Just an FYI... I'm going to be out of cell phone and Internet range pretty much for all of the next two weeks as I make my way along on the Cohos Trail through the wilds of northern New Hampshire.

I've got my camera, notebooks, books and a stash of bourbon. That, along with 14 days of solo walking up and down mountains through some lightly traveled terrain, breathing fresh air and drinking mountain water, and pushing the heart and lungs should make for a fine adventure.

I can't wait to get going. And sometime around 4 PM this afternoon I should be on my way.

I'll let you know how this latest journey shakes out upon my return. Until then, be good, have fun, be happy, live!

It's mid-summer and maybe you're thinking about getting away on the trail for a long weekend. You know, four or five days. Enough time to get into 'trail mode' and forget about the daily grind. Good head time.

You've done your share of backpacks along the AT. Been to much of the Whites. What to do next?

How about a trail you might never have heard of?

What, what, you say?

The Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway Trail!

Once beyond the crowds swarming the slopes of Monadnock you're likely to have most of the next 50 miles of terrific hiking pretty much to yourself. Now, doesn't that sound good?!

Give it a go, for a weekend or for the whole nine yards. And let me know how you make out. I'll think you'll like it.

Here's some pics from my backpack on the MSGT late last May. Enjoy!

The alpine summit of Mount Monadnock looms ahead on the White Dot Trail. It was a brutal 95 degrees that day. Sweaty hiking I tells ya.
Carey Kish photo

Greenway sign north of Mount Monadnock.
Carey Kish photo

Howe Reservoir on the first afternoon on the MSGT.
Carey Kish photo

Trailside trillium.
Carey Kish photo

Bug camp near Center Pond. Due to the dearth of blood thirsty insects here I was forced to stay in my tent outside the shelter.
Carey Kish photo

A double blue blaze indicates a very important turn in the trail.
Carey Kish photo

Tower atop Pitcher Mountain.
Carey Kish photo

Wide open walking over Jackson Hill.
Carey Kish photo

Friends Dana and Janet Thurston met me in Washington to finish the MSGT. We partook of a number of cold brews from the store's coolers. For hydration purposes, of course.
Carey Kish photo

Hiking out of the historic village of Washington.
Carey Kish photo

Good trail over Lovewell Mountain.
Carey Kish photo

Lookout on Lovewell Mountain.
Carey Kish photo

Cooking up some chow at the Moose Lookout Campsite.
Carey Kish photo

Checking out the view above Lake Solitude.
Carey Kish photo

Taking the final steps on the MSGT up Mount Sunapee.
Carey Kish photo

A week from today I'll be back on the trail again. Woo-hoo! For two glorious weeks on the Cohos Trail thru the wilds of northern New Hampshire.

Yep, starting from Willey House in Crawford Notch the 162-mile route will take me (or rather my feets and lungs will take me) over Eisenhower in the Presidential Range, Martha, Waumbek, Starr King, the Weeks and Cabot, and on through the Kilkennys.

Everything beyond that point is pretty well unknown ground to this hiker. And ain't that just sweet! The Percy Peaks, Sugarloaf, Dixville Notch, Saguinary. Lake Francis and the Connecticut Lakes. And finally the Canadian border.

Looking across First Connecticut Lake to Mt. Magalloway, Pittsburg NH, near the route of the Cohos Trail.
Carey Kish photo

All good.

Speaking of goods, the house is a disaster with food and gear and whatnot scattered about. And the cats are no help, of course. But soon everything, cat hair and all, will make its way neatly into the backpack and it'll be time to go.

This won't be an ordinary hike, however.

This trek, this 162 miles of walking, has a bigger purpose than merely spending some quality time outdoors, and getting from point A to point B.

It's a fundraising hike to raise much-needed cash for The Cohos Trail Association, overseers, protectors, maintainers, visionaries of this incredible foot trail thru the woods and mountains in the wild north country of NH.

The CTA is a heckuva group of people. I know because I met a good chunk of them last weekend up in Pittsburg NH. But they lack the precious funds to do many of the things that need doing to complete, maintain and improve the Cohos Trail.

The Cohos Trail Association board, and members of the Sentiers Frontaliers meeting at Pittsburg NH last Saturday(from left): Francois Villemaire (SF), Dan Cashman, Nancy Spaulding, Bob Paradis, Lainie Castine, Pete Castine, Kim Nilsen (Cohos Trail founder), E.H. Roy, yours truly, Gloria Blais (SF).
Carey Kish photo

Hence, the fundraising hike scheme. Can we cobble together enough pledges to fill the CTA pot with $5,000? $10,000? Maybe we can.

Here's how we hope it will come down:

The Cohos Trail is 162 miles long. And that's what I mean to hike from July 27th thru August 10th. Along with a few gallons of sweat and several pints of blood for the insects, I've pledged $162--a buck a mile--to the CTA effort.

Other healthy pledges are already coming in and I haven't even set foot on the hike yet. Great!

So what about you all? Trail lovers every one of you?

What do you say to 5 cents a mile? 10 cents? A quarter? Or match me dollar for dollar?

5 cents a mile = $8.10
10 cents a mile = $16.20
25 cents a mile = $40.50
50 cents a mile = $81.00

Anything and everything helps. It all adds up to help for a magnificent New England trail, one that's right close by and accessible to us Mainers. One that needs a little assistance carrying forth with its proud mission.

Let's give it a good push forward, shall we?

I thought you'd agree. Many thanks in advance.

To support this effort send pledges or donations to the CTA c/o:
Peter and and Lainie Castine
266 Danforth Road, Pittsburg, NH 03592

Any questions regarding the Cohos Trail thru-hike fundraiser, please contact Pete and Lainie at 603-538-6777 or email them at prospmw@localnet.com.

And if you have the time and inclination please join us at the US-Canada border on Friday afternoon, August 10th at 2 PM for a big celebration! That's when our Canadian friends from the Club de Randonnée des Sentiers Frontaliers, Francois and Gloriane, will be completing their north-of-the-border hike and meeting up with me and the CTA gang. Yep, it's going to be quite the international affair.

It's all in the name of trails and good fun. Hope you'll take part, through spirit, sweat or dollars.

Speaking of sweat, if you'd like to join me on part of the Cohos Trail, whether for a few hours or a few days, let me know and I'll email you my hike schedule.

Au revoir for now, and TGIF!

A very empty Route 3 near the Cohos Trail route on its way to the Canadian border, Pittsburg NH.
Carey Kish photo

If you look to the right of the page you'll now see that Trail Head entries have been broken out into categories instead of simply by month and year.

Categories like Hiking, Backpacking, Skiing, Paddling, Beer, and my favorite The Poop.

Carey Kish photo

It took a good month of spare time to do this categorizing task (there's a little more to do yet), but that's payback for not doing it all along for the last three years. Lazy me.

Anyway, along the way it was fun to review the entries and comments and realize all over again what fun this blogging thing has been.

I hope you agree.

And hope that you might, when you have some spare time of your own, pick a favorite Trail Head category or two and peruse a bit. We've been a lot of places outdoors together, you all and me, and little reminiscing can be a lot of fun, instructive and downright healthy. Hopefully we'll get a few laughs out of it.

Carey Kish photo

Btw, could somebody forward this to the Pooper Peeker. Thanks.

Yep, hump day. Two days til the weekend. Gray, a bit drizzly. Notta much goin on.

Except for this stack of stuff here, some of which might actually be of interest to you. I mean, hey, what else have you got to0 do right now? Work, or something??

Hah!

Portland makes the grade again
Portland, Maine has once again been recognized as a great place to live. Imagine that?! It's true. Outside magazine calls ranks Portland as one of the Top 30 Best Towns in America to live. Nice, yes, but must every such review include mention of LL Bean and lobsters? And stuff like this: "Young professionals wear LL Bean fleeces and duck boots for all manner of business, even dates." Ayuh. Gag.

Seeking the Peak
The 7th Annual Seek-the Peak Hike-A-Thon to the summit of Mount Washington will be held on Saturday, July 28th. The event raises much-needed funds to support the Mount Washington Observatory. A fun day for a very good cause.

Symposium for Air & Climate
Speaking of the Mount Washington Observatory, some this country's leading scientists will be getting together on September 7-8th at Bretton Woods to discuss air quality and climate change. But it's not just for the academics (that would be mighty boring, now wouldn't it?) It's for real people like you and me, folks who care about said topics and want to know more in plain English. The whole shebang is sponsored by the MWO as part of their 75th Anniversary.

Siberian Trails
Yeah, like I needed to know about another far away long distance hiking trail. Dammit. But alas, too late. It's now on "the list." What, you say? The Great Baikal Trail, a 1,300-mile long route circling Lake Baikal in eastern Russia (that would be Siberia). From all I've heard it's a magnificent area, and Lake Baikal--2,000 km long and holding 1/5 of the world's fresh water (see, I paid attention in geography class!)--connects 7 national parks and reserves. Whoa!

Photos courtesy The Great Baikal Trail

Sweet! Gotta go now for sure.

Grafton Loop Trail - West Side
For a hiking adventure a little closer to home than Siberia, try the 22-mile stretch of the Grafton Loop Trail. Newly opened in June the trail connects Route 26 and the AT atop Old Speck via Stowe, Sunday River Whitecap and Slide Mountains. Two campsites along the way would seem to make it a nice weekend endeavor. Check. Download the new map and go.

Excellent Lakes Region hiking guide
The last time I was up Fryeburg way I happened upon a new hiking guide at the Jockey Cap Store: Hikes in and Around Maine's Lakes Region, by Marita Wiser. The booklet contains 42 hikes of all interests and abailities, including a few that this trail sleuth had never heard of (so naturally I plunked down the $8.50 right then and there dee-yah). Check it out...

OK friends and neighbors, dat's all I got too-day. What's happening with you all?

OK, let's think out of the box for a moment, shall we? Out of that shiny metal box with four tires and a steering wheel...

Your car.

One of life's many necessities, yes. But all the time?

Consider this: You want to get out of Dodge for the weekend. Head on up to beautiful Acadia National Park for a visit. Camp in Blackwoods. Do some hiking. Bike the carriage trails. Kayak some maybe. Carouse the streets of Bar Harbor for sure.

You need you car for such a trip, right?

Maybe not.

For years it was a no-brainer for me. Load the vehicle chock full of gear and hit the road, Bar Harbor-bound 180 miles up the coast.

But times have changed some, haven't they?

Gas is $3 a gallon. Ouch! Cars are more expensive to own and maintain. Tons more traffic on the highway. And road rage. All the talk about global climate change and 'going green' and all that good stuff.

You're right, you say. But what does that have to do with getting to Acadia?

Well--hold on now--how about taking the bus?

Hey, hey, hey... now get up off the floor and stop that laughing.

The bus?

Yes, dammit.

It's possible. I know because I just did it. And it was an awesome, eye-opening, and relaxing trip. All sans car. And I'd do it again now that I know it's not only possible, but downright practical.

You see, it was like this.

I packed my backpack with the usual goods for a couple of days. And then filled a soft-sided cooler with beer, baloney and hot dogs (you didn't think I was going without beer, did you?! Silly, silly).

I then drove over to the Greyhound bus station in Portland, parked my car, bid it a fond farewell and jumped on the 3:15pm Vermont Transit bus, northbound to Bar Harbor with stops in beautiful downtown Brunswick and Bangor. (By the way, the 2:30pm bus goes thru Lewiston, Augusta and Waterville if you happen to live in those parts.)

The 3:15pm Vermont Transit bus in Portland, bound for Brunswick, Bangor and on to Bar Harbor.
Carey Kish photo

Four hours later (not a whole lot longer than if I'd driven myself) I landed in Bar Harbor. Just in time to catch the 7:15pm #3 Acadia Island Explorer bus to Blackwoods Campground.

Hopping off the Island Explorer, backpack and all, 4 hours later in Blackwoods Campground, Acadia National Park.
Carey Kish photo

I must admit it was a bit weird checking in at the ranger kiosk on foot, but that's when it started to dawn on me: This was really cool. I'm in Acadia and I don't need no stinking car.

Next I got camp set up, cooked a pot of beans and dogs, cracked a beer(s), walked down to the coast and hung out on the rocks, and generally reveled in my car-free environment.

My snug little campsite in Blackwoods. Notice anything missing? Yeah... my car!
Carey Kish photo

Evening on our magnificent coast, a five-minute walk from Blackwoods.
Carey Kish photo

You can get just about anywhere in Acadia and Mount Desert Island using the Island Explorer.
Carey Kish photo

The following morning, bus route map in hand, I joined a crowd of other trail-bound hikers and took the #3 back into town. After breakfast at Jordan's I caught a transfer on the #7 shuttle. It was going to be a hot, hazy, humid day, so some hiking in and around Echo Lake on the west side of Acadia seemed like just the ticket.

Catching the Explorer at the Town Green in Bar Harbor.
Carey Kish photo

And it was.

The scramble up the ladders on Beech Cliffs was sweet, as were the loop trails that wound for several miles on top. Beech Mountain and the firetower capped off the hike. Then it was back to Echo Lake for a late lunch and, multiple swims in the cool water and many pages of a good book in the shade.

Climbing the iron ladders of the steep and spectacular Beech Cliff Trail.
Carey Kish photo

The reward: Echo Lake from the top of Beech Cliffs.
Carey Kish photo

The old Beech Mountain firetower.
Carey Kish photo

Cooling off in Echo Lake on such a hazy, hot and humid day was awesome.
Carey Kish photo

Next stop after Echo Lake: Beers and lobster in Bar Harbor!
Carey Kish photo

The #6 bus whisked me back into town in late afternoon. Visits to the Thirsty Whale, Cadillac Mountain Sports and Sherman's Bookstore were mandatory before moving on to the Fish House Grill for a good ol' Maine lobstah dinnah.

Fatigue and a full belly urged me back onto the #3 and I was in camp and into my book amid the sweet smell of Blackwoods balsam by sundown.

The following day dawned cool and clear, a fine day for a ridge walk. The #3 left me off at the town green, and I dropped my loaded backpack and cooler off at the Bangor-Bar Harbor Shuttle office. Then I took the #3 again to Sieur de Monts where I picked up the #4, which deposited me at the trailhead for Champlain Mountain.

It was tremendous walking over pink granite through sparse jack pines. And with each step higher, wonderful views opened up. Bear Lake, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, the islands, Schoodic and beyond.

Enjoying the ocean views from the summit of Champlain.
Carey Kish photo

Orchids high on Champlain Mountain.
Carey Kish photo

Beyond the summit it was literally all downhill and I flew across the ridge, brilliant blue ocean to my left, the bulk of Dorr and Cadillac Mountains to my right. The Bowl, a lovely high mountain pond, loomed ahead. The trail navigated along its southern edge before rising to the Beehive.

Looking down on the Beehive and The Bowl from Champlain Mountain.
Carey Kish photo

The Beehive from Sand Beach.
Carey Kish photo

Lunch was had with bare feet dangling over the cliff's edge, Sand Beach many hundreds of feet below. Post-sandwich I clambered down the impossible trail, complete with iron rungs, hand rails and ladders, before making my way out to the cool winds blowing in over Sand Beach.

Beach rose near Sand Beach.
Carey Kish photo

Sand Beach scene.
Carey Kish photo

Right on schedule the #3 got me back into Bah Habbah with plenty of time to spare (and time for a couple cold pints at the Whale). Because the Vermont Transit connection between Bar Harbor and Bangor for the return trip isn't so great (the bus returns south in the AM), I reserved a seat on the Bangor-Bar Harbor Shuttle, a new and well-run operation that got me connected with the Vermont Transit bus in Bangor.

Helen Witham, owner of the Bangor-Bar Harbor Shuttle sending me on my way.
Carey Kish photo

I was back in Portland by 9:15pm. And there, looking rather lonely and forlorn, was my little car. I dumped the gear in the trunk and cranked her up, the first time in 3 days. I like that.

So there you have it. A round-trip hiking and camping trip to Acadia National Park. Entirely by bus, no less! I know it sounds like a novelty but it shouldn't be, and it isn't. It can be done. And I'll bet you too won't even miss your car.

The cost? $65 for the Vermont Transit tickets and $25 for the Bangor-Bar Harbor Shuttle, so $90 in all.

The cost to drive by car? Roughly 180 miles x 2 = 360 + 90 dubbing around miles = 450 miles total. Divided by 25 mpg = 18 gallons x $3.00 per gallon = $54. But that's only gas and doesn't anywhere near account for the true cost of operating a car on the road.

Better is to take the federal mileage reimbursement rate of 48.5 cents per mile x 450 miles = $218.50. I did this trip alone, but if two had driven: $218.50 divided by 2 = $109.50 each.

My $90 in bus fare, therefore, is cheaper by $19.50. (Beer money!) And I didn't let tons of them wicked bad auto e-missions spoil up the atmosphere neithah!!

So what do you think? You willing to give transit a try on your next Acadia visit? To have an out-of-auto-body outdoor adventure??

The new Bike Express connects you and your bicycle directly with the island's carriage trails. Fantastic!
Carey Kish photo

If you missed the 19th annual Maine Bike Rally in Yarmouth this past weekend, well, you missed a lot of good fun, good riding and good people.

There were 33 road rides on the docket: Friday evening rides mostly had a food theme... Lobster & L.L., Buck's Naked BBQ, and Ice Cream at Pat's were among the yummy choices.

The 19th annual Maine Bike Rally was held last weekend at Yarmouth High School.
Carey Kish photo

The rally attracted several hundred bicycling enthusiasts for a very fun and full weekend.
Carey Kish photo

On Saturday the hard core roadies could go full tilt for the Hilltop Century, the Lighthouse Metric Century, the Hill of a Ride. Of a more moderate and easy flavor: Mackworth Bike Hike, Pineland Garden and Audubon Gilsland Farm.

Sunday concluded with rides like Bailey Ferry, Portland Peninusula and a History Ride. Sunrise and Stargazer Rides were available daily for the early birds and night owls.

For the knobby-tired crowd (well, not so much of a crowd as was hoped--where are all you folks and why don't you come to the MBR?), there were 10 rides offered, ranging from Bradbury Mountain State Park to Pineland to the Presumpscot River to an Urban Assault on Portland.

Not being much of a road biker and still in possesion of a 1987 Bianchi 12-speed, I opted for the mountain biking.

Saturday morning three of us rode the Presumpscot River, one of the area's premier mountain bike rides. You can make it as easy or as hard as you want; ride out and back along the river, or include any of a number of loops up and down the hill. Either way it's great single track and wicked scenic to boot.

Riding terrific single track trail along the Presumpscot River, Portland/Falmouth.
Carey Kish photo

Taking a break along the Presumpscot River.
Carey Kish photo

Bike swing on the Presumpscot River. Hmmm...
Carey Kish photo

Early Saturday afternoon we added a couple of folks to the group and rode the fantastic singe track trails of Bradbury: Fox West and East, Lanzo, Ragan, Ginn. Incredible! Without question the best mountain bike riding in the state. And it shows with miles and miles of well designed trails that are now attracting lots of riders. Well done!

Riding Maine's best: the single track of Bradbury Mountain State Park, Pownal.
Carey Kish photo

Sweet riding through the woods of Bradbury!
Carey Kish photo

Congrats and cheers to the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, the many, many dedicated volunteers, and the several hundred bicycle enthusiasts who came for the weekend to enjoy the riding, the food, the music and the camaraderie. All good!

Next year's Maine Bike Rally: Fryeburg! That'll be awesome. Mark it down on your calendar now and plan on a solid weekend of bicycling fun.

31 blowdowns cleared. 2 temporary bog bridges built. 300 road miles logged. And some 20-odd person-hours recorded.

So went a recent trail maintenance trip to my section of the AT up at East Carry Pond. The way is clear now... so have at it my hiker friends!

Many thanks to my friend Huw, a Wales native and newcomer to Maine, who'd never set foot on the AT before, much less been gravel pit camping, a Maine tradition. Well, now that's all been taken care of, and he's earned his keep to boot with a good day of sweat and toil on the trail.

Besides the dearth of of black flies and mosquitoes, I kept Huw busy with plenty of sawed-up messes produced by me and the chainsaw. All things considered, however, it was a light year work-wise. Thirty-one blowdowns is nothing compared to the last several seasons, when 75-100 or more was the norm.

One of the never-ending joys of visiting my trail section is that walk out of the thick spruce and fir near the end of it, and onto the shoreline of East Carry Pond. Then turning left and walking--slowly walking--along the bank on a soft path thick with needles. The crystal clear water lapping the rocks. Sun and blue sky and puffy white clouds. And not a sound except the breeze in the treetops. To the sandy beach perfect for watching red-spotted newts swim in the shallows and washing off the day's trail dirt.

It's not wilderness here, but it's big woods. And it feels wild enough. And when I get there I get a special feeling deep inside. Of thanks. And pride. And pleasure.

Thanks that I'm so lucky to simply know this place, and be able to share it with others. Proud that I and others are able to take a modicum of care of it so that hikers can pass through. Pleasure in good honest work, wielding a chainsaw, a pair of brush clippers, a fire rake.

Hope you all have a good weekend. And that you get a chance to help out our trails sometime this summer. They need you as much as you need them!

Gravel pit camping is the best. Especially with the new house-on-wheels!
Photo by Huw Evans

Clearing a tangle of blowdowns on the AT near East Carry Pond.
Photo by Huw Evans

More blowdowns...but only 31 in all. An easy task this year.
Photo by Huw Evans

Happiness is a clear trail corridor.
Photo by Huw Evans

First AT thru-hikers of the season: Southbounders Emery, Jordan, Brad and dog Boo from Austin, Texas. Good luck guys!
Photo by Huw Evans

The day's reward: The magnificence that is Easy Carry Pond.
Photo by Huw Evans

End of my trail section at the inlet to East Carry Pond.
Photo by Huw Evans

Incredible view across Flagstaff Lake from Round Barn behind Bigelow as we traveled the long way home.
Photo by Huw Evans