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Maine Path & Paddle Guides |
2008 Winter Camping
These outings will introduce you to the winter camping experience. Including how to prepare for cold weather and extreme conditions. Several of our trips will be to remote yurts. Yurts provide an excellent winter shelter, they have wood stoves and kitchens, this provides an ideal destination for folks that want an introduction to winter camping but are not quite sure they want to brave the elements on their first trip out.
All winter trips begin with a planning overview at our home base in Windham. We travel by van to the White Mountains in western Maine and New Hampshire. Depending upon your experience and desire we can plan to build snow shelters, tent, or stay in yurts.
Join us as we explore destinations ranging from the White Mts. of New Hampshire to the Baxter State Park area of northern Maine. We have access to several remote cabins. These make a wonderful destination in the middle of the winter.
To sign-up or for more details, e-mail or call toll free 877-632-2663
Our Winter Camping Philosophy
Winter camping is all about equipment and mental attitude. Without a good selection of either, cold weather camping is nothing more than cold. But with the proper attitude and the right gear winter camping can offer solitude and wilderness beauty unmatched throughout the seasons.
Our Trips
Our trips will introduce you to the techniques and equipment required. We offer small group trips for one to three nights throughout the winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing into remote sites. These trips are designed to provide instruction on winter safety, hypothermia, proper clothing, layering, food and menu selection, and attitude preparedness. Snow shelter construction, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing skills will also be emphasized.
These are great trips for college or high school outing clubs on winter and early spring breaks.
Call toll free 877-632-2663 or e-mail for details.
2008 Winter Schedule
Third Sunday of the Month Winter Trek
Day Hike Snowshoe / X-country Ski
Destination TBD depending on weather and conditionsJan 20th
Feb 17th
Mar 16thWinter day treks into the wonderland of snow and ice that provide guidance and special considerations for maximizing the fun and safety of wintertime exploration. Topics include:
- Planning – extra caution for extreme conditions
- Clothing – layers, activity time vs. rest time
- Gear, Food, & Water – Keeping your engine fueled
- Winter Safety -
- Hypothermia and Frostbite
- Winter Travel – snow shoe, cross country skiing
Cost : $80 per person
Times: 3rd Sunday of winter months - Transportation arrangements will be made in advance, trips will leave the trail head by 9 a.m. Plan on returning to the vehicles by sundown.
Destinations: We will choose the destinations based on interest, current snow conditions, and weather forecasts. If you have a favorite winter day hike we’d love to learn about new places to go. Our favorite snow shoeing area is over in the White’s and some nice mountain day hikes around Sebago Lake; Douglas Mountain, Rattlesnake Mountain, Cutler Mountain, Sabattus Mountain.
There are also many backcountry cross ski trails around the greater Portland that are fun to explore. Of particular interest is the Portland Water District lands in Standish.
Intro to Winter Camping – Weekend Overnighter
Feb 15, 16, 17th
Wadleigh Pond cabin – On the edge of the North Maine Woods there is a cabin that is cozy warm. It is the perfect introduction to winter camping. It is a 2-mile x-country ski or snowshoe to the cabin from the Golden Road. The cabin has a wood stove for heat and cooking. There are miles and miles of skiing and snowshoe trails to learn or improve your winter travel technique.
Learn about proper gear; nutritious, high-energy foods; winter sleeping systems and shelters; and most importantly, winter safety. If conditions permit, we will build a Quinzee (snow shelter) or igloo. (Group size limited to 10)
Intermediate Winter Camping – Weekend Two-Nighter
– Ethan Pond, WMNFFeb 8, 9, 10th
From the trail head at the Willey House Station it is a 2.6 mile snowshoe into Ethan Pond. There is a lean-to shelter and tent platforms at this campsite. We will plan on building Quinzees on the pond if conditions permit. From Ethan Pond there are great hikes to Thoreau Falls and Zealand Falls. Great wilderness snow travel opportunities.
We will be exposed to the winter elements the entire trip. Proper gear is mandatory.
Winter Expedition – Debsconeag Four Nighter
March 20-24 – Thursday – Monday - Extended winter trek
This is a 40 mile trip through some of the most scenic and remote areas of the North Maine Woods. It is likely that there will be very minimal snow machine activity, and with this in mind it is also likely that we will be breaking trail for the majority of this trek. Mostly cross-country skiing with some snowshoeing where appropriate.
We will want to go light for this trip. If we pull sleds, they will be lightly loaded, if we backpack, we’d like to keep those light too.
See the full Description here.
Learn skills that will emphasize:
- Proper clothes layering techniques
- High energy, low effort foods
- Building snow shelters
- Snow travel techniques
- Snow Games
We will:
- Supplement the clothing and equipment you may have
- Plan and provide all meals
- Provide snowshoes, sleds and/or toboggans
- Hold one informational pre-meeting (optional)
- Hold one planning, prep, learning, & gear shakedown meeting
Gear
Winter outings require that you have a minimum of the following equipment:
- Polypropylene long underwear tops & bottoms
- Wool or fleece sweaters
- Hooded parka
- Mittens, gloves & hats
Gear you should have, but if you don't we can outfit you:
- At least a 0 degree rated sleeping bag & sleeping pad
- Felt lined Pac Boots
- Cross-country skis, snowshoes
- Ice-fishing gear (license)
Destinations
Some of the destinations for our winter camping adventures:
- Sebago Lake Area
- Bigelow Mountains
- White Mountain National Forest (Carter Notch Hut, Zealand Hut, Black Mountain Cabin)
- Baxter State Park (Roaring Brook, Chimney Pond) Must book 2 months in advance
- East Grand Lake
- Dundee Pond
- Custom trips to suit your ability and desire. Introductory trips fully outfitted.
Maine Path & Paddle Guides
60 Easter Ave.
Windham, ME 04062
877-632-2663