Beautiful morning

Yeah the skies are overcast. The temps are about 50. And the ground is kind of damp from Sunday's rain.

But I finally got on my bike and took a quick ride on the Mountain Division Trail. Burley was thrilled. He ran beside me - sometimes leading. The cool temps made it much more comfortable for him.

Speaking of biking, if you missed the Great Maine Bike Swap on Sunday, you can catch it again Sunday in Orono.

Co-worker Wendy Almeida skipped work Friday to take her family on the Kennebec River Rail Trail. They had a great day, and the kids rated it five stars.

I thought I was being healthy

Have you thrown away your Nalgene bottles yet? There is concern that your water will pick up Bisphenol A from your bottle and cause cancer.

The New York Times says Canadian Retailer Bans Some Plastic Bottles

A trade group says don't worry so much.

From what I can understand this can be a problem if the plastic is type "1," "4" or "7" and you:

Put very hot water into your bottles
Freeze water in your bottles
Keep bottles after the writing wears off. (That apparently is a rule of thumb)

Boiling and freezing can encourage particles of plastic and the chemicals that make up the plastic to to your liquid. If the bottle is old enough to lose its printing, the particles could naturally leach into your drink. Then the particles accumulate in your body.

Crap.

This winter I've been sticking Gatorade-filled Nalgenes (Yep, there's a "7" on the bottom.) into the microwave. Starting a winter hike with hot liquids can be a lifesaver. One of the bottles I used hasn't been readable for a year and half. And of course in the summer I like to freeze the bottles to make sure I can have a cold drink during the day.

About the only way I could make this worse is if I decorated the bottles with lead paint, filled them with hot tap water and kept them in asbestos insulators.

If falling off mountains doesn't kill me, will the Nalgene bottles? I could have skipped boiling water in my Nalgenes. But if I didn't start with hot bottles, they would have frozen in my pack. How's that for irony? And I remember when warm tea in a Nalgene seriously helped me stave off hypothermia during a rescue.

I come nowhere close to having the background and knowledge needed to advise anyone on this issue. But speaking personally, the risk was offset by the need. You can disagree and make your choice. Do your research.

Luckily, Nalgene will help me out. They're discontinuing BPA in their bottles. I can spend my stimulus check on new bottles.

All about the gear

I found a few stuff sacks and a first aid kit at Mardens on Tuesday for some decent prices. There were some decent deals on Thermarests but I could live without a new one so I passed.

It's that time of year that people are looking to add more gear to their lives. In case you're looking for the big stuff, I got a few leads for you.

Bikes

The Great Maine Bike Swap is Sunday. It's a good chance to get a second-hand bike.

Kayaks

If I had a dime for every time someone said "Hey if you know if anyone selling a kayak...." Well I know someone. The Complete Paddler in Denmark is going out of business. He's selling his boats and gear at a discount. That's too bad. I have talked casually with Jim Stanicki a couple times, and he strikes me as a decent guy. I hope everything works out for him.

If you can wait a month, the Lincoln Canoes & Kayaks consignment sale is May 17-18. It's also an opportunity to get rid of your extra boat.

If you score a new (to you) bike or boat, let me know where.

Outfitting at Mardens

I just heard that the Marden's in Portland has some outdoors gear. I haven't checked it out yet but word is that there are packs, stuff sacks, water bottles and Thermarest mattresses. Maybe 50 percent off retail.

If you beat me to the store, let me know if you get anything good.

Ready for the weekend

I've been a bad blogger this week. Work and life have gotten in the way of writing updates. Let me try to make amends by catching up:

The BDN reports that the water is just fine for the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race. It's not too strong, and it's not too bony. It's just right. Although the spectators can expect warm temperatures and sun, paddlers need to be prepared for frigid water. BTW, it's not too late to enter.

Over on the Kennebec River, they're still raising funds to build a whitewater park in Skowhegan. Yes, in Skowhegan. It's one of the coolest ideas I've heard for recreation. Create a bunch of rapids in the river and let people run that short stretch of river over and over. Sure it can't compete with the real thing but it offers a quick outing for people who don't want to dedicate a day to a river and portage.

In Colorado, They're a bit concerned with deaths on the ski slopes. Considering the millions of people who ski, the casualty rate is minimal - unless you know someone who died in a ski accident. The interesting thing to me was that there was no commonality. Experienced and novice skiers died. Helmets didn't seem to make a difference. I would be interested in hearing from skiers if the sport needs to be made safer. The risk is part of the draw for some people. Will education improve safety without watering down the sport?

Speaking of safety, there is a free sea kayak rescue seminar Saturday night in Cape Elizabeth. This is the best way to improve water safety. Sea kayaking is a wonderful activity with risks. But you can mitigate those risks. The seminar is a great way to find out how.

It's time to start the weekend. And let's be careful out there.

While you were outside

How was your weekend? I spent most of mine helping a 12-year-old with a school project. Not that I'm complaining. I had mentally given up on the weekend when I saw a weather report proclaiming clouds and rain. Too bad I didn't ask for a second opinion.

Those of you who took advantage of the unscheduled sunshine missed some reading.

First, Carey Kish encourages us to hit Acadia in the spring. I second that. The past few springs have found Elaine and me staying at Blackwoods and biking the carriage roads.

Carey has a couple good suggestions. His six-mountain hike may sound like a bit much but it's worth it. You don't have to go very high to get impressive views. It's a treat to see the mountains and ocean at once.

And I second his caution about the snow. It's been a good winter, and it's receding slowly. Trails and carriage roads are going to be icy and/or soggy for a long time.

Carey contends this is the time to go to Acadia because the crowds won't come until summer. But if you have to wait, stay as much as possible in the southwest corner of the island. Avoid Bar Harbor and the Park Loop Road. Most tourists don't seem to make it past the Jordan Pond House. We have stayed on MDI during summer holiday weekends without feeling crowded. There is plenty of fun off the beaten path - so to speak.

Second, I endorse Jeff Strout's tips for finding a kayak. It's a quick read with good advice. I would emphasize trying before you buy. You need to know if you fit in it. I have some strong opinions on boat selection but will spare you today.

If you're not sure what kind of paddling you will be doing, look at who you will be your paddling buddies. You really shouldn't be on the water alone. It's more fun with friends, and it's safer. What kind of kayaks do they have? That's the kind of paddling you will be doing.

Also, even though you're sure you will a calm-water paddler, consider the sea kayaks. There's a really good chance you will want to try the ocean sooner or later. If so, you're not going to want to invest in a second boat.

And finally, something I don't have any experience doing. Deirdre Fleming has a great story about people sledding down Mount Washington. Well, not the whole mountain. But enough of it to qualify. And enough of it to have me looking for sled.

This just in

Co-worker Shannon Bryan knows how to schedule her weekend at Sugarloaf. Now I'm jealous.

Hiking fees

One of my pet peeves in newspapers is when a headline proclaims a hike in taxes or fees. No, a hike is a walk in the woods. Taxes, fees and prices increase. So you should see the word "hike" in the Outdoors section but not in MaineBusiness.com.

But today, I will forgive anyone who wants to say the Legislature wants to hike license fees. Let me know if I get any of this wrong. But there are three proposals to raise cash for the Maine Wardens Service:

Raise the cost of hunting and fishing licenses $2 for Maine residents and raise it $4 for nonresidents.

Charge $40 for a yearly hunting and fishing license

Charge $20 for a newly-created Adventure Maine card.

I'm not a big objector to fees. I think it is a bit unfair for the average taxpayer to totally support my fun. The White Mountain National Forest has a modest parking fee program. I tend to buy the yearly sticker that results in savings and more convenience. As long as the money goes toward supporting the trail heads, I'm happy to pay it.

The state park fees seem reasonable. I like to buy the yearly pass. I don't think I get my money out of it. But I don't mind. Some taxpayer support should help keep those fees down. I don't want anyone to feel a park is too expensive.

Because I don't hunt or fish, I probably should stay out of the debate over licensing fees. Increases may seem reasonable, but they can't be prohibitive.

That Adventure Maine card sounds fun though. Here's what you could get for $20:

Get out of the woods free

As it stands, if the state needs to organize a search to rescue you, it may bill you. Maine doesn't tend to do that. New Hampshire charges negligent hikers who need rescues. In other words, you have to pay if you are unprepared or stupid. But with the Adventure Maine card, you won't have to pay for any rescue services. But the chances are good you won't have to pay anyway. When was the last time the Wardens presented some lost schmuck with a bill?

Here's the question: Are the Wardens going to start charging?

If they are, $20 is a pretty good insurance policy. I can go hiking with nothing but a bottle of water and a cell phone. Then when I think I'm lost, I can call and get a helicopter ride home. Please tell me that's not how it's going to work. Surely there will be a provision to charge even card-carrying idiots.

Should they charge at all? Rescue efforts are expensive. They do encourage a lax attitude toward preparedness. But from a PR point of view, they put the state in a positive light. That could encourage more adventurers from away.

What if victims worked off their rescue bills with community service? Put them to use on rescue-support efforts or trail maintenance. Have them give back to the community that saved their bacon.

Sorry I got off course. The benefit:

Free park admission

OK, that's certain parks. Not every state park. No list is available yet. It sort of loses its luster when you restrict its use. But increase the price and make it an all park pass. Add that rescue insurance deal, and it's a bargain.

Commercial discounts

Again, no specifics. But I imagine you would get a discount at certain outdoor retailers. It would depend on who wants to offer the deal. I don't think much more than 10 percent will be offered.

I'm not a big fan of the Adventure Maine card so far. I probably will buy one to contribute to a good cause. But they just added a license plate to attract such generosity. How should the state raise the cash?

Taking the Cathance

There may not be enough open water for widespread fishing but some rivers are clear enough to kayak. Case in point: The Cathance River.

Ron Chase has a great story and photos about a day on the river. My favorite part:

"The Cathance is a challenging potentially hazardous river at virtually any runnable water level and should not be attempted without a strong paddling group with advanced whitewater skills. The whitewater section is steep, congested and notorious for collecting logs, branches and debris."

I don't have enough neoprene nor skills to attempt this. But Ron's story makes me wish I did.

For those of you wishing to do some tamer waters, the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race is coming April 19.

A great day for kayaking

OK, my day is wasted. Don't expect anything productive out of me. I just found the Sea Kayaking Dot Net, and it's full of great posts. Adam Bolonsky has a great writing style - informative but not condescending.

There's a huge emphasis on safety. So this is a great read for less-experienced paddlers. I'm going to be spending the rest of the day reading it.

Maybe not. I'm also going to get ready for the New England Paddlesports Expo in Durham, N.H. If you go, grab some coupons for $2 off admission.

It's a good way to get into a paddling mood. There is tons of gear. You're sure to see a sexy new boat or paddle that costs more than you're willing to spend. The presentations are usually good. I recommend anything with a slide show - especially having to do with the Maine coast. The scenery is beautiful and you probably will get a trip idea or two.

The pool sessions could be useful. Beginners usually gain the most out of those demonstrations. But the paddlers know their stuff and have a lot of experience. It's worth asking a couple good questions.

The weather may be cold and wet but my mind already is on the water.

Get it in Gear

It's been a couple weeks since I've been on the Mountain Division Trail. Most of the winter it was my local cross country trail. But I've assumed the spring weather has taken its toll on the snow. But how long before it's bikable. Burley's wondering the same thing. He's eager to get running.

Before I try it out, I need a tune up. My bike is a beater but it does need some work. And I use the term "beater" lovingly. It's one of those road/trail hybrids that will do a passable job on the pavement and a good job on bike trails. No single track or jumps for me. It serves me very well on the carriage roads.

I got it a few years ago at the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's Great Maine Bike Swap. If you're interested in getting a set of wheels, you need to make time for this year's sale. There are two of them:

April 27: Portland
May 4: Orono

This is a perfect chance for someone to get started in biking. You can find something that's comfortable in the seat and wallet. If you get really serious about it, save your money to get something lighter or stronger.

Today's news watch

Acadia
It's that time of year that Acadia National Park closes some of the carriage roads. They're really wet and vulnerable to even just moderate use. Be patient. They will be open in plenty of time for spring trips.

Hiking
Usually, I'm just passing through Belfast on my way to Acadia or Deer Isle. But here's a reason to stop and stretch my legs:

Gone Fishing?

Are you fishing today? I understand it would be tough to make it. You can't get away from work. Or if you could, you really don't want to strap on snowshoes to just to find a bit of open water. But you can do the next best thing: plan your fishing trip.

If you do make it today, show us a photo of what you caught.