Outdoors

Published
March 7, 2010

Ask an Outdoorsman: Get educated about avalanches

Q: What causes avalanches? A: Basically, it happens when a lot of snow breaks away from a weak layer of snow. And this has to be on terrain of a sufficient angle. “Basically avalanches are a whole lot of bad luck,” says Jeremy Kupferman, a Professional Climbing Instructors Association certified climbing instructor and assistant winter […]
Published
March 7, 2010

Allen Afield: Yes, weasels can provide fun learning experience

Recently, on a sun-splashed day on the Bartlett Road in Belgrade, a short-tailed weasel (Mustela erminea) in its winter white caught my eye, darting furtively along the top of a dirty snowbank right beside my vehicle. I stopped and so did the little predator. He eyed me suspiciously before retreating to the woods. My passing […]
Published
March 7, 2010

Recumbent bikers ignore the smirks, lean back and enjoy the ride

At first glance it looks comical, like a clown bike or a novelty ride to rent to tourists at the beach. For Shari Bernhard, her recumbent bike is the only reason she is still a serious cyclist. The hunched-forward position in riding a conventional bike aggravated an old neck injury. The pain became unbearable on […]
Published
March 7, 2010

Shout Out: Fly fishing film tour

BRUNSWICK — Love fly fishing? Fly Fishing in Maine, FliesandFins.com, Coastal Fly Angler and Maine River Guides are bringing the acclaimed “Fly Fishing Film Tour” to Maine. The tour is a collection of short films that represent the pinnacle of fly fishing experiences. Inspirational and breathtaking, the scenery, angling,and interesting stories pack more than 90 […]
Published
March 7, 2010

Skiing: ’Loafer changing tone of tony Montana club

He’s a Sugarloafer since 1985. Sam Byrne started working in the group tour office at The Loaf in 1986. “I was the Julie McCoy of the mountain,” said Byrne of Manchester, Mass. “I met my wife at the Widowmaker on my 21st birthday. I am a Sugarloafer.” I had the pleasure of meeting Byrne on […]

Published
March 7, 2010

If the shoe fits

...It may be because you went to a clinic to find out what gear will best suit your snowshoeing needs.
Published
March 7, 2010

Got Gear?

WATER IS LIFE. HERE’S WHY: The average adult eliminates about 6.3 cups of water per day. Another four cups are lost from breathing, sweating and other bathroom business. That means the average person needs to drink between 64 and 104 ounces each day, according to the Mayo Clinic. TRACKING WATER CONSUMPTION can easily be forgotten […]
Published
March 7, 2010

Birding: Some high-fliers from the world of bird books

A reader of this column, Tim McCormack, asked me to suggest a list of bird books to provide a good overview of the field of ornithology. After sending him some suggestions, it occurred to me that other readers might be interested in them as well. The number of bird books is huge, so I’ve chosen […]
Published
March 7, 2010

Learn to be a track star

Upcoming workshops can help you spot clues that identify the critters sharing your world.
Published
March 7, 2010

‘Crazy’ in a good way: Skiing on vintage gear

Portland ski instructor Theo Johnsen was one of the first Maine advocates for Alpine fun. And it’s interesting to note that in 1905, Johnsen called the skis made a century and a half before him “clumsy and awkward.” “Tradition tells us that the skee or sliding snowshoe … proved a heavy load to fasten to […]