portage Lakers Snow-mobile Club will sponsor radar runs, with reg-istration starting at 9 a.m. For more informa-tion, contact Jen Curran at (207) 227-0045;

Feb. 4, 6 p.m.: The Portage Lakers Snow-mobile Club will sponsor Supper on theRun and a Twilight Poker Run. For moreinformation, contact Betty Benson at (207)435-6872;

Feb. 18: The Madawaska SnowmobileClub (Fournier Road in St. David) willsponsor the USCC Madawaska 100 Cross-Country Snowmobile Race. For more infor-mation, contact Mike Guerrette at (207)728-7097 or Glenn Daigle at (207) 728-3881or email [email protected].

March 17, 6 p.m.: The Chapman RidgeRunners will sponsor a spaghetti supper at theclubhouse on Town Hall Road in Chapman.

2 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Friday | December 9, 2011

CountyContinued from Page 1

By NewsUSA

Ice sends thousands sliding,slipping and falling each year. Andunfortunately, many of those fallsresult in serious injury.

You cant control the weather, butyou may be able to keep ice fromforming on your walkways. Oneinnovative company, HeatTrak(www.heattrak.com), manufacturesoutdoor mats that, when pluggedinto an electrical outlet, melt snowand ice at a rate of two inches perhour. Commonly used by business-

es and university campuses, Heat-Trak mats have recently becomeavailable to homeowners. The matsare durable and meant to stay out-side all season. Those who want toenjoy slip-free walkways and stairssimply need to install the mats, thenturn them on when snow first startsto fall the mats will prevent iceand snow from accumulating.

Of course, its hard to avoidsnow and ice the whole winter, soits best to take precautions againstslips and falls. Here are some tipsfor safer winter walking:

Wear the proper foot gear. Slip-

pery soles will make icy conditionseven more hazardous. Wear shoeswith non-slip soles and deep treads.

Watch where youre walking.Stick to sidewalks whenever possi-ble. If a surface looks slippery, tap itwith your toe before stepping for-ward. Be especially wary aboutblack ice, which can be hard todetect visually. Walk at a slow, evenpace running or jumping makesit easier to lose your footing. If youdo have to walk over ice, bend youknees slightly and take shorter steps.

Stay balanced. Keep yourhands free to help you balance. If

there are handrails, use them. Tryto avoid carrying heavy packagesup and down icy stairs, and dontcarry loads that you cant seeover.

Dont let clothes obscure yourvision. You need to stay warm, butdont wear ski masks, scarves, hatsor hoodies that restrict your vision.

Watch out for ice from above.Falling icicles can cause seriousinjury. Avoid walking underneaththe edges of buildings.

For more information on theHeatTrak products, visitwww.heattrak.com.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Friday | December 9, 2011 | 3

Tips to prevent slips and falls this winter

During the winter, meteorolo-gists report the actual air tempera-ture outside and the windchilltemperature. Do you know the dif-ference between the two? Air tem-perature is the thermostat readingof the temperature outdoors.Windchill temperature is what itfeels like to the body when thewind is blowing. According to theNational Weather Service Office ofClimate, Water and Weather Ser-vices, as the wind increases, itdraws heat from the body, decreas-ing skin temperature and eventu-ally the internal body temperature.Therefore, the wind makes it feelmuch colder. Windchill tempera-ture only affects humans and otheranimals. It will have no effect oninanimate objects. Those objectswill not cool down past the currentair temperature.

Windchill versusair temperature:Be safe outside

BDN PHOTO BY BRIAN SWARTZ


By ARA Content

Even the best behaved-dog can temporari-ly forget his manners when faced with themany distractions of going on a walk. Whenthe ground is covered with snow and ice,Fidos momentary lapse can mean a nasty fallfor you. Properly equipping yourself andtaking some safety precautions can helpensure you stay on your feet, and that yourwalk remains enjoyable for both you andyour best friend.

Here are some tips for walking your dogin wintery weather:

DDoonntt ssttaayy hhoommee.. Both you and yourdog need exercise, and just letting Fido outinto the backyard to do his business doesnthelp your health. A daily walk helps to pro-vide both of you with excellent cardiovascu-lar exercise, and also gets you out into thefresh air. So even as the weather gets colder,help keep you and your dog healthy withdaily walks.

LLeeaasshh ttrraaiinniinngg.. Larger dogs make greatpets, especially for seniors who struggle tobend over to pet smaller breeds. But if yourdog isnt leash trained, he could give you

Tips for fun, safe winter frolics with Fido

See FIDO, Page 5

Families: Prepare to have fun in the snow with Fido bymaking sure he can frolic safely.


great difficulty in managing himand the winter elements. Take himto obedience classes and work withhim so he knows not to pull whenyoure out for short and longwalks. As the weather chills andsnow and ice build up on your tra-ditional walking routes, youll beable to carefully negotiate trickyspots without having to worryabout being pulled off balance.

DDrreessss ffoorr tthhee wweeaatthheerr. Youreprobably already going to be layer-ing up to stay warm, but dont for-get proper footwear for both youand your dog. Dog booties can helpprotect your pets feet from thedeicer chemicals that can hurt andcrack the pads of his feet. Bootiesalso help prevent ice from buildingup in the fur around his toes.

For your feet, you need gear tokeep you from sliding around onthe ice. STABILicers ice cleats goon over your shoes or boots, pro-viding you super traction - andeven better footing than your dog.

Sold by retailers nationwideincluding L.L. Bean and Cabelas,these ice cleats are durable andlight, and can fit easily in a pocketor glove compartment for easytransport. For Scott Kelley of PeaksIsland,STABILicers allowed him towalk his dog even after shouldersurgery and physical therapy.

The idea of falling on the iceafter surgery and all that physicaltherapy was too much to bear,Kelley says. So I put STABILicerson my boots and wore them allwinter, even if the roads and side-walks were clear, because the dogstill needs to be walked, and thereis always that one rogue patch ofice lurking in the shadows.

PPrraaccttiiccee ssaaffeettyy.. Since the day-

light hours are shorter during thewinter months, make sure youwear light clothing with reflectivematerial, and carry a flashlightduring your walks to help driverssee you in the dark. Also let some-one know where youre going onyour walk, and your anticipatedtime of return.

Getting out of the house,breathing in the fresh air and see-ing the sun reflecting off the glit-tering snow. The winter monthscan bring so much enjoyment toyou and your dog on your dailywalks. And when youll be held onbalance with proper footwear, youmay soon find yourself joiningFido in chasing squirrels, just forthe fun of it.

FidoContinued from Page 4

Dont forget the pawsCourtesy of the ASPCA

Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when hecomes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreezeor other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws,and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.

By Brian SwartzCUSTOM PUBLICATIONS EDITOR

Major snowstorms that struckMaine on the eves Halloweenand Thanksgiving remindedskiers to check their equipment priorto hitting the slopes for the first time.

Winter firmly has Maine in itssights, so nows the time to learn howto ski or snowboard. Three localMaine ski slopes offer lessons andequipment rentals, and a cooperativeventure between seven Maine skiresorts provides a great opportunityfor novices who think theyd like tolearn how to travel downhill fast.

Big Rock Ski AreaHome of the Maine Winter

Sports Center, Big Rock Ski Area islocated on Mars Hill in AroostookCounty. Offering 27 trails rangingfrom beginner to expert in ski-

ing ability, Big Rock operates a skischool that provides private andgroup lessons for beginning skiers.Ski school programs are gearedtoward a skiers age and capabili-ties and are available in single-,three-, and five-lesson packages.

Skiers and snowboarders canrent equipment at the Big RockBase Lodge, located just off the

Graves Road in Mars Hill.Ski trails are accessed by four

lifts, including the Big RockExpress Poma Life, the North StarDouble Chairlift, and the SouthStar Triple Chairlift. For skiers, themaximum vertical drop is 980 feet.Big Rock has a snow tube park.

For more information about


Skiing opportunities abound this winter for all skill levels on Maine slopes

See SKII, Page 7

BDN PHOTO BY

BRIAN SWARTZ

Gaining experiencewith every

schuss down theslope, a young boy

skis at CamdenSnow Bowl on a

holiday weekend.


this ski resort, log onto www.bigrockmaine.com.

Camden Snow BowlOperated by the Camden Parks & Recreation

Department and located on 1,300-foot RaggedMountain in the Camden Hills, the Camden SnowBowl features nine trails ranging in skill levels frombeginner, such as the westernmost Spinnaker Trail,to difficult, like the easternmost Lookout Trail. Mosttrails fall within the intermediate range.

Skiers and snowboarders can access the trails onBig T-bar (4,100 feet), a chairlift (3,100 feet), and Lit-tle T-bar (1,100 feet). Near the Alpine base lodge isMitey Mite, a 200-foot T-bar designed for youngsters.

Slightly east from the ski trails is a tubing hill.When ice conditions permit, a skating rink is availableon adjacent Hosmer Pond.

The Camden Snow Bowl Ski and SnowboardSchool offers private and group lessons for fledglingskiers and snowboarders, from ages 3 and up. Privatelessons are available in one-hour, half-day, or all-daytimeframes.

Equipment (including skis and snowboards) can berented at a white modular building located near the baselodge.Ragged Mountain Sports runs the adjacent ski shop.

Learn more at www.camdensnowbowl.com.

New Hermon Mountain

Located at 441 Newburgh Road in Hermon, theaptly named New Hermon Mountain has 20 trails,with skiers and snowboarders reaching the top on achairlift or a T-bar lift. Near the lodge is a lift-equippedtubing park featuring a 600-foot tubing run.

A family-owned ski slope, New Hermon Mountainoffers skiing and snowboarding lessons with qualifiedinstructors. In January and February, novice skierscan participate in a four-week Learn to Ski Program,with adult classes held at 6:30 p.m., Fridays, and chil-drens classes held at 9:30 a.m., Saturday or Sunday.All classes including skiing lessons.

For beginning skiers and snowboarders, New Her-mon Mountain offers private or group lessons. A privatelesson lasts one hour; a group lesson lasts 90 minutes.

New Hermon Mountain is open 3-9 p.m., Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m.,Sunday. The ski slope opens earlier on weekdays dur-ing school vacations. For more information, log ontowww.skihermonmountain.com.

Maine Learn to Ski & Ride CardWith the Maine Learn to Ski & Ride Card, novice

skiers can learn to ski at five local ski slopes in Maineand then hit the lifts and trails at Sugarloaf USA inCarrabassett Valley and Sunday River in Newry.

Find out more at: www.camdensnowbowl.com/maine-learn-ski-ride-card.

SkiingContinued from Page 6


By David M. FitzpatrickBANGOR DAILY NEWS

Russ Ames has fished all his life,including ice fishing. He has fondboyhood memories of Februaryvacation, when his father wouldtake him on an ice-fishing tripalong with other fathers and sons.

So its no wonder that when hediscovered the Maine Youth Fishand Game Associations annualFamily Fishing Day a few yearsago, he jumped at the chance totake his son out. The free ice-fish-ing event draws hundreds of peo-ple, with fishing open to kids age15 and under. MYFGA providesthe traps, gear, and bait, and theylleven feed everyone, with hot dogsand hot chocolate on hand all day.

Its great for the kids, Amessaid. If you get a good, sunny day,kids love to be out there iceskating and eating, and then a flag

pops up and they all run over andpull the fish in. Its pretty fun towatch them.

The annual January event isheld at the 10-acre Pickerel Pond,located off the Stud Mill Road nearMilford. The Department ofInland Fisheries & Wildlife stocksthe pond with 300-500 brook troutin the fall yearlings of 10-14inches and retired brood stock of14-18 inches. Legally, only kids 15and under can fish there, whichMYFGA uses as a teaching pond toeducate children about the impor-tance of the ecosystem and theresponsibility theyre tasked withwhen they choose to fish or hunt.

We really encourage people tobring out their children, theirgrandchildren, the neighbors kids,whatever they want, said TravisRoy, former MYFGA presidentand current vice president.

MYFGA formed in 2000 andbegan holding events in 2001. It

grew quickly, thanks to over-whelming public support. The firstyear, MYFGA had a vision of build-ing a lodge within 10 years, butNorthern Log Homes soon donat-ed a log-home kit, the NationalGuard and local construction com-panies built it, and the Stephen &Tabitha King Foundation donated$15,000 for a generator. And in2008, International Paper donatedthe land to MYFGA.

Everything we do is 100 per-cent free for the participants, saidMYFGA vice president Travis Roy.We raise the money so, [for] thesekids, its never going to be aboutthe haves and the have-nots.

The day before the event,MYFGA volunteers drill holes inthe ice. They used to do it by hand,but now use two ice-auger caddies;they drive up, quickly drill a hole,and drive to the next spot. Conven-tional wisdom says the ice shouldbe 6-8 inches thick, but Roy said

they aim for 10-12 inches, just toerr on the side of caution. Whenthe weather cooperates (and theresalways a rain day or, as MYFGAputs it, an ice day) as many as 300people turn out. Its grown so pop-ular that MYFGA is consideringadding a second ice-fishing day.

The event draws all kinds ofpeople from all over, and Roy saidhe especially likes it when peoplenew to ice fishing show up eager totry. Two years ago, we had a ladywalk up to us [who said] I run aGirl Scout troop, theres six of us,were here, and we have no ideawhat were doing, Roy recalled.That puts a smile on our face.

Once the kids are into ice fish-ing, Ames said theres no shortageof places to ice fish in Maine. Evenponds without good game fish canstill be exciting for kids; theyll stillhave lots of action guaranteed tobreed excitement and spur kidsinto game fishing later on.

They keep the flags going upand keep the kids running, keepsthem interested, Ames said.

Ames and his son Makenzie, 14,and his daughter Sophie, 5, willreturn in January 2012 for anotherice-fishing adventure. Wife Teriand toddler Stella will join themfor fun on the ice. Its fun for all,really, Ames said. Its fun to seethe kids get excited. Its all aboutgetting kids hooked on fishing. Icant say enough good about that.

The annual Family Fishing Daywill be held Saturday, Jan. 21 from8 a.m. until 3 p.m. The rain day isFeb. 4, same times. MYFGA willprovide food and bait, as well astraps to those who need them.MYFGA provides many other freeevents year-round, as well as aninexpensive week-long summercamp that costs just $75. Theorganization has just begun a$150,000 capital campaign toexpand the lodge and continue thesuccess of the program. Learnmore at:wwwwww..MMaaiinneeYYoouutthhFFiisshhAAnnddGGaammee..oorrgg

Kids drawn to ice fishing hook, line & sinker

PHOTO BY TERRENCE L. FITZPATRICKAn adult moves the trap out of the way, but its up to this young angler

to haul in her catch in this shot from 2008.

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By Metro Creative Service

Regardless of what season it is, skin seemsto bear the brunt of weathers wrath.Whether its the sun beating down in thedog days of summer or thewind whipping aroundand causingskin to

crack when the weather starts to turn cold,skin is never fully safe from the elements.

Each season poses its own unique chal-lenges to skin, and this year is no different.With fall and winter on the horizon, itsimportant for men and women to practiceproper skin care in an effort to protect

themselves from dry skin, which canbe irritating and unsightly.Though an extra layer of cloth-

ing might hide dry, flakeyskin from view, it wont

do much to relievethe irritation anddamage thatresult fromseverely dry skin.This fall and win-ter, consider the

following tips to help the skin survive thewoes of winter.

Take quick, temperate showers. It mightfeel good to get in from the cold and take ahot bath or shower, but this actually breaksdown lipid barriers in the skin, potentiallyrobbing the skin of moisture. In lieu of along, steamy bath or shower, take a quickshower in warm water.

Moisturize every day. Moisturizers aredesigned to relieve dry skin irritation, par-ticularly on those areas of the body that aretroublesome during the winter months.Look for creams that contain water andglycerin that will help to draw moisture intothe skin and stimulate the bodys naturalrepair process. Moisturizers that are non-greasy, non-oil based and fragrance freetend to work the best to repair dry skin. Oil-

based creams will actually repel water thatwould otherwise hydrate the skin causingfurther damage.

Men and women should also makemoisturizing a part of their nightly rou-tine before going to bed. Skin tempera-tures rise during sleep, resulting inincreased circulation and healing, so besure to moisturize each night before goingto bed.

Continue to protect skin from the sunThe sun is just as strong in winter as it isduring the summer, and winter sun can dosignificant damage to unprotected skin,especially when winter sun combines withsnow glare. Use a moisturizer with SPFthroughout the winter, and apply it to bothhands and face roughly 30 minutes before


Protect skin from the worst that weather has to offer

See SKIN, Page 13

By David M. FitzpatrickCUSTOM PUBLICATIONS WRITER

With the recent opening of the

newly redeveloped Lake ParlinLodge & Cabins, the Kruse familyis ready for plenty of visitors, fromthose staying at the spectacularfacility to those wayward back-

woods sledders just stopping byfor a bit of culinary heaven.

The Lodge opened on Jan. 8,2011 with four lodge rooms and afive-bedroom, five-bath mini-lodge. At the time, the six cabinswere unfinished shells, but wereready for the 2011-2012 winterseason. The cabins feature fullkitchens and flat-screen TVs andhigh-speed internet access, andone cabin is ADA-compliant. Thisis why the Lodges Web site bills itas luxury in the rough.

The Lodge sees loads of snowmo-bile traffic. We had a great winterlast year, real positive,said Joe Kruse.A lot of people stumbled upon usthat didnt know we were there.

Kruses family has deep roots inthe region. His parents built theBriarwood Mountain Lodge inJackman, now the MountainviewResort, in the early 1970s. Kruse

lived in Jackman until 1977, whenthe family returned to his parentsnative Florida. But they spentsummers and Christmases at thefamily camp on Lake Parlin, whichabuts the current lodge property.

I love hunting and fishing andthe outdoors and wanted to goback to Maine to raise our kids,he said. We never looked back.

Snowmobiling has long been apart of the Kruse family. Krusesfather had once worked with localfolks to start the first groomedsnowmobile trail in the area and

helped to get a grant to build thefirst snowmobile bridge across theMoose River. Recently, Kruse hasbeen part of a dedicated groupthat recently merged the ForksArea Recreation Club and the Bull-dog Summit Riders into one club,the Coburn Summit Riders.

We have an awesome trail sys-tem, Kruse said. We have thehighest groomed point in the state,Coburn Mountain. We plan togroom the trail to the summit on aregular basis to make it accessiblefor all riding levels.

It will be done now and will eas-ily be one of the key attractions toanyone on a sled, Kruse said. Itseasy with the great board and arrayof eager volunteers.Theres a lot ofpositive energy for the club, andeveryones real excited, he said.

The Lake Parlin Lodge is anideal jumping-off spot for sledderswith its location at a major nexuson the Interconnected Trail Sys-tem. Located 10 miles south ofJackman on Route 201, the Lodgeis situated on ITS 89 and just threemiles from ITS 87 using the LakeParlin Connector Trail. Best of all,its in a region that could have twofeet of snow on the ground; weget a lot of snow at our elevation,Kruse said.

And in the works: a USCC snowrace on Jan. 28, 2012, starting atthe Lodge. This will be a 100-milerace with approximately 20 5-milelaps.Anyone with a 600cc or lesscan enter. You can find rules on theUSCC site, and information aboutthe race on the Lodges Web site.

Whether running a race, cruisingthe trails, or gunning it up CoburnMountain, theres always good foodwaiting for you. The Lodge features abevy of talented chefs including2011 Maine Lobster Chef of the Yearfinalist Ryan Campbell. Campbell,originally from Winslow, trained atthe Culinary Institute of America andworked at prestigious eateries aroundthe nation before returning to Maine.

Were really fortunate to havethat kind of food in the middle ofnowhere, said Kruse.


Luxury in the rough at Lake Parlin Lodge

LAKE PARLINLODGE PHOTO


SNOWMOBILINGJackman and Moose River have been catering to snowmobilers for over 20 years. The snowmobile trails are ideally located for access to accommodations, restaurants and services of all kinds. From the Jackman-Moose River Region, the ITS trails can take you North into the Province of Quebec, South to the Forks, Eustis and Rangeley, or East to the Northeast Carry, Rockwood, Greenville and beyond. There is no region of Maine that cannot be reached by snowmobile from Jackman. (that is if THEY have snow!) Get our up to date trail reports!http://jackmanmaine.org/maine-ice-fishing.php

ICE FISHINGIce fishing is an extremely popular sport. The Lakes and Ponds in the region: Big Wood Lake, Little Big Wood, Holeb Pond, Long Pond and Spencer Lake, are usually thick enough to travel on by season open (January 1st) and stay frozen well into March.

Even at night, you may see lights scattered over the lake as Big Wood is especially noted for its large Cusk population. Other common fish are Salmon, togue, Brook trout, and splake. http://jackmanmaine.org/northeast-

championships.php

MAINE SLED DOG RACES Many professional drivers come to this race with their dogs in the best condition of the season. It is a fast paced and diversified event featuring everything from one dog skijoring to large sled teams, as well as 3 dog junior and one dog junior mushers. Dog teams from all over the US and even the world come to Jackman to compete in the sled dog events. It is great fun for the spectator too as you watch the teams race to the finish.

For more information on trail conditions, fishing derbies and sled dog races visit jackmanmaine.orgor call 1-888-633-5225


Winter weather takes all of theusual road hazards and steps themup a notch. Although winter drivingmay be frustrating, there are ways toprepare for the season and preventaccidents and injuries.

PrepareIts important to check that a vehi-

cle is in top shape before the coldweather sets in.Pay special attention to

the tires. If tires are bald or their wearis signficant, that could prove haz-ardous on weather-slicked roads.Havetires replaced before the first snowfall.The same can be said when switchingfrom regular performance tires to all-weather or snow tires. Be sure tochange all of the tires on the car, evenif it is just a front-wheel drive vehicle.

Now is the time to also get atune-up on the vehicle. Coldweather can make it hard for a carto perform at its best, and any prob-lems should be eliminated before

they spiral out of control. Be sure totop off any fluids in the car, espe-cially windshield washer fluid youmight need to improve visibilityduring a storm. Check the functionof wiper blades and change them ifthey arent up to snuff. Consultwith a mechanic to find out if it isadviseable to switch motor oil vis-cosity during the winter to improveflow through the engine and helpwith cold start turnover.

It also helps to stock up on suppliesshould you get stranded or stuck:

- snow shovel- scraper/brush- tire chains- flashlight (with extra batteries)- abrasive material, like cat litter,sand, or salt- jumper cables- flares or reflective triangles- brightly colored cloth to signalfor help- empty water-tight containerwith candles, matches or lighter,bottled water, and a snack- sleeping bags or blankets, skicaps, and mittens- first-aid supplies

SkiddingHow best to maneuver a car

when it starts to skid depends onhow the vehicle handles. If the rearwheels skid, turn the steeringwheel, and subsequently the frontwheels, in the same direction ofthe skid. If the front wheels skid,take your foot off the gas and shiftto neutral. Dont try to steerimmediately; the skid may slow,and traction could return. Thenyou can steer in the direction youwant to go and put the car backinto drive.

Keep in mind that even withexpert maneuvering it can be trickyto recover from a skid on ice. Snowtires are not infallible and may beineffective on icy roadways.

Leaving SpaceOne of the best things a person

can do when driving in winterweather is to slow down and addmuch more room for reacting toroadway conditions. Drivingslowly and braking slowly mayhelp to prevent skids. Also, shoulda skid occur, having more roombetween you and another vehiclehelps you to maneuver elsewhereor come to a stop without causingan accident.

When visibility is poor, leavingextra room means you can react ifsomething suddenly veers into thepath of the car or you missed see-ing it through the snow and sleet.

Stranded or StuckShould the car break down or it

becomes stuck in the snow, thereare some things you can do. Be

sure to steer or push the car to asafe location, if possible. Put upwarning flares or triangles so thatyou are visible and leave the four-way flashers on if the battery isoperable.

You can try rocking the car, byputting it in drive and hitting thegas, then in reverse and pressing onthe accelerator to create a valley inthe snow that might free the car.Use your abrasive material to pro-vide traction. You can also attemptto shovel out the tires.

If the car is inoperable, stay inthe vehicle out of harms way andcall for help on a mobile phone.Leave a window cracked open ifyou will be running the engine forperiodic heat. The National SafetyCouncil says that you can run theengine for heat about once everyhour, or every half hour in severecold. Be sure to clean snow fromaround the end of the tail pipe toprevent carbon monoxidebuildup. For extra heat, don blan-kets or a sleeping bag to preventhypothermia.


Drive safe this winter by prepping your car for slick roads


Whether youre hitting the roads on an adventure or delivering anice shack to its frozen home, being prepared for winter weather

is important.

going outside. Wear a winter wardrobe. Protective

clothing like gloves, scarves and thick socksnot only keep us warm through the winter,they also keep skin safe as well. Strong win-ter winds and below freezing temperaturescan damage the skin significantly, so bun-dle up when going outdoors. And be sureto avoid wet socks and gloves, which canirritate the skin and cause itching and

cracking, and might even result in the for-mation of sores.

Stay hydrated. Staying hydrated isanother skin care pointer people primarily,and incorrectly, associate with summer.But staying hydrated is just as important inthe winter as it is during the summer. Stay-ing hydrated is important for overallhealth. Men and women who enjoy caf-feinated beverages like coffee and sodashould know that caffeine is a diuretic thatdraws water out of the skin. So be sure tocounter caffeine consumption by drinkingplenty of water.


SkinContinued from Page 9



Snowshoeing is a wintertimeactivity that can be enjoyable andhealthy for all ages.

Enthusiasts say that snowshoe-ing is truly an activity that anyonecan enjoy from children toseniors. As long as a person is ableto walk, he or she can also trysnowshoeing. According toresearch provided by SnowsportsIndustries America, 40.8 percentof snowshoers are women, 9.4percent of snowshoers are chil-dren (ages 7 to 11), and 44.2 per-cent of snowshoers are betweenthe ages of 25 to 44.

There are a number of reasonsto try snowshoeing:

It is a relatively inexpensivesport to try because there is limit-ed equipment and most of it canbe rented.

Snowshoeing provides aunique perspective on the out-doors.

The activity is a great form ofcardiovascular exercise, as theshoe and the snow provide anadded measure of resistance whilewalking. The sport helps burnmore than 600 calories per hourand can help you burn 45 percentmore calories than walking orrunning at the same speed.

Snowshoeing is easily a socialgroup activity.

It poses little risk for injury.One of the main advantages to

snowshoeing is that oftentimes

the first time you head out youveeasily grasped the concept. Unlikeother sports that take practice tomaster, snowshoeing onlyrequires a few steps before it ismastered.

Snowshoeing has been aroundfor thousands of years. Archaeol-ogists have not been able to deter-mine when the snowshoe wasfirst used, but it is known thatsnowshoes were used more than12,000 years ago. It is believed thefirst snowshoe was made fromsolid wood and animal skins.Natives of North America reliedon a form of snowshoe to traversethe landscape during hunting andother chores.

Although the first snowshoe

Adventures in snowshoeing

See SNOWSHOE, Page 16 BDN PHOTO BY BRIAN SWARTZ


designs were made from what people couldfind and were primitive in nature, they setthe course for more intricate designs andhigh-tech materials.

When selecting snowshoes, beginners canchoose among recreational snowshoes. Usu-ally, these snowshoes work best on simpleterrain that doesnt require a lot of steepclimbing or descents. For avid snowshoers orthose who compete, aerobic snowshoes orones designed for hiking are more durable

and may be the smart buy.Many experts advise against purchasing

used snowshoes, because you wont be surewhat youre getting. Snowshoes can be rent-ed, but they are relatively inexpensive tobuy new, ranging from $100 to $300. Snow-shoes are sized according to your weight.The most common sizes are 25, 30 and 36inches. Working with an educated retailerwill ensure you get the right size shoe.

Snowshoeing can be done anywhere thereis snow. It doesnt require marked trails. Justbe sure to go with a partner the first timearound to ensure safety should you get stuckout in the wilderness.

SnowshoeContinued from Page 15

MAINES BEAUTYSEEN VIA SKI


Two cross country skiiers cross afrozen lake under the magestic rise of

Mt. Kineo

experience maine winter/maine adventures 2011

Documents

snowmobile ride

westand north

trails withinits jurisdiction

local club trails

countysee county

sled ride

allagash andthen north

aptlynamed ride