Ron Chase

In recent years, several friends have recommended Nordic skiing on the Hammond Ridge Trails near Baxter State Park. About a three-hour drive from my home in Topsham, arranging a trip to ski the trail system is logistically difficult. A major mid-February storm that dropped 16 inches of snow on the area motivated me to plan […]

Tuckerman Ravine on New Hampshire’s Mount Washington is an iconic place. Each year, thousands of skiers and hikers visit the spectacular glacial cirque on the southeast face of the massive mountain. Over the past 40 years, I’ve had the good fortune to experience several adventures in the ravine. It’s been a waypoint on treks to […]

I’ve been aware of Titcomb Mountain in Farmington as a winter recreation destination for years. However, I didn’t realize they had an extensive network of cross-country ski trails. I recently met a skier who praised the quality of the Titcomb Ski Area trails and added that it was possible to ride the alpine ski lift […]

There are a lot of Bald Mountains in Maine. I count at least four: Bald Mountain in Oquossoc, Bald Mountain in Weld, Bald Mountain in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island and Bald Mountain in the Camden Hills. There may be more. The four Bald Mountains have a similarity. All of them are relatively […]

The ability to roll a kayak or canoe in whitewater or the ocean is a great asset. A successful roll can make the difference between a very enjoyable paddling experience and an unpleasant swim. A failure to roll risks the loss of boat and paddle or worse. The kayak roll was developed by Inuits for […]

Paddling the Crooked River near East Waterford has been on my mind for decades. When my friend, Paul Plumer, suggested joining him and Eggman DeCoster for a trip down Crooked River in late March, I quickly agreed. Neither Eggman nor I had paddled Crooked, and Paul’s only experience was in the summer of 1990 at […]

For many years, I’ve organized a Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society spring whitewater trip on the St. George River that flows through Waldo and Knox counties. The section chosen has been from Searsmont to North Appleton, the same route as the traditional downriver race held each March. Rarely paddled is a sector of the St. […]

Friends and I began paddling the Contoocook River near Henniker, New Hampshire, in the spring over three decades ago. In recent years, the renowned whitewater river has become a favorite with members of the Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society. The Contoocook is usually one of the earliest Maine or New Hampshire rivers to experience ice […]

Although Mopang Stream in Washington County is a significant tributary of the Machias River, it’s rarely paddled. Limited road access, obtaining a reliable description and determining an adequate water level make planning a trip complex. Another complication: Since it enters the Machias River some distance from dependable road access, an overnight trip is necessary. This […]

Three of us awoke to the amenities of Wigwams Camp. Ken Gordon, Eggman DeCoster and I had reserved the cabin for the first night of our three-day trip on Mopang Stream and the Machias River. Owned by Downeast Salmon Federation, the cabin is located at the bottom of the first of four challenging whitewater rapids […]