Presque Isle recreation? (Caribou, Fairfield, Madawaska: university, prices, eat)

[mountainme]

Hello Aroostook folks!

I'm recently moved to the Presque Isle area, and am wondering about the recreation here. Recreation is pretty much my life, the non-motorized, non-hunting kind I mean, I'm not against hunting by any means, but it just doesn't do it for me...
I'm from the west so I'm used to a lot of hiking and backcountry skiing in the mtns. I haven't noticed many hiking trails here, just a lot of dirt roads, which have potential for mountain biking! So my questions are, are all these dirt roads in the woodlands overrun with ATV's in the summer months? I've working in the woodlands now, west of the bridgewater area and its really nice back there, but I can see it being really loud and dusty too, with lots of ATV's. Yes I'll come out and say it, I can't stand ATV's they'e loud, it is not exercise- well I won't rant on because I see its rather popular here...but anyway thats just my opinion.
Also do people ski at all back there in the winter? Like backcounty touring? Snowmobiles I don't mind, they get the trails all packed in
Anything else? I would bet there is a lot of canoeing/kayaking on rivers I haven't done much of that, I've just kayaked on lakes, which gets a little boring, rivers sound fun though.
Thanks for your help! I am very busy with work right now or I'd check it out myself, but until I can get away I'd like to plan and dream...

By the way I think this area is lovely except for the black flies! ( I work outside)

[Bydand]

Between Presque Isle and Fort Fairfield there is "Maine Winter Sports" that has miles of great cross-country ski trails. There is also lots of hiking on their trails during the summer months as well. Aroostook State park which is about 5 miles south of Presque Isle has some great hiking trails to the top of Quequejo mountains North and south peaks. The trail can get a bit steep going between North and south peak though. Youo might try the nice views that can be had from climbing to the top of haystack mountain (more like tall steep hill) on the way to Ashland from Presque Isle.

Canoeing/kayaking can be done on any of the local rivers during 90% of the summer. During the heat of Aug though some of the smaller rivers get a bit on the bony side and with a canoe it turns into a wade/drag trip through some sections. The Little Madawaska River from Stockholm to the dam just north of Caribou makes a nice long run during the Spring/early summer months. Watch the Aroostook River though, it looks and seems like a gentle meandering river, but it has LOTS of power to it and can be very difficult to paddle against the current if you need to.

Go the the University Of Maine in Presque Isle and contact the OAPI program there. They are an outdoor adventure program that is run by the students and overseen by an adviser.

[mountainme]

Thanks Bydand!
That will help me get a start. Did I hear that there was some sort of canoe race on the Aroostook?

[RANGER.101ST]

Originally Posted by mountainme

Thanks Bydand!
That will help me get a start. Did I hear that there was some sort of canoe race on the Aroostook?

yup the meduxnekeag river race starts in newlimerick and ends in littelton we go every year.

[Maineah]

Boy are you ever in the wrong place if you don't like ATV's, snowmobiles and hunting!

[mountainme]

Well actually I said I do not have anything against snowmobiles, but I prefer skiing. Its cheaper and I get a workout, gotta work off the pounds from the winter drinking
From the research I've been doing it seems that x-c is making a comeback here, which is great, with gas prices they way they are the ATV/snowmobile recreation seems doomed to fizzle out, and then its bye bye tourist $.
As for hunting I just can't shoot the fuzzy critters, when my friends give me the deer or elk I'll admit I eat it...its good.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by mountainme

Well actually I said I do not have anything against snowmobiles, but I prefer skiing. Its cheaper and I get a workout, gotta work off the pounds from the winter drinking
From the research I've been doing it seems that x-c is making a comeback here, which is great, with gas prices they way they are the ATV/snowmobile recreation seems doomed to fizzle out, and then its bye bye tourist $.
As for hunting I just can't shoot the fuzzy critters, when my friends give me the deer or elk I'll admit I eat it...its good.

Just razzin' ya! You're right about the self propelled modes of recreation making a comeback! The canoe place in town is doing a really brisk business! How about snow shoeing have you tried that? You can always pick up spuds and barrel them in the fall that will work the abs! Besides hiking,cycling, and canoeing there probably isn't much else going on. There must be softball leagues there. Those are usually a good time.