Saturday, September 19, 2009

The ninth Annual Loon Echo Hike n’ Bike Trek will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2009 at Shawnee Peak Ski Area in Bridgton, Maine to benefit Loon Echo Land Trust’s conservation efforts. Trekkers may choose from a 25, 50 or 100-mile, fully supported, bike ride through spectacular mountain and farmland country in western Maine, or a six-mile hike over conservation lands on Pleasant Mountain, southern Maine’s tallest mountain.

Pledges are not required to enter, but are encouraged to help the cause. A delicious barbecue meal and a prize pool giveaway (for those raising pledges) will take place after the trek.

Registration begins on June 1st. Early bird registration discounts apply until July 1st.

Please help Loon Echo protect; one of the most beautiful regions in Maine! Contact Loon Echo at (207) 647-4352 or biketrek@lelt.org, or visit the website at www.lelt.org.

Many Americans believe that being in the outdoors is what makes their lifestyles so remarkable and frankly, having grown up that way, I just don’t know what I would do if I lost the freedom to do that anymore.

Let’s be honest with ourselves. This lifestyle is being threatened. Ask yourself who you would rather have looking out for your interests in these matters, someone who is one of us or someone with little if any experience in outdoor affairs, namely hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, boating, ATVing, horseback riding, rock hounding, canoeing, kayaking and the list goes on?

As we rapidly approach November 4, 2008, Election Day, I encourage everyone to get out and vote. This may be the most critical election ever to face our nation and you need to be a part of it.

If you are anything like me, where the outdoors is more of a part of my life than indoors, I have to seriously consider who I want leading the way. John McCain is an outdoor sportsman. He is a fisherman and doesn’t pretend to be something that he’s not. He has selected a running mate in Sarah Palin that doubles the draw of the ticket.

The Sportsmen for McCain website says McCain supports your interests.

“John McCain understands that hunters and anglers are the first conservationists and without them, conservation as we know it will cease to exist. John McCain recognizes the importance of recruiting the next generation of hunters and anglers as well as maintaining those currently in our ranks. John McCain believes in multiple uses of public lands and knows that the revenue generated by the licenses and gear that we purchase is the life blood of state wildlife agencies.”

Our Endangered Species Act has been so far twisted out of shape it has lost its ability to protect the species we want to have long into our future. Who better to lead than someone with a real understanding of what proper wildlife management is. McCain is someone who knows that it is the outdoor sportsmen that make it possible for him to go fishing when he can.

I have to believe that one of the reasons John McCain recruited Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate, is because who else can have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the outdoors than the governor of the state that labels itself as “The Last Frontier”.

Having a grip on the importance of our outdoor heritage is huge. This directly affects tens of millions of Americans. Outdoor issues shouldn’t be overlooked in this election. Putting the future of our heritage in the wrong hands can gravely impact how we live as Americans.

Both McCain and Palin have track records on where they stand and what they have done to protect our heritage. Obama and Biden pale in comparison and have yet to show that they even care. Don’t hope for the best, when the best is right before you.

For more information on Sportsmen for McCain, visit their website.

Tom Remington

That’s right and I want to tell you, I’m outraged. I couldn’t believe it when I read Carey Kish’s article today in Maine Today. I spewed and spit and lathered myself into a whirlwind of “I’m gonna tell them a thing or two”. I spun around in my chair at least a half-dozen times and then I said, “You know what? Carey said it best!” Go read it. You won’t believe it!

I have to ask if this is a decision reached by Baldacci’s new task force to inventory public lands and determine how they are supposed to be used. If you’re not up to speed on this task force check out this story here.

Tom Remington

It appears that the mystery and speculation of who is going to buy Sunday River Ski Resort and Sugarloaf USA are over. For weeks rumors have flown around about who the American Skiing Company was going to unload the last of its resorts to. Tops on that list was former Sunday River Ski Resort and American Ski Company owner and founder Leslie B. Otten, who recently sold his interest in the Boston Red Sox.

As recent as last week, stories were surfacing that there was a negotiating battle going on between Otten and a team comprised of L.L. Bean and Budweiser for at least Sunday River. While everyone was trying to second guess, it appears that someone else had the right offer in bumping the others out of negotiations.

American Skiing Company announced that they have reached an agreement with Boyne USA, Inc. to sell both resorts. According to the Portland Press Herald, the deal is done pending anti trust reviews.

American Skiing Co. has entered into an agreement to sell its Maine resorts, Sunday River in Newry and and Sugarloaf/USA in Carrabassett Valley, to Boyne USA Inc. for $77 million in cash. Boyne will also assume $2 million in debt and other liabilities.

What’s that old expression about money talks?

A bit about Boyne:

Boyne USA Inc. is a privately held company that has an ownership interest in seven North American resort properties, including Big Sky Resort in Montana; Boyne Mountain, Boyne Highlands and Bay Harbor in Michigan; Brighton in Utah; Crystal Mountain in Washington and Cypress Mountain in British Columbia, Canada.

Tom Remington

From Mark Latti, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Fish And Wildlife Outdoors Radio Is On The Air – Outdoor Information All The Time

KITTERY, Maine – Radio listeners with a passion for the outdoors now have a station dedicated to their favorite pursuits, Fish and Wildlife Outdoors Radio, 1640 AM on the Maine Turnpike.

Motorists will be prompted to tune in by a sign stationed along the turnpike in Kittery. This AM radio station is broadcast along the southern range of the turnpike in the York-Kittery area. Motorists can tune to the station on AM 1640 and get important, timely information that will enhance their outdoor experience when they are in Maine. The radio station has a range of approximately 15 miles on the turnpike.

“The Fishing, Hunting, and outdoor recreational opportunities that Maine’s residents and our visitors enjoy have no equal in the Eastern United States,” said Governor John E. Baldacci. “These pursuits are important, not only for their recreational value, but because they provide significant positive economic impact for Maine’s economy.”

Maine has long been a destination for those with a passion for outdoor recreation. Fish and Wildlife Outdoors Radio will greet those entering Maine, and broadcast updated seasonal information on hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching, as well as important safety tips concerning hiking, snowmobiling, boating and other outdoor pursuits.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the department to share important and timely outdoor information with folks as they just arrive in Maine to fish, hunt, snowmobile and enjoy the endless outdoors opportunities our state has to offer,” said Roland D. Martin, Commissioner, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Fish and Wildlife Outdoors Radio will also share vital contact information and messaging about the Maine Warden Service’s important anti-poaching and illegal fish introduction prevention efforts through the Operation Game Thief Program.

The radio station was created by Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Marketing Specialist Bill Pierce, who worked in conjunction with the Maine Turnpike Authority and the Department of Transportation. Pierce’s idea was to give outdoor recreationalists the information they needed before they go outdoors in Maine. The Outdoor Partners Program, a mobile informational trailer that appears at over 60 outdoor events each year, was designed by Pierce to reach people who already were in state, and Fish and Wildlife Outdoors Radio will reach those entering the state.

“This radio station will provide timely and important information on a variety of issues that will give people the knowledge they can use to get the most out of their time spent outdoors in Maine,” said Pierce.

Tom Remington

Usually in spring, it unquestionably paddling time: the customary showers bring up the levels of the local creeks and the paddlers are all scrambling to hit those cherry runs…

However, with the lack of snow this winter and rain so far this spring, it seems as if it might be a mountain biking spring!

I have been out on some fine trails in South Portland and Cape Elizabeth lately … thanks to the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust and Portland Trails for helping to make these available.

Here is a great piece on MaineToday.com – albeit a bit dated – that helps beginners to wrap their brain around mountain biking…

So pay attention, all you would-be paddlers! It might salvage your adrenaline fix!

This morning I found this in depth article written by Vernon Felton in BikeMag.com listing what the writer believes to be the top ten mountain biking trails in America. If you’re into mountain biking and want to know where the serious biker goes, you’ll want to read this one. It comes complete with some pretty nice photos.

Tom Remington

I certainly hope the day comes when the judicial system in this country understands when a person assume certain inherent risks while participating in potentially dangerous outdoor activities – like mountain biking.

Below is a press release I received this morning about one such incident in Oklahoma.

For Immediate Release
01-26-06
Contact: Pete Webber, IMBA
pete@imba.com
303-545-9011

An injured mountain biker is suing the non-profit Oklahoma Earthbike Fellowship (OEF) claiming the biking club failed to properly maintain a trail bridge. The case appears to be a classic example of the type of lawsuit feared by land managers and mountain biking organizations worldwide.

In September, 2004 60-year old Jerry Reese sustained a severe spine injury when he fell off the side of a wooden bridge while mountain biking on the popular Bluff Creek Trail near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. At the time of the accident, a deck board on the bridge was broken, but remained loosely in place. Reese alleges the broken board caused him to lose control of his bike and fall into a dry creek bed. The OEF built the bridge and had an informal agreement with Oklahoma City to perform regular volunteer maintenance on the trail. The case has a trial date of March 4, 2006.

Reese originally sued both the city and the OEF. The suit against the city was dropped, conceivably because the city’s liability is capped by state law.

Club members are unwilling to speculate as to what the defense strategy is, but common defenses in this type of case include assumption of risk (the inherent dangers of mountain biking) and failure of proof (the negligence isn’t proved). The defense won’t be able to claim protection under Oklahoma’s recreational use statute because negligent maintenance of man-made structures like bridges isn’t covered by this legislation.

IMBA officials are following the situation closely and plan to provide a detailed analysis when the case wraps up.
Background Details

The Bluff Creek Trail is a 4-mile long shared-use singletrack trail located in Pat Murphy Park northwest of Oklahoma City. Pat Murphy Park is owned and operated by the city. The trail twists and turns through dense forest, thick brush, and crosses a dry creek bed numerous times. The rolling terrain includes short, steep hills, but no sustained climbs. The trail surface is mostly hard packed dirt, and includes natural obstacles such as ruts and roots. There are several wooden bridges spanning a seasonal creek. The trail is rated an intermediate ride in local articles and websites, and is one of the most popular mountain biking trails in the region. A kiosk at the trailhead includes a map and a sign that states rules and guidelines, including the IMBA Rules of the Trail.

The trail started as an unofficial route but was closed by park officials in 1995. In 1996, local mountain bikers worked with park officials to reopen the trail. Volunteers spent thousands of hours improving the trail, trimming vegetation, and installing signs. As part of negotiations to reopen the trail, the OEF agreed to perform regular volunteer trail maintenance. Ongoing work has included repairing drainage problems, clearing deadfall, trimming vegetation, building and repairing bridges, closing damaged sections of trail and constructing sustainable reroutes. The OEF did not have a specific formal agreement nor a written contract for trail maintenance with the city. Park officials have been satisfied with the club’s stewardship efforts and the partnership has been successful. As a result of the Reese lawsuit, the city has required the OEF to sign a formal maintenance agreement that releases the city from trail management responsibilities.

The bridge where the incident took place is about 30 feet long, 40 inches wide, and 3-4 feet above the creek bed at its highest point. It is constructed of 2×6 boards fastened to two telephone poles spanning the creek. There are no railings. There are 12 bridges of similar design on the Bluff Creek Trail. Reese went off the side of the bridge roughly three-quarters of the way across. He fell to the ground, perhaps tumbling, and struck an earthen embankment. The broken board was located near the beginning of the bridge, but Reese fell near the other end of the bridge.

To learn more about liability and risk management for mountain biking, visit the IMBA website: http://www.imba.com/resources/trail_issues/index.html

Tom Remington

User of the trail system are invited to participate in a public forum to discuss final plans of improving the Blue Ridge Parkway Trails, part of a complete trail system that will involve some 469 miles.

To get information about the trail and time and location of the meeting, go here.

Tom Remington

Mountain bikers who are interested in expanding their opportunities to bike are encouraged to contact the National Park Service and let them know how you feel and what your goals and intentions are as a mountain biker.

The Park service is looking into creating trails for riding in their Big Bend National Park in southern Texas. Follow this link for information on who to contact and schedules of meetings.