The day has arrived. The gear is packed. It's time hit the road.

The Ski Maine - Maine Peak to Peak Challenge starts today and rolls across the state for the next 3 1/2 days in an attempt to ski at least one run at each of Maine's 17 ski areas.

The team met up for a final training session last weekend at Sugarloaf to have some fun together and go over final details on just exactly how we're going to pull this thing off.

The planning is now officially over and it's time to ski. And drive. And ski some more. And have one helluva a good time. Promoting skiing across Maine at mountains big, medium and small. To showcase our beautiful state in all its winter beauty. To raise a few bucks for the Ski Museum of Maine.

So it goes...

We're out of here. I'll report to you from the road as best I can from wherever I can find Internet service. I'm sure we'll come up with some good stories and photos as we go. Should be a heckuva an adventure.

Onward...

Remember: You can do your own Maine Peak to Peak Challenge all winter long. What a way to see more of Maine, get some great skiing in, and maybe win a Ski Maine pass for next season!

The Ski Maine - Maine Peak to Peak Challenge Team will ski at least one run at each of Maine's 17 downhill ski areas this weekend.
Carey Kish photo

The Ski Maine - Maine Peak to Peak Challenge Team visited Sugarloaf last weekend for our final training session.
Carey Kish photo

Trail Head yucking it up on the air with Greg Powers of WSKI on RSN.
Carey Kish photo

The Team Captain and that Ski Maine guy at RSN.
Carey Kish photo

Some of the Ski Maine - Maine Peak to Peak Challenge Team mugging it up at the Loaf.
Carey Kish photo

The skiing at the Loaf was awesome despite the recent rains. This is Burnt Mtn. from the top of King Pine Bowl.
Carey Kish photo

Any day the Timberline Chair is operating is a very good day!
Carey Kish photo

The team's best side!
Carey Kish photo

Wonder if The Bag will be a stop on the Maine Peak to Peak Challenge tour? Duh!!!
Carey Kish photo

Wind power is coming to Kibby Mountain.

But not to Black Nubble.

So decided Maine's LURC yesterday.

LURC has approved TransCanada's proposal for a 44-turbine wind power project for the Kibby Mountain Range.
TransCanada image

I have asked this question in the past and I ask it again today: Why is Kibby Mountain any less valuable than Black Nubble?

Why will we now adorn the Kibby Mountain Range with wind towers, but not Black Nubble? Please understand, of course, that I prefer not to have wind power projects on either location.

Let's try a little exercise...

Read this from today's news story:

"During their deliberations Monday, commissioners cited potential effects on natural resources on Black Nubble, which offers habitat for several rare animal and plant species, but spent more time on the development's visual effect. The 400-foot-tall lighted towers would have a dramatic effect on the Appalachian Trail, which comes within miles of the mountain, according to groups that opposed the application. Commissioner Rebecca Kurtz said the application proposed what amounts to an industrial site on a mountaintop and could affect both the mountain scenery and the area's natural resources."

Now substitute "Kibby Mountain" and "local trails" for "Black Nubble" and "Appalachian Trail." Then read again.

Notice how nothing really changes?

That's right.

Think about that.

"... an industrial site on a mountaintop and could affect both the mountain scenery and the area's natural resources."

Sure, we all love our Appalachian Trail and its precious wild environs. A wind power project, however well-intended and potentially beneficial, doesn't belong near there. There are plenty of other more suitable locations for wind power elsewhere in Maine.

But are we to throw Kibby Mountain under the bus because it is less known and less visited? Does it really have less value? Does it?

I haven't hiked Kibby Mountain. But I do know the area pretty well. And it's wild and beautiful. No, it's not officially protected, as in state or federally-owned. It's private forestland, productive timberland. So what?

Are we really going to mar Kibby Mountain in order to feel good about being green?

I guess so. LURC has spoken. Black Nubble wins (yeah!), Kibby loses.

According to TransCanada, pending final zoning changes and project approval, construction is expected to commence sometime in 2009 or 2010.

Given that timetable my plan is to finally hike Kibby Mountain sometime next summer. Just for yucks. Maybe you all can join me.

We'll have a requiem for Kibby Mountain. A mountaintop party. Drink a few beers on the summit. Hoot and holler some. Pee onto the rocks and blueberry bushes. Say goodbye to Kibby as it is. Feel green, piss yellow.

We can even leave our beer cans and lunch trash right there. What will it matter when the big honking D-9er plows up over the ridgetop in a year or so? Not a damn.

The hubbub of the holidays is finally over. Time to get on with the real business of winter: Skiing!

And so I says to you: Let the games begin! The Maine Peak to Peak Challenge is on! This first-ever of its kind event in Maine is sponsored and organized by the Ski Maine Association.

That's right, just a short week or so to go before a team of madcap skiers (yes, I'm in there) takes to the road to attempt to ski at least one run at every one of Maine's 17 downhill ski areas over the Martin Luther King Weekend, January 18-21.

Why do such an outlandish thing, you say?

Why not, I say!

Can it be done? Of course. Will it be done? Absolutely. Will it be fun? Unquestionably!

DA PLAN 2 SKI 'EM ALL

The logistics of the event are daunting but do-able: Starting Friday afternoon 1/18 at Spruce Mountain in Jay the Ski Maine team will travel and ski its way west then north then south for nearly a 1,000 miles (carpooling, of course, to be green) to a wild finish on the coast at the Camden Snow Bowl on Monday 1/21.

The Ski Maine - Maine Peak to Peak Challenge Team will ski at least one run at all Maine's 17 downhill ski areas from January 18-21, 2008. Is that nuts or what?!
Carey Kish photo

All told the team will sample 85 of 560 ski trails on Maine's 17 downhill ski mountains. Here's a look at our itinerary:

Friday, January 18th:
* Spruce Mountain, Jay... Maine Peak to Peak Challenge kick-off!
* Lost Valley, Auburn
* Shawnee Peak, Bridgton
* Mount Abram, Locke Mills

Saturday, January 19th:
* Sunday River, Bethel
* Black Mountain, Rumford
* Titcomb Mountain, Farmington
* Saddleback, Rangeley
* Sugarloaf, Carrabassett Valley

Sunday, January 20th:
* Baker Mountain. Moscow
* Eaton Mountain, Skowhegan
* Hermon Mountain, Hermon
* Mt. Jefferson, Lee
* Big Rock, Mars Hill
* Quoggy Jo, Presque Isle

Monday, January 21st:
* Lonesome Pine Trails, Fort Kent
* Camden Snow Bowl, Camden... Last run!!!

Somewhere along the way we'll get to eat and sleep, I figure, but who knows?! Especially when you're having a complete hoot of a good time, skiing, traveling and yucking it up but good with people as off-kilter as you are!

The Ski Maine - Maine Peak to Peak Challenge Team at an important planning meeting recently at Gritty's in Portland. I'm telling ya, the best adventures seem always to be planned on the back of a bar napkin!
Gritty's photo

DA TEAM

And who would do such a thing? The following crazies:

* Carey Kish (dat be me), Portland downhill skier & Team Captain
* Janet Thurston, Raymond snowboarder
* Anne O'Brien, Cape Elizabeth downhill skier
* Craig Hansen, Gray telemark skier
* Greg Sweetser, Cumberland downhill skier & Ski Maine bigwig
* Heather Atwell, Keene, NH downhill skier
* Bruce Mason, Auburn downhill skier
* Joanne Mason, Auburn downhill skier

Fun and games aside for a moment (is that possible?), there is a message behind all this skiing madness. Says Greg Sweetser, Executive Director of the Ski Maine Association (who, by the way, has come through big time to pull this thing together from idea to reality - thanks Greg!):

"Most skiers are not aware of the varied terrain, trails and character found at the 17 Ski Maine areas in the state. There are 560 trails, 83 lifts, and acres of glades covering our Peaks. Ski Maine wants to challenge skiers and snowboarders to visit as many as they can during the 2007/2008 season. There is so much skiing in Maine that it will take a person all winter to enjoy each of our areas."

SKI MORE MAINE AREAS, MAYBE WIN BIG!

Beyond the January 18-21 statewide event, however, the season-long Maine Peak to Peak Challenge is open to all skiers and riders. It awards skiers based on the number of areas they visit. The more mountains logged by skiers and riders throughout the winter, the bigger the possible prize:

* Ski/Ride all of Maine's 17 member areas and skiers can enter to win a Ski Maine VIP pass and Solo Pack for the 2008/2009 season. The VIP Pass allows the winner to ski any Maine mountain at any time.

* Ski/Ride any 12 Ski Maine member areas and participants will be entered to win a Ski Maine Double Pack for the 2008/2009 season: 2 tickets to each member area.

* Ski/Ride any 6 Ski Maine member areas and participants will be entered to win the Ski Maine Solo Pack for the 2008/2009 season: 1 ticket to each member area.

Participants can track their visits with the Ski Maine Peak to Peak Challenge card, available from Ski Maine online. What a great way to enrich your Maine skiing experience and maybe win some big prizes!

SKI AND DO GOOD

Skiers can also do some extra good by becoming a member of or making a contribution to the Ski Museum of Maine.

"Maine's ski and snowboard industry is built on a rich skiing heritage, now protected and displayed for posterity by the Ski Museum of Maine. The Maine Peak to Peak Challenge, sponsored by the Ski Maine Association, will help further the mission of the museum through supporting pledges gathered throughout the winter," said Sweetser.

So, there you have. The Maine Peak to Peak Challenge for 2008. Woo-hoo!

The team heads to the Loaf this weekend for a "training" session (a few ski runs, followed by some rubbing of the mahogany in The Bag quite likely). Then next week we're off in earnest.

Hope you'll follow along and challenge yourself to skiing more of Maine's outstanding ski areas, too! What do you say???

By the way, after you hit the slopes be sure to post a trip report for the chance to win free lift tickets for more skiing! What a deal!

Of the hiker missing along the A.T. on Blood Mountain in northern Georgia...

We now sadly know her fate.

Damn.

A beautiful young life snuffed out on an innocent hike in the woods. The only possible solace is that the cretin who killed her is behind bars. Where I can't beat him to a bloody pulp.

Damn, damn, damn.

Hike through the rhododendrons (the rhodies as we thru-hikers call it) on the winding trail up to the summit of Blood Mountain and you will emerge on the highest point on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia.

Scramble atop on the huge boulder there and look south, to Woody Gap, to Black Mountain, all the way to Springer Mountain and the start of the A.T. some 30-odd miles to the south.

In springtime, when most A.T. hikers pass by here, the view is magnificent; when dogwoods and azaleas and rhododendrons bloom and brilliantly color the otherwise gray canopy of the hardwood forests of this southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Spend a night in the old stone shelter and share the mountaintop chill with the mice and maybe even a skunk as I did once (I've made the trek north on the A.T. from Springer three times now) and you will have experienced one of the finer places on the 2,150-mile long trail as it journeys north to Maine.

Perhaps this is just what the lively young hiker named Meredith Emerson was looking for when she climbed the flanks of Blood Mountain last Tuesday with her dog.

And disappeared, somewhere, somehow.

Suspiciously. Very much so.

How very sad.

My prayers, and I trust yours, are with the Emerson family as they wait for what we all hope will be a happy reunion with Meredith very soon.

But I fear the worst.

The A.T. down south has had much too much of its share of sad tales like this, mostly involving women hikers, who innocently walk into the woods and end up dead, often at the hands of a fellow (male) hiker.

Yes, statistically I suppose, the incidents are few and far between, but each becomes such a high profile affair that it seems more frequent than it really is.

Nonetheless, it happens, and it scares the hell out of me. And probably you too.

You live, you hike, you take your chances. You trust in others. Most times that's OK.

Let's hope to dear God that this story has a good ending and Meredith Emerson walks out of the north Georgia woods alive real soon.

My shelter from the storm, my haven on earth, my raison d'etre...

Gone. Just like that. Gone I tells you.

It's as if the Center of the Universe itself has imploded.

My compass is broken - shattered - and I shall now wander aimlessly in the forest...

What the hay, you say?

Please, please, I beg of you in my grief: Be kind, gentle, understanding.

Bleacher's, that hallowed hall of beer and chicken wings, sports and trivia, upon whose cocktail napkins countless fine outdoor (and indoor) adventures near and far were planned...

Bleacher's of Portland has closed its doors!

Trail Head weeps at the permanently closed door of Bleacher's in downtown Portland.
Ann Mazerolle photo

Yes, dear Trail Headers, I received The Word of Bleacher's demise late yesterday from owners and dear friends in beer Chuck and Gladys.

{gasp}

Oh, the humanity of it all!

Even now, as I gaze out from my office window at its rooftop I cannot believe that my elbows will not again rest upon the finely grained wood of its bar top.

Where oh where I ask you shall we go now for succor in this time of great sorrow? How to carry on?

Trail Head takes a moment alone outside Bleacher's yesterday.
Ann Mazerolle photo