The Northern Maine Winter Adventure Trip

Activity Description
This trip is rated easy/moderate; all activities are appropriate for a person in good health with an average level of fitness. If you have questions about your ability to do the daily activities, please call one of our helpful Adventure Consultants and they can help you decide. Daily activities are always optional, and there is plenty of free time built into the schedule for relaxing and exploring on your own.

Prerequisites

• None

Below you’ll find more information about this trip and what you’ll need to know in order to prepare for your adventure.

Day 1: Meet Up, Drive to Millinocket and Snowshoeing
Please meet us at 8:00 a.m. at our Flying Point Paddling Center, located at 14 Marietta Lane, Freeport, Maine. Once you've met your guides and fellow travelers, you will travel together to Millinocket, approximately four-hours, to start our exciting Maine winter adventure.

Our “base camp” for the next two nights is the New England Outdoor Center (NEOC), a beautiful Maine resort located in the scenic Katahdin region. Enjoy breathtaking vistas and unforgettable snow adventures right outside the door!

After check-in, we’ll venture out on snowshoes for our first winter adventure. Fun, active and easy to learn, snowshoeing is one of our favorite ways to explore the winter wonderland. The pace on this guided tour is leisurely, appropriate for all levels, with plenty of time to take in Maine’s winter beauty.

All of our dinners will be at the award-winning River Driver’s Restaurant, located in the main lodge.

Lodging: New England Outdoor Center
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Activity: Travel, snowshoeing

Day 2: Cross-Country Skiing
The sights. The fresh air. The full body workout. We love cross-country skiing and are excited to share this exhilarating winter sport with you. After breakfast, we’ll hit the trails for another day of outdoor fun. Designed by Olympian skier John Morton, this scenic 12-mile network of trails features a well-groomed, diverse terrain of varying loops and lengths for all skill levels, from novice to expert. Along the way, your Trip Leader will share tips and techniques to help take your cross-country skiing skills to the next level. Expert skiers in the group are welcome to pick up a trail map and explore the more challenging trails on their own. If this is your preference, please speak to your Trip Leader before heading out.

Be sure to bring your camera today – the views of Black Cat Mountain, Katahdin and the Penobscot River are amazing!

Lodging: New England Outdoor Center
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activity: Cross-country skiing

Day 3: Ice Fishing and Travel Home
Come join a NEOC guide for an ice-fishing excursion on Millinocket Lake. You'll start your day by snowmobiling a short distance to where you'll be ice fishing; no experience is necessary, and instruction will be provided. Traditional and tranquil, exciting and fun, ice fishing in Maine is a popular winter activity for locals and visitors alike – and we’re excited to introduce you to this sport. Millinocket Lake is known for its brook trout and landlocked salmon, so join us, drop in a line and give ice fishing a try – there’s no reason to wait until summer for some fishing fun!

Guests are also welcome to spend the morning snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. The choice is yours. Have fun!

After lunch, we will wrap-up our time together and head back to our Flying Point Paddling Center. Estimated arrival time in Freeport is 5:00 p.m.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Activity: Ice fishing, snowshoeing & cross-country skiing options

Climate Information
The weather in northern Maine this time of year can vary from a bright winter day to a snowstorm. It is important to be prepared, so please be sure to review our Packing List for our tips. The average daily temperature for Millinocket in February and March is high 35°F/low 15°F.

Accommodations
Guests will stay in the Small Cabins at the New England Outdoor Center (NEOC), a beautiful four-season resort in northern Maine. Cozy and classic, the Small Cabins feature authentic Maine sporting camp character. Each cabin has wireless internet, plus a small kitchen and private bath. Linens and towels included. Cabins will be booked as double occupancy.

Food & Drink
All meals provided, starting with lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 3. In total, the trip includes two breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners. Snacks are also provided each day. Alcoholic beverages not included, but will be available for purchase. To discuss dietary restrictions or food allergies, please call our Adventure Consultants at 1-888-615-9979.

Connectivity
All cabins at NEOC have free wireless internet available. Cellphone coverage is limited to unavailable for most of the trip.

Activities and schedules are weather dependent. We reserve the right to change itinerary due to inclement weather.

• Valid Maine fishing license*
• Insulated, waterproof jacket (with hood)
• Insulated, waterproof pants
• Fleece jacket or wool sweater
• Long underwear tops and bottoms (synthetic** or wool)
• Warm hat, gloves and glove liners (preferably waterproof)
• Insulated winter boots
• Synthetic or wool socks
• Underwear
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Lip balm with sunscreen
• One-quart water bottle or hydration system
• Personal prescriptions such as EpiPen or inhaler
• Personal toiletries (travel size)
• Personal electronics and chargers
• Small day pack

*A temporary one-day fishing license can be purchased online in advance of the start of the trip. The license will only be
needed for the final day of the trip. For more information or to purchase a fishing license online, please visit: https://moses.informe.org

**Synthetic clothing dries quickly and is the best choice for outdoor pursuits. Please do not wear cotton clothing. When wet, cotton rapidly robs the heat from your body and takes a long time to dry. We also recommend you dress in multiple layers, allowing you more flexibility to comfortably respond to the weather conditions and your level of exertion.

• Camera and accessories
• Binoculars
• Snowshoes, cross-country skis and/or ice-fishing gear

††Please call ahead if you plan to use your own equipment as it must pass inspection by L.L.Bean staff before use. If it's deemed unsuitable, we will provide you with the necessary equipment.

• All snowshoeing gear including snowshoes, gaiters and poles
• All cross-country gear including skis, boots, and poles
• All ice-fishing gear including augers, ice traps, bait, etc.
• All meals and snacks
• Group first-aid kit

odprograms@llbean.com | 1-888-615-9979 | HOURS: 7 days a week, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. ET

Smoking and Tobacco Policy

L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery Programs activities are tobacco- and smoke-free (including electronic smoking devices) in support of a healthy lifestyle and respect for our participants and guests. We thank you for understanding and respecting this policy.

Alcohol Policy

In general, alcohol consumption is not permitted during L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery Programs events for the safety of all participants. However, alcoholic beverages are allowed on overnight trips and may only be consumed in a responsible way after the day’s activities are finished. If participants consume alcohol to excess in the evening and behave in ways that negatively impact their own safety, that of the group or the natural environment around them, our guides will intervene. We hope that we will never have to remove an offending guest from the remainder of a trip to ensure the group’s safety, but we will do so if necessary.

Participants must be 18 years of age by the start of trip.

All rates are based on double occupancy. An additional charge of $300.00 will be added to your reservation if you are traveling solo or request a separate room. The fee will be added when your reservation is confirmed and will be due with the final payment.

To save on the single-occupancy fee, we are happy to pair a solo traveler with another solo traveler (of the same gender) to be your roommate for this trip. An additional charge of $150.00 (50% of the single supplement charge) will be added to your reservation. If we are able to find you a roommate, then we will fully refund the deposit to you. If we are NOT able to match you with a fellow solo traveler, then you will receive the single occupancy room for the 50% charge initially added to your reservation. Please contact us at 888-615-9979 if you are traveling solo and would like to be matched with another solo traveler.

This cancellation policy applies to all trips with lodging.

• Over 60 days prior to departure: All but $200
• 60-30 days prior to departure: 50% of total trip fees
• Less than 30 days or failure to show:  No refund

L.L.Bean does not usually cancel events due to inclement weather. However, we reserve the right to cancel an event at any time due to severe weather, low enrollment or other concerns. If L.L.Bean cancels your event, you will receive a full refund for the cost of your reservation. All refunds will be in the form of the original transaction. L.L.Bean shall not be responsible or liable for other expenses incurred by the participant as a result of such a cancellation.