Ice crunches under my boots on the gravel path. The traffic noise on Congress St. behind me slowly fades as I cross the bridge over the Fore River. It's gray and raw out. Two o'clock in the afternoon but almost dark. Late November, for sure.

Some time in the woods is what's needed today. To dispel the holiday blues. Work off a couple of those pumpkin pie pounds. To stride for awhile, breath some air. See what's going on in the woods.

So I've come a few minutes from my home in Portland to the Fore River Sanctuary to do just that. To walk. Look around. Think.

A welcoming sign...

The path follows along the old canal on a high berm. There's no wind. And now, no noise. I'm already away from the city and into a different place. A gull flies overhead without a sound. Then a blue heron with a great deal a squawking. Then nothing. Except my boots on the path.

My nose runs from the chill air. My cheeks are cold. The air is invigorating my lungs with each breath. I'm so glad I got out.

Canal to my left. Salt marsh to my right. A corridor through the buffalo grass. Quiet.

Small critter tracks across the frozen marsh let me know I'm not alone out here.

But then, in short order, I pass a dozen people wandering back toward the road. Out for a Sunday walk. "Hi". "Hello". I continue on. Over another bridge-a winding one-into the forest of oak and pine and hemlock.

I cross the railroad tracks and head further into the gray woods of young oaks. A thin layer of snow covers the ground to either side of the trail. But a succession of boots today have cleared the path.

Jewell Falls is Portland's only natural waterfall. Hidden in a hollow of hemlocks, it's a gem as it cascades down several levels before flowing out into the salt marsh beyond. Ice has formed in places in the stream. The black rock in the streambed provides a stark contrast.

I photograph. Make notes. Sit on the granite marker in honor of Tom Jewell who did so much to preserve this unique and precious property. I shiver. And decide to head for home.

I cross the railroad tracks again. And suddenly think of the many wild adventures I had as a kid exploring along the RR tracks in Bangor. It all briefly comes back to me as I pause in the middle of the tracks.

The woods are growing dark. The sun will be down soon. Not that I would know it today. I make my way back along the canal on the old towpath. Happy to have spent a few hours with Mother Nature.

Car lights are on when I reach Congress St. Holiday shoppers. Commuters. Rush, rush, rush. But not me. Not today.

I was out in my driveway this morning, just about to get into my car and head to work, when I heard a familiar clinking sound in the backyard.

That clinking noise, to me, signals only one thing: Somebody is climbing something! (The brilliant deduction of this semi-retired climber!).

And no doubt, there in my neighbor's yard, some thirty feet up in a maple tree and climbing higher, was an arborist from a local tree service.

I couldn't resist wandering over and watching him climb. Helmeted, harnessed and roped in, he carefully clink-clinked his way up.

Cool. Very cool.

We chatted ground-to-treetop for a few moments. I snapped a couple of photos. Then walked back to the car, glancing over my shoulder as he climbed further up among the branches.

John Colavecchio of Bartlett Tree Experts on the job this morning.

Now that's a job to have, I thought. A fine way to combine work and play. And outdoors no less. Although come the frigid days of mid-January, I might think better of such an idea...

Colavecchio climbs toward the sky.

I'm glad to see people finally calling the recent spate of vandalism that's gone on against Plum Creek what it really is: eco-terrorism.

And I'm equally glad to see that a member of the Maine Legislature, Senator John Nutting, a Democrat from Leeds, is crafting a bill to punish future eco-terrorist acts with jail time. Incredibly, such acts right now are merely misdemeanors and carry only fines. Nutting's bill would make eco-terrorism a felony.

Good. Damn good.

But will it pass? Hard telling apparently.

The bill is sure to face strong opposition again, however. Some opponents argued four years ago that such a law could threaten the right to free speech on environmental issues, even when there is no attempt to frighten people or damage property. Others said it would have no impact on the most radical environmentalists, and might even encourage more vandalism.

I hope it makes it through.

Note to the Plum Creek eco-terrorists (you know who you are): Try engaging IN the process, rather than cowardly working outside of it and hurting people and property. You'd be surprised at what could be accomplished by adopting such a civilized approach.

Hey, before you all take off for the long holiday weekend, I want to say "thanks"!

Thanks for hanging out with me on Trail Head. For your comments and thoughts and ideas and humor. It sure makes my day. I hope it adds something to yours.

I don't have any pithy stuff for you today. Nothing much on the outdoors.

Rather, I sincerely hope that you all have someplace special to go, some special people in your lives to be with tomorrow. To share the big meal, enjoy a glass of wine, to sit and relax and talk, watch a little football. Together.

And maybe after the digestive processes have done their thing you can get out for a walk, a hike, some skiing. Whatever you do, enjoy. Travel safely.

I'm not sure what, if anything, this has to do with Thanksgiving, but The Desiderata is on my mind today. It just so happens to hang on the wall of my office and today I've read it again fully. It's a good reminder of what's important, how life should be lived.

Happy Thanksgiving!

If the rain continues on, or if you're not up to hitting the slopes this long holiday weekend because you feel like a complete slug, you can always shop. And save.

Todd and Kelly are having a "20% off everything in the store" sale at Maine Mountain Works on Commercial Street in Portland all this weekend (Friday thru Sunday).

And don't forget about the big Downeast Ski Club Ski Sale at the Portland Expo on Saturday from 8 to 5.

Hey, even if you don't actually use your gear, isn't it fun to buy it???

I just came in from outside and I'm soaked.

Ugh.

Rain. Gray. Dreary. Yuck.

Thank goodness it's a short week.

I was hoping to tank up heavily on bird and just about anything else that comes within arms reach on Thursday, then lie on the couch in a tryptophan-induced state of immobilization and general laziness watching movies on Friday.

Figured maybe I'd make for the mountains on Saturday/Sunday for some skiing so to work off the excess food and sloth.

Is skiing gonna happen? I dunno.

Looks grim with all this rain. It's raining at Sunday River today. Sugarloaf too. But the forecast is for a cold spell and maybe even a some snow on Thursday. At least they should be able to make some more snow.

Better put the ski rack on the car and get the gear packed and by the door. Getting in a few respectable runs to work off the holiday excess may just happen after all.

It'll be worth a shot anyway. And good to belly up at The Bag or the Sunday River Brew Pub after, whatever the snow conditions...

Last spring I passed along to you the details of a mountain lion sighting by my friend Dan, who'd spotted one while hiking on the Province Pond Trail just over the state line in Chatham, NH.

Mountain lions are pretty rare in these parts, but sightings do seem to be more frequent than ever. And in the six months since that blog entry, a number of people have written to tell me of their close encounters with the elusive mountain lion in Maine.

I thought you'd like to read a few of their comments...

There are probably more than 100 mountain lions now, since my son in law had a mother with young ones cross in front of his truck one evening at the base of Mt Abram, ME.
--Anonymous

A friend of mine had been hunting in northern Maine above Moosehead and spotted a mountain lion. He's been hunting for 40 to 50 years and knows what he was talking about. I suspect the giant forest fire a few years back in Canada pushed many animals out of their natural habitat and into Maine and NH.
--Hank

My family and I were hiking on Monument Hill in Leeds, ME this past Sunday (August 7). My 14 year old daughter was leading and she saw a mountain lion sharpening his/her claws on a tree on the trail. We were on the backside of the mountain, where the snowmobile trail is. The cat hunkered down like it was going to pounce, my daughter backed up and yelled for her father. My husband looked up just as the cat ran off into the woods.
--Charlotte

I spotted a mountain lion on I-95 Labor Day weekend around Mile Marker 252 (Mt. Katahdin scenic view). A man had once told me he saw one while deer hunting. I thought he was crazy. I thought wrong.
--Emery

My friends and I were in the woods hiking in Pelham, NH and as I looked up I saw the silouette of a mountain lion. As I looked on further it moved it ahead. We then walked down the trail quickly and left.
--Ben

I live in military housing in Brunswick, ME. I have a mountain lion in the woods behind my house. Our housing managers are reluctant to deal with the issue. We all have small children and can sometimes catch the cat watching us. It will run if the adults approach it, but our children are not safe. I currently have a motion sensative camera in my back yard. Hopefully we will catch something.
--Tracey

I live in freeport on the Lower Flying Pt. Rd. One morning I was going to work around 4:30 am on the Lower Flying Pt. Rd. I saw what I thought was a deer crossing in front of my truck lights. One big problem it was a big cat with a very long tail. I called the Maine Warden Service in Gray, but they never returned my call. I was shocked at what I saw. I am a deer hunter and have seen all kinds of wildlife but but never anything like this. I will never forget what I saw that morning.
--Ted

My aunt in Hartford, ME said she saw a mountain lion about 3 weeks ago. She just happened to look our her window and it was walking along the rock wall in front of her house. She described it as a big cat, with a long tail, and about 3 feet tall at the shoulder. She knew she wasn't looking at a bobcat.
--Jenn

My mother and I saw what appeared to be a young mountain lion walk across her yard in Sanford, ME in August 2005. It stood about 2 feet tall, had a long tail that dipped to the ground, and was tan in color. My mother saw it closer than I did and said it had faint rings on the tail. It pounced into the woods when a car approached.
--Jennifer

While deer hunting in Poland, ME I heard what sounded like a person except it was moving fast. The animal ran to my right and then circled behind me I turned to see a large tan animal on a dead run. At first thinking there's my deer I was shocked to see that the animal was low to the ground with a long tail and a very stalky cat like appearance. There is no doubt in my mind that this was a Mountain Lion. It was too big and stealthy to be a dog. After the animal left my area two hunters walked from the direction he had come. These two hunters spooked a mountain lion and it ran right by me.
--Marty

So the big cat is definitely out there. And a lot closer than you think...

But where the heck is the Beer Troll?

Oh no!

There gonna try to re-ejumacate me!

No, please!

I'm an old guide. I don't need no new tricks. Besides, my head already hurts from tryin' to keep up with all this teck-no-lodgic stuff as it is.

Now yer gonna teach me 'bout Kennebec history and culcha?

I'll never make it down the river with all that new information floating around in my brain.

I may forget where Big Mama is, or Magic Falls... all becuz you wanted to make us guides smaaaater.

Next thing you know they're gonna want us to talk to the customers instead of just yelling commands at 'em.

I can just see it now...

"Both sides ahead! Dig it in! Oh, by the way, have I told you about Benedict Arnold...?"

Can you really teach an old river guide new tricks? I wonda.

Have I told you all about the history of the Carrying Place?

Sunday was a beautiful day, wasn't it? Sunny, blue skies, temps in the high 50s.

The kind of day you'll remember fondly at some point deep into the winter, probably when it's 20 below and you can't raise the slightest care about going outside.

Even more so if you were with a group of slightly off kilter MOACers on our hike up Burnt Meadow Mountain in Brownfield.

You see, my good friend Dan decided to have a BBQ. And a hike. Combined.

Yep. The plan was to haul a trash can lid to the top of Burnt Meadow Mtn., along with all the fixin's for a hot dog feast, and have a picnic, MOAC-style.

And that's just what we did!

Now, before you go sending me angry comments, let it be known that this was all cleared with the proper authorities in Brownfield. So we were legit. For once.

Anyway, Dan couldn't find a trash can lid around his place, so he figured he'd simply substitute a half a 50 gallon barrel with a grate to boot.

Dan strapped the whole rig to a pack frame and hauled it the 1.3 miles up the mountain.

And the rest of us packed in some 40-50 hot dogs, rolls, condiments, 2 gallons of milk for hot cocoa, peppers and onions to saute for the dogs, chili, and a variety of snackatizers.

Oh, and two six-packs of beer. PBRs for the low-lifers in the group and Shipyards for the highbrows.

All good.

And from there we proceeded to have ourselves one heckuva fun-filled day, laughing a good measure of the way and down the mountain.

Hiking with Dan and MOAC... the way life should be. Always. Filled with smiles and belly laughs and the faces of good friends. And some nice views from a mountain top.

Here's the re-cap in pictures. Hike along with us and enjoy. Life is too short not to be silly most of the time!

Dan hoisting his packload.

Hamming it up for the camera.

Ready to hike.

Heading up Burnt Meadow Mtn.

The way gets steep, but our BBQ continues on...

That's me hauling the buns (and the PBRs inside my pack).

Views to the south on the way up.

Fire in the hole.

Pre-dog cocktails.

Oh yeah! Dogs, onions, peppers, cocoa... on a mountain top!

Cathy serving up the cocoa.

Not much left...

Happy and well-fed hikers.

View of Pleasant Mountain.

The BBQ descends to the car.

There's a number of outdoor-indoor goings-on that are in my stack of stuff that I want to get out to you all (and off my desk!). So here goes...

* November 18: Join in the festivities for the Grand Opening of the new Portland Connector road and trail. Participants will have a chance to hike or bike the new trail section. The fun starts at 9:45am. Contact Portland Trails at 774-2511 for more info.

* November 18: Get stoked for the upcoming ski season with Warren Miller's Higher Ground at the Merrill Auditorium. Show starts at 8pm. Tix are $24.50.

* November 26: The Downeast Ski Sale at the Expo in Portland. 8-5. Skis, skis and more skis...

* November 29: If you're into maps you'll want to visit the Osher Map Library on the University of Southern Maine campus in Portland for a panel discussion on the new book entitled Creating Portland: History and Place in Northern New England, as well as the ongoing exhibit The Changing Peninsula: Two Centuries of Portland Maps and City Views. The book signing and reception is from 6-6:30pm. The panel discussion is from 7-7:30pm.

* December 1: A fun benefit at Beale Street Barbeque, 300 Water St., Augusta to support the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. There'll be giveaways, a silent auction, lots of good food, and other fun stuff going on. Plus a pre-party bike ride. Contact BCM at 623-4511.

* December 2: Tag along for some heady rock climbing on El Capitan and the Lost Arrow in Yosemite and the Tombstone in Moab. Should be some wild footage! Show starts at 7:30pm at the Patagonia store, 9 Bow St., Freeport.

Note to Greg Sweetser, Executive Director of the Ski Maine Association:

Don't worry, we'll be there.

High gas prices won't keep us away.

Promise.

If we have to eat PBJs and macaroni and cheese all week long to save gas money, we'll do it. But come the weekend, we're skiing. We're coming, en masse. Fear not.

We want to ski. We will ski. High gas prices be damned.

Maybe, Greg, you could kindly arrange for some beer specials at the mountains for us. You know, as kind of a bonus for our unwavering commitment. Be awfully nice of you, dontcha think?

$1 pints???

Where can you find crashing surf, sandy beach, salt marshes, woods and fields, all in one place?

Not far, dee-yah, not far.

Try Wells. The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve to be exact.

There you'll find seven miles of interesting trails to wander. Pick one or hike them all like I did. The walking is wonderful, and so are the views. And the quiet, well, there's plenty of that.

So pack up a candy bar, a water bottle and a good book and make your way to the Wells Reserve for a fun outing.

Maybe this weekend? You think?

Bench on the Knight Trail.

The Knight Trail, a pathway to the sea.

A young girl pokes through the rocks at Laudholm Beach.

Lobster pot at Laudholm Beach.

Walkers returning from Laudholm Beach.

Bull pine on the Muskie Trail.

The Little River from the Farley Trail.

Winding boardwalk on the Laird-Norton Trail.

Enjoying the view at the Little River Overlook.

Boardwalk and bench on the Laird-Norton Trail.

Dear Dad,

My hat is off and I stand in salute to you on this Veteran's Day, and to the millions of men and women who have served our nation in the armed forces throughout our history.

Joseph Kish, US Army. Oran, Morocco, July 15, 1943.

I especially salute those who have given their lives in sacrifice so that we might live as free people.

It'll be a year next week since you left us. Mom is strong and holding up very well. Kev too. Me, I'm the weak link, and still these many months later, prone to tears. But time is slowly helping to turn sadness into understanding, appreciation and even stronger love. Guess that's the natural way of things.

But it's been a hard year, one of tremendous loss. A number of friends fathers have also passed. A mother. Several close friends have passed unexpectedly. Colleagues and former colleagues have gone. The war going on. There have been other losses too. Could be the stars. Something in the water. Hard to know.

Strangely, but perhaps not, life moves forward. We rise each day. Dress. Eat. Go to work. Live and love. Laugh, cry and play. There will probably always be a void. A hole left in the heart, which you and others once filled.

But we go on.

And as you'd expect, I've kept up the outdoor pace, doing the things you know I love, the things that define life for me. The hiking and backpacking, the skiing and snowshoeing, the kayaking and rafting, a little bad golf, some overseas travel.

I've come along way Dad, since the days when you and I went on hikes up Lulu Brook, caught salamanders in Berry Pond, watched for birds in the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, camped out at Chimney Pond, and climbed Mount Katahdin. You got me hooked on the outdoors. And I've never been the same. Thanks for that, and so much more.

It's weird and still a bit unsettling, though, to call home and not talk to you. About the fun things I've been doing. To get your unfiltered advice. To hear about the walk that you and Mom just took, and the turkeys in the yard, what birds were at the feeder today, the level of the lake down the hill.

But life is what it is. And there is no choice but to carry on. With pride and love and warm memories of a life well lived. Mom and Kev and I are doing that as best we can. And we remember you on this special day, and every day. We miss you.

I'll be going down to see Mom a week from now. We'll be visiting the veterans cemetery where you are buried, me for the first time. She tells me its a beautiful, peaceful spot on a hill with trees and a nice view.

Love,
Son #2

Cars backed up for a mile at a rail crossing on Forest Avenue. Inattentive people on cell phones, eating a bagel and smoking a butt... everything but looking at the road. Getting stuck behind a sloooooow moving METRO bus. One too many red lights.

A frustrating commute to work? Sometimes.

Dangerous? Not really (I'm knocking on wood now).

But if you live out in the country--like in Chesterfield, for example--you might have to contend with a different kind of commuting problem.

Like a hunter with a rifle shooting a deer along side of the highway. And then shooting again. And again. And driving the animal into the path of oncoming cars. Forcing you to slam on the brakes to avoid a nasty deer-car collision.

Now that's a dangerous commute!

I don't think we have to worry about this kind of thing in the big city.

But I'll certainly be more alert driving to and from my hiking spots, that's for sure.

Wonder if I should paint my car blaze orange?

It appears that Question 5, the land and water conservation bond issue, is passing handily by 66% to 34%.

Passage means somewhere in the neighborhood of $12 million bucks (plus $7 million in matching private and public contributions) for a variety of recreation, forest, water, farmland and wildlife habitat protection projects across the state.

It's a good thing that will benefit all users of the great Maine outdoors.

Eating at Burger King is something I generally do only when on the go somewhere, I'm starving, and I just need to throw some food in my face.

I can't say that I ever really enjoyed it very much. I mean, it tastes okay going down, but you pay for it later. With that queasy, greasy feeling in your gut. And then the internal gurgling, and then often times, worse...

But, with Burger Kings disappearing rapidly all over the state, it may be harder to find one.

That's not likely to bother most of my outdoor buddies though.

In fact, my friends have pretty much forbidden me from visiting BKs when carpooling to an outdoor activity because of the noxious fumes that eminate uncontrollably from me, seemingly just minutes after ingestion of a Whopper and onion rings.

They do allow me to get coffee at BK however.

Go figure.

There was a little clip in the Sports section of today's Portland Press Herald: "What's on TV tonight?"

Interestingly, the blurb said that the Bruins vs. Flyers would be the featured program tonight on the Outdoor Life Network.

Huh?

That's hockey. Indoors.

Check it out for yourself.

It's really true.

What gives OLN?

Is NASCAR next?

L.L. Bean, Kittery Trading Post, and...

Cabela's?

Could happen.

Cabela's, the Nebraska-based outdoor retail giant and one of LL's primary competitors, is sniffing around southern Maine looking for another place to call home.

Cabela's specializes in hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, pretty much in that order. And that might step on the toes of KTP more than Bean's, which is oriented more towards outdoor apparel, followed by outdoor gear lines in camping, boating, fishing, hunting and the like.

And Cabela's doesn't just throw up a small store and open the doors. Apparently (I've never visited one of their stores, but have purchased items through their online catalog), they build "destination retail stores."

Whoa.

Now that sounds like L.L. Bean-Freeport concept, for sure. These mammoth Cabela's stores "feature wildlife displays, large aquariums, indoor mountains, archery ranges and restaurants that specialize in game meals."

Indoor mountains?

This could be interesting.

Hey, competition keeps everybody honest. And on their toes.

And we outdoorsy folks holding the cash might even come up with some better deals out of the whole thing.

By the way, Cabela's bills themselves as the the "world's foremost outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear."

Oh yeah?

Them's likely fightin' words to the folks at L.L. Bean.

Guess we'll see what happens.

It's time to vote tomorrow. I will be. You too, I hope.

And while you're in the booth, take a good look at Ballot Question #5, the Land for Maine's Future bond issue:

"Do you favor a $12,000,000 bond issue to purchase land and conservation easements statewide from willing sellers for conservation, water access, wildlife and fish habitat, outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing, farmland preservation and working waterfront preservation to be matched by at least $7,000,000 in private and public contributions."

It's an opportunity that, in my opinion, shouldn't be missed.

You decide.

The good folks at the Appalachian Mountain Club are offering some terrific new ski and stay package deals this winter that should be of interest to cross-country, backcountry and downhill skiers alike.

Here's the deal:

Stay at the AMCs Joe Dodge Lodge at Pinkham Notch, NH and get a comfy room, family-style dinner, big breakfast and a ski pass to nearby Great Glen Trail Outdoor Center and its 25 miles of groomed trails. All for just $62 a night per person ($57 if you're a member).

Or, for just a few bucks more ($73 non-member, $69 member) you can downhill ski at Wildcat Mountain.

Either way, you'll be in the heart of outdoor activity in the White Mountains with spectacular views of the Presidential Range.

Can't beat that. I like it!

The AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch is offering similar ski & stay deals with Bretton Woods (downhill and cross-country) and Cannon Mountain.

For more information on these great deals plus workshop and event info, check the AMC Winter Planning Guide.

And think snow!

It's been in the news all week, the attacks on Plum Creek property and now the homes of employees families.

The extreme opposition has gone over the top now, in my opinion. And good people on both sides of the issue are making that point be known.

The vandals "don't have a seat at the table, and they're not getting one," said Jim Lehner, a Plum Creek manager whose private home was targeted.

Damn straight.

We don't address our disagreements in Maine this way.

What are your thoughts on this recent spate of ecoterrorism?

... by 9PM, same day.

Pretty amazing, eh?

It is, if you happened to go to the Traveler's Club last evening at the Maine Audubon Center at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth.

We enjoyed an interesting talk and slides by Sonja Johansen, who, at the tender age of 70, volunteered for a stint in the Peace Corps and was stationed in Uzbekistan, a country of the former USSR.

If you like to travel and have a thirst for adventure, then you'll enjoy these monthly programs, which can transport you to all parts of the globe and back in a brief hour and a half.

The next program on Thursday, December 1st will take us to Wyoming!

The acts of ecoterrorism committed in Maine earlier this week have enraged people on both sides of the Plum Creek-Moosehead debate.

Good.

This is an emotional issue. Passionate people have strong opinions on how this thing should ultimately play out. Many of us agree to disagree.

Nobody will get everything they want. Compromise on both sides will be necessary.

Right now, however, I'm glad we can all agree that this kind of criminal behavior has no place in the debate.

In fact, environmental groups acknowledge that, as far as public opinion goes, this most recent spate of vandalism may have hurt their opposition considerably, or possibly killed it altogether.

Said Jym St. Pierre of RESTORE: The North Woods, "This vandalism has set us back at least a year. They may have lost the game for us."

He might be right.

Regardless of their feelings on Plum Creek, I suspect most Maine people have little tolerance for petty criminals like these.

I know I do.

Skiing in October?

It can happen. And this was the year for it.

While I was off hiking last weekend, my friend NP and a few of her pals hit the slopes at Wildcat Mountain at Pinkham Notch, NH to take advantage of the awesome early season snow dump.

The group enjoyed a day of top to bottom skiing in great conditions. A real treat!

The view of the Presidentials across the way wasn't bad either.

Wildcat won't open again until late November, but Bretton Woods is scheduled to open a week from now on 11/11. Other NH ski areas will follow suit in later weeks.

Here in Maine, Sunday River is scheduled to open on 11/11 also. Sugarloaf will open the following weekend.

Mother Nature could change these opening dates, so stay tuned.

And in the meantime, get those skis tuned and gather up the ski gear. It's almost time...

Happiness is skiing in October!

All photos courtesy of Nancy Dorrans.

My Campmor gear catalog for Fall 2005 arrived the other day. All 240 pages of it!

It's printed in black and white on what feels like cheap newspaper, so it isn't fancy.

But if you need it, it's in there. And if you didn't need it, well, you will now.

So I cracked a cold one and sat down to enjoy. And thumb.

Page after glorious page.

Backpacks. Tents. Sleeping bags. Ditty bags. Candle lanterns. Carabiners.

I dog-eared pages. I made notes. I dreamed of bigger and better and newer stuff.

Ahhh.

Exhibiting tremendous restraint, I settled on ordering some new synthetic underwear for the winter and a pair of Yaktrax, a traction device for hiking on icy trails.

For now.

But I'll be back to my trusty Campmor catalog soon enough, no doubt.

In the meantime, I'll just wait patiently and happily for the UPS guy to show up at my door.

I just love that!

Sure it's nice out.

Today. Maybe all this week.

But it's coming. You know it is.

Cold, damp, dreary, dark weather.

Months of it.

But I've got a plan...

Hiking in the Caribbean!

Yah, yah, mon.

Volcanoes, beaches, jungles, warmth!

Calling my favorite travel agent. R-i-g-h-t... NOW!

And in order to ensure complete enjoyment of any such hiking adventure, I've investigated the other important stuff. It appears there's a wide variety of refreshments available to put a smile on any tropical hiker's face.

Vandalism? Sure. You can call it that.

But why continue pussyfooting around? Call it what it really is.

Ecoterrorism.

"The FBI defines eco-terrorism as the use or threatened use of violence of a criminal nature against innocent victims or property by an environmentally-oriented, subnational group for environmental-political reasons, or aimed at an audience beyond the target, often of a symbolic nature."
James F. Jarboe, Domestic Terrorism Section Chief, Counterterrorism Division, FBI; , Feb. 12, 2002.

And it's here. In Maine. Now.

Cretins of the lowest common denominator have decided that the only way to fight the Plum Creek project is to commit cowardly acts of ecoterrorism. Acts of violence against not only company property, but now against the families of Plum Creek employees.

Read about it for yourself.

And feel free to throw up in disgust.

Paint, feces and animal guts were used to target employee homes in Oakland and Greenville.

Mere Halloween pranks?

Not a chance.

A coordinated effort by hoodlums in the night?

I think so.

My blood is at the boiling point. Maybe yours is too.

We have ways of working out our differences in this country that don't include such despicable acts.

For the grossly uninformed paint-sprayers and feces-throwers, they're called public hearings, letters to the editor, e-mails and phone calls to state representatives, peaceful demonstrations, the LURC review process, town meetings, the voting booth.

You want to disagree with the Plum Creek goings on? Fine. Seems about a 50-50 split amongst thoughtful people around the State of Maine on this one, so there's plenty of pros and cons out there. I find that healthy.

But there's lots more to be learned. A long way to go in the process. A great many changes to the plan. Some that we'll like, some we won't.

But reasonable people don't commit criminal acts like this. You're not doing your cause any favor folks. Of course, I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt that you can even read this. After all, I'm not writing it in spray paint.

For the decent, sane majority, I wonder: Can we agree on some kind of reasonable development in the Moosehead region that meets the needs of the local people and our visitors, that invigorates the local economy while preserving the wild and beautiful character of the area that is so precious, so vitally important to us all?

Can we do this thing right?

Is it only one way or the other?

Can we please stop the hysteria on both sides of the issue?

Can we cease with the violence?

Ecology is all about balance. We must have remote, wild and scenic places. People need to have jobs and places to live. The pressures on our resources continue to mount. The population continues to grow and move about.

Tough stuff to deal with. But thoughtful, forward-thinking people working together can, and will, find the right path through these problems. To achieve a reasonable balance. I am certain of it. We call it hope.

And I hope that we have seen the last of the paint and the feces, of the wrong-doers who don't want to be part of the civilized process.

There is a better way. And we know that way.

You just nevah can tell what's gonna happen up they-a in The County.

Ayuh.

Come to find out the Fort Kent Lions Club has come up with a new way to raise some cash for their favorite charitable organizations...

A calendar of naked locals out hunting, fishing, cross-country skiing and the like. Discreetly covered up in just the right places, of course.

Good thing, given the wintry weather up that way. Wouldn't want anything vital getting frost-nipped after all.

Sales of this unique calendar are apparently pretty hot, and seeing as how this is a limited edition production, well, it might be behoove you all to get yours soon. All for some causes to boot.