A good deal of the trails we recreate on are on private land. That is, they are available to us as a courtesy extended by the landowner.

It's probably something you and I don't think much about, but should.

Abuse such a privilege and a landowner has every right to post their land and close it to visitors. Privately owned land means just that--private, and the rights all belong to the landowner.

I got to thinking about this issue again when I learned of a flap concerning Rumford Whitecap, a true gem of a mountain just north of the Androscoggin River in Rumford. A mountain on private land, mind you.

The folks of the Mahoosuc Land Trust have been campaigning for several years now to purchase 761 acres on the mountain, a portion of which apparently, was thought to include the alpine summit.

Not so, according to the Kersey family, which owns 107 acres including the top of the peak, land which is not for sale.

So now there's a big helping of misunderstanding going on over this.

The Kerseys have expressed some serious concerns, one being "that they will become victims of environmental eminent domain and will lose all rights over their own property."

Further concerns include the increase in media exposure the mountain has received, which the Kerseys fear will translate into a "loss of the pristine qualities the mountain is known for."

Points well taken.

I'm guilty, if you will, of "exposing" the mountain in a recent newspaper column. And regretful that I, too, repeated information on the land sale, including what we now know is the Kersey summit property.

My bad, but who knew?

Again, it's a misunderstanding. Unfortunate, but innocent enough.

I checked the MLT website and it appears that the appropriate changes have been made, whereby mention of the summit as part of the deal has been deleted. There could be more specifics, however, to help allay the Kersey's concerns.

That the MLT is still pursuing the purchase of a portion of Rumford Whitecap, though it may not include the peak, is proper and reasonable. It's what land trusts do. Work to protect and preserve sensitive, valuable lands.

I believe the Kerseys would find the MLT to be good neighbors. It's just a shame in this case that the Kerseys had to be upset in the process.

"The Kerseys absolutely dread the tought of having to post their land."

We do, too. It needn't come to that.

Their are so many good and decent people in the recreation community that have the utmost respect for the land--public or private--and their very presence on our trails is a huge deterrent to those who would abuse them.

It's this quiet, mostly unseen stewardship--a sense of ownership really--that wards off most of the outdoors bad-doers.

And that's the message I have for the Kerseys: Thank you, for starters. Thanks to you and your family for graciously sharing your land for many different uses by many, many people over the years. You have provided us a wonderful gift.

This misunderstanding will be resolved, if it hasn't been already.

We ask for continued access to the high reaches of Rumford Whitecap, and that in return, we the caring public will continue to watch over your land just as you would, as we enjoy it and teach others to do the same.