Yep, hump day. Two days til the weekend. Gray, a bit drizzly. Notta much goin on.

Except for this stack of stuff here, some of which might actually be of interest to you. I mean, hey, what else have you got to0 do right now? Work, or something??

Hah!

Portland makes the grade again
Portland, Maine has once again been recognized as a great place to live. Imagine that?! It's true. Outside magazine calls ranks Portland as one of the Top 30 Best Towns in America to live. Nice, yes, but must every such review include mention of LL Bean and lobsters? And stuff like this: "Young professionals wear LL Bean fleeces and duck boots for all manner of business, even dates." Ayuh. Gag.

Seeking the Peak
The 7th Annual Seek-the Peak Hike-A-Thon to the summit of Mount Washington will be held on Saturday, July 28th. The event raises much-needed funds to support the Mount Washington Observatory. A fun day for a very good cause.

Symposium for Air & Climate
Speaking of the Mount Washington Observatory, some this country's leading scientists will be getting together on September 7-8th at Bretton Woods to discuss air quality and climate change. But it's not just for the academics (that would be mighty boring, now wouldn't it?) It's for real people like you and me, folks who care about said topics and want to know more in plain English. The whole shebang is sponsored by the MWO as part of their 75th Anniversary.

Siberian Trails
Yeah, like I needed to know about another far away long distance hiking trail. Dammit. But alas, too late. It's now on "the list." What, you say? The Great Baikal Trail, a 1,300-mile long route circling Lake Baikal in eastern Russia (that would be Siberia). From all I've heard it's a magnificent area, and Lake Baikal--2,000 km long and holding 1/5 of the world's fresh water (see, I paid attention in geography class!)--connects 7 national parks and reserves. Whoa!

Photos courtesy The Great Baikal Trail

Sweet! Gotta go now for sure.

Grafton Loop Trail - West Side
For a hiking adventure a little closer to home than Siberia, try the 22-mile stretch of the Grafton Loop Trail. Newly opened in June the trail connects Route 26 and the AT atop Old Speck via Stowe, Sunday River Whitecap and Slide Mountains. Two campsites along the way would seem to make it a nice weekend endeavor. Check. Download the new map and go.

Excellent Lakes Region hiking guide
The last time I was up Fryeburg way I happened upon a new hiking guide at the Jockey Cap Store: Hikes in and Around Maine's Lakes Region, by Marita Wiser. The booklet contains 42 hikes of all interests and abailities, including a few that this trail sleuth had never heard of (so naturally I plunked down the $8.50 right then and there dee-yah). Check it out...

OK friends and neighbors, dat's all I got too-day. What's happening with you all?