That's right.

Help is needed. This weekend. Your help.

Because Saturday is National Trails Day! And our trails can't get along without you.

You hike and camp on them. Bike on them. Walk and run on them. Ski and snowshoe on them.

You love them. Our trails.

So do more than just use them. Show 'em real love.

Anyone with the time and energy to hike on trails...

Has the time and energy to work on trails!

Join in on any of more than twenty National Trails Day events in Maine.

Get out there with others en masse. Wield a pair of brush clippers, a grub hoe, a bucksaw, a trash bag. Clear the trail. Clean the trail. Make it look some pretty.

It'll be fun. You'll love it. Guaranteed.

Your local trails group will love you, too, for volunteering some of your time for our trails.

Clearing the trail.

Moving logs for building a bog bridge (Photo courtesy Peter Roderick, Maine AMC).

A happy, tired MOAC trail crew.

But what about when National Trails Day has come and gone, what then?

Easy.

Keep up the good work, of course, by joining up with any of dozens of trails groups around Maine that can most assuredly use a few hours, a day, a couple of weekends of your time throughout the year to work on trails.

What are your plans for National Trails Day?

When it comes to navigation, be it on the trail or on the road, I'm a map and compass and DeLorme Maine Atlas & Gazetteer type.

I learned to read a topographic map and use a lensatic compass way back at Bangor High School while with the JROTC Rangers. Topo maps have gotten better (most are 7.5 minute quads now) and I've long since upgraded my compass to a trusty Silva Ranger. I can use both with little or no thought, important when the s--t hits the fan on a winter climb or a nasty bushwhack.

But this week a reader posed the idea that I might start adding GPS, or Global Positioning System, coordinates to trailhead and backcountry locations that I mention here, since he says most people use a GPS now.

Do they really?

Hmmm.

Well, I must admit that I'm not much for high tech gadgetry in the backcountry. And please don't get me going on cell phones out there!

I've always preferred to employ good common sense, years of experience, and a few rudimentary and reliable tools to get where I'm going and back again safely.

But I have to say that a GPS unit and an altimeter watch could possibly make life a little easier on the trail sometimes (until the batteries die, of course).

After a good experience on a remote canyon backpack in southern Utah in 2000, where my buddy used his hand held GPS to guide us through some of the wildest country either of us had ever been in, I went out and bought one of my own.

But on a traverse of the Presidentials shortly thereafter I fiddled and farted around with the thing for a couple of days, finally giving up on it, muttering something nasty about technology.

And that was the end of it.

Until now.

Because I'm actually considering jumping into the trail technology fray again.

So...

Since apparently everybody out there owns these GPS gadgets, tell me: What are your recommendations? What GPS unit do you use, and why? And how about altimeters? Which one and why?

Yes, that's right. This crusty map & compass guy wants your advice on purchasing a lightweight, hand-held GPS unit. And an altimeter watch.

I'll never part with my map & compass. But maybe you can get me to tinkering with some of this digital-satellite-LCD readout stuff. I might even enjoy it.

Maybe.

Last March, while in Texas for a visit with my Mom, I went to see my father's grave for the first time since he passed away in November 2004.

My Dad, a decorated veteran of 39 months of combat duty with the United States Army during World War II, is buried on a hilltop in the Veterans National Cemetery in Dallas.

It's a beautiful and peaceful place, there among his fellow veterans who served this country and fought and sacrified so much for our own freedom and that of countless others.

My Mom at my father's grave, US Army veteran Joseph Kish, Veterans National Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.

On this Memorial Day I remember Dad and pay tribute to him, and to all the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our nation throughout its history.

Thank you.

It's ironic but fitting that Dad, ever the manager, is buried across from the cemetery administration building. No doubt he is watching over and directing how things are being run.

On the walkway up to the admin building there is a large chunk of granite with a plaque attached. On it is a poem that I'd like to share with you today, this special day of remembrance:

The Bivouac of the Dead
By Theodore O'Hara

The muffled drum's sad roll has beat
The soldier's last tattoo;
No more on life's parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few.
On Fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And Glory guards, with solemn round,
The bivouac of the dead.

The very first hut in the new 180-mile Maine Huts & Trails system has finally been approved for Carrabassett Valley.

A hut on the ground will establish a real presence and give the project the added momentum it needs to move forward.

Skiers, hikers and mountain bikers alike, from Maine and away, are really going to enjoy this world class trail system which will one day extend from the Moosehead Lake region to the Mahoosuc Mountains near the Maine-NH border.

It's yet another exciting recreational opportunity that is coming to fruition by forward thinking, dedicated and hard working people.

Kudos to the Western Mountains Foundation. We look forward to more good news!

But shhh... don't tell the Save Maine From Everything Coalition. They might look at this as d-e-v-e-l-o-p-m-e-n-t, and you know what'll happen then!

Given enough time, I knew they'd eventually re-emerge from the bushes.

Yep, the anti-development, anti-business, anti-timber harvesting folks are back, this time as the Save Moosehead Coalition. And they're vehemently opposing the Plum Creek development and conservation plan.

Good to see you again. I was getting worried.

Let's see... there's the Forest Ecology Network and the we're-against-all-timber-harvesting crew, the RESTORE-we-want-to-make-Maine-into-one-big-national-park crowd, and the American Lands Alliance and Friends of the Earth, a couple of groups out of the center of the elitist universe, Washington, D.C.

Be honest with us, will ya folks?!

You don't want development. Any development. So no amount of tinkering with the number of subdivision lots by Plum Creek is going to satisfy you.

You don't understand the science of silviculture or the business of forestry. Or you don't care to. Cutting any trees is taboo to you. So, again, no amount of conservation by Plum Creek will bring you around.

Jonathan Carter calls the plan "nonsense," that "their sprawl proposal is about dollars and cents."

Well, gee Jon, it kind of is. Imagine!

Imagine that a large private landowner, which also happens to be a large--hold onto your hats now--CORPORATION, wants to make money on its investment.

The nerve!

Further, that this investment might just be a boon to the local economy which has been in serious decline for 20 years. A local economy that includes real people who lead real lives and need to make real livings for themselves and their families.

And you'd like to deny them that?

Who's the hard-liner here?

That answer is pretty clear.

Let me tell you: When I look at the map of conservation lands that are existing and proposed around the Moosehead Lake region, I'm pretty damn impressed.

The green colors of the land conserved by public and private purchase or by conservation easement--and now including the Plum Creek lands--forms an incredible connecting arc from Baxter State Park nearly all the way west to the Canadian border, to the north and south of Moosehead Lake.

Do you know what that means for outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes?

It means a huge, nearly contiguous area of hundreds of thousands of acres of Maine forestland that is protected by conservation easement, available for the use and enjoyment of the public, while also available for use by the forest products and related industries.

I don't see that as a bad thing. Quite the opposite.

And yet for some, a vocal, out-of-touch and unsatisfiable minority, it isn't good enough.

Spell it out for me, please. Instead of continuing to rip Plum Creek and its supporters, tell us clearly and specifically: What is your plan?

What IS your plan?

By the way, I continue to get a kick out of the RESTORE folks who say stuff like this: "the [Plum Creek] ads are misleading because the conservation measures are not tied to the LURC application. By implying otherwise, Plum Creek is 'blurring the lines' and confusing Maine residents."

Now, would that "blurring" and "confusing" be anything like RESTORE printing up misleading brochures about a non-existent Maine Woods National Park and distributing them to the public as if it were a faits accomplis? Hmmm.

Finally, if you're not sure what a conservation easement is, and I believe it to be a very misunderstood term, click through for an explanation. Plum Creek's plan includes 400,000 acres of conservation easements. That's a really good thing that some just don't want you to know about.

And be sure to add your comments to today's updated news story.

Yes, it's true.

There really is a Maine Black Fly Report.

Black fly activity is recorded weekly by volunteers from around the state. You could be one of them if you're interested.

You've gotta love the simple rating system: 1 = none or few, 2 = some, but tolerable and 3 = many, a royal pain (my favorite).

The latest report indicates some severe black fly activity in Somerset and Penobscot Counties and moderate elsewhere. For now.

But you've gotta know that as we inch toward June, it's all going to be "royal pain" territory.

So, be sure to pack the DEET when heading outdoors, cover up as you can with clothing, and grin and bear it!

Yep, finally. The official start of summer is just about here. The long Memorial Day weekend.

Thank goodness. I'm sure ready. You?

Family, friends, grilling, swimming, cold ones, shorts, Ts, Tevas, throwing the frisbee, maybe even a little sun (I know that's asking a lot, but...).

Enjoy folks. And please do it safely.

And given that summer's now on its way...

Ever been out to pretty Barefoot Beach at Sabbathday Lake in New Gloucester? It's a beautiful spot!

Well, the new owners, Becky and Ashton, have put a new name to the place: Outlet Beach. And they've spruced things up nicely over the winter, and are ready to open for the season this weekend.

At Outlet Beach you can lay about in the sun on the sandy beach, swim in the crystal clear water; put your boat, canoe and kayak in and take a trip up the lake, picnic among the pines, and enjoy ice cream and delicious munchie foods from the snack bar.

It's a great spot to relax and unwind, whether it's a weekend day or a weeknight. So come on out and enjoy!

I'll see you out there...

Are you a backpacking wannabee? A greenhorn with a few easy trips under your belt? Been out on the trail a fair amount and want to learn more about how to do it right?

Then the nice folks at Maine Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club have got just the thing for you: A Beginning Backpacking Workshop on Wednesday, May 31st from 6:30 to 9 pm at the Scarborough Public Library.

I sat in on both last spring's backpacking workshop and last fall's winter camping workshop put on by Maine AMC. And I have to tell you: These people spend A LOT of time on the trail and they really, really know their stuff!

In just a few short hours you'll get the complete rundown on packs, tents, sleeping bags, stoves, food, water treatment, clothing and footwear. Safety and health on the trail, as well as Leave No Trace principles will also be covered.

Plus you'll get what no book on backpacking alone will ever give you: Real life, up front and personal experience from folks that live to be outdoors and on the trail. And that, my beginner backpacker friends, is priceless.

So come on along and be a sponge for all the good info the Maine AMC has to share on the topic. Pre-registration is required.

**********

And speaking of the Appalachian Mountain Club, they're having their Spring 2006 Trails Campaign right now.

Your generous contribution will help the AMC tackle a mountain of trail clearing and erosion control on many miles of trail in NH and ME, help with the Franconia Ridge Alpine Trail Re-construction Project, support AMC trail crews and ridgerunners, build several miles of new trail on the spectacular AMC Katahdin Iron property near Little Lyford Ponds, and much more.

The AMC has been a leader in the New England outdoors for more than a hundred years and is deserving of any and all support to further their mission of protecting and enhancing our trails, preserving critical backcountry lands and providing user education for a more enlightened outdoor experience.

Please do what you can. It'll come back to you in spades.

There's plenty of insect repellent sprays, drops, and lotions out there for human hikers. Even some fancy-shmancy clothing impregnated with bug repellent chemicals.

But what about a little help for Fido, one reader asked me.

Dunno, I said.

But dammit if today I didn't come across some bug dope made specially for dogs. Yep, found it on the Net during an idle moment in my work day. I just love Google.

Anyway, the stuff is called Flys Off. Comes in a spray can and costs a paltry $7.95. Repels flies, gnats and mosquitoes. And it's completely safe for your pooch, so it says.

So give Rover a break and get him some bug dope of his own to help fend off those buzzing and biting nasties on the trail. You might even get him his own dog pack to carry it in. Of course then maybe you can sneak a couple of cans of beer in there when he isn't looking...

I found it a bit ironic, preparing as I am to leave the United States for a few weeks to go hiking in France, that I should happen upon a poem entitled "America" by Ray Bradbury in Wednesday's Wall Street Journal.

Do click through and read it. It's beautiful and moving.

Especially now, during this rather ugly and dispiriting debate over immigration.

Whatever your political stripe, we are all truly fortunate to be one thing: AMERICANS. We are FREE!

Yet, all too often, we seem to take for granted what we have, the things that so much of the world yearns for. Opportunities for us are everywhere, for a better job, better place to live, new toys that provide for leisure fun. The freedom and mobility and means to go and do what we please when we please.

But even today, in the 21st century, a large part of our world is terribly oppressed and impoverished, and have little or none of these things, and worse, little hope of a brighter future.

It is no wonder, therefore, that America is the "freedom forest" to them. From afar they see clearly what we don't. "We are the dream that other people dream." Imagine!

Food for much thought. And concious thanks. Our good fortune is not to be taken for granted. And we need to give something back, however much or little we may have. To those who have less, here at home and abroad.

So next when you and I walk through the freedom forest, let's take a long moment to really see the forest amid the trees. It's quite a beautiful place!

About two months ago, just after having finalized plans for a two-week hike in Europe and purchased the most expensive airline ticket of my life...

My right knee goes.

Any up or down on the trail or even at home on the stairs brings sharp pains enough to make me wince. And I can't put any weight on it.

Uh oh. The Hobbit's been hobbled.

My doc proceeds to diagnose patellar tendonitis.

Great. A matching pair now.

Getting old sucks, don't it.

What to do, I asks?

Knee strengthening exercises, a steady diet of Ibuprofen and laying low (for me that means staying off the trail) for a few weeks should do the trick, he says.

OK, so I do the first two, buy a heavy duty knee brace, and completely skip his third suggestion.

And now, six weeks later, I'm happy to report that I think I'm good to go.

So, three weeks from today me and a friend are headed off to Corsica as planned, bum knees, backpacks and all.

The GR20 Route across the island will no doubt pound the pee-pee out of us with an outrageous 70,000 feet of vertical gain and loss.

But I'm hoping that with the knee braces, Ibuprofen, a modicum of care and good sense (I know that's asking a lot), some duct tape if necessary, and some Corsican beer, we'll make it through okay.

That's the plan anyway.

I'm not big on letting dreams slip away. So I'll drag myself along if I must, but I'm going to complete this trek...

In September 2004 the NBC News show Dateline aired a special with Tom Brokaw on the incredible story of Aron Ralston.

Ralston, you'll recall, is the adventurer who got himself stuck in a remote Utah slot canyon, his right arm pinned by a boulder. And there he stayed, trapped for six very long days and nights, tinkering and trying every conceivable way to extricate himself, all the while growing physically weaker, exhausting his meager stock of food and water, amid slowly eroding hope of ever seeing his family and friends again.

But on the sixth day he did the unthinkable, and at that point, the only thing left that he could do to free himself: He cut off his right arm above the wrist with a now dull knife blade from his mini-leatherman. He then gathered himself up, retreated down canyon, rappelled down a cliff, and hiked out until finally he was found by a group of hikers and ultimately rescued.

It's a tremendous story of courage and survival!

And one in big demand apparently!

Because for more than eighteen months now, since I taped the original show, I've been beseiged by people from around the world requesting a copy of my grubby little VCR tape.

Not having a fancy for breaking copyright laws and going to jail, however, I politely declined all requests. But I'm delighted that now you and everyone else can get to view Ralston's story.

Yes, that's right.

If you are one of those who never got to see the original show when it aired, you'll be pleased to know it's now been released on DVD.

Enjoy!

Ever stood on the shore of an inviting pond on a hot summer day in Maine, ready to jump in for a cool swim and thought, hmmm, wonder if there's any leeches in there?

Well, if you lived in Florida, leeches would be the least of your worries.

Nine-foot alligators stealthily plying Florida waters have snatched and eaten three people down there just this week!

Florida "state wildlife officials said alligators are generally on the move looking for mates and food this time of year."

That's just no way to go. No thank you.

I'll take Maine leeches any day. A little salt or a quick touch with a match flame and off your leg they go.

Not so with a big honkin' hungry gator.

Further, becoming gator food is one thing, but being grabbed as a gator mate? Now that's where I draw the line...

It's true!

The first Mainer ever has made to the highest point on Earth: The summit of Mount Everest at 8,848 meters or somewhere around 29,100 feet.

Congratulations to John Bagnulo of New Vineyard for this monumental accomplishment, and to his climbing partner, Bill Yeo of Yarmouth, who stopped just shy of the summit and turned back, apparently due to breathing difficulties.

Surviving an Everest climb is done by only the thinnest of margins. At more than 8,000 meters anything that goes wrong is hugely magnified and there is no one there to help you.

To go to Everest is one thing. To return from it is quite another. It is an extremely dangerous endeavor.

Consider that for every 12 successful individual ascents of Mount Everest, 1 person dies. They slip and fall thousands of feet, are crushed by tons of falling ice, are lost forever in bad weather, succumb to pulmonary or cerebral edema, or any of dozens of other bad things that can happen.

The mountain is not kind and does not descriminate. And it is never, ever "conquered." Rather it merely allows you to live, if it so chooses.

So, congratulations on your huge success, John. And to you Bill, for your huge effort. Even more so, congratulations for making it down alive and well.

I know you're going to have big stories to tell. We'll be right here waiting to hear all about it...

The great State of Maine.

The way life should be.

Vacationland!

Fly fishing. Kayaking. Moose. Camping... and Vacationland Summer Ale!

You just gotta love Gritty's and their instructions for a great Maine vacation, especially that last step!

And you've gotta love that it's almost Friday.

This weekend it's off to the Moosehead Lake area for some backpacking in and around Big and Little Moose Mountains. Maybe pack in a couple of Vacationland's to wash down my mac & cheese...

The news out of the Himalayas is a bit sketchy at this moment, but two sources--EverestNews.com and MountEverest.net--are reporting that Maine climber John Bagnulo of Farmington has reached the summit of Mount Everest at 29,320 feet.

Reports also indicate that his climbing partner, Bill Yeo of Yarmouth, was not far behind, and by now, may also have summited.

Both men were climbing without the aid of supplemental oxygen, which makes the task considerably more difficult and dangerous. We wish them both a safe and speedy descent.

I'll keep you posted. Let me know if you hear anything, too.

By the way, Bill's going to have some hefty expedition bills to pay when he returns home to Maine (it costs tens of thousands of $$$ to pull off an Everest expedition). Help him out a little by buying a cool Everest T-shirt or hat!

Ever been out on the trail and gotten a serious hankering for a taste of the bubbly?

Yeah, me too. Happens all the time.

Well now, with this fancy little champagne-toting backpack you can keep your favorite bottle of Moet y Chandon perfectly chilled on your hike! And it neatly holds a couple of fluted glasses to boot.

What a rig! Perfect for the true gearhead! And just what I've been looking for.

Of course, I would substitute in a six-pack of PBR pounders and two beer mugs. And maybe stash a pack of beer nuts in there too.

But then, that's just me...

... always causing some kind of online stir, aren't they?!

Last July a previously unknown hiker named Andrew Skurka dipped his hiking boots into the Pacific Ocean, and with that, became the first person ever to complete the Sea-to-Sea Route across North America--after 338 days and 7,778 miles.

Nice little jaunt, eh?

Well, if you're interested in hearing all about Andy's historic hike you can, next Tuesday evening, May 16th at the Eastern Mountain Sports retail store in North Conway NH starting at 7 PM. There are no Maine shows scheduled.

Andy will show slides and answer questions, and there'll be prizes and giveaways, too.

And speaking of long distance hiking...

Last evening while poking through the 2006 Outside magazine Buyer's Guide (the current guide isn't posted online yet), I caught a short blurb on another superhuman feat: Last August, Andrew Thompson (what is it about the name Andrew and big hikes?) of Derry, NH completed the entire 2,178-mile Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia in a blazing 47 days--a new record. Thompson averaged 46 miles per day on 5 hours sleep a night.

Whoa. That's moving!

See you up at Skurka's talk...

Yes, the 5th of May. A good day for a margarita, wouldn't you say?! Or maybe a cold Corona with a lime.

It's always a very special day for me (not just for the Coronas), it being the nth anniversary of the start of my Appalachian Trail thru-hike, an experience forever etched deeply into my memory.

Atop Springer Mountain, Georgia and the start of the AT a "few years" ago.

Oh, those halcyon days on the trail... the many months of good times walking free in the wilds, the windy mountaintops, the deep green forests, the fine campsites and happy campfires, the magnificent sunrises and sunsets, and the unforgettable cameraderie of fellow hikers.

So, cheers today to all thru-hikers, regardless of trail. Let's celebrate! And dream of long trail journeys to come...

Life is short. Hike today. Sleep when you die.

I know it hurts to spend precious cash in early May for skiing six or more months from now, but you've gotta do it.

And today's the day. The deadline. To buy your ASC All For One Season Pass.

According to ASC, you may be able to purchase season passes after today, but it'll be at a higher price and quantities will be limited.

So, suck up the financial pain now, pull out that credit card, go to the All For One Pass website, and get it done. Now. Today.

Come ski season, you'll be very, very happy you did. Especially if we are blessed with a big snow year. We're owed that much at least after this winter's marginal performance.

I just clicked "submit" and am officially $365 (bronze pass) poorer.

Hey buddy, can you spare a buck for a PBR pounder??

Hang around in the underworld of the outdoors long enough and you're likely to run across some pretty strange characters in some pretty odd places, hear some wild and far-fetched tales, and, if you happen to be in the pseudo-outdoors writing business like I am, get some interesting, if not a bit off-the-wall requests.

Like this one from a reader in Oklahoma City:

Hello:

I camp all summer in a large tent on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. For the past three years I have been searching for a collapsible or lighter weight portable bathtub for my camp site. I have a Zodi hot water heater that can be used to heat the water, but would prefer another way (propane) to heat the volume of water needed to fill a tub without using a regular hot water heater. Perhaps something on the order of a stock tank heater?

Any products you know of or advice you have would be appreciated.

Now, I had to scratch my head and read that one a couple of times. I don't normally see large tent, campsite, hot water heater and stock tank all in the same paragraph.

But then I thought, hey, lucky you that gets to spend the summer in a tent somewhere in the wilds of Ontario.

And given that the the water's likely to be pretty damn cold up there, and that you're likely to get downright stinky without a good hot bath every now and again, I got to sympathizing.

And got to researching the problem for my new unwashed Oklahoma camper friend.

Come to find out there's not much to be had in the way of portable camping bathtubs. I'll bet in years past you could've ordered a slick one from the Sears & Roebuck or Montgomery Ward catalog, but those days are long gone.

Today there's just not much of a demand for such items. Important as they might be to a person camped out all summer with plenty of serious stink sticking to 'em and clouding around them, but no access to a bathtub for a good cleansing.

Ever a dog with a bone, I dug further.

And finally found a solution. Yes folks, a truly portable bathtub. Just zip yourself in, attach a hose, stopper the drain and scrub away. When done just pull the plug and voila! Clean as a whistle. And the plastic envelope doesn't require a large volume of water.

What will they think of next??!!

Any of you road cyclists or mountain bikers wanna get some TV face time and be famous?

Thought so. You hams.

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine is putting out the call to any and all bicyclists who can volunteer this Wednesday, May 3rd (rain date on Monday, May 8th) from approximately 9:00 AM until early afternoon in Portland to help the BCM film their new Share The Road public service spots.

Per the esteemed Petey at BCM:

WCSH-TV 6 is producing the new spots and we need an assortment of riders! This is in support of our "Share The Road" media campaign. No guarantees about showing your mugs in the spots, but you will have as good a chance as anyone else being filmed. The project is focused on four specific populations (young drivers, parents, senior citizens and immigrants) and we are hoping to enlist the help of people who fit into those categories (although anyone can show up and join us). We need all kinds of cyclists, on all kinds of bikes, with all kinds of looks. If you can free yourself up, please consider joining us.

There you have it!

If you're interested give Pete at BCM a call at 623-4511.