Steve Vose - The Rabid Outdoorsman
rabidoutdoorsman@yahoo.com
John Dewey once said that education is not preparation for life but rather life itself. This favorite quote, along with being raised by a family of teachers, has instilled in me a belief that an individual owes it to himself to always be learning and experiencing new things. This love of learning coupled with an early introduction to the wilds of Maine, ignited in me a passion and connection to the wonders of the great outdoors. Through the years, I have embarked on a plethora of mental and physical pursuits to challenge my body, mind and spirit.
After completing my Bachelors in K-8 education from the University of Maine at Machias in ’94 I immediately enrolled in the Masters program through the University of Maine at Orono and graduated in ’98. At around the same time, ’96 I completed my basic PADI SCUBA diving training and in ’02 finished my advanced open water certification while diving on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. In ’98 I found myself a bit burned out from 20 years of formal schooling and decided to pursue my dream of learning how to fly a plane. In January of ’01, I completed my license requirements and became an FAA certified Private Pilot. In the Fall of ’01, I re-started my formal schooling and began the Certificate of Advance Study (CAS) degree through the University of Maine at Orono, completing this program (providing 33 credits above Masters) in ’06.
I have always considered myself a “Rabid” Outdoorsman, enjoying a wide variety of outdoor activities. No matter the season, you will find me in the woods or on the waters partaking in all the greatness the State of Maine has to offer, from canoeing excursions down the Moose River in Jackman, to scaling the rocky face of Otter cliffs in Acadia National Park, hiking Hamlin ridge, ice fishing for Northern Pike on Great Pond or just relaxing with family on the shore of Damariscotta Lake.
As an avid rock/ice climber and mountaineer for over 20 years, I have undergone significant training in winter travel including up to level two avalanche assessment, glacier travel and crevasse rescue, advanced ice climbing, and intensive wilderness survival training. I have undertaken multiple winter ascents of Mt. Katahdin (ME), Sugarloaf (ME) and Mt. Washington (NH), rock climbed in Red Rocks Nevada, lead excursions in the Cascade Range climbing Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens and joined expeditions in Patagonia to successfully summit Argentina’s 22,843 foot Mt. Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas.
As an adventurer, I have a passion for traveling and have backpacked across most of the European continent, swam in the Mediterranean, hiked Mt. Pilatus in the Swiss Alps, mountain biked Haleakala and Mauna Kea in the Hawaiian Islands and have hiked around the bases of the Olgas and Uluru in Australia. In addition, I have toured and photographed the salt flats, dunes and other stark features of Death Valley and the astonishing natural landforms of Dead Horse State Park, Arches and Canyonland National Parks.
As a sportsman, I currently hold a recreational/hunting Registered Maine Guide license and have actively hunted with bow, black powder and standard firearms a variety of big game animals including moose, black bear, deer and turkey. Beyond the state borders, I have chased wild boar through the swamps of South Carolina and Oceola Turkeys throughout Florida. While I thoroughly enjoy hunting big game, my real hunting passion is waterfowling. Along with my trusty retriever Onyx, we manage a wide array of hunting trips throughout the season that take us to all areas of the state harvesting puddle and sea ducks. When not hunting, I can often be found fishing on the state’s various lakes, streams and ponds chasing stripers on the Kennebec and Penobscot River with my predator kayak, ice fishing for lake trout on Beech Hill Pond, trolling salmon on Grand Lake or fly fishing for large and small mouth bass on Togus Pond.
As a Dad, I have placed a high importance on passing our Maine outdoor heritage to my two boys (AKA the Wildman and the Savage). From an early age the boys have accompanied me on my various low level adventures. Walking through the woods identifying wild animal tracks and trees, fishing, ATV riding, catching frogs or geotracking, my boys are always close by my side, finding new and exciting ways to experience nature in all of its finest forms. It is because of my boys that I have a deep set interest and passion for introducing children, women and novice sportsmen to our outdoor traditions, for if we do not work together to make sure this heritage continues than who can we rely on?