Ashland to host adventure race

    An adventure challenge race through the woods and fields of Ashland is scheduled as part of the town’s Summerfest celebration July 5.
The course takes racers to places they probably wouldn’t otherwise go — through beautiful fir plantations, across hay fields and down some of the Ashland Area Cross Country Ski Club’s trails.
As a challenge race, the course is peppered with fun, safe but maybe messy or soggy stations with a task to perform at each, such as going up and over a rope wall, crawling under string and crossing the Machias River.
Failure to try or complete the tasks result in a time penalty.
The racers are started in waves five minutes apart and groups who wish to participate together are encouraged to do so.
Proceeds from the event help the ski club raise much-needed funds to continue maintaining two sets of cross country ski trails totaling over seven miles in Ashland and Garfield Plantation.
The funds also help power the club’s after-school program that provides skis to rent for those in kindergarten through grade 8. A popular program, students are able to go out skiing as a group once a week on the trails.
Registration for the adventure challenge race opens at noon at the Ashland Logging Museum on 60 Garfield Road, which also serves as the race start and finish.
Pre-registration is also available through the website RugReg.com. The registration fee is $15 per racer.
For more information on the adventure challenge, contact Linda Milligan at 227-9135 or go online to the Facebook page “Ashland Area Cross Country Ski Club.”