From the sidelines (or the comfort of our living rooms), it’s easy to make judgments on activities that we don’t take part in. Take trapping, for example. There aren’t many licensed trappers in the state — about 3,000 or so — and some people don’t appreciate the fact that trapping is still allowed. “It’s all about the money,” some will tell you. Except, it’s not. I’ve never trapped, and don’t expect to trap in the future. Over the past several days I’ve worked on a couple of trapping-related stories, including the one that appeared in Saturday’s print edition of the BDN. (Another story is slated to run soon). What did I learn? While some trappers make a little cash, none are getting rich. And the factors that drive those trappers go far beyond a simple profit motive.
— John Holyoke
Trapping in Maine: For love more than profit
In some of the most far-flung areas of the state, trappers brave whatever Mother Nature dishes out while working their lines. If they’re lucky and good at what they do, they might make a few bucks. No matter what, they’ll likely still be out there next year … and the year after … because they just love spending time outdoors.
Urban skiers hit Maine streets during snowstorm
“Mainers watched from the warmth of their homes as snow piled up to their windows on Tuesday. Most Mainers, that is. A select group of adventurous people saw the snowstorm as an opportunity to get outdoors and ski places that are typically off limits. In downtown Portland, dozens of people were skiing the streets …”
Blog log
Act Out with Aislinn: 1-minute ski: The Bait Hole in Millinocket
Join BDN reporter Aislinn Sarnacki and her ski buddy Derek as they explore the cross-country ski trails of the Bait Hole public recreation area near downtown Millinocket. Read about their trip and watch the video.
Out There: Kids of the sliding hill: What type were you?
Go to any sliding hill you find, and you’ll find different personalities at work. Sometimes, the kind of sled you use helps define you. So tell us: What type of sledder were you?
On the horizon
More snow? Yes. Bangor will be seeing snowfall again on Friday, according to the National Weather Service. So get out your skis, snowshoes and sleds. You may as well get out there and enjoy it.
BDN reporter Aislinn Sarnacki will be busy preparing for the U.S. National Toboggan Championships, scheduled for Feb. 6-8 at the Camden Snow Bowl. She’ll be the captain of BDN Maine’s “northern” team, which beat the BDN’s southern team last year and plans to do so again.
Also on tap: John will share the results (and some photos) of two big ice fishing derbies that took place last weekend at Moosehead Lake and in the St. John Valley. The Moosehead winner took home a pretty hefty lake trout, while the Long Lake derby crowned champs in a number of categories.
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