Optimism high for Caribou Bog Race

In its heyday, The Great Caribou Bog Wicked Winter Ski Tour and Race drew close to 500 participants who strapped on their cross country skis and made the trek from Bangor to Stillwater.

Race director Peter Millard doesn’t figure that this year’s 15th edition of the winter classic will draw that many, but he’s optimistic.

“The last couple of years we’ve had about 100. We hope to double that this year,” Millard said.

This year’s event is set for Feb. 17, starting at 10:30 a.m. for tourers and 11 a.m. for racers. The 17-kilometer (10.54-mile) race begins at the Essex Woods, which is at the top of Essex Street Hill in Bangor, and finishes at H.E. Sargent School in Stillwater.

The entry fee is $15 per individual, with a maximum family fee of $30.

In addition, there will be a free children’s tour for kids 12 and younger at H.E. Sargent School at 1:30 p.m.

Millard said the race has enjoyed good luck with weather recently: It has been run on its originally scheduled date three straight years after being canceled due to rain and warm weather for three years before that.

Millard said the race continues to be a popular winter event.

“The thing that makes it really unique is that it’s a point-to-point course,” Millard said. “I can’t think of another ski race in Maine that’s a point-to-point course.”

The result, Millard said, is that racers and tourers alike get to enjoy some nice scenery while skiing to Stillwater, then reminisce on the way back.

“It’s a sense of accomplishment when you take the bus back to the start,” he said.

Millard said the race recaptures some of the state’s ski-racing roots.

“Maine used to have a rich tradition of point-to-point ski races,” he said. “Back in the days before they used to plow the roads, they used to roll the roads, and they used to have a race from Bangor to Houlton.”

Race-day registration begins at 9 a.m. at Essex Woods. For an entry form or more information, skiers can check www.pvskiclub.org.