The annual Augusta Sportsman's Show was held over the weekend and if there is an event that draws outdoorsmen with more divergent interests, Your Scribe doesn't know of it. A snapshot of the event appears above.

There were hunters, trappers, fishermen and turkey callers mixing with reps from conservation groups, restoration movements and the Bureau of Parks and Lands. Some want to stalk and others are working to protect. But everyone gets along at this shindig, and merchants and attendees alike appeared optimistic that this will be a good spring-summer in the wild.

A few thoughts:

Organizers said the attendance was close to 8,000 for the three-day event, a jump from previous years. The lot at the Augusta Civic Center was full for much of Saturday when I attended.

One of the most popular offerings was ATV riding lessons for youngsters. There was a steady stream of riders (and parents) throughout the cold, windy day, underlining the notion that motorized fun is a growing staple of the Maine outdoors. Also drawing traffic were the photo and wood-carving exhibitions, and the catch-and-release (indoor) fishing attraction. A cooperative eagle was on hand for those who wanted their pictures taken with the huge bird, whose species is in recovery mode throughout the state.

An unofficial theme of the event was "get kids outdoors." Leaders of numerous groups are concerned that youngsters are spending too much time with TV and video games, and not enough hours hiking, fishing or boating.

This year appears to be pivotal in the minds of those concerned about the future of the Maine wilderness. The Land Use Regulation Commission is changing its direction, I learned from the written and spoken word, and snowmobilers, hunters and fishermen feel that LURC will be seeking to set aside more acreage that precludes such activity. Organizing sessions will be held throughout the state in coming months, and it appears that many outdoorsmen are going to appeal for a generous amount of public access.

Your Scribe was disappointed that the session on the Sandy River Radio Telemetry Project was not held because the speaker did not show. A few folks who came to hear the presentation said the program is about reintroduction of salmon in the Sandy. That said, I will have to scurry around to once again look up the definition of "telemetry." How does that fit in with salmon?

I liked talking about aquaculture with a few reps from coastal companies, and learned that mussel farming is thriving on the coast. If the delicious mussels they serve at DiMillo's are grown locally, I would agree with that assessment. There are fresh-water mussels, too, but they are not harvested.

A few real-estate salesmen from the Moosehead area know as little as the rest of us about how LURC will rule on the mammoth Plum Creek development that has been proposed there. "The commission members can overrule the staff," said one Realtor, who is not connected to Plum Creek, "so despite changes that have been made, you don't know how it will come out." The Plum Creek team has revised its proposal three times. Wouldn't they be miffed if the board votes it down.

After perusing a well-illusrated pamphlet glorifying the charm of Jackman, I plan to go up there this spring. They say there are "moose everywhere" in May and June, and I vow to see one before Labor Day.

Speaking of young people learning about the outdoors, close to a half-dozen camps and learning centers were advertising their offerings for summer. I plan to publicize them in coming weeks here on Cabin Country, as I recall the days of trying to identify summer activities for my kids.

Of all the goods on display, I think my first purchase would be a small Honda generator for $689 so that I would have light and some power in the evenings at the cabin. I would like to invest in solar power but the brochure I got from Moosehead Solar indicated the cost is $8,000 to $10,000 - and that is before cutting down the required number of trees to permit the sun to do its work.

I left the show inspired, and hopeful that warm weather will let us get outdoors soon!

There’s one day of the year that I don’t begrudge taxes and fees, and that’s when I read about the large number of trout being stocked by state hatchery workers in Maine rivers, lakes and streams – like the tree-lined Sandy River (Franklin County) above.

After perusing the April edition of the Maine Sportsman, I learned that close to 10,000 brown and brook trout, 9 to 13 inches long, have been disgorged into the Sandy in the past year in places like Strong, Farmington, Sandy River Plantation and New Sharon. My cabin is on the Sandy River in New Sharon.

I am a skeptic when it comes to believing that 10,000 trout actually are in my section of the river since I never catch a single one. Such is my disbelief that I have a new mantra when it comes to fishing: The sieve is half empty, not half full. (An aside: I consider myself a giddy optimist on most matters but not when it comes to the belief that I can catch trout).

Still, I like to think of 10,000 trout in the Sandy and many thousands more in other Maine waters. Perhaps my musing is like that of a hapless Lottery player: I like knowing the payoff is $30 million on Saturday, even if it’s (very) unlikely that I will win.

The opening of fishing season is just days away, and they say there are thousands of trout in the Sandy River alone. I savor that thought, and will report back soonest if I happen to catch one.

The landscape is changing in many parts of Cabin Country. In this case, they closed the Farmington Diner, lifted it off the ground and are removing it from the premises as this photo shows.

Owners of this property and the one next to it have also removed a Mobil station, which makes me crankified because it's about the only one where I can charge gas within a dozen miles.

They say that the two businesses, just below the University of Maine, Farmington, have been removed to make way for a chain drug store.

Perhaps a pharmacy is necessary, as Farmington is growing now that school administrators are adding new buildings to the campus and builders are putting up more residences each year in Franklin County.

And I can't say I spent a lot of time hanging at the Farmington Diner. It was getting a quite rundown toward the end, because owners knew it was going to close anyway.

But as a matter of principle, I hate to see community institutions disappear. Or in this case, packed up on a flatbed and just driven into oblivion.

The 28th annual State of Maine Sportsman's Show is this weekend, March 28-30, at the Augusta Civic Center.

On Friday the hours are 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; on Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and on Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Your Scribe plans to be there, probably Saturday. I will likely be wearing a disguise, though, so the trappers have no chance of recognizing me. Last year I wrote some compromising words about their booth, and I received close to a dozen cranky comments the next week. Maybe I'll dress up as outdoor journalist and icon Harry Vanderweide. Or perhaps Roxanne Quimby, the land-grabbing founder of Burt's Bees. Just kidding!

On Saturday I plan to go to the "Sandy River Radio Telemetry Project," if I can figure out what it's about. My cabin is on the Sandy River, and hopefully I will be able to define the word "telemetry" by Saturday.

I also want to go to a Maine Bass Fishing clinic, run by LL Bean. Since it's becoming clear I will never land a trout, I believe it's time for Plan B - which is to try for bass.

And I might go to a turkey-calling championship (at 3:30 p.m.). I have plenty of turkeys near my land (doesn't everybody?) and I'd like to get to know some of them better.

There are scores of seminars and classes, ranging from fly-tying to ATV driving. Plus there are plenty of vendors, offering a range of goods in hunting, fishing and upcountry transportation.

The show provides a full day of looking, listening and actually trying out some of the gear. I may play with some of the rods and camping gear, but I doubt if I will practice setting any traps while I'm there. There might be a big bear trap all ready to be sprung if I get too close.

Outdoor activities like fishing and hunting might be losing adherents but one outdoor sport that is growing rapidly in Maine is snowmobiling.

Close to 64,000 machines were registered this year, up signfiicantly from a year ago. Maine now has 13,000 miles of trail on which to ride, which doesn't take into account the miles of (usually) frozen lakes that are used as thoroughfares.

The above scene is from Rangeley, which has established itself as one of the foremost destinations for snowmachiners. It is packed on the weekends, and since there are still several feet of snow on the ground they should be cruising the woods and lakes until late April.

A few thoughts:

Snowmobiles can travel up to 110 miles per hour in "recreational" mode. They are getting more powerful each year, and the big machines are selling well.

The snowmobile world is much like NASCAR a few decades ago, and not just because of the raw speed. Machines in the '70s were loud and relatively inexpensive. NASCAR was pretty raw in its early days as well. Today machines are (debatably) less noisy and certainly more costly. NASCAR, too, has more sophisticated vehicles and wealthier drivers and owners today.

There are few rules in snowmobiling, and an appreciation of speed. Like the NASCAR of old, guys (and now gals) can take their machines and roar away if they want. Though Maine officials would like to put greater curbs on speed and behaviors, there is too much wilderness for them to really regulate this activity.

(An aside: I have NASCAR on my mind because I just finished a biography of the late Dale Earnhardt and the early days of NASCAR. They were good old boys then, with no sponsors and a lot of energy. Many machine drivers today have that pioneering love of speed and adventure.)

And, of course, snowmobiling is dangerous like NASCAR. There have been about 10 deaths in Maine already this winter. When the lakes begin thawing, there could be more.

I never was drawn to NASCAR. But I am intrigued by snowmobiling. I was planning to rent a machine a few weekends ago, but I was dissuaded because it was $172 per day.

But next year I want to get on a machine. I am not attracted to speed but it seems like a wonderful way to spend a day in the outdoors.

Grim admission: I am not an angler, simply a fisherman.

This I learned at the recent Fishing Expo at L.L. Bean, when four world-class fishermen (and one fisherwoman) spoke about the glories of fishing. They defined fishing with the emphasis on flyfishing, and all have been around the world seeking the best spots and the most coveted fish. They are pictured here: from left, Emily Whitlock, Mark Sosin, Dave Whitlock, Stu Apte, and Flip Pallot.

They are called Legends, and I have concluded they earned this title by writing books, making fishing films and endorsing fishing gear. All except Emily have been out there for at least four decades so they must be doing something right.

I was chagrined when Apte said there was a difference between anglers and fishermen. Anglers study the science of fish and the environment of the surroundings. They evidently ponder for many hours about how to land the most recalcitrant lunker.

He didn't say anything about worm slayers such as myself but I heard an unspoken message - anglers are the real deal and fishermen are just passing time (albeit pleasantly).

The Legends talked about the exotic places they had fished, such as the Buffalo River and several hard-to-reach streams in New Zealand. I doubt if I could find these waterways on a map. One Legend recalled the day he caught an 11-foot billfish on a fly, which is something I can't even imagine.

I did understand their sincere concern that youngsters aren't getting outside, and learning to fish and paddle a canoe. "We grew up with fishing and in the outdoors," said Pallot, a Floridian. "Kids today have video games and TV. We have to come up with ways to make the outdoors interesting for kids, or fishing as a sport is going to diminish in years to come."

Agreed. I have encouraged both my children to fish - but evidently not to angle: They both grew up using worms and bobbers.

L.L. Bean will host a Spring Fishing Expo Saturday and Sunday (March 15-16) at both the main store in Freeport and at its nearby conference center. Featured will be appearances by veterans dubbed "Legends of Fishing."

Top anglers who will be there to dispense advise and spin yarns include Flip Pallot, Stu Apte, Mark Sosin and Dave and Emily Whitlock.

(An aside: I don't know how you become a legend in fishing but I plan to find out. And FYI, I am NOT going to discuss the sad circumstance that the only fish I have been able to land in the past few years is the wretched yellow perch).

Activities such as meeting the anglers and participating in book signings will take place in the new Hunting and Fishing Store. The lunkers in the above photo reside in the mammoth tank in the fishing section.

There will be a panel discussion with the experts on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m., and again on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m., both at the L.L. Bean Conference. This is located about three-quarters of a mile south on U.S. 1 from the store. Turn left at the Bean office complex and follow the signs for parking.

Also present this weekend will be fly-tyers and authors of fishing books. There will be a meet-and-greet reception at the Hunting and Fishing Store Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m.

One goal of the weekend is to permit regular folks to meet and interact with the great anglers. I plan to summon my journalistic courage to ask these guys if they ever fish with worms, as I do. Or maybe not . . .

Your Scribe has new insights on why there are few auto-moose collisions in winter: The beasts can't get to the road - too much snow as this photo suggests.

We went motoring last weekend in Rangeley, once again doing the Moby Dick thing by searching for a Great White (moose, that is, covered with snow).

But there is still so much snow in the western mountains that a moose couldn't walk near the road if he wanted. The piles along the roadway were higher than six feet. How is the critter going to leave the forest even if so motivated?

(An aside: I also concluded that one reason moose aren't very smart is they are not getting enough intellectual stimulation. If you stand still for two months in deep snow in a grove of speechless conifers, you are not going to get the proper mental grooming for Mammel Mensa).

New thought: There's a compelling story in the current issue of Yankee magazine on "Who Will Control the Northern Maine Wilderness." Actually, I should say the article raised a good question but didn't provide an answer.

To wit, there are three players for the future of the forest (located roughly from Moosehead Lake up past Baxter State Park) since the big lumbering companies are leaving: Plum Creek (Development) Company, Bert's Bees founder Roxanne Quimby and the "Start a national park" crowd.

The story was mostly about Quimby, and it is a fascinating one. How many back-to-the-earth Mainers emerge as multi-millionaires intent on buying up land to keep it as wilderness.

Your Scribe's take: It is unclear who will "control" the forest. But things (meaning vast land purchases) are happening fast. If lovers of the outdoors want any "wilderness" in their future, they had better get active in conservation efforts!

Your Scribe has come up with a new plan to enhance the cabin: using resources found on Craig's List.

This is the Internet site at which folks buy, sell or trade goods and services (www.craigslist.com). Maine has its own section, and hundreds of people use it each week.

Initially I looked at "Furniture to Buy," as I am seeking a couch that turns into a bed. There were a few offerings but the photos the owners had uploaded were not appealing.

Better idea: Free.

There is a classification for Free goods on the site: no charge if you will pick it up and haul it away. I found a free couch that converted into a bed. It appeared to be in good shape and it was adorned with slip covers complementary to the colors in my "great room."

The owner was in South Portland, but warned that the couch was heavy and several strong backs were needed to move it.

I don't have instant access to a truck, nor can I find "several" strong backs in a hurry. Also, I went to the cabin over the weekend, and there was three feet of snow on my modest, unplowed dirt road in Franklin County. I couldn't have moved a can opener into the cabin.

Clearly I must wait for good weather. But I was pleased to find so many options at Craig's List, and at the "right price." I will be back.

Curiously, the item that was most prevalent on the Free section was the piano. There were close to a half-dozen, ranging from small uprights to baby grands. Several owners indicated they were moving and didn't have room at the next address.

It's an intriguing idea to have a piano at the cabin. But I've got to figure out how to get my new bedding into the building before I worry about making music in the woods. Plus, there's the small but significant detail that I can't play a note.

Perhaps that's why there are so many free pianos being listed. The romantic notion of possessing a piano supercedes the practicality of acquiring one, fitting it into the residence, and actually using it.

Maine has many symbols that travel well, including the lobster, the moose, the black bear and the loon.

But Your Scribe has concluded that the best-known icon of the state is L.L. Bean. The photo above shows part of its hunting department in Freeport.

I thought of this as I read that the company will be opening a store in Chicago this fall. It now has 10 full-price retail stores in nine states from Maine to Virginia and about a dozen smaller outlet stores, including those in Portland and Freeport (the old hunting and fishing store in Freeport is now an outlet).

The company plans to grow to 32 stores by 2012.

Each time a store opens it becomes a beachhead for all things Maine. Of course, the South and Midwest have their own wilderness but somehow the Bean brand has become synonymous with the outdoors - actually a pleasurable outdoor experience.

It's said that moose and bear are prospering in Maine, and the lobster is holding its own. But the healthiest of all the denizens of the outdoors is L.L. Bean itself. It just finished its most profitable year - and from what I can tell, it has no competitors capable of shooting it down.

That said, I plan to head for Rangeley this weekend in search of seeing a moose. I don't know if they roam around much in March but I plan to find out. If not, there are always stuffed versions at the Bean store in Freeport.

Your Scribe has much shade on the property, as this photo shows. That comes partly from being a tree-hugger, and partly because I wanted to leave several trees in the middle of the drive so there would be a turn-around for cars. That said, I have ordered plants for spring. They come from the "Perfect for Shade" section of my catalog and are the following:

Mixed hardy primrose, 3 for $12.99
Forget-me-nots, 3 for $12.99
Mixed columbine, 3 for $11.99.

I will also be buying impatiens when they become available, and I will be cultivating my bittersweet, which most gardeners hate.

Another idea: planting vegetables near the road. The sector of the property that gets the most sunlight is the non-descript earth where the driveway meets the (dirt) road. So I am planning to put in vegetables there because they will get sunlight. My thought is corn and potatoes.

Another idea is to put slate down adjacent to the cabin. By mid-summer there are many weeds and I generally don't feel like weeding on a nice sunny day. I will check out the cost of slate.

I wish my property had more stones, with which I could built fences or dividers. Several neighbors have abandoned stone fences on their properties, which I guess I should not purloin. I will make a greater effort to find rocks on my 18 acres.

When the snow melts, that is . . .

We all know rugged veterans of the outdoors who are committed to making the Maine woods a better place, and now L.L. Bean is publicly beginning to recognize unsung contributors with its (first) annual Outdoor Heroes Awards.

The initial three to be named are Dave Field, a supervisor with the Appalachian Trail Club of Maine; Kay Henry, creator of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail; and Greg Ponte, executive director of the Maine Trout Unlimited Trout Camp.

(An aside: I ruefully list of the names of these good citizens because I had thought of writing a book titled, "Faces in the Forest," which would be comprised of short biographies of the many useful people who help sustain the Maine wilderness. But I have done nothing about it - yet).

Dave Field has been helping to clear trails for the Appalachian Mountain Club for more than five decades. Much of his work has been in the Saddleback area, and he was honored for his achievements in conservation and trail maintenance.

Kay Henry, who bunks in Vermont, has been the driving force behind the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a set of waterways running from Ft. Kent to Old Forge New York. Her connected route of rivers, lakes and streams runs through New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire and Maine. The entire "watertrail" is 740 miles, with more than 300 miles in Maine. Most people travel only part of the route, of course, but in 2006 a paddler named Donnie Mullen of Northport became the first to complete the whole trip. It took him 55 days.

Greg Ponte uses the Evergreen Campgrounds in Solon as his home base for the Maine Trout Unlimited Trout Camp. Since the summer of 2004, close to 60 teen-agers have come to this retreat to learn about fishing, conservation and advocacy of the outdoors. He was honored for education and conservation.

The Outdoor Heroes is a great idea. Many of the conservationists who are in the public eye are involved in the political arena. That is fine, but it's also refreshing to learn about people who are make huge contributions without necessarily expecting anything in return.

Their prize? A bright shining trophy in the form of an L.L. Bean lantern.