Here's wishing all adventurers a safe, happy, healthy, properous and fun New Years 2005!

That's me getting an early jump on the holiday spirit while waiting for my bus at the Port Authority Terminal in New York City last week.

Adventure is everywhere...

I’ve been obsessed with the outdoors for a good many years now. Hiking, camping, rafting, kayaking, skiing, climbing, you-name-it. It’s a passion that hasn’t diminished one bit. In fact, it has grown stronger with age. I often reflect on the source of this outdoors obsession. And all signs point to my Dad.

As a little kid I remember Dad loading up the family and taking us on vacation. For one precious week each summer (that was all the time off Dad got in those days), we’d escape the urban environs of New Jersey for the beautiful Berkshires of western Massachusetts. When we weren’t doing the typical vacation things, lounging about the pool or playing tourist, Dad would take me out exploring in the surrounding woods and fields… for birds and butterflies, salamanders and frogs. Every trail, every pond, every little stream was a new world full of adventure. What was under that rock, behind that tree, or around that bend? My curiosity about nature was piqued.

A few years later, we up and moved to Pittsfield, right in the heart of the Berkshires. It was nirvana for a kid like me. There was so much to do! Dad got me involved with the Junior Naturalist Club and the Rock and Mineral Club at the Berkshire Museum. On weekends he would take me bird watching at the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, hiking up on Mount Greylock, and exploring for rocks and minerals in a nearby quarry.

I’ll never forget hiking up the Lulu Brook Trail in the Pittsfield State Forest with Dad early one Saturday morning. This was big hike for me and I was so excited! There we were, Dad and I, packs on our backs, hiking along enjoying the gurgling brook and the beautiful forest. Part way up the trail, we rested on a rock next to the stream and Dad broke out some snacks and a Thermos of coffee. I remember thinking how cool it was hiking with my Dad and being big enough to share a cup of coffee with him. I was an official hiker now!

When I was a teenager we moved to Maine. Dad was slowing down a bit but was still eager to explore our new home. We made numerous trips to Baxter State Park, our favorite place, cooking up beans and hot dogs over the fire, sleeping out in the lean-tos and making forays up Mount Katahdin. Dad never did make it all the way to the top (just beyond Thoreau Spring was his best), but we always had a good time together. My love for the outdoors had become permanent.

It’s funny, but it occurs to me that whenever I would ask Dad to do something outdoors, he would invariably say, “Son, I spent 39 months in World War II marching all over Europe and camping on the ground. I’ve had all the outdoors I need.” But he would always go with me anyway. And all those times I spent in the woods with my Dad, the love for nature and the outdoors he instilled in me—those are very special memories, more so now than ever. He helped shape the person that I am today and I will be forever thankful to him (and Mom too, of course).

My wonderful Dad, Joseph Kish, passed away on November 17, 2004 at a Fort Worth, Texas hospital.

My Dad, Joseph Kish, Sept. 2, 1919 - Nov. 17, 2004.

Dad had been in the hospital for a month. He went in for routine surgery on his colon, but somewhere along the way things went bad, and he developed a respiratory condition that ultimately took him. My brother and I made several frantic flights down to see him during the early part of November. Countless trips back and forth to the hospital with Mom; brief, heart wrenching visits with Dad in the ICU; meals on the run; emotional conversations; restless nights; lots of prayers; many more what-ifs. At one point I returned home convinced that Dad had turned the corner. But it wasn’t to be. I got “the call” the next day. We buried him with military honors five days later.

I never thought it was possible to cry so much, but I have. I may have my game face on, but I’m still a wreck underneath. My Mom is so strong. She’s held up remarkably well for a woman who was married to the same man for 54 years. And my brother Kevin has been solid as a rock. I miss my Dad terribly, we all do. But we’re carrying on with the support of family and friends.

Thank you Dad! For all that you were, for all that you gave to me. My Mom says the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree. I can only hope that that's true.

There’s a sign tacked to a ceiling beam at the Marshall Hotel (a favorite hangout of rafters and kayakers) in The Forks that reads, “Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much.” They’re words to live by. And for the New Year that’s just hours away, I’ve promised myself--and Dad--to do a whole lot more of that.

You just never know what kind of cool stuff you're gonna get for Christmas!

Modeling my new Head Sock, a Christmas gift from my girlfriend.

Perfect for skiing!

Been trekking the Nepal Himalaya? Climbing in the Swiss Alps? Road-tripping it across the U.S.? Riding the Siberian Express across Russia? Knapsacking through Australia and New Zealand? Sea kayaking the coast of Maine? Sightseeing in Paris?

Whatever your travel adventure, you might consider showing a handful of your slides or digital photos at the next meeting of the Traveler's Club on Thursday, January 6th. The folks there are departing from their usual scheduled program and are having a "Travel Medley" with multiple mini-presentations instead.

Local travelers are invited to bring 10-12 of their favorite travel slides (and some goodies to share with the group) for a quick presentation. It'll be fun to see where everybody has been and hear some adventurous tales.

Whoa! I just heard from a friend that there's going to be skiing on the Cog Railway this winter. And yes, it's true! The Mt. Washington Cog Railway Ski Train is now operating and carrying skiers up the mountain, where they'll have access to 2 intermediate and 2 beginner ski runs. Awesome! Gotta go...

The holidays are an adventure, for sure. There's always so much to do and not enough time... shopping, cooking, writing cards, decorating, travel plans, wrapping presents; friends, relatives, parties. It's a mad dash to the finish line some years it seems. But we get there--eventually. Whew!

Soon enough we'll get some precious time to relax with family and friends, enjoy a good meal, and be thankful for all that we have. It's a good life.

Whatever you do, wherever you go over the next few days, I hope you have a safe, happy and healthy holiday (and I hope you get some outdoors fun in too!). Merry Christmas!

The proposed Plum Creek Timber Co. multi-faceted plan on 465,000 acres of land in and around Moosehead Lake looks like a good one to me. It combines a modest amount of development with conservation easements that allow for continued management and harvesting of the vast timberlands, while providing for additional recreational opportunities for us outdoorsy types. Of particular note are the plans for 43 miles of new hiking trails (and some 75 miles of snowmobile trails for you motorized enthusiasts) in the region. I like that idea a lot. Some of the land will be sold to the state for permanent preservation of a number of precious bogs and ponds in the area.

It's a balanced approach to conservation and I applaud it. I like it a whole lot more than Restore: The North Woods' idea of locking up our forestlands and making a National Park out of them. Sounds romantic, but I prefer the multi-use approach to our forests: A healthy mix of forest products industry jobs; a well-managed, productive forest; a broad range of recreational opportunities; preservation of important historical, cultural, and ecological areas; and continued public access (a longtime Maine tradition).

Note to Restore: The vast majority of Maine's millions of acres of forestland are not wilderness. That sounds nice and gets people (especially out-of-staters) excited to sign petitions to force a federal land grab of of our private woodlands. But the truth is that most of Maine's northern forestland is a "working forest" (read: commercial forest) and has been for hundreds of years. I'm a little rusty on my forestry, but I believe we're in our 5th or 6th cutting rotation by now. It's wooded and remote and beautiful, but it's not wilderness. Some of it, yes, but not the majority.

We get the best of all worlds by this private-public approach to conservation, in my view. Baxter State Park, the Allagash, the Appalachian Trail corridor, a host of Maine Bureau of Public Lands parcels. And with more deals like the Plum Creek plan, and recent Nature Conservancy purchases, more recreational lands continue to available to us. Further, we get commerical timber and the jobs that go with it, and the ripple effect that follows, so that people can actually afford to continue living in these beautiful places. And we get incredible access to lakes, mountains, rivers and streams; and practically unlimited opportunities for camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, you-name-it. All good. Try getting all that with a National Park. Ain't no way! We're pretty lucky.

Sometimes it seems that all trails lead to the Great Lost Bear. That's not a bad thing, mind you. And it's always good to see a friendly face behind the bar there, pouring a pint of your favorite beverage.
Proper fluid replenishment just makes good sense after vigorous outdoor activity. Just ask any MOACer!

Not only is the GLB is a great place for refreshments, it's a good place to hang out with friends while planning the next adventure... the next trail to hike, ski area to visit, or river to be kayaked. Many a wild trip has been planned on the back of a cocktail napkin for sure!

Cabin fever overtook me again the other night. It might have been the conversation with a friend, which nevers fails to lead us to a place deep in the woods of northern Maine. It might have been that escapist gene inside of me that every now-and-again makes me want to chuck everything and disappear for awhile, a la Thoreau's Walden. Hell, maybe it was just the beer...

I'm not talking about the kind of cabin fever that makes you want to get outside, but rather inside--a cabin, that is. You see, I've always wanted to own a cabin the woods, but have never quite gotten there--yet. I dream of a special place to go to for a day, a weekend, a week. To relax, to reflect, to be alone (not all the time, of course), to live more simply-- no lights, no phone, no running water.

My friend Dick has such a cabin in the Maine woods. And although I've never managed to make a trip up there with him, I feel as though I've been there many times through his captivating stories. It sounds ideal. Yes, in my mind's eye I've seen the grand wilderness views from the doorstep, swam in the crystal clear lake, cut firewood in the spruce and fir woods out back, enjoyed a simple meal under the setting sun, sat close to blazing fire in the little wood stove with book in hand, and fallen asleep to the wailing of the loons...

Zzzzz, zzzzz... Uh, um, I'm sorry. Where was I? Oh yes, the cabin! Well, all this cabin talk prompted me to dig out one of my favorite books of all time: The Woods by Charles Seib. It's the true story of a man who buys a rural piece of property and builds his own cabin, from A to Z. I must have read it a hundred times over the years. And when I finally found it again, I read it once more, all 108 inspiring pages!

Here in the cabin the Franklin stove is blazing cheerily. I have shed the heavy wool shirt I needed before I lit the fire. The supper dishes are washed and soon it will be time for bed. I have spent this day as I spend many here now that the cabin is completed--reading, roaming over the land, dozing...

OK, time to start checking the real estate pages again!

It was a little frosty on the summit Mt. Washington at 9 a.m. this morning. A temperature of -5 F and a wind speed of 24 m.p.h. combined for a bone-chilling wind chill of -36 F. Ouch! Can you say hypothermia ???

I had never heard of Celiac Disease before until today, when I received a Christmas card from my friend Regina of Portland. We hadn't been in touch with for several years and I've just learned that she was diagnosed with the disease in early 2003.

Celiac Disease is a genetic disorder caused by eating glutens (commonly found in proteins such as wheat, barley, rye and oats), which can cause very serious digestive disorders and even cancer.

Regina is battling the disease by adhering to a strict gluten-free diet, which isn't easy since nearly every manufactured or processed food contains some gluten.

But that's not all... In typical Regina fashion, she is planning a 3,500-mile Coast to Coast bicyling adventure across the U.S. from California to Maine next spring to help raise national awareness of Celiac Disease and funds for research and education. Regina is no stranger to big adventures, having hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, Long Trail and Wonderland Trail. The bike trip should take about two months, starting in April and finishing up at home here in Maine by June.

Good luck Regina!

Maine's ski areas are going full tilt with snowmaking operations right now and their hard work is paying big skier benefits. Sunday River and Sugarloaf are open, with other ski areas soon to follow.

I was up at Sunday River again the other day, and in just one week they have more than doubled the number of top-to-bottom runs that are open. (I don't pay much attention to the number of trail "sections" open. It's the number of full-length trails that I care about). The skiing was excellent, with great cover and soft bumps to play on. And they're well on their way to opening up a lot more terrain real soon. My 'Loaf friends have returned from the mountain with reports of terrific conditions up there too.

Things are looking pretty good for all of us who want to get out there and burn up that season's pass!

My office mate and fellow hiking fanatic Barry just returned from a trip south of the border to climb New Hampshire's Mount Monadnock. It was his first visit to the storied summit and a milestone on his lifetime hiking checklist. Barry not only came back with his usual tales of another fine hike--pleasant trails, fantastic views and so forth, but with a very interesting, and unexpected, little factoid...

Mt. Monadnock has long been regarded as the the second most climbed mountain in the world (yes, in the world) behind Japan's Mt. Fuji. Well, they went and built a road up Mt. Fuji and ruined that idea, so Mt. Monadnock (still thankfully roadless) has now apparently taken over the top slot as the No. 1 most climbed mountain on Earth. Whodathunkit?

Armed with this new information, I will, of course, have to journey back there for another trip to the summit. And despite all the hype, if you pick the right day the crowds aren't that bad at all, and the view from the 3,165 ft. peak is well worth the drive to get there. I highly recommend it.

Now, I wonder... What's the most climbed mountain in Maine? Bradbury? Katahdin? Cutler? Cadillac? Hmmm.

For 27 years now, hikers along the Appalachian Trail in Maine have been stopping in at Shaw's Boarding Home in Monson for a good meal, a warm bunk and a hot shower. Owners Keith and Pat Shaw have been nothing less than legendary for their hospitality up and down the 2,000 mile long trail, and many thousands of hikers have fond memories of their stay at Shaw's, myself included. I'm saddened to hear the news that our good trail friend Keith Shaw passed away on December 7th.

I first met the Shaw's during my AT thru-hike in 1977, their first year of operation. I spent two nights there, eating huge home-style meals at breakfast and dinner, all cooked with love by Pat; sitting around the kitchen table during the day, chewing the fat with Keith; and watching TV at night with the Shaw family as well as the other hikers. I couldn't have felt more at home. And that's how the Shaw's wanted it.

I've been back to visit too few times over the years since my hike, the last in 1998. Keith and Pat always recognized me from that first group of hikers who came and stayed that first year (and maybe too because they remember me as the one who didn't pull in the shower curtain during my shower and flooded the kitchen downstairs while hikers were having breakfast!).

Keith and Pat and I always got around to talking about the trail--it has been the center of their existence after all--and how things have changed since the "early days." Our reminiscing would inevitably lead to digging through their archive of hiker register books, searching for '1977'. And we would thumb through to find my entry, written in purple ink, and signed the "Bangor Mainiac" (my trail name), and would end up crying over the fond memories of the trail experience and the wonderful people who made it so. Keith and Pat Shaw will always be at the top of that list.

Thank you Keith and Pat Shaw for all you have done for the AT trail community over the years. We will miss you Keith. Pat, our hearts go out to you and your family.

The 20th Anniversary Ski-A-Thon for Maine Handicapped Skiing may be a little more than three months away (March 19, 2005), but the time to start thinking about putting a team together to participate is right now.

The MHS Ski-A-Thon helps raise money to provide adaptive recreation lessons in both winter and summer sports for people with physical disabilities. It's a wonderful program with wonderful people making it work!

I've participated on an MHS ski team for the past four years, and it's always been a lot of fun. Teams of up to 5 people can take part by raising at least $600 together. Easy! You'll likely find yourselves raising considerably more. then on the day of the Ski-A-Thon, you'll get to ski for free; get breakfast, lunch, and dinner; a cool t-shirt; a goodie bag, incentives, and great prizes. Plus you'll get to meet hundreds of other skiers who just love MHS.

Team registration is going on right now. In fact, if you register your team by 12/31/04, you'll get a special Team Captain gift! So, gather up your family, friends, co-workers...put a team together and help make a difference for MHS!

It seems as though everybody I talked to on the lifts at Sunday River yesterday had already been out skiing four or five times this year. One wild-eyed skier claimed fifteen days so far! Even with the recent spell of rains, conditions have been pretty good apparently, and many die hard skiers and riders are off to a good start.

I'm a little late getting out of the gate this season, as are my friends. But we made the most of it, skiing every open trail we could find. Sunday Punch, Ecstasy, Cascades, American Express, Risky Business and Lazy River all provided several runs each of good snow cover and fine skiing. The trails were busy, though, and we experienced a few near collisions. It tends to happen when there's lots of skiers and not a lot of open terrain.

But as we enjoyed a little apres-ski and a cold Shipyard in the Foggy Goggle, we could see all the snow guns going full blast out on the slopes. With that and some cooperation from Mother Nature, plenty more terrain should be opening up in the next few weeks.