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AUGUSTA — The Maine Bureau of Park ands Lands has offered some safety tips for winter camping, hiking and other outdoor activities.
Be Prepared:
* for changing weather conditions (both you and your car)
* to provide your own first aid
* to not count on your cellphone, which in Maine can be very unreliable
* know your limits, and those of your companions (outdoor skills and physical ability)
* refresh your outdoor skills and consider an easy adventure to start the winter season
* tell a friend where you are going and when you expect to return so that they can initiate help if you do not return on time.
* Registered Maine Guides are outdoor experts. Call on them to lead you into areas where you have not yet traveled, or to add a special focus to your trip such as fishing, canoeing, or Maine yarns and historyWinter camping at Maine state parks and public lands is primitive tent camping: no water or cleared sites. Bring your own water, snow shovel, and tent.
The sate park locations are great for those who want to camp a bit closer to local amenities, are sharing winter camping with others for the first time or want to enjoy groomed cross country ski trails (Aroostook State Park, Mount Blue State Park, Sebago Lake State Park) or an outdoor ice skating rink with warming yurt (Mount Blue State Park).
Camping on public lands is an outback experience in the summer. In the winter you need to be an experienced winter camper and completely prepared to take care of yourself. It is truly an outback experience.
For a list of Maine state parks and public lands that allow winter camping, visit maine.gov/dacf/parks/camping.
PHOTO courtesy Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
