Invite 111 // Jan 7

Last weekend, I knocked off a personal Maine bucket list item: xc skiing the carriage roads of Acadia. After years of wanting to do it, the stars aligned: a free weekend, a sneaky downeast snowstorm in the forecast, and cheap offseason Bar Harbor hotels. I achieved bliss on mile 7 of the Around Mountain loop, gliding on a freshly groomed cliffside trail with Jordan Pond visible below.

Ten days earlier, I was breaking trail through 16 inches of fresh powder on Bradbury Mountain, after brushing 5 inches of snow off my car in Portland and driving 20 minutes north to the jackpot zone of the same storm.

Weather can be the great destroyer of a planned outing, but it can also be the magnificent unlock. Learning to interpret a forecast or check conditions can set you up for some of your most memorable days outside.

I'll spare you my amateur forecasting lesson and boil it down to a few favorite winter weather resources and tips.

​NWS Climate Prediction Maps: Long-range forecasting is tricky, but these give you a general idea of what's likely to come in the next month

​NWS Snow Report Map: A continuously updated map of user-reported snow depth, which will show you how to find deep snow

Facebook: Love it or hate it, Facebook is still where most groups post updates about conditions. For example, I looked at the Friends of Acadia page for grooming conditions

Webcams: You can often scout conditions without leaving your home. I'll often check Moosehead Lake or Katahdin cams if I'm considering a trip north.

Enough weather talk, on to the good stuff.

✌️ Max

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Community Ski Day

Sat, Jan 10 | Rome | Free

Experience cross-country skiing or snowshoeing at Quill Hill Preserve, with hot cocoa by the fire pit and opportunities to connect with 7 Lakes Alliance staff. Shuttle service available from Rome Corner Park & Ride.

​Learn more​

Winter Wildlife Tracking

Sun, Jan 11 | Scarborough | Free

Explore Broadturn Farm while practicing wildlife tracking skills, identifying tracks and signs of local species along Silver Brook.

​Learn more​

Inclusive Ski Touring Women's Program

Sun, Jan 11 | Greenwood | Paid

Grab one of the last spots for this weekend's beginner backcountry program at Mt. Abram, which features an inclusive space to learn splitboaridng or ski touring in a group setting.

​Learn more​

Six Rivers NEMBA Winter Night Rides

Wed, Jan 14 | Bath | Free

Rebel against the cold by joining a night mountain or fatbike ride with Six Rivers NEMBA at trails around Bath, Brunswick, and Topsham in a casual, no-drop format.

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Free Ski Night

Wed, Jan 14 | Rumford | Free

Enjoy a night of free skiing, snowboarding, and tubing at one of Maine's best small mountains, with equipment rentals available for a fee.

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Winter Birding Adventure

Sat, Jan 17 | Winter Harbor | Free

Grab your binoculars and head out on a self-guided birding adventure set up by the Schoodic Institute, including warm drinks, snacks, and learning materials.

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Rangeley Fat Bike Loppet

Sun, Jan 25 | Rangeley | Paid

Compete in a fat bike race at Rangeley Lakes Trail Center with options for both short and long courses, all while enjoying the winter scenery.

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Rangeley Pond Hockey Festival

Fri, Feb 6 - Sun, Feb 8 | Rangeley | Paid

Register a team or plan your trip as a spectator for one of Maine's best outdoor pond hockey tournaments at Haley Pond in Rangeley.

​Learn more​

Better with friends. Some of life's best outdoor experiences are shared with others. Share this newsletter with a friend to inspire your next group adventure by forwarding this email or sharing a link to subscribe.

Coming Up (Previously Featured)

​Inclusive Ski Touring: Open to All Program | Sat, Jan 10 | Paid​

​Pond Cabin Yoga | Sat, Jan 10 | Paid​

​Alpine Feast | Sat, Feb 28 | Paid​

Trail Log: Share your Experience

Have you attended any of these recent activities? Use the quick check-in links(30 seconds or less) to log your attendance and share your experience.

📝 Gardens Aglow - Wed, Nov 26 - Sat, Jan 3​

📝 Six Rivers NEMBA Winter Night Rides - Wed, Dec 24​

📝 Christmas Break Learn to Ski & Snowboard - Mon, Dec 29 - Thu, Jan 1​

📝 New Year’s Open House at Beech Hill - Thu, Jan 1​

📝 First Day Hike at Camden Hills State Park - Thu, Jan 1​

📝 Polar Bear Dip & Dash - Sun, Jan 4​

Your responses help us decide which events to feature again and motivate the newsletter's continued creation.

👋 I'm Max. I created the Maine Outsider to help people connect with organizations offering outdoor events and experiences around the state.

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Thanks for reading. Now, get out there!