Again this year, the BDN will be sending two teams the U.S. National Toboggan Championships in Camden this weekend. I’m the captain of the four-person “News Ninjas” team, and yes, we will be dressed as ninjas — with weapons constructed out of newspaper. BDN photographer Troy Bennett is leading the other four-person team, which is still brainstorming names and plans to dress as Mexican wrestlers. As you may have guessed, there’s a costume contest at the event. While we may not be the fastest racers, we plan to go in style. And while we don’t plan on winning any trophies, the two BDN teams will be competing fiercely against each other. We’ve been trash talking on Twitter all week.
If you’re attending the races on Saturday and happen to see a ninja with a long blond braid running around, stop me and say hi. I’ll be there all day, enjoying not only the races, but the other events planned for the day, including a “chili challenge,” snowplow parade and fireworks show.
— Aislinn Sarnacki
Camden plans big for 25th annual U.S. National Toboggan Championships
A firework show over Camden Harbor, a snowplow parade along Main Street and a pick-up hockey game on Hosmer Pond are among the extra events planned for the 25th U.S. National Toboggan Championships, Feb. 6-8 at the Camden Snow Bowl. This year, event organizers have teamed up with the Camden WinterFest Committee to offer more outdoor winter fun during the races.
“It truly is — the buzzword is — the Mardi Gras of Maine,” said Holly Edwards, chairman of the Toboggan Nationals. “It’s the atmosphere. It doesn’t matter how cold it is or all the snow we have to slog through, once you’re out there in that huge group of people, you’re warm and happy and everyone’s having a good time.”
65 percent — an all-time low — of Maine moose hunters filled tags in 2014
The state’s moose hunters struggled to fill their tags in 2014, recording the lowest success rate — 65.3 percent — since Maine’s modern moose hunt began in 1980. The state’s moose biologist said a number of factors played roles in a relative lack of hunter success.
Volunteers from Millinocket turn golf course into ‘a great place to ski’
Greg Friel and fellow volunteer Paul Corrigan are the creators of about five miles of cross-country skiing trails that stretch from a nature trail at Stearns High School to the golf course. Having opened a few weeks ago, the course has drawn dozens of skiers despite having relatively little publicity.
Blog log
Act Out with Aislinn: 1-minute ski: Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth
Explore Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth on skis with BDN reporter Aislinn Sarnacki. The 65-acre sanctuary, located on the Presumpscot River, is the headquarters of the Maine Audubon, offering public nature programs year round.
Out There: Why do my bosses want me to sleep outside in the cold?
My editors have been plotting again. They call it “meeting,” but we all know what’s really going on when they all get together each morning to talk about potential stories. They’re plotting.
The other day, in fact, all of my bosses (I’ve got several) emerged from their regular plotting … oops … meeting …. and said something that made my blood (and the rest of me) run cold.
“What do you think about building a snow shelter?” one of them asked.
“And what do you think about sleeping overnight in it … right after the big blizzard?” another pitched in.
On the horizon
We might have mentioned this, but I’ll bet we have some cool toboggan coverage over the weekend. We’ll also talk much more about moose. Finally, when the BDN’s John Holyoke asked for winter camping help, readers responded. He’ll share some of those tips, and let you in on his plans to have a successful outdoor sleep in the coming days. Hint: He found some ringers who’ll put him up in style.
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