OutdoorsVT 12-26-08

Growing up, my parents instilled in me an ethic about leaving things as I found them. In fact, we left them better than we found them.

When we were packing away a campsite, my final job was to police the grounds. We picked up everything that didn't belong there — old gum wrappers, cigarette butts, tinfoil used in cooking over a campfire … everything. It didn't matter that we had picked up all our own trash, we took everyone else's with us as well.

Today, the "Leave No Trace" ethic is a strong part of many outdoor enthusiasts bags of tricks. Unfortunately, not everyone follows this thought pattern.

In Vermont, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation has joined the Green Mountain Club, the Vermont Ski Areas Association and the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers to encourage the Leave No Trace ethic among backcountry enthusiasts.

Read about the initiative here.

OutdoorsVT 12-19-08

Just two days after Christmas, while most people will be tucked away safely in their beds, a group of dedicated bird watchers will be out in the cold on a day that could be, well, for the birds.

The 109th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count began Dec. 14 and runs through Jan. 5.

Rutland County Audubon's 35th effort will be held Dec. 27, as local bird watchers join their state counterparts and those across the nation in for the longest-running wildlife census conducted.

Read about the annual bird census here.

OutdoorsVT 12-12-08

Killington is celebrating its birthday this weekend, and it's not just any old birthday.

It's the big five-oh.

For 50 years, skiers at Killington have hitched lifts to the top of the mountain and carved their way to the bottom.

Read about the festivities and details about Killington in this column.

OutdoorsVT 12-5-08

It's the holiday season and people are looking for gifts for the outdoor enthusiast on their list.

This list of Christmas ideas isn't the standard list with prices and where to get it.

This is a list of alternative ideas including local organizations memberships, the swag they sale, government agencies and gifts suggestions from those agencies.

Read where you can find innovative Christmas gift ideas here.