Maine Brewery: American Craft Beer Fest

Thursday, May 26, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

The 4th annual American Craft Beer Fest (ACBF) is the east coast's largest celebration of American beer, featuring over 100 American brewers and over 400 beers! The ACBF is hosted by Beer Advocate and Harpoon Brewery and rounds out the Boston Beer Week: A 10-day celebration of craft beer from Boston and beyond.

Our very own Kennebec River Brewery will be in attendance offering tastings of the following hand-crafted Maine brewery ales:

Kennebec River India Pale Ale --- American IPA, 5.9%
Kennebec Summer Ale --- American Pale Ale (APA), 5.3%
Whitewater Wheat --- Witbier, 5.5%

Venue:
Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd. in Boston, MA

Date/Time:
Friday Session, June 3 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Saturday Session One, June 4 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday Session Two, June 4 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

We highly recommend purchasing tickets in advance either online or at ticket outlets in the Boston area. Tickets can be purchased at the door, but they are first come first serve. Click here for advance ticket information.

Maine is widely known for its award-winning craft beer, and we're proud of the fact that our Maine brewery is on the Maine Beer Trail. Come celebrate Boston Beer Week with us by attending the American Craft Beer Fest on June 3 and 4. Guaranteed to be a tasty good time!

Dead River Rafting Part 3: Only 8 High Water Releases

Tuesday, May 24, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Dead River Rafting with Northern Outdoors

The flooding of the town of Flagstaff, in the fall of 1949, created Maine's largest man-made lake and contributed to turning the area into a destination for Maine adventure vacations.

One of those well-known adventures is Dead River rafting with Northern Outdoors. The first Dead River rafting trip of the season was Saturday, May 7th, the second one was May 14th. Which means there's only 6 more high water releases to catch this year! This 15-mile trip offers a day of paddling through heart-pounding Class III, IV, and V whitewater and avid rafters say that "you haven't rafted Maine until you have been on all three rivers - Dead, Kennebec and Penobscot".

So come join us on the river and experience the excitement of the Dead River!

2011 Dead River Rafting Releases:
Saturday, May 7 = 7,000+ cfs (HUGE water)

Saturday, May 14 = 7,000+ cfs (HUGE water)

Sunday, May 29 (Memorial Weekend) = 5,000+ cfs

Saturday, June 4 = 5,000+ cfs (SOLD OUT)

Saturday, June 11 = 3,500+ cfs (Diablo Sport Rafts)

Sunday, Sept. 4 (Labor Day Weekend) = 5,500+ cfs

Saturday, Sept. 17 = 3,500+ cfs (Diablo Sport Rafts)

This is a three part blog so be sure to read Dead River Rafting Part 1 and Dead River Rafting Part 2.

Video of the Week: High Water Kennebec River Rafting

Monday, May 23, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Kennebec River rafting is always fun. Throw a little extra water into the mix and the trip becomes down right AWESOME! The standard water level for Kennebec River rafting is 4,800CFS (cubic feet per second), and this past weekend we rafted on 8,500CFS of water. When the river is this high, waves like Big Mama, normally a 12 foot roller coaster-like wave, turns into a 22 foot even Bigger Mama!

So check out this quick video of the week. It's of Kennebec River rafting with Northern Outdoors at the bonus level of 8,500CFS. Some pretty heroic Maine whitewater rafting!

Maine Rafting Video of the Week: High Water Dead and Kennebec River Rafting

Monday, May 16, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Maine whitewater rafting in the spring is pretty epic, just check out our video clip of the week from this past weekend. Early season high water makes for an exciting and adrenaline pumping day on the river. Follow this up with a BBQ lunch and other lodge amenities like a giant hot tub and Maine brewery...and well, let's just say "Life is Good"!

Epic high water conditions, over 9,000CFS on the Dead River, and over 10,000CFS on the Kennebec River this past weekend! Yee-haw!

Here's what folks were treated to while Dead River Rafting on Saturday and Kennebec River Rafting on Sunday with Northern Outdoors.

Dead River Rafting Part 1: Creation of Maine's Largest Man-made Lake

Saturday, May 14, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Flagstaff Maine - Dead River Area Historical Society

Dead River rafting would not exist without the creation of Maine's largest man-made lake - Flagstaff Lake. In the fall of 1949, the Dead River was diverted, and as a consequence, the towns of Flagstaff and Dead River were flooded. The State of Maine believed that the flooding of the towns was critical for two reasons: to help meet the increasing demand of the state's electrical power needs and as a measure to maintain flood control of the lower Kennebec River.

For many folks, Flagstaff Lake is a sign of progress and viewed as the place where the old Maine and the new Maine came together. The Dead River Area Historical Society maintains a memorial room, which shares the lineage and artifacts of several native families, to honor the lost towns of Flagstaff and Dead River. At the time of flooding, residents of the two towns were forced to relocate so the lake could be made by the newly constructed dam. Many homes, barns and community buildings can still be found deep within the lake.

The Long Falls Dam, where water is now released for us to enjoy Dead River rafting, impounds the waters of Flagstaff Lake. The Dead River Area Historical Society and the towns of Eustis and Stratton encourage visitors to experience the wonders of Flagstaff Lake and the stories of the valley below.

Find this to be interesting? This is a three part blog so be sure to read Dead River Rafting Part 2 and Dead River Rafting Part 3, coming up in subsequent posts.

Dead River Area Historical Society
Northern Outdoors

Maine Whitewater Rafting: Yankee Magazine Recommends Northern Outdoors

Friday, May 13, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

We're thrilled! Yankee Magazine rates Penobscot River Rafting one of Maine's Best Adventures in 2011 and recommends Northern Outdoors.

Here's what Yankee has to say about Maine whitewater rafting on the Penobscot River:

BEST RIVER RAFTING
Penobscot River
Moments after boarding your raft and going over your first major rapid, dubbed "Exterminator," you immediately realize that this 14-mile stretch of the Penobscot is a serious joyride that will have you shrieking with abandonment. Go with a reputable outfitter such as Northern Outdoors, which ran its first trip down the Penobscot in 1976. 1771 U.S. Route 201. 800-765-7238, 207-663-4466; northernoutdoors.com

Link to Yankee Magazine Listing
New England Vacations
Penobscot River Rafting with Northern Outdoors
(We run a classic, top-to-bottom river trip on the Penobscot - Upper Penobscot, lunch riverside, then Lower Penobscot. We don't run the Lower first, then drive back up for the Upper. We think our trip makes for a better, uninterrupted river experience that way.)

Maine Rafting Video of the Week - Dead River Rafting Season Begins!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

We have started a new weekly video project here at Northern Outdoors and we are stoked to be bringing you a fresh look at our Maine river rafting scene every week this season. YOU could be in one of these videos! Here's the first one, Dead River rafting at an awesome 8000CFS. Thanks to Zach for putting this together.

Visit our Northern Outdoors YouTube Channel here.

Dead River Rafting Part 2: Rising of Flagstaff Lake

Sunday, May 8, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Slaid Cleaves and Nicole St. Pierre, with photos contributed by the Dead River Area Historical Society, produced this song and video titled "Below" which chronicles the 1940's flooding of Flagstaff and Dead River in Maine.

Maine whitewater rafting is a popular activity on the Dead, Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers. Dead River rafting would not be made possible without the construction of Long Falls Dam and the creation of Flagstaff Lake.

The Dead River Area Historical Society, located in Eustis Maine, is open weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during July and August. On display are artifacts, manuscripts, and photographs. Thanks to this non-profit organization for bringing together the history of this area and for permission to link to their video online here.

Interested in learning more? This is a three part blog so be sure to check out Dead River Rafting Part 1 and Dead River Rafting Part 3.

Northern Outdoors

Maine Adventure Vacations: Ski and Raft Package...yep that's right!

Friday, April 29, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Spring Dead River Rafting with Northern Outdoors

Calling all adventure junkies! At Northern Outdoors, we're gearing up for rafting while still enjoying great spring skiing conditions at Sugarloaf USA. So we thought, let's put together a Ski/Ride N Raft Package during the first two weekends of May. Big water, plenty of mountain snow, great weather - so why not?

Sugarloaf USA has the most spring skiing in the east and Northern Outdoors offers the best big water Kennebec River Rafting and Dead River Rafting trips in New England. With only about an hour of drive time between the two resorts, we think this package ranks high on the scale of cool Maine Adventure Vacations.

Suggested Maine whitewater rafting and Sugarloaf skiing/riding weekend:

Friday: Check-in at Northern Outdoors, enjoy the lodge amenities and Maine brewery
Saturday: Dead River Rafting followed by a night of live music
Sunday: Check out and head to Sugarloaf USA for a day on the slopes
OR:
Ski or Ride Saturday at Sugarloaf
Saturday night: Check in at Northern Outdoors, enjoy the Kennebec River Brewery and live music
Sunday: Go rafting on the Kennebec River

The Ski/Ride N Raft Package will be offered the weekends of May 7-8 and May 14-15. Oh, and it's only $99!
Note: Dead River Rafting is only available on Saturday May 7th or Saturday May 14th. Kennebec River Rafting trips are available on Sunday May 8th, Saturday, May 13th, and Sunday May 14th.
Kennebec River Rafting
Dead River Rafting
Sugarloaf USA

All in One: Dead River Rafting and Hut to Hut Hiking Trips

Monday, April 25, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Ever think of planning a Maine whitewater rafting vacation that involves some hiking too? Our Dead River Hike and Raft Package is geared for those who love Maine adventure vacations. Northern Outdoors has teamed up with Maine Huts & Trails to offer back country hiking, a night stay in the eco-friendly Grand Falls Hut and a day of Dead River rafting.

Here's the trip at a glance:

Day 1
Park at the Big Eddy trail head and hike 8+ miles along the scenic upper Dead River. Arrive at the hut and enjoy a home cooked dinner, perhaps an evening stroll to the river and the quiet comfort of the hut.

Day 2
Wake up to a hearty breakfast. Your whitewater raft guide will meet you at the hut and outfit you for your day of Dead River rafting. Then it's on the river you go to raft 14 miles of heart pumping Class IV whitewater. After rafting, you’ll feast on a bar-b-que cookout at Northern Outdoors in The Forks. A bit of relaxing, then you'll hop on a return shuttle to the trail head where your vehicle is parked (approximately 90-minutes).

You can also choose to add an extra night of lodging at Northern Outdoors to enjoy the giant outdoor hot tub, on-site Maine brewery and live music.

Maine adventure vacations comprised of hiking and rafting...check.

Full details on the Dead River Hike and Raft Package
Dead River Rafting with Northern Outdoors
Hut to Hut Hiking Trips
Maine Huts and Trails

Coolest Mother's Day Gift: Free Kennebec River Rafting for Mom

Thursday, April 21, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Northern Outdoors Kennebec RIver Rafting

Wanna win Mom over this Mother's Day? Our unique Mother’s Day Gift is a cool way to say "I love you Mom" and is easy on the pocket book too. On May 8, Mom's can enjoy a free day of Kennebec River rafting with Northern Outdoors. The thrill of Maine whitewater rafting is guaranteed to be time well spent with Mom!

The experience of Maine whitewater rafting is a great way for families to connect while having fun on the river. This spring, we invite you to bring your Mom for a free day of Kennebec River rafting. Stay for the weekend and take advantage of our value season lodging and rafting deals for the entire family.

Kennebec River rafting, it just might put the "Wow Factor" into your Mother's Day Gift this year!

Maine Brewery: Kennebec River Beer at The Boston Beer Summit

Tuesday, April 12, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Looking forward to the weekend? We sure are 'cause we're taking our Maine brewery on the road to the Boston Beer Summit. Known for the best beer, good people and live music.

Beer Summit Essentials:

Where: Park Plaza Castle in Boston, MA

When: April 15-16, 2011

           Session 1: Fri Night 5:30- 9pm
           Session 2: Sat Day 12:30- 4pm
           Session 3: Sat Night 5:30- 9pm SOLD OUT

Purchase tickets for Session 1
Purchase tickets for Session 2

Stop by the Kennebec River Brewery booth, sample some tasty brews, and pick up a voucher for 20% off Kennebec River Rafting, Dead River Rafting and Penobscot River Rafting in May and June with Northern Outdoors.

Cheers and see ya at the summit!

Snowmobile Trail Report For The Forks, Maine

Thursday, March 31, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

The past few days of bright sunshine have opened up a number of bare spots on the trails in The Forks. Still some decent trail and off trail riding if you pick your spots. Areas around Moxie Mountain, Bald Mountain and the Brochu Road still have good spring riding.

Thanks to all who rode The Forks Trail System this winter. We look forward to seeing you again in 2012.

Jim Yearwood
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club

Maine's Kennebec River Brewery: Chug a Sample at the Central Maine Brew Fest

Monday, March 28, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

The third annual Central Maine Brew Fest is just around the corner. In fact it's Saturday, April 9 to be exact, and our Kennebec River Brewery guys will be there pouring fresh crafted samples of our I.P.A., Whitewater Wheat and Dopplebock. Of course they'll be getting everyone hyped up for a great summer of Maine whitewater rafting too!

Here's the skinny:

When:    Saturday, April 9th, 2011
Where:   Augusta Armory
            179 Western Ave.
              Augusta, ME 04330
Time:      2:00 p.m.

Tickets are available at the following locations:

Jokas' Discount Beverage, Waterville
The Liberal Cup, Hallowell
Mainely Brews, Waterville
Rollie's Bar & Grill, Belfast
Whales Tooth Pub, Lincolnville
Fat Toad's Pub, Farmingdalle

Remaining tickets will be sold on the day of the show at the Augusta Civic Center beginning at 12 noon.
Come try Maine micro-brews at their very best! You'll also find ethnic food, live bands, souvenirs and raffle prizes. Gonna miss it? Well you can sample our brew at Northern Outdoors anytime after your day Kennebec River rafting and Dead River rafting too!

Maine Whitewater Rafting: Be a River Guide this Summer

Friday, March 25, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Northern Outdoors Whitewater Rafting: It's a Guide's Life!

We'd have to say that the coolest summer job in Maine is working as a whitewater rafting guide at Northern Outdoors. If you love being outside, crave adventure and like meeting new people then guiding Maine whitewater rafting trips just might be your calling.

Northern Outdoors is known as Maine's premiere adventure resort and offers guests guided Kennebec River rafting, Dead River rafting and Penobscot River rafting trips throughout the summer. During the month of May, we conduct a River Guide Training School that prepares students to become successfully licensed Maine Guides. After becoming a Maine Guide, most students then continue on to work with us as Kennebec River rafting guides. We also train our guides to lead several other of our Maine adventure vacations.

Interested? Well here's a bit of what we're looking for:

- A well-groomed and neat appearance.
- A friendly, cheerful personality.
- A reasonable amount of athletic ability and good health.
- The willingness to work with others in a team environment.

Learn some new life skills, meet great people and spend the best summer of your life in Maine's outdoor recreation epicenter! Oh and did we mention that our Kennebec River Brewpub is featured on Maine's Beer Trail? Come join us on the river!

Contact Greg Caruso for more details

Snowmobile Trail Report for The Forks, Maine

Thursday, March 24, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

We received about 6” of snow from Monday’s storm. In general, there is still enjoyable riding in The Forks. All 100 miles of our trail system are open and being groomed on Wednesday and Friday nights this week. Some small patches of bare ground are present in a few of the sunny spots, but are easy to get around. Cold temps for the rest of the week, and a beautiful weekend coming up . . . . . get that last ride in! Remember, it is spring so rocks, stumps and water can pop up at any time . . . . ride with caution.

ITS 86 FROM BERRY'S STORE HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE. Intown trail is poor but passable. Things improve once out of the valley. A few rocks poking up on the Power Line near Moxie Lake. Brochu Road has plenty of snow.
ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM. A few bare spots starting to show, from Pleasant Pond Trail intersection heading south. A little bobbing and weaving will get you around them. This very scenic trail winds around the base of rugged Moxie Mountain. Check out the 3 mile spur trail up to Moxie Mtn. Lookout. Incredible views of Sugarloaf Mtn. and the Bigelow Range.
BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL FROM ITS 87 TO ITS 86. The loggers have just plowed open a 2 mile section of the Bald Mtn. Trail, near where it intersects with the Pleasant Pond Trail. About 75% of this plowed section has a snow base. About 25% is down to dirt. The rest of the Bald Mtn. Trail has very good riding and plenty of snow. This trail and ITS 86 & 87 make a great loop.
BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL. Open all the way from Bald Mtn. Trail through to Blanchard and ITS 85.
PLEASANT POND TRAIL. Open and groomed all the way through. Very good riding with plenty of snow. Nice loop trail around Pleasant Pond and Pleasant Pond Mountain.
KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL FROM NORTHERN OUTDOORS TO BERRY'S STORE. Open and groomed all the way through. A few rocks popping up here and there. Scenic riding along the Kennebec River.

For all you day riders, there’s a FREE PARK & RIDE LOT at Northern Outdoors on Route 201, with groomed trail access. Food, gas and trail maps are available at the main lodge. Call 888-770-SLED for details.

Jim Yearwood
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club

Maine's Kennebec River Brewery: A Destination for the Maine Beer Trail Pass

Sunday, March 20, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Maine is widely known for its award-winning craft beer, and in fact Maine is home to New England's first microbrewery. At Northern Outdoors, we pride ourselves in offering the best Maine whitewater rafting, and we are also proud to be home of the Kennebec River Brewery - a destination for the Maine Beer Trail Pass.

The Maine Beer Trail Pass is a program where you can receive free stuff for sampling micro brews from 25 different Maine brew houses. Can life get much better? Visit five breweries to get a hat, ten for a t-shirt, and sample a beer at all 25 breweries to receive a prize pack of Maine beer gear.

Here's how it works:

1. Pick-up or download the Maine Beer Trail brochure
2. Visit Maine brew pubs and breweries to sample a micro brew
3. Ask a staff person to initial and date your pass next to the brewery
4. Send your trail pass in to receive cool stuff

Experiencing Kennebec River Rafting and our Kennebec River Brewery is a great way to have fun this summer, sample beer and get free stuff from the Maine Beer Trail Pass. Life sure is good. Cheers!

Snowmobile Trail Report For The Forks, Maine

Friday, March 18, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Some very mild temps the past 2 days, but trails are holding up pretty well. Looks like things will be cooling off tonight and staying cool for several days. Still a decent base of snow and enjoyable spring riding on all sections, except as noted below. A few corners here and there are starting to show some dirt. We will groom this weekend as night time temperatures allow. It is spring so stumps, rocks and water can pop up on the trail quickly . . . . ride with caution.

ITS 86 FROM BERRY'S STORE HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE. Intown trail is poor but passable. Things improve once out of the valley.
ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM. Good riding all the way. This very scenic trail winds around the base of rugged Moxie Mountain. Check out the 3 mile spur trail up to Moxie Mtn. Lookout. Incredible views of Sugarloaf Mtn. and the Bigelow Range.
BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL FROM ITS 87 TO ITS 86. The loggers have just plowed open a 2 mile section of the Bald Mtn. Trail, near where it intersects with the Pleasant Pond Trail. About 75% of this plowed section has a snow base. About 25% is down to dirt. The rest of the Bald Mtn. Trail has good riding. This trail and ITS 86 & 87 make a great loop.
BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL. Open all the way from Bald Mtn. Trail through to Blanchard and ITS 85.
PLEASANT POND TRAIL. Open and groomed all the way through. Good riding with plenty of snow. Nice loop trail around Pleasant Pond and Pleasant Pond Mountain.
KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL FROM NORTHERN OUTDOORS TO BERRY'S STORE. Open and groomed all the way through. A few rocks popping up here and there. Scenic riding along the Kennebec River.

For all you day riders, there’s a FREE PARK & RIDE LOT at Northern Outdoors on Route 201, with groomed trail access. Food, gas and trail maps are available at the NO Lodge. Call 888-770-SLED for details.

Jim Yearwood
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club

Snowmobile Trail Report For The Forks, Maine

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Some rain and warm temps the past weekend, but trails are holding up pretty well. Still a good base of snow. Things cooled off enough Sunday night so both groomers went out. They report that trails are good with no water problems . . . . . nice spring riding! We will continue grooming as night time temperatures allow.

ITS 86 FROM BERRY'S STORE HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE. Intown trail is in fair shape. Power Line sections near Lake Moxie are smooth. Brochu Road is flat and fast.
ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM. Good riding all the way. Logging operation on Hangtown Road has finished up. This very scenic trail winds around the base of rugged Moxie Mountain. Check out the 3 mile spur trail up to Moxie Mtn. Lookout. Incredible views of Sugarloaf Mtn. and the Bigelow Range.
BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL FROM ITS 87 TO ITS 86. Good all the way through. This trail and ITS 86 & 87 make a great loop.
BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL. Open all the way from Bald Mtn. Trail through to Blanchard and ITS 85.
PLEASANT POND TRAIL. Open and groomed all the way through. Nice loop trail around Pleasant Pond and Pleasant Pond Mountain.
KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL FROM NORTHERN OUTDOORS TO BERRY'S STORE. Open and groomed all the way through. Scenic riding along the Kennebec River.

For all you day riders, there’s a FREE PARK & RIDE LOT at Northern Outdoors on Route 201, with groomed trail access. Food, gas and trail maps are available at the NO Lodge. Call 888-770-SLED for details.

Jim Yearwood
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club

It's a Party: Get Connected with New England Vacations and Adventure Experiences

Monday, March 14, 2011 by Northern Outdoors Staff

Yallaboard Expo Party - Friday, March 18, 2011

Northern Outdoors is spreading the word about this new adventure expo and party with our friends at Amesbury Sports Park and Yallaboard.

Date: Friday, March 18th,
Time: 6:00pm-11:00pm
Where: Amesbury Sports Park
What: Adventure Expo and Party

Featured Events:
Snow tubing, Freestyle Ski & Snowboard Rail Jam Competition, Extreme Challenge Course Race, Intro to New England's best adventures with Eastern Mountain Sports Schools, Northern Outdoors, Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel, Parafly Paragliding, and High 5 Ballooning.

Games, BBQ, Bonfire, Live Music & Dancing, and Live DJ Broadcast by WXGR 101.5FM

It'll be a great party and a chance to learn more about Maine adventure vacations.

Check it out and hope to see you there!