Potentially moving to Maine

Hey all,

I'm living in Lake Placid and my girlfriend has a good shot at landing a residency in Lewiston, ME.  She would most likely want to do the rural track program and split time between Lewiston and Rumford, so my question to y'all is this:  What towns/areas would be good places to settle into for a long term stay in that region?  The Whites are nearby, which is great, are there any gems as far as quiet towns/accessible crags/good real estate value in that area?

Thanks!

If you are in the run ford area there is a lot of adventurous climbing particularly ten degree and Peru tumbledown dick, both very slightly documented on here but have tons of climbing to be (re) discovered. If you’re into scrubbing then you have a lifetime of climbing. Camden is also fairly close, Acadia is about as good as single (or a couple) pitch granite climbing gets.

Portland is really fun to live in if beer and food and music is your thing and you have some money.

Pm me if you want more info or have specific  questions 

Emory Clark wrote: The Whites are nearby, which is great...

Why it gotta be a race thing?

My brother and his girlfriend live in Auburn, outside lewiston, send me a pm and i can give you his number. They hike and drive their vdub bus all over the area, plus pretty cool people.  They're always down for a night in the forest

I'm sorry if I'm super late to this, but Rumford is pretty close to Shagg Crag (about 30-40 minutes), which arguably has some of the best sport climbing in New England. Lewiston, on the other hand, is probably upwards of an hour from Shagg. I live in Central Maine, where there's no sport climbing within 40-50 miles of me, and it kinda sucks, but I'm still relatively close to climbing areas. Acadia's about two hours from Lewiston and three from Rumford. I guess it just depends on how willing/able you are to commute far for a day climb.

Also, I'd say that towns like Jay, Livermore or Livermore Falls are the perfect halfway point between Rumford and Lewsiton - and being close to the Whites really is a plus. It's super rural out in Western Maine (and most of Maine, tbh), and it can be really hard to find a climbing community because of that, but it's awesome. Maine is such a beautiful place.  

I grew up in Northern Maine - hours from anywhere people have mentioned.

I have to say if you need to be near Lewiston I'd look at living towards Topsham/Brunswick...a tad more civilized.

I have to disagree with others here - there are LOADS of place to climb in Maine but they are NOT like Gunk Rumney etc... you have to work for them.

As for the Whites, meh, head to Baxter, so amazing climbs up there: classic is the armadillo but the other basins have literally hundreds of climbs in them and you might see 5 people on a weekday - loads more on the weekends...my dad once said, jeez this place is crowded and I counted 15.

Also, Acadia is for tourists, avoid!

Acadia may be for tourists, but climbing at the precipice is absolutely perfect in my book, and is well worth putting up with people. Plenty of easy access to moderates, perfect views, and sun exposure all day. They may not be all 4 star routes, but the location makes it worth it. 

Nick Woodman wrote: Acadia may be for tourists, but climbing at the precipice is absolutely perfect in my book, and is well worth putting up with people. Plenty of easy access to moderates, perfect views, and sun exposure all day. They may not be all 4 star routes, but the location makes it worth it. 

I will second this, I have been pleasantly surprised with the lack of crowds of climbers compared to the mobs on buses at say Jordan pond or Cadillac.

Yeah, definitely avoid Acadia because of tourists, only God knows why they tour so much. 

Josh Gates wrote:

Have you been to Maine?

Went to college in Maine. 

Welcome to Maine! I live in Bridgton, about 45 minutes west of Lewiston/Auburn (LA), right on the edge of the Whites. There are so many wonderful small towns here you almost can't go wrong. My advice would be to pick a place to the west and perhaps a bit north of the LA area, so you're closer to the Whites and the awesome western Maine crags. Lewiston and Auburn themselves are kind of grungy little cities, so I'd try to get outside the downtown areas (they're not cute and nice like Placid). I've lived and climbed her for almost 40 years and I'll never leave! It's just too wonderful here.

Thanks for all the feedback y'all, we have decided to do a trip there in September to check things out then her rotation is in November in Lewiston.  I will likely come out and visit so my next question- will there be ice that early if I head to Baxter?  

Do the surrounding areas of Lewiston get snow in the winter to xc ski in?

Thanks!

It’s unlikely you’ll find climbable ice in September, you’ll find enough snow locally to get out on the xc skis but your best bets for xc skiing is going to be to drive into the western mountains, which are a reasonable distance from Lewiston.

There typically won’t be climbable ice in Baxter until November. There’s great snow for cross country skiing in inland Maine, usually from December through into early April.

Thanks y'all!!  We're planning on doing a two week trip through the state to figure out what we like and where we would consider moving for our first year.  First year there (if she gets the rotation we are hoping she will get), would see her working primarily in Lewiston.  Her second and third years would see her splitting time between Rumford and Lewiston.  

We are looking to explore towns in those areas to consider for our three years in the area that are climbing, skiing and surf accessible(yes I want to have my pie and eat it too!).  

Again, thank you for the feedback!  

If you cruise through the high peaks region, give me a heads up and I'll take you in to check some of the development going on at Little Bigelow mountain. Close to Sugarloaf, Highland, the town I live in, has got to be the cheapest cost of living in Maine.
Probably at least an hour and a half from any surfing tho.

Is your gf in the Tufts Maine Track program? I was in that but I sayed in Portland. I second what everyone has said. Best to stay as west as possible of the LA area. Best for access to NH.

Chris Trautz wrote: If you cruise through the high peaks region, give me a heads up and I'll take you in to check some of the development going on at Little Bigelow mountain. Close to Sugarloaf, Highland, the town I live in, has got to be the cheapest cost of living in Maine.
Probably at least an hour and a half from any surfing tho.

We will definitely take you up on that, thanks Chris!  As for surfing- I've told myself I can tolerate less than two hour drives for a solid session.  So I don't think that will be a huge issue.  Do you get a lot of snow in your town?  I know sugarloaf is right there and they get a decent amount, so I'm assuming yes?

She is still applying for residencies but has a sub-i rotation with Maine Medical.  I've been reading articles like this:

  pressherald.com/2018/07/26/…;

and wondering if it will be a healthy environment for her.  I think that the scaled back staffing that is numbers driven will certainly effect her, I just don't know to what degree.  

LOADS of snow! As the crow flies, I'm only about five miles from Sugarloaf, tho it's takes forty minutes to drive there.  It's a trade off you'd be looking at. Low cost of living, pristine environment, and peace of mind vs a long commute.

Everybody I know that lives in Main is badass and tuff!  maybe its just all that cold weather and windburns.  Good luck Emory!