It's a question I've pondered for awhile now. An idea that has percolated in my brain ski season after ski season.

Hmmm...

Would it actually be possible to criss-cross the state and get in at least one run at every ski area, all 17 of them (who knew?), from Sunday River in Bethel to Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley; from Lonesome Pines in Fort Kent to the Camden Snow Bowl?

Dunno.

It sounds like an exciting challenge, wouldn't you say? Bordering on the insane, perhaps, but exciting nonetheless. It's certainly worth a try. And it's finally going to happen this winter. Which, by the way, appears to be officially open for downhill skiing as of this coming weekend.

You see, earlier this year I pitched the idea to Greg Sweetser, Executive Director of the Ski Maine Association, Maine's ski industry umbrella organization that does the heavy lifting of promoting skiing throughout the state. Such a big project was going to need a sponsor, and Ski Maine was the logical place to turn.

Sweetser, eyes wide and internal gears turning hard, bought right into the concept--a grand tour of Maine's ski mountains--and has since been working hard to assemble all the pieces to make it happen.

At least one run at all 17 downhill ski areas, big, medium and small. Nearly 1,000 miles of driving (there's going to be a team of us crazy skiers, so we'll be carpooling to keep it "green"), seeing the sights of Maine in winter time. All in one mid-January weekend (guaranteed frigid, you just know it).

There's still plenty of work to do to connect the dots and pull it all together. I'll keep you posted on the details as they get finalized.

It's going to be one heckuva fun time, and I can't wait to get cranking and carve some turns...

What do you think? Can we do it?