Find Your Way Around Western Maine's
Wilderness with a Registered Maine Guide
From anglers looking to find prime fishing locations to sightseers hoping to
catch a glimpse of Maine's more remote beauty, hiring a Registered Maine
Guide is a great way to get expert advice and knowledge from someone who
truly knows the Maine outdoors.
The Lakes and Mountains Region of western Maine provides many
destinations for people to get away and reacquaint themselves with nature,
but the wilderness is best explored and appreciated when approached with
knowledge, research and safety. All Registered Maine Guides are trained in
wilderness survival skills and have completed at least one first aid course.
The Maine Professional Guides Association specializes in helping people find
licensed guides who are dedicated to promoting a quality, ethical and safe
outdoor experience.
"For a lot of visitors, they are really out of their natural element when they come
to the Maine woods," said Rick Hill of Mt. Chase Lodge in Mt. Chase and
president of the Maine Professional Guides Association. "That is where the
importance of hiring a Registered Maine Guide comes into play. A guide has
in-depth knowledge of the areas where they lead trips. They make sure people
are properly prepared for being in the outdoors and that they stay safe."
For visitors looking to learn something new or brush up some rusty outdoors
skills, there is no better instructor than a Maine guide. Guides are part tour
guide, part teacher and part historian. In addition to teaching proper techniques
and safety precautions, they also share their knowledge of the history of the
area, further enhancing the experience of the trip.
Guides can teach you how to bait a hook, show you the best hiking routes, whip
up meals along the way and help you rough it under the stars. When you hire a
Maine guide, it is up to you to decide what your trip will be. All it takes is a
little research to find a guide who meets your outdoor adventure needs.
There is no shortage of hiking and paddling adventures in western Maine. The
many mountains and lakes, streams and ponds offer an endless choice of
outdoor opportunities that show off Maine's scenic landscapes and wildlife.
Registered Maine Guides can escort you down a rapid river or lead you on a
trail trek to the top of a 3,000-foot peak. Most guides practice eco-friendly
behavior and can assist paddlers with low-impact camping and how to follow
the "leave no trace" credo.
Many guides - both male and female - have established trips catering especially
for women who are looking for an outdoor adventure on their own, or as part of
a group of like-minded women. For many active women, a day at the spa
cannot compare with a day spent navigating whitewater rapids.
For fishing enthusiasts looking to hook a trout or bass at the end of their line,
western Maine guides can bring anglers to where the fish are biting and the
scenery is breathtaking. Guides provide the boat, supplies and knowledge of
the area, as well as the most effective bait.
"It takes all the guess work out of the planning," said Nathan Wight, who works
for Sun Valley Sports in Bethel, and is a fourth generation Registered Maine
Guide. "Since we are out there fishing every day, we know where the fish are
and what they're feeding on."
Licensed guides can also provide the ultimate hunting outing as visitors track
bear, moose, deer, fowl and turkey through western Maine's dense forests.
Depending on the hunting season, guides will accompany visitors on speciality
trips as well, as they educate hunters on tracking animals and provide safety
instruction. Hill recommends that any first time hunter in Maine hire a guide.
"Especially if you are not familiar with the area, a guide can help give you
pointers on basic safety as well as help you find the best hunting spots," said
Hill.
But don't think that a trip with a Maine guide is only about traditional outdoor
pursuits. Many guides specialize in leading more nature-based trips, such as
wildlife watching, with moose gazing by far the most popular request. Guides
can even take you "prospecting" by teaching you how to pan for gold.
"There is a whole array of activities that guides are involved with," said Hill.
"The most traditional are hunting and fishing, but there are also guides that
specialize in nature photography, wild flowers and bird watching."
Guides are ambassadors to the wilderness and can introduce people to areas
they might not discover on their own. A guidebook can tell you a lot about a
place before you go, but it is no substitute for traveling with someone who has
first-hand knowledge of the region.
"As a Maine guide we have to know a lot of things," said Wight. "Anything you
want to know about the outdoors, ask a Maine guide. We know the answer
because we are out here all the time."
Hiring a Registered Maine Guide can enhance any outdoor experience, and not
just for the customer but for the guide too.
"For me, watching a young kid getting the hang of fishing and finally catch that
first fish, or just watching people experience the outdoors with you, that is what
it is all about," said Carl Bois of Rocky Ridge Guide Services in Lovell. "About
80 percent of my business is repeat customers, so I get to see a lot of the same
people year after year. While they are your customers, they also become your
friends."
The Lakes and Mountains Region of western Maine offers a multitude of
outdoor adventures that let you reconnect with nature and yourself. Visit
www.visitmaine.com, www.maineguides.org or www.maineguides.com to find
a Registered Maine Guide and start planning your adventure.
Wilderness with a Registered Maine Guide
From anglers looking to find prime fishing locations to sightseers hoping to
catch a glimpse of Maine's more remote beauty, hiring a Registered Maine
Guide is a great way to get expert advice and knowledge from someone who
truly knows the Maine outdoors.
The Lakes and Mountains Region of western Maine provides many
destinations for people to get away and reacquaint themselves with nature,
but the wilderness is best explored and appreciated when approached with
knowledge, research and safety. All Registered Maine Guides are trained in
wilderness survival skills and have completed at least one first aid course.
The Maine Professional Guides Association specializes in helping people find
licensed guides who are dedicated to promoting a quality, ethical and safe
outdoor experience.
"For a lot of visitors, they are really out of their natural element when they come
to the Maine woods," said Rick Hill of Mt. Chase Lodge in Mt. Chase and
president of the Maine Professional Guides Association. "That is where the
importance of hiring a Registered Maine Guide comes into play. A guide has
in-depth knowledge of the areas where they lead trips. They make sure people
are properly prepared for being in the outdoors and that they stay safe."
For visitors looking to learn something new or brush up some rusty outdoors
skills, there is no better instructor than a Maine guide. Guides are part tour
guide, part teacher and part historian. In addition to teaching proper techniques
and safety precautions, they also share their knowledge of the history of the
area, further enhancing the experience of the trip.
Guides can teach you how to bait a hook, show you the best hiking routes, whip
up meals along the way and help you rough it under the stars. When you hire a
Maine guide, it is up to you to decide what your trip will be. All it takes is a
little research to find a guide who meets your outdoor adventure needs.
There is no shortage of hiking and paddling adventures in western Maine. The
many mountains and lakes, streams and ponds offer an endless choice of
outdoor opportunities that show off Maine's scenic landscapes and wildlife.
Registered Maine Guides can escort you down a rapid river or lead you on a
trail trek to the top of a 3,000-foot peak. Most guides practice eco-friendly
behavior and can assist paddlers with low-impact camping and how to follow
the "leave no trace" credo.
Many guides - both male and female - have established trips catering especially
for women who are looking for an outdoor adventure on their own, or as part of
a group of like-minded women. For many active women, a day at the spa
cannot compare with a day spent navigating whitewater rapids.
For fishing enthusiasts looking to hook a trout or bass at the end of their line,
western Maine guides can bring anglers to where the fish are biting and the
scenery is breathtaking. Guides provide the boat, supplies and knowledge of
the area, as well as the most effective bait.
"It takes all the guess work out of the planning," said Nathan Wight, who works
for Sun Valley Sports in Bethel, and is a fourth generation Registered Maine
Guide. "Since we are out there fishing every day, we know where the fish are
and what they're feeding on."
Licensed guides can also provide the ultimate hunting outing as visitors track
bear, moose, deer, fowl and turkey through western Maine's dense forests.
Depending on the hunting season, guides will accompany visitors on speciality
trips as well, as they educate hunters on tracking animals and provide safety
instruction. Hill recommends that any first time hunter in Maine hire a guide.
"Especially if you are not familiar with the area, a guide can help give you
pointers on basic safety as well as help you find the best hunting spots," said
Hill.
But don't think that a trip with a Maine guide is only about traditional outdoor
pursuits. Many guides specialize in leading more nature-based trips, such as
wildlife watching, with moose gazing by far the most popular request. Guides
can even take you "prospecting" by teaching you how to pan for gold.
"There is a whole array of activities that guides are involved with," said Hill.
"The most traditional are hunting and fishing, but there are also guides that
specialize in nature photography, wild flowers and bird watching."
Guides are ambassadors to the wilderness and can introduce people to areas
they might not discover on their own. A guidebook can tell you a lot about a
place before you go, but it is no substitute for traveling with someone who has
first-hand knowledge of the region.
"As a Maine guide we have to know a lot of things," said Wight. "Anything you
want to know about the outdoors, ask a Maine guide. We know the answer
because we are out here all the time."
Hiring a Registered Maine Guide can enhance any outdoor experience, and not
just for the customer but for the guide too.
"For me, watching a young kid getting the hang of fishing and finally catch that
first fish, or just watching people experience the outdoors with you, that is what
it is all about," said Carl Bois of Rocky Ridge Guide Services in Lovell. "About
80 percent of my business is repeat customers, so I get to see a lot of the same
people year after year. While they are your customers, they also become your
friends."
The Lakes and Mountains Region of western Maine offers a multitude of
outdoor adventures that let you reconnect with nature and yourself. Visit
www.visitmaine.com, www.maineguides.org or www.maineguides.com to find
a Registered Maine Guide and start planning your adventure.
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