Maine Snowmobile

This fall we're going to take the Kennebec River Brewery on-the-road to a number of Brewers Festivals in Maine and New Hampshire.

First up is the Maine Lakes Region BrewFest  on September 26, at Point Sebago Resort, Casco, Maine.

On October 3rd, we'll be at The Redhook Brewery, in Portsmouth, for the New Hampshire BrewFest.

The following weekend we'll be on the Maine coast at the Fourteenth Annual Acadia Oktoberfest at Smuggler's Den Campground, Southwest Harbor.

We round out the fall events with the Maine Brewers Festival, November 6th & 7th at The Portland Expo.

Come on out and check-out fine craft brews from many New England brewers. We'll have trip getaway drawings and your favorite KRB beers on tap.
 

Last week we hosted our first guests doing a Hut-to-Hut hiking trip on the new Maine Huts and Trails system. The huts and trails are located between the Carrabassett Valley and the Kennebec Valley.

Our guests came all the way from the Caribbean to Maine last week! Erik and Ada, originally from the Netherlands, are currently living in St. Maarten. They told me they wanted to escape the summer heat of the Caribbean and experience a classic New England vacation. They planned their trip to include the weekend in Boston, exploring the coast of Maine and, authentic backcountry hiking in Maine’s North Woods.
 
Erik and Ada are enthusiastic European hikers it seems. They are both avid adventurers who have hiked in many locations including Scotland, Wales, France, Nepal and Dominica. They liked the Hut-to-Hut trip for its simplicity. After a night at Northern Outdoors, they were shuttled 90-minutes to the Poplar Stream Trailhead for the start of their 25-mile, three-day hiking journey, with their first overnight at The Poplar Stream hut and the second night at the new Flagstaff Lake Hut. From the Flagstaff hut they hiked back to the Kennebec Valley. Erik celebrated their hiking success and being the first to navigate the new Valley to Valley route this summer, with a couple of KBR pints, and Ada with two cups of green tea! 
 
Ps. Erik and Ada definitely got their wish to escape the heat of the Caribbean. It rained solidly the first two days of their hike, but they were well fed and well cared for by Maine Huts & Trails staff.  We are pretty excited about this new way to explore the western mountains of Maine. Guided and Self Guided Trips are offered from July to October for individuals and small groups. Custom programs can be developed for colleges, organizations and corporate groups – call 800-765-7238 for details

 

If you live in New England, there is little doubt that you’re wondering when the rain is going to cease. Rain or shine, the group that joined me on the Penobscot River were not going to be detoured by weather. The 9 gentlemen in my raft were on a collective 40^th birthday Maine adventure vacation. Or as we like to call it, a “Mancation.”

Despite a bit of overcast, the day could not have been better. A great run through the gorge & crib had the boat cheering for more, and Nesowadnehunk Falls was happy to oblige. On the lower river, I came to find out that for some this was their 4^th trip down the Penobscot River. It was an awesome day and great crew. I hope to see them again when they return to The Forks Resort with their kids for a Maine family vacation.

Maine is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. We enjoy four very different seasons to fish, hike, ski, snowmobile, raft and generally revel in the great North Woods. As president of an outdoor company I get to play outdoors all year-long and when I’m not working I can often be found hiking, biking or exploring with my family and friends – it’s all good - summer, fall, winter there’s never a dull moment. There’s just one season I’m not so keen on – bug season, it generally starts around Memorial Day and lasts through until the first week of July. It’s not that you can’t go out in June, it’ just that you’ve got to make extra preparations to cover up, lather on the bugspray and prepare to get chewed.

So when I heard about Insect Shield clothing I had to try it. I ordered a couple of bandannas to start and they seemed to work, my neck didn’t get munched, so I ordered more; some socks, a shirt, a tee-shirt – the works, I bought clothing for my two young sons and it does the job. Insect Shield clothing is treated with a man-made version of a natural repellent found in chrysanthemum flowers. The treatment lasts for up to 70-washes and protects against mosquitoes, ticks, flies and no-see-ums. Now I’m not for a moment suggesting that Insect Shield clothing will save the world (although if you check out their Global Health Efforts you'll see they are doing their bit!), but anything that makes bug season bearable and enables more people to enjoy their outdoor adventures has my support.

Give it a try for yourself, you can find it locally in Maine at LL Bean’s or for a list of national retailers go to www.InsectShield.com, it just might make your next Maine family vacation that little bit more comfortable.
 

We've been thick into the ATV world for the past couple of days - hosting Taera McLean, and her camerman Doug, from DirtTrax TV as they film a DirtTrax TV segment on riding in Maine. Yesterday Jim Yearwood (Snowmobile trailmaster, ATV enthusiast, founder of our KBR brewery, and one of our owners) guided the group to Greenville and today they headed out to the new Moxie Falls trail. 

In this photo you can see Taera, doing her morning introduction with Jim Yearwood, in the background speaking to Joy and Alyssa Harvey from ATV Maine. We invited ATV Maine to join the filming to give their perspective on the developing statewide ATV Trail system and current issues effecting the sport here in Maine.  (see last summer's blog interviews with Jim Lane for more info on ATV Maine.)

The Maine whitewater rafting season is underway and now with the Memorial Day holiday weekend comes the unofficial opening of Maine's ATV Trail System. Reports from riders in the area this weekend are that The Forks Area trails are generally in good condition with just a couple of wet spots. We had over twenty five riders stop in off the trails for lunch coming from Solon, Bingham, Rockwood and Greenville.

The connecting trail from the Boise Road to Northern Outdoors will be closed through the week due to an active logging operation and is only open on Saturday's and Sunday's and Monday May 25th. Riders leaving from Northern Outdoors will need to trailer their ATV''s a short distance to access the trail system during the week. 

Area ATV Trail Maps are available at the main lodge at Northern Outdoors. We are also working to get them online.

Please remember riding on private land in Maine is a privilege, our rural economies and lifestyle depend on your respect for private property.

Have fun, ride responsibly, ride safe, and respect private land.
 

We are pleased to announce that the Kennebec River Pub & Brewery is included in the new Maine Beer Trail which debuted on May 11th.

The purpose of the Trail is to entice visitors and residents of Maine to recognize the vibrant micro and craft brewing industry found throughout the state. The Maine Beer Trail brochure, with a map of the state's breweries and brew pubs, is available at The Kennebec River Pub & Brewery, as well as at Maine Visitor Centers and participating breweries and brew pubs (we’re at stop number 6 on the map, located just below Moosehead Lake). Downloadable brochures are available from Northern Outdoors' website and from the Maine Brewers' Guild website.

To celebrate the new Beer Trail, and craft brewing in general, we will be hosting a number of Brewery events this summer. The first event is less than two weeks away, our RAFT n' DRAFT n' MUDRUN on May 30th.  Raft the Dead River at the "Wicked Fun" level of 5500CFS, then return to The Forks Resort Center main lodge for a Pig Roast, brewery tours, beer tasting, and live entertainment on Saturday the 30th. Then if you are up-for-it, bring out your "inner athlete" and run for laughs and zany prizes in our first ever 4-Mile Mudrun/ Walk/ Crawl on Sunday morning, May 31st. 

We think it’s a magical combination, whitewater rafting and fresh brews handcrafted on site – come up and join in the fun.
 

We kicked off the 2009 Maine Whitewater rafting season today with a trip down the Dead River with 56 adventurous souls.

After weeks of preparation it's always nice to get the first trip of the year on-the-water.

Now we can look forward to three more Dead River trips in May, whitewater guide training which starts on May 14th and our first ever Raft-n-Draft event on May 30th sponsored by our very own Kennebec River Brewery. There will be beer tasting, live music, a pig roast, brewery tours, did I mention the beer tasting? rafting on the Dead River and for those with any energy left on Sunday there's a 4-mile mud run/walk/crawl to celebrate spring in Maine.

In addition to rafting we're also gearing up for spring fishing, our new hut-to-hut hiking program and the arrival of Maine's ATV season at the end of the month.

So, don't sit around lamenting the woes of the world, grab a paddle, your hiking boots, a fishing rod or your ATV keys and get up here to The Forks to shake off the winter cobwebs and start to enjoy the benefits of Maine's great outdoors. 

 

We have halted grooming operations on The Forks Snowmobile Trail System. There is some riding out of the Lodge, if you want to just get out and explore around on and off trail. You can ride up the hill behind the Lodge. There is some bare ground on a couple of the pitches going out, where you will grind for 10 feet or so. Once on the road system at the top of the valley, the cover is better. Do not attempt to ride the Kennebec River Trail . . . lots of bare ground. Also don't recommend trying to ride to Berry's Store on ITS 86/87, as the 1 mile of intown trails are pretty scratchy. Not impossible, but not pleasant. The 1 mile section of ITS 86 on the plowed road at Moxie Lake, is down to the ground. Most other trail sections are generally ok and rideable.
 
For best riding, we recommend trailering to Berry's Store in West Forks, and riding north from there. From Berry's, ride ITS 87 north. Do not attempt to ride ITS 86 west along the Dead River . . . . very boney for at least 2 miles. West Forks, Bulldog and Jackman clubs all report plenty of snow in most areas, and are still grooming.

Jim Yearwood, Trailmaster
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club

We still have about 2 feet of snow on the ground, but the warm daytime temperatures and strong sun are taking their toll on the trails. Still decent trail riding, and fantastic off trail riding. With the daily springtime thaw and freeze cycle, hazards are popping up, such as some bare inside corners, rocks poking through the base, and ice. RIDE WITH CAUTION AT ALL TIMES. Short plowed road sections (intown, Boise Road, Moxie Lake) are bare, but rideable on the shoulders. All 70 miles of The Forks Area Snowmobile Trail System are passable and will definitely be groomed on Friday night. Saturday night grooming is tentative, depending on the weather and the condition of the trails.
• ITS 86 FROM BERRY'S STORE IN WEST FORKS, HEADING EAST TOWARD GREENVILLE.  Intown trails are "snurt", but it is all easily passable. Once out of town just a bit, things improve. However, there is starting to be sections with ice down the middle of the trail. Some minor bare spots in the clearcuts around Mosquito Mountain. Short Power Line section near Moxie Lake is still passable, but the tops of some rocks are poking through. Shirley Road and Brochu Road sections still have good snow.
• BALD MOUNTAIN TRAIL.  Good snow cover. A couple corners on the Crooked Road section getting bare, but pretty good everywhere else.
• BREAKNECK RIDGE TRAIL.  Closed due to logging.
• ITS 87 HEADING SOUTH TOWARD BINGHAM.  Good snow most of the way. A few bare patches here and there. Plenty of snow around Moxie Mountain.
• PLEASANT POND TRAIL.  Decent riding all the way through from ITS 87 to the Bald Mountain Trail. This trail and ITS 87 make a great mountain loop, with outstanding scenery of Moxie Mountain, Pleasant Pond Mountain, and Bald Mountain.
• KENNEBEC RIVER TRAIL. Rideable all the way through from Northern Outdoors to Berry's Store in West Forks. A few bare spots and icy hills.

This may be the last weekend for decent trail riding, as there doesn't appear to be any snow in the forecast. Great off trail riding should continue for a couple more weeks. Best off trail riding is off the Shirley and Brochu Roads (ITS 86), and around Bald Mountain (Bald Mountain Trail), Pleasant Pond Mountain (Pleasant Pond Trail), and Moxie Mountain (ITS 87).

For day trippers, there is a FREE PARK AND RIDE LOT  at Northern Outdoors Resort on Route 201. Gas, trail maps, food and trail info are available right at the Lodge. Call 888-770-SLED for details.

Jim Yearwood, Trailmaster
Northern Outdoors Snowmobile Club