The Banff Mountain Film Festival is returning to Portland again this year on Tuesday evening, February 15th at the State Theater. Tickets are already on sale, so get yours soon. You don' t want to miss out!

A trip to the Banff is a mandatory indoor outing for all adventurers. There's always an exciting and entertaining menu of high quality films that will take you on heart-pounding adventures to the far corners of the globe. It looks like this year we'll be skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing, trekking, kayaking and mountain biking in places like Alaska, Canada, Colorado, Australia and Russia. Yes!

So get your tickets, grab a beer at the concession, sit down and strap yourself in for a wild ride through eight incredible films. And maybe you'll even win one of the many great raffle prizes.

I'm so excited about Banff that I volunteered to do the "roadie" thing this year, helping to unload the equipment off truck before the show. Just like a good ski bum... anything for a free pass! Thanks Tom.

For me, downhill skiing is a passion that has pretty much crowded out all other winter activities. I can't seem to get out enough. I didn't grow up skiing, though, so I'm envious of my friends who've been skiing since about the age of 5 and make it look so easy (that's you Sandie and Craig!). Naturally, I'm forever trying to improve my skiing so I can keep up with these clowns, er, friends... To ski a tighter line, carve a sweeter turn, take those bumps with, well, just make it down the damn bumps!

Better skiing doesn't just happen, however. You've got to work at it, for sure. But it's fun, and worth it when more of the mountain becomes your own.

Check out these 5 Secrets of Great Skiers and find out how to really make it happen:

1. Hang out with better skiers. This is soooo true! A few years back, after 10 years of skiing, I had definitely plateaued. I could ski most or all of Sunday River or Sugarloaf, but often struggled on the steeper, harder stuff. But then I hooked up with Shaun and Lori, a couple of really (I mean really) good skiers, who skied everything, everywhere, anytime, in the trees and out. In a single season, my skiing ability--and my enjoyment--took a quantum leap forward. And I've never looked back. Tag along with good skiers, watch them, follow behind and learn. It'll make a huge difference.

2. Don't be cheap when it comes to gear. You know you're skiing on old equipment when: You're in the lift line and people are looking down at your straight, narrow skis and chuckling and pointing at you. Ok, fine. Or, at Park City, you look up outside the mountain's ski shop and there's a set of skis just like yours, mounted to the wall as a decoration! I get it. I retired my beloved Rossignol's soon after and bought some cool, new Salomon shapes. They're awesome and totally worth the big price tag. Whoa! Now I get to laugh and point fingers at others with their old, crappy skis. Hah!

3. Ski all day and in many different conditions. If you're following #1, it's likely that you'll be doing this anyway. Bumps, trees, crud, whatever. Good skiers that I know ski it all, all day. They live to get as much skiing in as possible, no matter the weather or the conditions, and like to be the last one into The Bag in the afternoon. Makes the beer tastes better or something like that. Besides, could anything be better than riding the last chair to the top of Sugarloaf and watching the setting sun turn the Bigelows and the Crocker Mountains pink and orange as you set off down an empty trail for that last glorious run.

4. Buy and study the latest ski movies at home. There's nothing like a Warren Miller movie to get you all pumped up for skiing! The mountains are spectacular, the runs incredible, and you can certainly learn a thing or two about technique by watching the best skiers in the world.

5. Stay in shape in the off season. I love to hike and backpack and mountain bike throughout the spring, summer and fall, which keeps the legs in decent shape. And paddling helps keep the arms in reasonably good condition. Beer helps too. I'm not sure exactly sure how, but it does. I just know it.

If the proposed $10 million Trails for a Healthy Maine Bond effort is successful, there's going to be a heckuva lot more hiking, walking and other shared-use trails around Maine. And that's a very worthwhile thing!

The Healthy Maine Trails Coalition is behind LR 1529: An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Trails for a Healthy Maine." The measure would help to speed up the actual construction of many trails projects throughout the state.

We can never have enough trails of any kind, for recreation and good health, for tourism and transportation. All too often there's not enough money to add miles to our precious trails system, so passage of this bond would be a huge boost. Imagine more trails like the Eastern Trail, the Portland Trails network, Kennebec River Rail Trail and many others.

The trails bond has plenty of support to date, mine included, but more is needed to make this effort a reality. This is how it gets done. Please add your voice to the mix.

You remember Aron Ralston, I'm sure. He's the Colorado adventurer who cut off his right arm to free himself after being trapped in a Utah slot canyon for six days. It's a wild, emotional story that really hits home. Could you have survived? Could I? I wonder.

Anyway, I taped the Dateline NBC special on Ralston, Desperate Days in Blue John Canyon, when it aired last September. And a number of readers have since asked me for a copy of the video.

Uh, well, um, I can't do that. Sorry. Copyright laws seriously frown on that kind of thing. And I just can't get that excited about the idea of a 5'x8' cell with no windows and bad food. You understand, right?!

I did call NBC News about obtaining a legit copy, but the number was "no longer in service." It might not have mattered anyway, as I read something on their site about NBC News stories that were more than 50 days old weren't available. So no luck there.

A printed transcript is available from Burrell Transcript Service, although I realize that's not quite the same.

Digging further, I came across an NPR interview with Aron Ralston done by Alan Chadwick. It's about 8 minutes long and pretty intense. That may be the next best thing.

There's always the book, of course, Between a Rock and a Hard Place. Reed of Santa Rosa CA tells me it was a "gripping, and terrific, and terrifying book." It's up next (finally) on my winter reading list...

For 15 years now, you and I and thousands of other urban adventurers have been walking the many scenic paths of the Portland Trails network. How fortunate we are to have these wonderful trails close by. For exercise, a bit of nature, a brief escape, whether for a few minutes or a few hours. Think of it: Back Cove, Fore River, Stroudwater, Eastern Prom, Presumpscot River... We're so fortunate that a such dedicated group of people had the vision and the stick-to-itiveness to make it all a reality.

Much has been done--an amazing amount, actually--but much more lies ahead. More exciting trail and conservation projects to negotiate, purchase and build.

You can get a good flavor for what's up at Portland Trails at their upcoming Annual Meeting on Monday, January 24th. Find out what's going on; join up to lend a hand. More volunteers are always needed and welcome.

At the meeting, this year's accomplishments as well as next year's plans will be highlighted. Portland Transportation Director Jeff Monroe will speak on exciting changes to the city's waterfront. And there will be dessert and coffee, of course.

RSVP to Portland Trails by January 19th at isabel@trails.org or 775-2411.

Let's see... Big snowstorm last Thursday night. Four to six inches. The weather guy says the roads should be clear by morning, so no problem driving to work on Friday.

Well, even with the best intentions, some plans can go astray. A big dump of snow, a ski buddy with the day off and a thus-far underutilized season's pass... I never made it to work.

Traffic on the road was mid-week light. The coffee was kicking in. Music blaring. An occasional glance through the sun roof at the skis on the rack brought forth a very big smile. You just have to love stealing away unexpectedly for a day on the slopes!

Wide open trail on "T-2"

Sunday River was wide open for us. A good number of other skiers had the same idea, but the place was still empty. No full contact skiing today.

All morning we cruised over beautiful new snow. T-2, Sunday Punch, Cascades at Barker. American Express and Risky Business at Spruce. Back and forth, up and down, again and again.

Lunch at North Peak Lodge. A sandwich and a pre-apres-ski beverage at the new Peak Easy Bar. Warm sun streamed in the big windows. Noontime. Could be working right now. Nah!

The afternoon turned cold and windy. On Aurora Peak the good snow cover was disappearing fast. A patch of ice here, a mound of snow there. A bit of flailing about on dull edges, but no matter, it was still good fun.

On to Jordan Bowl and multiple bone-chilling lift rides. The view across to Mount Washington and the Presidentials from the lift shack was stunning. There was little time to enjoy it, though, with the arctic winds blowing in our faces.

A couple more runs for posterity, and we make our way back across the long mountain and down to the base lodge. Four o'clock. Could still be working. Not today.

We head for home, but, as if by divine intervention, my car makes a sudden right turn into the Matterhorn Ski Bar. Apres-ski time has arrived. Hot wings and cold brew. Just rewards for a hard day at, uh, um... work. Yeah, that's it.

Last week's bicycling accident in Portland shook me up pretty good. All weekend long I just couldn't get it off my mind. Maybe it's my own sense of mortality reminding me that every day is a gift.

Accidents happen. But this one didn't need to.

Jeff Miller, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, put it this way:

Initial reports are that the bicyclist wasn't just in the wrong place at the wrong time, he was riding against traffic, one of the most dangerous things you can do on a bicycle. Driving a bicycle in traffic is dramatically safer when you follow the rules of the road. Drive with traffic (on right), stop at stop signs and lights, use lights at night - these three will keep you out of harms way 90% of the time.

He's right.

So this is a gentle reminder. For bicyclists: Know your bicycle safety rules and practice them. We all forget. Now's a good time to refresh. For drivers: Know that there may be bicyclists (and pedestrians!) out there at any time, even in winter. Follow the rules for motorists. Be aware. Drive with caution.

Go a step further... Support the bicycling effort in Maine by joining the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, our best advocate for bike safety and education.

Join your local bike club too. You'll find new friends to ride with, explore new places and learn good bicycling practices. In the Portland area the folks at the Casco Bay Bicycle Club ride and have lots of fun all year long.

Bicycles and cars and trucks sharing the same space on the road. Most of the time it works out. Yesterday it didn't.

Tragically.

The accident happened just down the street from my office. It was dusk. Commute time. Flashing lights, sirens, snarled traffic. Something had gone horribly wrong. I didn't know what.

Heading for home, I waited for an opening in the long queue of cars. Then the radio blurted out the news. My heart sank.

It could have been any one of us.

I'm pretty lousy when it comes to following the bicycling rules of the road. Be bold, act like a vehicle, and ride in the lane, or be timid and ride to the right. Stop at the traffic light because it's the law, or cruise on through because you can. Use the proper hand signal on your turn, or just figure "they'll see me." I know, I know...

Follow all the rules, though, and you can still get hurt, or worse. Cars are big and powerful and visible. Bikes aren't. And when they meet it's usually not good.

I feel awful for the bicyclist. It appears he was riding where he shouldn't have been. And paid a high price for that poor judgment. I can't imagine the anquish of the driver of the truck. He just didn't see him.

Damn.

None of us want to be, or should be, the next statistic. A refresher course on bicycle safety is certainly in order. And then, as bicyclists and drivers, we need to put it into practice every time we're on the road.

No plans, you say?

Well then, how about coming to the monthly meeting of the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club in Portland. Mix it up a little with a hundred or so other outdoorsy MOACers, hear a program on hostelling in the U.S. and Canada, get in on the trip planning, and have some serious fun.

I was poking around EPIC Sports in downtown Bangor last evening, waiting for the MOAC-Bangor Chapter meeting to begin, when I came across a new book on hiking trails up north.

North Woods Walks by Christopher Keene details a variety of nice hikes--day hikes and backpack trips--in and around Moosehead Lake, Jackman and The Forks.

If you don't get up that way much in your hiking travels, you should. It's wild and remote and uncrowded for the most part. And with Keene's new trail guide and your handy DeLorme Gazetteer, there's plenty of exploring to be done.

Of particular note near the end of Keene's book was a section on a new trail system proposed for the Moosehead Lake region. It's called the North Woods Loop Trail. Details are sketchy, but I understand that an initial 25-mile section of the proposed 100-mile-plus trail was to have been completed this past summer.

New trails are always exciting! I'll look into it more and get back to you.

It never fails. Whether I've been away for a few hours, a weekend, a week, or longer. Somewhere after the Hampton, NH toll booth on I-95 I start to feel it.

I-95 NORTH
TO ALL MAINE POINTS

Yep. Just about then.

It's a transformation of sorts, for sure. From wherever I was, whatever I was doing to... Maine. I begin to feel more at ease, sit a little more comfortably in the seat, look around a bit more, let my mind wander.

Almost there. The Portsmouth Circle flies by. The highway curves to the left, then sweeps right again, rising to meet the Piscataqua River Bridge. A small sign announces "NOW ENTERING Maine".

Phase I of re-entry complete. But for me, there's more to it. Maybe it's a half mile further, maybe a mile. I look for it, wait for it. I'll be damned if I'm going to miss it.

Yes, there it is! The Sign.

Passing "The Sign" on the Maine Turnpike the other night.

I'm home... Vacationland. The Pine Tree State. The Way Life Should Be. Chickadees and lobsters. LL Bean. Portland Headlight. Acadia and Mount Katahdin. The North Maine Woods. Mountains, rivers, lakes, the ocean, trails...

Nothing makes my heart race so, makes me happier or more content.

I'm home.

Snow and gravel crunch under my boots as I chug along the Stroudwater Trail. The winding Stroudwater River, my companion on my right, is mostly frozen over now. The sky is that washed out winter gray and there's a breeze in the treetops. The temperature is mild, though, in the high 30s maybe.
It's a good day for a walk (but then, what day isn't?).

I live not too far from here, so I try to get out here often, for a bit of exercise, to breath some fresh air, some time to clear the head. A brief (and handy) escape into the woods for comtemplation.

Starting out, I usually walk at a quick pace, things pressing on my mind, heart rate up. But it doesn't take long before the pace slows amid this little patch of Mother Nature. And after a mile or two, an hour or so among the trees, I've usually calmed down considerably and solved whatever problem or issue may have been bothering me, gotten life somewhat back in order.

Today the hemlocks, firs and pines; the oaks, birches and beech trees are all here, just where I left them last time. I smile as I pass; it's nice to see familiar friends. Beavers have been busy selectively harvesting saplings along the river's edge. No signs of a lodge or dam though. Small critters have left a series of tracks back and forth on the river. Their prints have melted some, so I can't identify who's been where.

Holiday traffic is heavy and loud when I reach the Maine Turnpike overpass behind UNUM, but no matter. I stand and stare at the passing dark windshields for a moment, then turn and retrace my steps. I've still got half the walk remaining, and I revel in the thought. Hurrying isn't even an option.

It's dusk when I reach the car. On Outer Congress St. passing cars have their lights on. It starts to drizzle as I pull out into traffic and head for home. But I am refreshed by this brief respite in the woods, ready for the next round.

A winter walk along the Stroudwater Trail in Portland.