Ron Chase

Managing Editor and Co-Founder at RADIO ONLINE

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Articles

A challenging paddle on Crooked River

2 days ago | pressherald.com | Ron Chase

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 very low water, so this was essentially a first descent for all of us.
Rolling kayaks and canoes - for safety

1 week ago | pressherald.com | Ron Chase

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 use when hunting seals and other marine mammals.
A blustery hike on Camden Hills Bald Mountain

2 weeks ago | pressherald.com | Ron Chase

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 short mountain hikes with excellent views. I suspect they’re bald as a result of forest fires. Balding myself (not the result of a forest fire), I’ve enjoyed multiple hikes on each of them.
Unique skiing on Titcomb Mountain

3 weeks ago | pressherald.com | Ron Chase

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 to the high point and descend the Nordic Trails. I decided to investigate. My online research turned up some interesting information about Titcomb Mountain.
Stormy weather in Tuckerman Ravine

1 month ago | pressherald.com | Ron Chase

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 the summit and twice I’ve climbed to the ravine to ski the Sherburne Trail.
Challenging skiing on Hammond Ridge Trails

1 month ago | pressherald.com | 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 two days of skiing in the vicinity. On the first day, I skied the excellent Penobscot River Trails in Grindstone.
Superb skiing on the exceptional Penobscot River Trails

1 month ago | pressherald.com | Ron Chase

When conditions are right, the Penobscot River Trails in Grindstone offer some of the best Nordic skiing in Maine. As was true throughout most of Maine, snow was scarce in northern Penobscot County during the first several weeks of winter. A major mid-February snowstorm dumped 16 inches of powder on the trail network significantly increasing the snow depth.
Outstanding Nordic skiing at Jackson Ski Touring

1 month ago | pressherald.com | Ron Chase

Jackson Ski Touring in Jackson, New Hampshire, is usually one of the first Nordic ski centers in the region to offer quality skiing. However, they experienced a dearth of snow during the first several weeks of the winter season. A succession of late-January and early-February snowstorms changed that dramatically. Jackson Ski Touring has much to offer. They have over 100 kilometers of trails in several different locations all in the vicinity of the Village of Jackson.
Nordic skiing in Maine is back

2 months ago | pressherald.com | Ron Chase

For the first several weeks of winter, Nordic skiing was almost nonexistent in Maine. Rainstorms dominated the weather pattern in December and early January. Cold weather with minimal snowfall ensued. Finally, beginning in late January, a succession of modest snowstorms gradually covered the trails in my favorite ski areas. As usual, Rangeley Lakes Trails Center was one of the first to report quality ski conditions.
Mount Cutler in Hiram is a little-known gem for adventurers

2 months ago | pressherald.com | Ron Chase

Until a few years ago, I had never heard of Mount Cutler. A small peak located in the tiny village of Hiram in southwestern Maine, a friend recommended it as a quality hiking alternative without the need to drive another hour or more to the taller mountains in western Maine and New Hampshire. For over 45 years, I drove by Mount Cutler without paying much attention.