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Riders’ Busy Month Revs up in Naples

February 09, 2010 - NAPLES -- The Naples Winter Carnival: Each year it gets bigger and better.

This is the 11th year the carnival will take place on Long Lake at the town dock, beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday with a snowmobile torch ride. Nearly 30 sleds will make the trek from the Black Bear Cafe to the Bray Brew Pub for opening ceremonies.

"If you come to the carnival, you are going to have a lot of fun," said Dan Allen, the chairman of the carnival committee and a member of the Muddy River Sno Seekers Snowmobile Club, the sponsor of the event. "You don't even have to be a snowmobiler. In fact, a lot of people just park on the causeway on Route 302 and they can see everything from their cars. We have a lot of seniors who really love to do this."

Allen came up with the idea for the winter carnival several years ago because he had three little boys and there wasn't a lot to do in the wintertime. It was a way to battle cabin fever in February.

"Everything in Maine is usually geared toward summertime activities," Allen said. "I was an avid snowmobiler with three sons. It is a good weekend for everyone to just go hang out on the ice. There is so much to do – it is awesome."

Several nonprofits, such as the Lions Club and Naples Fire Department, will have food booths. There also will be helicopter rides on the lake, a poker rally, snow coach rides, broom ball, snowmobile jumps and the second annual Long Lake Fishing Derby. There will be two separate tracks for radar runs: an ice track that is 1,000 feet long and a 600-foot snow track for the novice racers. Proceeds from the radar runs will go toward trail maintenance. There also will be a large antique sled display. Fireworks on the causeway begin at 6 p.m. Saturday.

TAKE A FRIEND SNOWMOBILING

February school vacation takes place during Take a Friend Snowmobiling Week, Friday through Feb. 22, and it is a great opportunity to introduce someone to the sport. The event is sponsored by the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association and is supported locally by a number of snowmobile clubs and enthusiasts throughout Maine. One of those enthusiasts is Caroleen "Mac" McKenzie Dudley, a Registered Maine Guide and the owner of Mountain High Back Country Adventures in Rangeley. She also is the western regional director for the Maine Snowmobile Association. Each year in recognition of Take a Friend Snowmobiling Week, Dudley teaches a snowmobile safety course through the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club that provides snowmobiles for people who don't own a sled. The course gives people some hands-on experience.

"They have the opportunity to get on a machine. There is an outdoor portion of the course where I put out a track with stop signs and arrows. They have to follow the course," Dudley said. "The program was specifically designed to introduce non-snowmobilers to snowmobiling."

The day after the course, Dudley takes people out for a ride on ITS 84. Last year, she took a mother and her two children out for their very first trip.

"It is one of the most scenic rides. We went to the New Hampshire border and had a cookout. These folks had never experienced snowmobiling before. It was a 60-mile ride at 10 miles per hour," said Dudley. "They couldn't figure out how I was going to start a fire in the snow. The kids were pretty impressed. We had hot dogs and hot chocolate."

People have the opportunity to learn about snowmobiling and snowmobiles before they buy a sled. The week is also a good excuse to invite someone snowmobiling who might not go otherwise. You might be surprised by who accepts your invitation.

CATHY GENTHNER / SNOWMOBILING, Portland Press Herald, Feb. 4, 2010


Lakes: Brandy Pond, Long Lake
Regions: Sebago


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