Fat biking is becoming increasingly popular in Maine, but the cost of the equipment needed for the sport can be prohibitive for beginners. In response to this problem, some bike shops, outfitters and recreation centers throughout the state have started offering rental fat bikes, allowing people to test out the activity without making a big initial investment.

A Maine moose hunt can be one of the best adventures you’ll ever embark upon. Or, if you’re not careful and don’t do your homework, it could turn into a miserable experience. From the permit lottery to tagging your moose to choosing a meat cutter, here are many of the answers to questions that may crop up.

On Saturday, Jan. 25 the Foxcroft Academy wrestling team hosted its last regular season meet.  This event is always special as it is Senior Night, where all the senior wrestlers are recognized before the meet with flowers for their parents. This night became even more special as senior Rico Ayala was looking for his 150th career win.

Dexter Regional High School wrestlers Augustus “Gus” Irwin and Eric Bennett joined the 100-win club during recent matches.

Bucksport, Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln, George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill, Central of Corinth, Dexter and Fort Kent would move from Class C to Class B while Schenck of East Millinocket, Deer-Isle Stonington and Machias would shift from Class D to Class C.

The 13th annual Moosehead Lake Togue Derby with Ricky Craven was held this past weekend on Maine’s largest lake. We had great conditions on Friday, Jan. 24 with hardly a lick of wind. You don’t get many days like that on Moosehead.

Henry David Thoreau, beholding Moosehead Lake for the first time, wrote this: “a gleaming silver platter at the end of the table.” If only he could have seen the lake from the air! The first time that I saw the big lake from the air in a north-bound ski-plane my jaw dropped. The expansiveness, not only of the lake itself, but the entire north woods watershed, presents a panorama like no other.

We groomed all of our trails on Friday. They were in great shape for the weekend except for the 2-mile rough section on the CCC Road which needs more snow before we can groom it. The rain and sleet did not seem to damage the trails.

It is with deep regret that organizers announce that this year’s Wilderness Sled Dog Race will be canceled, the event had been scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 1.

The other qualifiers were Woodland (53), Lee Academy (51.6), Penquis of Milo (49.4), Machias (46.6) and Wiscasset (44.9).

The other four qualifiers were Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln (65.1), Houlton High School (64.2), Bucksport High School (57.5) and Dexter Regional High School (57).

For more than 20 years -- since I first caught the fly fishing bug and began traveling up to the East Outlet of the Kennebec River every chance I got -- I’ve looked forward to regular visits to downtown Greenville, and to the fly shop that sits just a few long casts from Moosehead Lake.

Everybody, and everything, loves a smelt. The sleek, silver fish -- officially known as a “rainbow smelt” -- is prevalent in many lakes and ponds, and is the preferred food of landlocked salmon and other larger fish. In streams, they might be gobbled up by opportunistic mammals or birds. And humans? Well, if we’re not using them as bait to catch other fish, we eat ‘em, too.

Steve Trimper has an extensive and impressive resume as a baseball coach including 11 seasons as the head coach at the University of Maine. Now the fourth-year head coach at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, has added author to his list of accomplishments.

Citing a desire to step away from running a retail establishment, the owners of the Maine Guide Fly Shop in Greenville have announced plans to sell their business.

The Maine Highlands Sled Dog Club will host a two-day sled dog race on Saturday, Jan. 25 and Sunday, Jan. 26 as part of Brownville’s annual 11th Dog Days of Winter celebration. Teams will leave Railroad Avenue in Brownville Junction at 10 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday, travel up to the KI Road along the converted rail bed and then return along the same trail.

Before I-phones, about the only time fellow deer hunters communicated with one another was during the 12 o’clock lunch break or back at camp after legal shooting hours. Not so today. We text each other during the day at agreed times. It might go like this: “On south side of bog. Good sign.” Or “Just jumped a buck. Headed northwest, toward you.”

Jan. 19: We have a few inches of snow in the last few days on top of ice from last week. Saturday night we were blessed with about six inches of nice powder.