OutdoorsVT 5-15-09

Pine Hill Park
A Droopy Muffin can nourish a hungry soul

Early this week I spent some time trekking around Pine Hill Park in Rutland in what may have been absolutely perfect conditions.



Temperatures were in the 60s Monday and the sun was bright overhead as I walked the trails in this recreation gem.



I hoofed it from the Giorgetti parking area on Upper Giorgetti to Trillium to Svelte Tiger. I hooked up with Droopy Muffin over to Underdog to Rocky Pond and on up to the Overlook where I sat for a bit enjoying the view.



This is such a great spot in Pine Hill Park and anybody who hasn’t invested shoe leather into reaching this spot should certainly do so.



But darkness was fast approaching. I had hit the trail well after 6 p.m. and, despite having an el cheapo headlamp with me (just in case) I really didn’t want to risk tripping over a rock or root in the trail in the dark, so I reluctantly moved on.



Following Overlook Trail over the new suspension bridge I hit Jersey Trail and then hooked up with Santa’s Helper back to Droopy Muffin.



I hate coming back the way I went in, however, so I did my best to retrace as few boot prints as possible, choosing a few trails I had never been on before.



I continued on Droopy Muffin over to the Upper Ledges trail and down to Tim’s Vista to the Birches and back out on Trillium and Upper Giorgetti.



I did find myself wondering as I walked, “where in the world did Svelte Tiger and Droopy Muffin come from?” Particularly Droopy Muffin. I couldn’t remember ever walking on a trail with a cooler name.



Whatever their names, those trails guided me through a few hours that couldn’t have been better spent.



After a lengthy outdoor dry spell, I’ve finally managed to get off the pavement several times lately and the Pine Hill Park trek was the ointment I needed to soothe my chapped soul.



The only thing that went wrong was when I pulled my camera out and watched the battery indicator go from “full” to “empty” in one press of the shutter button.



But while I didn’t manage to capture the photos I planned to take, I went home contented and with a greater appreciation for all that Pine Hill Park offers.



Pine Hill Park continues to be something to boast over and is quickly becoming one of the area’s best not-so-secret attributes.



Monday, on Svelte Tiger, I ran across Michael Smith — the one-man trail- and bridge-building hotshot who continues to be the driving force in the park.



With help, Smith has been the force behind much of the park’s growth and improvement in the last few years.



That day, Smith was working on the decking of a new bridge — a cool, serpentine-looking boardwalk that arcs around trees and flattens out a part of the trail that had suffered from runoff in the past.



He said the coming summer brings plenty more work with five planned bridges, more trail building and the always constant repair and improvements.



But Mike’s not alone in his work and many others have helped, and continue to help, in large and small ways.



This Saturday is the last work day of the spring and a good chance to do a little bit toward upkeep in the park that offers so much to so many.



The work day will kick off at 9 a.m. Plans include work on free ride trails, improving water bars on Giorgetti, “digging the Suez Canal” on Lonely Rock, as well as working on Rembrandt’s Brush, according to a press release.



Show up for whatever time you can offer. Bring water and a snack. Bugs weren’t too bad Monday, but bug spray isn’t a bad idea.




Darren Marcy is a local outdoor enthusiast. His Web site is www.darrenmarcy.com. E-mail him at darren@darrenmarcy.com.

OutdoorsVT 5-8-09

Losing the battle for our kids

This should scare the willies out of all of us. Every time I read another study about our decreasing participation in the great outdoors I get more and more nervous.

I’m afraid that the way things are going, we could be at risk of losing our connection to the outdoors in just a generation or two.

We simply aren’t doing enough to foster an appreciation for outdoor recreation in our kids.

Because of that, our grandkids may not ever get a chance to lay in a sleeping bag and listen to the rain against tent walls before falling asleep, sit by a campfire with a burned marshmallow at the end of a stick, round a bend on the trail and happen upon a doe and two fawns standing in a field or feel the tug of a feisty rainbow at the end of a fishing line.

Most likely you’ve already experienced these simple pleasures — or something very similar — in your own outdoor adventures. Hopefully, you are passing on these opportunities to your kids or grandkids.

Too many of us aren’t.

More and more of us are living in urban areas and the only nature many kids experience is the wild cats that live in the abandoned building down the street.

Even in rural areas, more and more kids are growing up without the outdoor experiences that we used to take for granted.

Entering my fifth decade, I see a big difference. If you’re anywhere near my age or older, I’m sure you don’t have a problem recognizing all the things that compete for attention among today’s youth that didn’t exist when we were kids.

Television has 250 channels today as compared to the 12 I grew up with, and we had cable television. There were no satellite dishes with 24-hour cartoon networks. My kids have half a dozen channels that play an endless loop of animation. Heck, we didn’t even have a VCR until I was in high school.

I never saw a computer until I was 10 or 12 years old and I didn’t know anybody who had one for another decade. I got an Atari when they first came out but with the few games that were available, I grew bored with it after a few months.

But what I did have was a passion for the outdoors. From camping and fishing from a very early age, hunting with my dad as soon as I was old enough to tag along, and plenty of other outdoor fun, I caught the bug early.

As I grew older, my friends and I would go on “expeditions” into places my parents never knew we went. We would take our rod and reel and a few pieces of stolen fishing tackle from my dad’s tackle box to a local golf course pond. We went rabbit hunting. My cousins and I even camped out in the backyard throughout the summer because the few trips to the mountains we took just didn’t cut it.

In junior high I discovered Jim Kjelgaard and his 40-plus books about a boy and his dog, wildlife, survival and outdoor adventure. I bet I read darn near every single one of those books within a couple of years.

Quite often those books, or the outdoor magazines I stole from my dad and took to school, got me in trouble as I read about the outdoors or lusted after the gear I saw advertised on those pages instead of paying attention to a teacher.

When I wasn’t reading about it, or doing it, I most often was dreaming about it. Trust me, my grades bear this out.

Who am I kidding? I’m still doing it today.

While I may have been an extreme case, there aren’t enough kids daydreaming about the outdoors. Too many of them are deep in thought about how to get to the next level of the latest video game or what they’re going to do to their Facebook page.

If they’re not playing video games, or watching television, they’re on the Internet, which isn’t a bad thing all by itself, but too much of it certainly feeds the cycle.

But, guess what folks? We can’t blame our kids.

It’s our fault. It’s your fault if your kids spend too much time online. It’s my fault my kids watch too much TV.

We have to end this cycle now, before it’s too late.

Studies show that a kid who isn’t introduced to the outdoors at a relatively early age is much less likely to stay involved later in life. I’m not blowing smoke.

Why do you spend time in nature? Why do you hunt? Fish? Hike? Bike? Ski? Camp? The overwhelming majority of you are muttering to yourself that it’s just something you’ve always done.

You can’t remember not being active in the outdoors. If you think hard, however, there was an adult somewhere back there who took you into the outdoors — probably many, many times.

If we don’t build an appreciation for nature and outdoor activities now, they won’t pass it on to their kids. The chances of them picking it up later are much, much lower.

A recent survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows the number of kids 6 to 15 who fish has decreased to 12.3 million, the lowest number in 29 years.

A nationwide University of Maryland study found that the number of kids 9 to 12 years old who spend time in the outdoors has dropped 50 percent since 1973.

Visits to National Parks and our national forests are down.

A 2006 study shows that beginning between 1981 and 1991, there was a decline in per capital nature recreation at a rate of 1.3 percent per year. The study looked at a wide variety of outdoor recreation.

That’s not acceptable.

Without new blood joining the fight for sound wildlife management practices, to protect habitat, to battle for clean water and for open trails, we’ll begin losing those fights.

Other interests will take over and land management agencies will make different decisions. Funding will head in different directions.

An administration that wants to privatize the National Parks System, or give preference to the extractive industries over wildlife considerations, will have little opposition.

Many outdoor groups have recognized this and there are many new initiatives being launched to combat the decreasing participation rates.

All the programs in the world won’t matter if we don’t take advantage of them.

We have to take time out of our busy schedules and set aside some time for our kids.

We can no longer sit back and hope they develop an interest in the outdoors naturally. There are too many obstacles and competing interests.

Get them involved now.

Do it for your kids. Do it for the future.

Darren Marcy is a local outdoor enthusiast. His Web site is http://www.darrenmarcy.com/. E-mail him at darren@darrenmarcy.com.

NEOWA Spring Safari

I am excited to attend the New England Outdoor Writers Association's Spring Safari the weekend of May 16 in Killington, Vt.

It will be my first chance to meet some of the outdoor writers, photographers and various other outdoor communicators since joining NEOWA.

Sent my registration in today. Looking forward to it the event.

Vermont teenager killed while turkey hunting

Vermont Fish and Wildlife game wardens and State Police are investigating what appears to be an accidental shooting that has left a 17-year-old turkey hunter dead.

The incident occured at about 6 a.m. May 1, the opening morning of the Vermont turkey season.

According to a press release issued by the Vermont State Police, authorities responded to a report of a shooting at 7206 S. Wheelock Road, in Wheelock, Vt.

Rescue personnel and Game Warden Dave Gregory arrived to find Jacob Kadamus, 17, suffering from a gunshot wound and his father, Kevin Kadamus, 45, trying to render aid, according to the press release. CPR and rescue efforts failed and the teen died at the scene.

Officials said the pair were hunting turkeys in two different areas, but Jacob Kadamus left his area and moved toward where his father was hunting. Kevin Kadamus fired a shot at what he believed to be a turkey, hitting Jacob, according to the press release.

State game wardens are processing the shooting scene and State Police detectives are continuing the joint investigation. The Caledonia County State's Attorney will review the facts.

No charges were immediately filed, according to the press release.

An autopsy will be conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine conclusive cause of death.

OutdoorsVT 5-1-09

Checking for ticks

Spring is a beautiful time of the year. As the temperatures warm the air, green creeps back into the picture, flowers bloom, animals birth their young and another year of battling ticks begins.

I guess spring can’t all be beautiful.

Dealing with ticks is just part of being outdoors in the spring.

Unfortunately, because of the dangers of contracting Lyme disease, ticks aren’t just an annoyance, but can prove to be a serious risk to your health.

As outdoor enthusiasts, we are going to run into ticks, which are most often found in wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter on the ground.

Fortunately, while we seem to have a growing problem with ticks and Lyme disease, the situation isn’t as bad as it may seem.

Health officials say the number of cases of Lyme disease grows every year.

Some of that is certainly due to an increase in the number of ticks as well as the number of ticks carrying the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

But some experts say that the increased number of cases certainly has something to do with increased vigilance on the part of people who get symptoms checked out and a medical community that continues to get better at diagnosing Lyme disease.

Still, if you’re the one who gets infected, it doesn’t matter what the statistics say so prevention is critical.

Happily, every tick bite doesn’t result in a person contracting the illness and there are things people can do to reduce the chances of being infected with Lyme disease.

If bitten by a tick carrying the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria that causes Lyme disease, quickly removing the tick reduces the chance of it being conveyed to the person.

It takes 24 hours or more for the disease to be transmitted as the tick feeds so if the little critter can be removed the same day it attaches, the odds improve that you won’t suffer any ill consequences, according to health officials.

Country crooner Brad Paisley sings about trying to convince a barroom conquest to let him check her for ticks.

Despite the humorous nature of this silly song, checking yourself — or having someone help you — is a good idea.

Early detection is key to treating Lyme disease.

Anyone who ventures into the outdoors — even if it’s just the backyard or a local park — should conduct a thorough inspection to ensure they haven’t picked up a tick.

The problem with tick bites is that the person being bitten quite often has no clue they have a tick unless it is seen.

Most often, tick bites go unnoticed at the time of the bite.

And spotting a tick on your body isn’t always easy. The black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick, which is responsible for carrying the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, are little bitty.

They may not be much larger than the period at the end of this sentence. A tick will also search out a warm, moist place on your body, which often means armpits, groin, between the toes and even behind the knees. But they also tend to bury themselves in hair-covered places, which again points toward armpits and the groin area along with the head.

The upshot of all this is spotting ticks isn’t always easy and getting a little help isn’t a bad idea; parents should check their kids every day when they come in from playing outdoors.

But while finding a tick after it bites is important, preventing the tick bite in the first place is even better.

Avoiding tick bites is relatively easy, although far from 100 percent effective.

One thing people can do is wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and tall socks and tucking the pant legs into the socks will better prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.

Add another layer of defense by using an insect repellent.

Products containing high percentages of DEET or Permethrin are favored, but there is a big difference between the two products in the application.

DEET-based products can be — and should be — applied directly to the skin, as well as the clothing.

But Permethrin-based repellents should only be applied to the clothing, and clothing should be allowed to dry before putting on.

On children, use lower concentrations of the active ingredient, using concentrations of less than 30 percent.

Be sure to read the label carefully and follow directions closely.

Also, keep the product away from the face and off of hands, which your little one might use to rub an eye, handle food or otherwise come in contact with the mouth.

There are natural products that are, in my experience, generally less effective but still offer some protection and are safer for children.

This season is turning out to be a busy one for ticks already.

I’ve talked to many different people who have found ticks on their bodies and I’ve already pulled ticks from an animal at my house, and we’re only at the beginning of May.

Unfortunately, tick season really doesn’t peak until June or later every summer.

Darren Marcy is a local outdoor enthusiast. His Web site is http://www.darrenmarcy.com/. E-mail him at darren@darrenmarcy.com.

OutdoorsVT 4-24-09

Herricks Cove festival offers outdoor family fun

One of the top outdoor events of the year is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, when the 10th annual Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival is held in Rockingham to “celebrate the wonders of wildlife.”

This event, by all accounts, offers a great opportunity for outdoor family fun and education.

The day-long event begins with an early-morning bird walk, but most events are scheduled 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Herricks Cove.

Herricks Cove is located at the confluence of the Williams and Connecticut rivers, and is noted for its birding opportunities. Designated as an Important Birding Area, Herricks Cove offers important habitat for waterfowl and songbirds, and provides a staging ground for migrating ducks, geese and warblers.

This year’s event is expected to feature live wolves, owls, eagles and reptiles — a sure bet to fascinate kids of all ages in addition to presentations, activities and tours.

Things get started with a guided bird walk at 7:30 a.m. Other activities get under way at 10 a.m.

The day is billed as an event that brings together wildlife, nature and outdoor enthusiasts.

There will be a forest exhibit, and guided nature walks, nature presentations, crafts and workshops will be held throughout the day. Some of the events on the schedule include:

? The Southern Vermont Museum will be there with hawks at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

? Live animals from Squam Lake Science Center will be shown at 10:30 a.m. and noon.

? Jim Andrews will feature amphibians, including a turtle workshop at 11 a.m.

? Jerry Snyder will feature butterflies at 11:30 a.m.

? Brian “Fox” Ellis will give a presentation about the “comic misadventures” of Lewis and Clark at 1 p.m.

? The Vermont Institute of Natural Science will offer a presentation on hawks and owls at 2 p.m.

? Jake the Snake of AMOS Natural Science Education Services will feature a 9-foot boa constrictor at 2:30 p.m.

? And Atka, a wolf from the Wolf Conservation Center, will be featured at 3 p.m. Other events will be held throughout the day.

Families will be able to take nature walks with Meg Moynihan.

Also, a presentation will focus on the “Ways of the Woods: People and the Land in the Northern Forest.”

There will also be food and live music, and the event will be held rain or shine.

Finding Herricks Cove can be tricky. It is located off Route 5 less than 3 miles north of Bellows Falls.

From Interstate 91 northbound, take Exit 6 onto Route 5. Continue past the intersection with Route 103, down the hill, across the Williams River to Herricks Cove Road on the right, then follow the signs. From I-91 southbound, take Exit 6 onto Route 103, take a left onto Route 5, down the hill, across the river and right on Herricks Cove Road.

There is no charge to attend, but contributions will be accepted with a suggested donation of $2 per person or $5 per family.

For more information contact Ascutney Mountain Audubon at 722-3355, The Nature Museum at 843-2111 or staff@nature-museum.org, or the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department at www.vtfishandwildlife.com.


Seyon Lodge

The Vermont State Parks is offering a bargain for people wanting to experience Seyon Lodge State Park and get away from it all with the creature comforts of home.

Located in the middle of Groton State Forest, and home to Noyes Pond, Seyon Lodge features some of the best early-season brook trout fishing destinations is offering people a preseason deal.

Sorry for the blatant ad, but this sounds like a deal a lot of people might be interested in.

Between now and June 18, a two-night, midweek stay at Seyon Lodge is priced at $65 a night with all meals and full-day boat rental included. Even taxes are covered in this price.

That boat will come in useful; should you simply want to tool around Noyes Pond or cast for brook trout, that is highly recommended.

The State Parks calls it Vermont’s only public fly-fishing trout pond and has been named one of the best brook trout fisheries in Vermont by Steve Hickoff and Rhey Plumley in their book, “Flyfishers Guide to Northern New England.”

“Early and late season is the best time to fish Noyes Pond,” according to the book. “The emergence of the giant mayfly, in late May and early June, can be dramatic and brings many, sometimes large, beautifully colored brookies to the surface.”

Seyon Lodge State Park offers a season fishing pass granting unlimited fishing and boat rentals that will be on sale for $89 through June 1. After that, the price is $95.

Not an angler?

No problem.

“The excellent fishing is not the only draw at Noyes Pond,” Hickoff and Plumley write. “The setting is quietly beautiful. You’ll often hear the whistle of a peregrine soaring on the wind currents high overhead. Or you might see a loon dive beneath the surface of the pond, holding its breath for what seems an impossible amount of time.”

Sold?

Contact Seyon Lodge State Park at 584-3829, or find more information online at www.vtstateparks.com.

Darren Marcy is a local outdoor enthusiast. His Web site is www.DarrenMarcy.com. E-mail him at darren@darrenmarcy.com.

Tweetin' on Twitter, or Whatever

I'm taking this Web 2.0 or Social Networking, or wasting time over and over again to the next level.

One of the things I want to do is expand my horizons in the world of outdoor writing as well as possibly find new eyeballs that might be interested in reading some of mine.

To that end, I've been jumping into the online world deeper than ever. I've had a blog and Web page in one version or another for about four years. Now, I have a Facebook page, a spot on CamoSpace, and, last but not least, a Twitter page.

You'll see the link to my Tweets (as I'm told they're called) on the side of this blog.

Soon, I will get around to adding links to my Facebook page (Darren Marcy Outdoors) and CamoSpace site (Darren Marcy) as well as a link to my other blog with the Rutland Herald (www.rutlandherald.typepad.com/outdoorsvermont).

Look me up and let's connect. I'm always looking to meet new people, particularly people with a passion for the outdoors.

OutdoorsVT 4-17-09

Vt. State Parks propose increase in camping

Fido is going to have to pay more to camp in Vermont State Parks in 2009.

It’s going to be more expensive to camp in a Vermont State Park this year if a fee increase goes through as proposed by the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

State Parks Director Craig Whipple says the fee increases are an effort on the part of the State Parks to keep up with the cost of doing business because the costs to run the parks increase $200,000 to $300,000 every year due to inflation.

The fee increase proposal is set to go into effect June 1. While the increased costs are only some of the proposed changes, camping fee increases will be among the most noticeable changes for visitors to state parks.

With the exception of remote areas, the department is proposing to eliminate $14 sites and add a $2 fee for nonresidents — two of the changes people will notice.

The new camping fees will be $16 for residents for a standard tent or trailer site, and $18 for prime sites.

A lean-to site will go for $23, with prime lean-to locations priced at $25.

Those prices are for up to four people per site. The additional-person charge will be increased by $1 to $5 per person.

Nonresidents will pay $2 more per night for all camping sites.

The designation of a “resident” follows the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s definition as a person living in Vermont with no other residences for at least six months.

Fee increases will even affect your pooch, which will be charged $1 per night.

There are other changes, but those are the highlights.

There will be detractors who claim the proposed increase is just another example of government excess. Some will go as far as to call it a tax increase.

But growing costs are a fact of life and Vermont’s State Parks are still a bargain.

Consider day-use fees. My family of four, with one kid too young to be assessed an entry fee, pays $8 for the day.

Try going to a movie — even a matinee — for that.

A night of camping will go up, but a night with the family is priceless. There is little better than cooking hot dogs over a fire and roasting marshmallows with your kids. We’ll be doing that this summer and a couple of dollars won’t dissuade us from that little adventure.

Whipple says the proposal to increase the fees is part of the State Parks’ philosophy of supporting the parks system to the point that is feasible and reasonable.

He said that charging fees is a simple reality in order to sustain the parks’ operation, but fees should not become a deterrent for people.

“Our fiscal approach here is to balance all those things and not set fees too high, but not to apply any more pressure than necessary on the general fund. Our effort is to make the park system as self sufficient as possible without the comprising our purpose.”

In 2007, the day-use fees were adjusted slightly, but Whipple says it has been a while since camping fees had been adjusted.

Whipple said day use has been declining at state parks but he doesn’t expect this round of fee increases, if enacted, will deter people.

“It’s an educated guess, you never know for sure,” Whipple said. “In the past there have been some larger incremental increases and it’s shown a modest decline in usage. It shows you’ve gone too far too fast.”

But today’s economy has people looking for cheaper, closer-to-home recreation options.

“Camping is still a relatively inexpensive camping option,” Whipple said. “People are looking for ways to spend their down time and leisure time. We’re hoping people stay close to home and use their state parks.”

That seems to be happening, he said.

About 45 percent of State Parks visitors are Vermonters and reservations are up about 5 percent this year, Whipple said.

With the fee increase, Vermont will still be competitive with nearby states, Whipple said.

“We did as close a comparison as we could for 11 northeastern states,” he said. “We’re about in the middle any way you work it.”

Let’s face it. Camping remains one of the most affordable ways for a family to spend time in the great outdoors. A small fee increase won’t keep most people home or prevent a family from going camping.

This increase deserves our support.

But whether you agree, you have an opportunity to comment on the proposed changes.

A public hearing will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, April 27, at the Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation Conference Room in Waterbury.

Written comments can be mailed to Craig Whipple, Director of State Parks, 103 S. Main St., 10 South, Waterbury, Vt., 05671. Comments can also be e-mail to craig.whipple@state.vt.us.

Details of all proposed changes can be found on the State Parks’ Web site at www.vtstateparks.com, scroll down and click on Fee Increases.

Darren Marcy is a local outdoor enthusiast. His Web site is www.DarrenMarcy.com. E-mail him at darren@darrenmarcy.com.

NEOWA Member

Well, I guess I'm officially a member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association. Submitting my application materials during the organization's annual meeting a week ago and I've received word that it was accepted and I should expect my membership packet in the mail soon.

I'm looking forward to that.

I've been kicking around the idea of joining the NEOWA for a year or so, but wanted to wait until I felt like I truly belonged.

I didn't want to have to work hard to meet the minimum requirements for eligibility. Now that I've been writing my weekly outdoor column for the Rutland (Vt.) Herald for more than a year and regularly sell other freelance work, I decided it was time.

I'm proud to be able to call myself a member of the NEOWA.

OutdoorsVT 4-10-09

Avoid wet trails through Memorial Day

It’s that wonderful time of the year again. Spring is finally coming to Vermont.

The snow is largely gone, temperatures are finally beginning to turn seasonal and there is green beginning to show.

Unfortunately, while the temperatures often provide great hiking weather this time of the year, the ground often isn’t ready.

Mud season is a time of the year when hikers and bikers are itching to set boot or tire to trail, yet the trails fight back with mud.

The Green Mountain Club is asking hikers to refrain from hitting the trails that are muddy until they firm up, usually by Memorial Day weekend.

Staying off muddy trails will protect fragile areas and prevent erosion.

The Green Mountain Club and trail volunteers work throughout the warmer months to repair trail damage as well as perform preventative maintenance.

Hiking when the trails are muddy can set back efforts, causing more damage and negating previous work.

And the higher elevations are where the trails will remain muddy the longest. It’s possible to start out on a dry trail that quickly becomes a mud bog.

Some hikers will try to skirt muddy areas by walking on the vegetation on either side, causing the hole to widen and increase the size of the problem.

Fortunately, there are plenty of lower-elevation hikes that offer early-season hiking opportunities ranging from dirt roads to recreation paths.

A list of possible hikes can be found on the Green Mountain Club’s Web site at http://www.greenmountainclub.org/.

Check with the Vermont State Parks, the nearest U.S. Forest Service ranger district office or the local municipality for suggestions and warnings about trails under each jurisdiction.

Some areas should be avoided, including Camel’s Hump, Mount Mansfield, Stratton Mountain, Killington Peak, Jay Peak, and Lincoln Ridge from Mount Ellen to the Appalachian Gap.

Also avoid high-elevation conifer forests, sticking to hardwood forests at lower elevations and south-facing slopes will dry sooner than northern exposures.


Pine Hill Park
The Pine Hill Park folks are back at it with a slate of work days to improve the trails.

The first public work day is set for 9 a.m. Sunday, April 26. Work will focus on the front entrance area and back to Elephant Rock.

Pack some cookies to share if you’d like and organizers say chocolate bribes might be available for those who show up.

The second work day is set for 9 a.m. May 16 with the focus on hauling in lumber for bridge projects followed by trail work on Lonely Rock and Strong Angel trails.


ATV club grant
The Birdseye Mountain ATV Club has announced it has received a $10,000 trail grant from the Polaris TRAILS Committee of Polaris Industries.

The grant will be used to improve Trail No. 2 up to Betsy’s Balcony and build a new trail across the top of the Birdseye Mountain ridge towards the Dome.

The new trail will be called “Polaris Run.”

The ATV club hopes to have Polaris Run ready by July 18.


Half marathon
A new half marathon is set for April 26.

The Middlebury Maple Run — The Sweetest Half is scheduled to kick off at 9 a.m. Sunday, April 26, from Porter Medical Center.

The USA Track & Field-certified course will feature traffic control and water stations until 12:30 p.m., after which runners continue at their own risk.

Runners registered by April 15th will get a free T-shirt.

The race will award the first-place male and female finisher in open and master divisions, as well as three places in six age groups.

A pre-race pasta buffet will be held 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. the previous night and registration and packet pickup is at 6 to 8 p.m. The cost for the buffet is $12.99.

For more information, log on to http://www.addisoncounty.com/ and click on the link at the bottom, right part of the screen, or call 388-7951, ext. 2.


Floyd Landis
The 2009 Tour of the Battenkill will be held April 18-19 with one high-profile rider scheduled to compete.

Floyd Landis, who won the Tour de France only to be stripped of the title after testing positive for a banned substance, is set to compete with Team OUCH out of Oakland, Calif., after sitting out his two-year ban and having hip-resurfacing surgery.

In all, 22 professional teams are scheduled to compete in the professional invitational event. Dubbed “America’s Queen of the Classics,” the Tour of the Battenkill boasts a 124-mile course with 16 dirt sections beginning in Cambridge, N.Y.

In all, more than 2,000 racers are expected for the two-day event, which organizers claim makes it the largest road cycling race in the United States.

For more information, log on to http://www.tourofthebattenkill.com/.

Darren Marcy is a local outdoor enthusiast. His Web site is www.DarrenMarcy.com. E-mail him at darren@darrenmarcy.com.

The Great Hook-Baiting Scandal

Saturday is the trout season opener in Vermont, a holiday of sorts for hard-core anglers who have waited all winter for the chance to drown a worm with the hope of landing a rainbow, brown or brookie.

Also, Gov. James Douglas and Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Wayne Laroche will celebrate the season opener at 11:30 a.m. at Marshfield Reservoir fishing access area, 2 miles east of the village on Route 2.

There will be youngsters on hand along with their parents or mentors. Douglas and Laroche will be fishing with them and coaching the young anglers as well as talking about the importance of fishing in Vermont.

Let's just hope there isn't a repeat of last year's hook-baiting scandal.

A year ago, I watched footage of Douglas fishing on opening Saturday on the evening news. At one point, I was amazed as the governor reeled in his line, raised his rod and swung his bare hook back toward a man wearing a Fish and Wildlife shirt who promptly baited his hook for him.

I later found out this was Laroche.

I was amazed and told Rutland Herald outdoor editor Dennis Jensen knowing he would get a chuckle out of it. When I told Jensen, he was more than amused. He wrote a column about it, which spread far and wide. Douglas ended up being vilified in several national publications.

Mr. Laroche, please leave the governor's hook alone.

Governor, put your own worm on. You should also be prepared. What if you accidentally catch a fish? You wouldn't want to embarrass yourself in front of all those kids.

What Direction Will This Blog Take?

I've been doing a lot of thinking about the purpose of this blog.

For a while now, I've been regurgitating news that I thought to be interesting, or maybe even useful.

But it struck me. I'm doing something that others are already doing, and, in fact, they're doing it better. (Look for a post soon on what I believe to be some of the best sources for regular -- daily -- outdoor news on a countrywide scale.)

So, I'm thinking, what can I offer that isn't already out there in several locations?

The quick and dirty answer is my opinion. Nobody else is printing my opinion on things, or sharing with the world news about my successes and failures as an outdoor writer.

That's the direction I'm going to be leaning. Until I get it figured out for sure, I'd expect fewer offerings here than what I've been posting.

OutdoorsVT 4-3-09

DVD features New England’s reptiles, amphibians

The spring peepers are about to begin their peeping and with it comes another spring to Vermont.

The world of reptiles and amphibians don’t often get the attention that other wildlife species garner.

Snakes, frogs and salamanders just aren’t as sexy as deer, turkeys and bears.

Certainly it has something to do with their size and that they aren’t obvious like a deer standing in a field or a moose in a bog.

But, in their own way, amphibians and reptiles are fascinating critters and worthy of study and appreciation.

And, now is the time to learn more about these animals and their habitats.

If the peepers haven’t already started their serenade, they will soon in a vernal pool near you.

And while many species of amphibians and reptiles may be abundant in places, others are nearly impossible to find unless you know exactly where and when to look. Because most of us aren’t herpetologists, most of us don’t know when or where that is.

A newly released interactive DVD will help.

“Rattlers, Peepers & Snappers,” is the result of a collaboration between wildlife videographer and editor Vince Franke and Jim Andrews of Middlebury College.

The DVD was four years in the making as Franke videoed all over New England when time allowed in between his other projects and when the various species were active.

Now complete, the DVD includes three hours of video coverage of all 52 breeding species of amphibians and reptiles in New England.

While aimed at resource professionals, naturalists, teachers and students, the DVD would be of interest to anybody who appreciates wild critters, their habitat and the challenges biologists face in protecting sensitive species.

Franke said one of the keys to the production was the knowledge of Andrews, who has been the driving force behind the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas at Middlebury College.

“He’s very knowledgeable and he’s focused on educating people on amphibians and reptiles and what we can do to reduce our effects on them,” Franke said.

A one-hour presentation, culled from the three hours of video footage on the DVD, will be aired at 7 p.m. Sunday on Vermont Public Television.


The DVD

This DVD, while not organized just like a traditional paper field guide, supplies much of the same information but with video, interviews and an ease of use that, in some ways, surpass a standard field guide.

Speed is one advantage. If you know what species you’re looking for, you can be watching a video of an expert herpetologist discussing the species within seconds.

You can learn about its distribution, whether it is common or rare, habitat needs, visual identification, and listen to its vocalizations in about the same amount of time it would take to find the species in a guide and start reading.

The program is divided into two sections: one for amphibians and one for reptiles with videos, field adventures, species specific information and videos and quizzes for each.

The camera work is incredible, a result, Franke said, of the expertise of his guides and having a lot of patience at times.

Two Vermont species – the five-lined skink and the timber rattlesnake, both of which are found in Rutland County – are so rare that few have ever seen them.

Alcott Smith led Franke to some timber rattlers, finding some large rattlers and, later, footage of fall babies.

“The most humbling thing about the rattlesnakes is they were just sprawled out sunning in the forests,” Frank said.

The skinks, Franke said, were even more of a challenge because they are hard to find and fast moving when they are found. He said the key was to go to an area where they had been seen before and then waiting for hours.

“The skinks took a while to film,” he said. “I think it’s pretty unique footage. I don’t think there’s much footage out there of five-lined skinks in our area. It’s great to be able to show that to people.”

Because of the way it’s designed, you don’t lose anything by watching the segments out of order allowing the viewer to hit the things most interesting to them or most appropriate to learn about a specific species as needed.


Big honor

Editing the three hours of footage into the one-hour show for VPT this Sunday was difficult, Franke said.

“It was a bit of a challenge but I realized what would work best was to show the field trips,” Frank said.

Even then, there was too much video, so he pruned the field trips, each featuring an expert in the field, down from 15 to nine.

“The field trips allowed people to go along and find out where these critters were and let these experts explain things in their own way,” Franke said.

The DVD has been released to wide acclaim including an honor in an international film festival.

“Rattlers, Peepers & Snappers” will be given an honorable mention for Scientific Content at the 32nd International Wildlife Film Festival on May 9-16.

Franke said it’s quite an honor because the film festival draws entries from the British Broadcasting Corporation, National Geographic, Animal Planet International, and the Nature series on PBS.

“All the big producers are there,” Franke said. “It is nice to get recognized by the scientific community.”

Check this DVD out.

Keeping a kid’s attention in today’s video-game world is difficult. A DVD like this one gives a parent a fighting chance and it will be fun and educational for everyone.

“Rattlers, Peepers & Snappers” is $24.95 and is available from Peregrine Productions at www.rpsdvd.com.

Darren Marcy is a local outdoor enthusiast. His Web site is www.DarrenMarcy.com. E-mail him at darren@darrenmarcy.com.

OutdoorsVT 3-27-09

Happy birthday to OutdoorsVT

It’s been a whole year since I first subjected you to OutdoorsVT.

Can you believe you’ve put up with me for 12 months?

My long-suffering wife sympathizes with you. She can barely put up with me.

Congratulate yourself on your dedication and perseverance.

Whether you actually like reading the dreck I schlep every week or just put up with it, I thank you.

Many writers go through their entire careers thinking so highly of themselves they believe it’s their work that is important and the readers are lucky to read it. But I learned long ago it’s the other way around.

These days we have many, many places to get our news and that applies to outdoor information as well. If you spend a part of your Friday with my ugly mug in front of you, I appreciate that.

But, just like getting drunk at the end of the year and making resolutions about what we’re going to do in the coming 12 months, I like to take a moment and reflect and look forward — just without the headache that follows.

In the last year we’ve gone biking, hiking, boating, camping, skiing, snowshoeing, watched spring babies, chased the fall foliage and reminisced over Bubba, my golden retriever who went to that great trail in the sky.

We’ve built bridges, attended outdoor shindigs, counted birds, promised to follow the Leave No Trace outdoor ethic and celebrated a relatively safe snowmobiling season.

We’ve bought boots and snowshoes and worried about the BPA in our Nalgene and similar plastic bottles.

We’ve competed in the Mount Ascutney Run, went on plenty of runs in Pine Hill Park including the Sunset Series, ridden in the Vermont Lakes Region Cycling Weekend, a variety of triathlons and went on monthly jaunts around the West Rutland Marsh with the Rutland County Audubon birders, and weekly hikes with the Green Mountain Club.

We’ve celebrated Vermont Days, National Trails Day, the Long Trail Festival, Dead Creek Wildlife Day, and Killington’s 50th anniversary.

We even ran for president together under the banner of the Outdoor Party.

It was fun.

The best part is we’re heading into year two and we get to do it all again.

But before we hit the trail, I’d like to know what you think.

I give a rip what you like or don’t like about this column.

What is it that works, or doesn’t work, for you when you read OutdoorsVT?

For example, my wife doesn’t think I’m funny and when I try she thinks I embarrass myself.

Should I leave humor to Leno and Letterman or Colbert and Stewart? What do you think of the where-to-go pieces? More gear? More trails? Book reviews? What would you prefer to see more coverage of?

Too much hiking and not enough biking? Too much gear and not enough deer? Want to read about a new trail, but not about a … a … sorry, can’t do it. I gave up rhyming after “Green Eggs and Ham.”

What columns do you read to the end and which ones do you turn the page without starting? I want to know.

Understand one thing. I reserve the right to ignore anything you have to say. But I can promise I’ll consider all suggestions and criticisms — even those that include profanity and thinly veiled threats.

But at least put your name on your correspondence. I don’t want to have to write back and say:

Dear Youraidiot@yahoo.com,

I’m sorry you think my column is a waste of perfectly good fire starter.

Sorry, I won’t beat my head on the remaining ice at Lake St. Catherine, but I will seriously consider avoiding suggesting that people hang their wooden snowshoes on the wall in the future.

I did not mean to offend both members of the World Association of Snowshoe Travel Elitists.

Thanks for writing,

Darren

That’s a joke. I actually had one very nice gentlemen write to tell me I was all wet in addition to a recent letter to the editor. The end result? I promised to write a piece about wood snowshoes next winter to give them a fair shake.

If that’s not democratic, I don’t know what is.

And before I forget, I think this is an appropriate time and place to apologize to some folks who were inadvertently ignored back in December and January or so. I apparently had problems with my e-mail configuration or something and I didn’t get any e-mail for a period of time.

I didn’t intentionally ignore you and appreciated hearing your comments on various columns. Now that I’ve recovered them I’m slowly catching up with those that are still valid.

So, send in that feedback. E-mail it to the address below, or do it the old-fashioned way by writing to the Rutland Herald, PO Box 668, Rutland, Vt., 05702.

Go crazy. Tell me what you think. Get it off your chest. It’s not every day a writer asks you to criticize him.

Thanks. I look forward to hearing from you.

Except for you, Long Suffering Wife. You get your say at home. Now, let’s hit the trail on the second year.

Darren Marcy is a local outdoor enthusiast. His Web site is www.DarrenMarcy.com. E-mail him at darren@darrenmarcy.com.

OutdoorsVT 3-20-09

A couple of hikes over the last weekend proved that it's not always what you pick up along the way, but what you bring home that matters.

It started with my youngest daughter picking up a handful of deer pellets, and ended 24 hours later with me getting in trouble for bringing home a scat specimen to identify. In between, there was plenty of fun.

Read about the adventure here.

Fla. Outdoor Writer Dies

An outdoor icon in Florida died March 13.

Jerry Hill, an outdoor writer for the Bradenton (Fla.) Herald for 32 years, was hailed as one of the best outdoor scribes in the state of Florida.

It's always sad when one of these old-timers heads off to the great field or stream in the sky.

For more about Jerry Hill, read a story in Saturday's paper, a column carried in Sunday's Herald, followed by an opinion piece a couple days later.

Salem-News.com Adds Outdoor Reporters

Hold the presses and your hat.

In a move that is the complete oppositive of everything going on elsewhere in the world of publishing, Salem-News.com has announced the addition of two outdoor reporters to its publishing efforts.

It may not exactly be the New York Times, but any work for an outdoor writer is to be celebrated.

Longtime Izaac Walton League Leader Dies

Jack Lorenz, the longtime director of the Izaak Walton League, died March 2.

Lorenz became known nationally during his 18 years at the helm of IWL where he developed a code of ethics on outdoor activities and led the group into the forefront of the national environmental debate.

Lorenz was respected in many outdoor circles, bringing together groups often at odds with each other like the Sierra Club and National Rifle Association to achieve common goals.

Paul Hansen, who led the Izaac Walton League from 1995 to 2007 spoke highly of Lorenz.

"He was the nation's spokesman for many years on the ethical management of hunting, angling and off-road vehicle use," Hansen said. "He was one of the nation's most well known and popular environmentalists."

Read about Jack Lorenz in this Washington Post piece.

OutdoorsVT 3-13-09

It's been a safe year on Vermont's snowmobile trails compared to past years.

With an average of 40 to 50 crashes a year and two or three deaths per year, Vermont closing in on the end of the season with only a handful of crashes and a single fatality.

Authorities are hoping the luck will hold as Vermont remains one of the safest states in New England for snowmobiling.

Read about the safe year in Vermont here.

OutdoorsVT 3-6-09

A coalition of 52 conservation and outdoor recreation groups held a press conference earlier this week to call on the federal government to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund was established in 1965 to help preserve the nation's natural areas, culturally and historically significant landmarks, and outdoor recreation opportunities.

It is currently designed to be funded to the tune of $900 million per year, but only once has it reached its full funding level.

In the last decade, the funding has continually fallen until, in the 2008 fiscal year, only $155 million went into the fund.

More than $17 billion of the funding has been diverted from land conservation for other governmental uses.

It's no wonder there is such a backlog of needs and a lack of funds for land acquisition and conservation projects.

Read the column about why I think the LWCF should be fully funded.

Seeking Historical Vermont Hunting & Fishing Photos

I'm looking for historical hunting and fishing photos in Vermont for a book project.

Do you have old hunting or angling photos from Vermont?

Do you have family or friends in Vermont who might?

You could see your family's hunting and fishing photos in a book dedicated to those sports.

Please contact me at: darren@darrenmarcy.com.

Cheney confirmed as museum speaker

So the American Museum of Fly Fishing seems to have finally come clean on its involvement with Dick Cheney as a speaker for a fundraiser.

Cheney will speak at a museum fundraising event, but not at next week's annual dinner. The AMFF Executive Director Cathy Comar said the event will be sometime in the fall and probably in the Washington, D.C., area.

Read about the announcement as reported in the Rutland (Vt.) Herald.

Fly-fishing and conservation writer Ted Williams broke the story, to the best of my knowledge, in January. Since that time, the museum has either been mum or denied it.

The museum has sullied its reputation with the choice of Cheney as a speaker and has looked silly in trying to deny -- poorly at best -- the news along the way.

I expect to write a lot more on this as time permits.

OutdoorsVT 2-27-09

Hunters and anglers pay the lion's share of the way for wildlife conservation, habitat restoration and access to recreation areas through two federal excise tax programs on sporting equipment and supplies.

The Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act and the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act provide millions of dollars to states every year.

Many of the benefits are appreciated by users groups well beyond hunters and anglers yet little money is put forward to help pay the costs.

Read my take on the subject here.

OutdoorsVT 2-20-09

Snowshoeing is growing in popularity every year, which means a lot of people are buying snowshoes.

Snowshoes are made for recreational, backcountry and running uses and each has features that make them slightly different from one another.

I run through the various details about buying snowshoes including sizing, construction and accessories.

Read the full column here.

Jaguar Trapped in Arizona

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

After keeping tabs on a wild jaguar in southeastern Arizona for more than a decade, Arizona Game and Fish officials accidantally capture the big cat Feb. 18 while trying to trap mountain lions and black bears.

During a study to monitor habitat connectivity for cougars and bears, the jaguar was captured southwest of Tuscon, Ariz. It was captured, fitted with a GPS tracking collar and released. The collar will relay the cat's location every three hours allowing biologist to track the animal and learn about it's feeding and traveling habits.

Ironically, more than 10 years ago the department tried to trap a jaguar, after a big cat was accidentally treed and photographed by a mountain lion hunter in 1996. Biologists were unsuccessful but jaguars have been captured on trail cameras many times and tracks found over the last decade.

While not immediately confirmed, the jaguar is believed to be "Macho B" a cat that has been photographed multiple times over the last 13 years.

The trapped cat weighed 118 pounds and appeared to be healthy.

Outdoor Products Recalled

Skis, mountain bike forks and a campstove. All three of these items have been recalled recently after they were found to have dangerous defects.


XBi ALU Skis

About 4,500 pairs of skis made in Italy and distributed by Nordica USA have been recalled because a binding plate can crack or break. No incidents or injuries have been reported.

The skis were sold nationwide from August 2006 to December 2008 and retailed for between $800 and $1,500.

The recall includes Nordica ski models: 2006 MACH3POWER; 2007 DOBSPIT; 2007 MACH3POWER; 2007 MACH3; 2007 MACH2; 2007 HELLCAT; 2007 FIREFOX; 2007 DOBPROSL; 2008 FIREFOX; 2008 DOBPROSL; 2008 DOBPROGS. The skis were sold at ski retailers nationwide from August 2006 through December last year.

Consumers should stop using the skis immediately and return them to the retailer for a free replacement of the binding plate.

For more information: Nordica USA at (800) 892-2668 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday, info@nordicausa.com, or www.nordicausa.com.


Marzocchi Mountain Bike Forks

Bicycle forks made by Tenneco-Marzocchi of Bologna, Italy, have been recalled because the fork could become compressed and fail to rebound.

There have been eight reported incidents including one that called injuries.

The recalled forks include certain 2008 model year 888RC3 and 888RC3WC suspensions with date codes beginning with T07D07, T07D08 and T07D09. The forks are white or black with red and black artwork on the legs.

The forks sold nationwide from July 2007 to September 2007 for between $1,000 and $1,700.
Consumers should stop using the forks immediately and return them to the dealer for a free repair.

For more information: Marzocchi at (800) 227-5579 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. PST Monday through Friday, Techinfo@Marzocchiusa.com, or www.marzocchi.com.


Field & Stream Dual Burner Camp Stoves

About 6,700 dual burner camp stoves sold under the Field & Stream brand at Dick's Sporting Goods have been recalled because of burner problems that could cause higher-than-expected flames unexpected ignition. There have been no reported incidents or injuries.

The stoves carry a style number of #CEH00475 and sold for between $100 and $120.

The stoves should not be used and consumers should contact Dick's Sporting Goods for a free repair kit.

For more information: Dick’s Sporting Goods 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday (888) 837-1380, CampStove@rankam.com, www.dickssportinggoods.com.

OutdoorsVT 2-13-09

Man, getting old sucks.

On top of it, I've let myself go and now I find myself way out of shape and it's hurting my outdoor pursuits.

This is mostly about weight as I'm in pretty decent shape considering my size. Well, as good a shape as a guy with a gut my size can be in.

It doesn't stop my outdoor pursuits. I still hit the trail, but there's no denying I could go faster and farther if I wasn't lugging along the extra poundage.

I'm getting old. When I was hauling around 225 pounds at 30, it wasn't as big a deal. But I'll be 42 in a month and 225 is a long-gone fond memory.

So I've decided to do something about it.

Follow my efforts to get in shape at www.fitoutdoors.blogspot.com/.


And read the rest of my column about being fat and broke here.


Read all about my upcoming effort to get fit for the outdoors here.

Outdoor Expo Grinds to a Close

Toyota Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition ground to a halt after four days in Worcester, Mass. It was a four-day outdoor smorgasborg offering knowledge, entertainment and good old-fashioned American capitalism.

There were many highlights, but for me, it was the people that will prove to be the highlights over time. I was able to meet and have conversations with some really nice and knowledgeable folks during the two days I was there.

Make yourself a promise of attending next year. Mark your calendar now and start checking the Web site toward the end of 2009 for the 2010 Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition.

Fishing & Outdoor Expo

Man, this thing is everything I hoped it would be.

The Toyota Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition completed its third (of four) day today. It was my first day here and I'm worn out. I'm also buzzing after a day of looking at trophy animals and outdoor gear, watching seminars and talking about hunting, fishing, boating, camping and general outdoor fun all day.

I met a lot of great people and made many great contacts that will be paying off down the road in terms of articles and better knowledge. I already have books in hand for review and a line on another. I've come across a great turkey hunting product I plan on writing about this spring and made contact with a guy making his own fishing lures for a variety of freshwater fish I expect to be hooking up with in the future in some regard.

The great thing is that I only scratched the surface. I have a full day tomorrow still before returning home Monday with a bag full of literature and notes.

Stay tuned.

OutdoorsVT 2-6-09

All over the Green Mountain State, winter events are in full swing.

From winter carnivals and festivals to ice-fishing competitions, snowshoeing and animal tracking.

It's an outdoor paradise here year-round, but the winter activity is quite varied.

So, layer up the clothing, find the hat, gloves, scarf and waterproof boots and hit a few of these events.

Read the column here.

Heading to Worcester, Mass.

As soon as I can get away from the office today (and go home and pack) I'm hitting the road for Worcester, Mass., for the 33rd annual Toyota Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition.

The Worcester show is one of three the group is putting on. Although each has a slightly different focus, they all feature impressive lineups. See www.sportshows.com/ for more about the upcoming show in Suffern, N.Y., March 5-8 as well as the details about this weekend's show. A saltwater show is scheduled for March 20-22 in New Jersey.

This weekend's four-day event is chock full of top-notch seminars, acres of displays, and what sounds like a impressive slate of fun demonstrations.

Some of the outdoor industry's biggest names will be teaching their skills. From the bass-fishing world Kevin Van Dam, Mike Iaconelli and Ish Monroe will be on hand. Greg Ritz, host of Thompson Center Arms Game Trails TV show will talk about hunting white-tailed deer; Shane Benoit, Vermont's own famous trophy whitetail deer hunter; and New England legend Stu Bristol will talk about turkey hunting and using a GPS unit to improve your hunting success.

Among the other events, some of the highlights are easy to pick out in advance. Others will likely be a surprise.

There will also be a 40-foot mobile fish tank that doubles as a water dog jumping and retrieving platform, as well as a display and activities by the Maine Primitive School, dangerous reptiles of the world, a bird of prey display and presentations.

If that's not enough, there will be more than 350 exhibitors displaying their wares, trips, guiding services and others to take in.

Can't wait. I'll let you know how it goes and what I find.

Women Outdoor Media Association launched

A new group has formed aimed at outdoor women communicators and professionals.

The Women's Outdoor Media Association launched Jan. 17 at the National Shooting Sports Foundation's annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trades Show in Orlando, Fla.

This is what the group says about itself on its Web site:

"The intention is to complement other media organizations. The difference is that the focus of The WOMA is on what women are doing, and what is being done for them, in the outdoor areas of shooting sports, hunting and fishing."

Involving more women is an important part of growing the ranks of outdoor enthusiasts and only by helping women feel welcome will that happen. Hopefully, this organization will bring more women into the fold, and as a result, their daughters down the road.

Aldo Leopold's Shack Made a Landmark

Aldo Leopold, the father of modern scientific conservation, has had his Wisconsin shack named a National Historic Landmark.

Former Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne made the designation before he left office in December.

Leopold is largely given credit for his contribution to conservation through his leadership and his thoughtful essays in "A Sand County Almanac."

Leopold died at 61 in 1948 just before the book was published.

OutdoorsVT 1-30-09

Vermont's State Parks aren't just warm-weather destinations.


The camping, fishing, hiking, biking and other activities that can be found at Vermont's parks throughout the warm-weather months are well-known among Vermont's outdoor recreation crowd.

But because many of Vermont State Parks are open for winter activities and are popular destinations for outdoor enthusiasts.

Read about the winter fun at Vermont State Parks here.

Good Article on "Critter Groups"

Great Falls (Montana) Tribune Outdoor Editor Michael Babcock has written a great piece on how the economy is affecting outdoor organizations dedicated to specific species.

Babcock writes: "'Critter groups' — species-specific, hunter- and angler-supported foundations that watch out for elk, mule deer, wild sheep, wild trout and others — seem to have weathered the recession well."

Organizations like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Trout Unlimited, Wild Sheep Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation and Pheasants Forever talk about how they are dealing with members expected to be a little tighter with their purse strings.

Read the article here.

OutdoorsVT 1-23-09

Exploring the backcountry in the middle of winter on a pair of skinny skis can be intimidating for someone not accustomed to venturing out in what can be an unforgiving environment.

If a person gets lost while hiking in the summer, an uncomfortable night in the woods is about the worst that will happen. But in winter, it can be deadly.

With a little knowledge and the right gear, heading into the woods on skis can be a way to escape the stress of life and enjoy the beautiful Vermont backcountry.

Sunday, newcomers to cross-country skiing will have the chance to learn the basics of the sport while experienced skiers can learn additional skills.

The Get Out and Backcountry Ski Festival on Sunday is the work of Bolton Valley Resort and the Catamount Trail Association.

Read about the event here.

TRCP Leader Dies

The chairman of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership has died.

James D. Range, 63, died Jan. 20 after losing a battle to cancer.

Range was widely respected for his dedicated work in fish and wildlife circles. He had worked as an advisor to former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker who said Range "helped to fashion some of this country's most vital environmental legislation.”

Range was involved with Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, the Wetlands America Trust, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, the American Sportfishing Association, the American Bird Conservatory, the Pacific Forest Trust, the Yellowstone Foundation and the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust.

He was also a board member and chair of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a White House appointee to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, the Sportfishing and Boating Partnership Council and the Valles Caldera Trust.

The Department of Interior honored Range with the 2003 Great Blue Heron Award, the highest honor given to an individual.

Also in 2003, he was named the Outdoor Life Magazine Conservationist of the Year and the Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given by the American Sportfishing Association.

For more details on Range's achievements and life, see the release at the TRCP site here.

OutdoorsVT 1-16-09

Downhill skiing is a thrilling sport that allows a person to pick their type of fun.

There are bumps for those who appreciate the challenge of precision turns and strong thighs, terrifyingly steep drops for the thrill seekers, nearly flat routes for those who are learning their skills but refuse to be relegated to the beginner hills at the bottom, flowing blue runs with rippled corduroy for relaxed cruising, deep powder and even terrain parks.

But one thing all these types of terrain have in common is the need for safety.

Beginning Saturday, ski areas nationwide will be focusing on safety as they participate in National Ski Areas Association's National Safety Week.

Read the rest of the column here.

Article Claims Hunting Results in Smaller Animals

Found this interesting article that seems to claim that trophy hunting -- and hunting in general -- is causing rapid evolution of species resulting in smaller animals with smaller antlers/horns.

It is based on a study that says that hunting trophy animals leaves a disproportionate number of smaller animals to reproduce and is creating an artificial "natural selection" resulting in smaller animals with reduced headgear.

It's an interesting theory, but I can't judge if it is biologically sound science. What do you think?

To read the full story, click here.

OutdoorsVT 1-9-09

A national celebration aimed at getting people out onto the trails on snowshoes and cross-country skis.

The 14th-annual Winter Trails offers people a chance to try snowshoeing and cross-country skiing at more than 100 locations across the United States and Canada for free.

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are among the fastest growing winter sports. There were 1.4 million snowshoers, a number that has increased 60 percent in the last decade. Cross-country skiers number 2.4 million participants, which is a 21.6 percent increase since 2003-04.

Read more about Winter Trails in my column here.

New World Record Elk

478-5/8

Bull Elk

Utah

A Utah hunter has killed what appears to be a new world record bull elk while on a public-land hunt in south-central Utah.

Denny Austad of Ammon, Idaho, killed the nontypical bull in the Monroe Mountains on Sept. 30.

The bull was confirmed Jan. 2 by the Boone and Crockett Club as measuring 478 5/8 after it was taped by a special judges panel. The elk, which sported a 14x9 rack, gross scored 499 3/8 inches.

The bull was officially recognized after it was measured for a final time and an investigation into the hunt proved the bull met requirements for inclusion into the trophy record book for big-game animals taken with a firearm.

"Through our entry process, signed affidavits and follow-up interviews with the hunter, his guides, and state and federal officials, we were satisfied that this bull was indeed a wild, free-ranging trophy and that the tenets of fair chase were used in the harvest," said Eldon Buckner, chairman of the Club's Records of North American Big Game committee.

Austad had hunted for 13 days before connecting with the trophy, which was called "spider bull" because of its antler configuration.

The old world record for a nontypical elk was 465 2/8 B&C points, but that bull was found dead in British Columbia. The previous largest hunter-killed elk scored 450 6/8 B&C points. That elk was killed in 1998 in Apache County, Ariz., by Alan Hamberlin.

NWTF Founder Dies

The National Wild Turkey Federation has announced the death of Tom Rodgers.

Rodgers, 64, died Dec. 25 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Rodgers is the man who started the NWTF in Fredericksburg, Va., in 1973. He was recently honored with the one-of-a-kind Founder's Award.

"Tom is the reason the Federation is here, working daily to promote wildlife conservation and preserve North America's hunting heritage," said James Earl Kennamer, NWTF chief conservation officer. "The organization is reflecting on its rich history and honoring the man who started it all. He was a great friend personally, a great asset for wildlife and he'll be greatly missed."

NWTF CEO George Thornton said Tom's influence on the conservation industry, wildlife and hunters' rights was immeasurable.

"Without him, the NWTF wouldn't exist, and wild turkeys literally would not be where they are today," Thornton said. "Knowing the man who created the NWTF and recognizing his contributions, which helped make NWTF one of the most dynamic and respected conservation organizations in North America, is truly an honor. "

Today, the NWTF is one of the nation's premier conservation organizations.

OutdoorsVT 1-2-09

Happy New Year!

In the spirit of celebration, which hopefully isn't still pounding between your temples, I propose a belated toast.

Raise your coffee mugs please: To the outdoors, to wild places, and to having smart, ethical outdoor fun while in those wild places.

Read the New Year's column by clicking here.

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.

OutdoorsVT 11-28-08

With your turkey leftovers consider all the things we have to be thankful for as outdoor enthusiasts.

Much of what we have to be thankful for is here all the time, yet we take it for granted.

The list is long and varied.

Read the list here.

OutdoorsVT 11-21-08

There are many things to do in the area these days.

So, just because warm-weather fun has waned and winter hasn't quite arrived, take a look at a few local offerings to fill your time.

Read the roundup of events here.

Ghost Mountain Lion Seen in Mass.

In another case of people being told they didn't see what they thought they saw, several people in the town of Shirley, Mass., are being told they haven't seen a mountain lion.

This is despite the fact that several residents have seen what has been described as a mountain lion, including the town's public works director and the police chief.

Such stories are relatively common in these parts. Someone says they've seen a mountain lion and then describe the animal they saw as, well, a mountain lion.

But then a government agency steps in and tells everyone to relax, it was likely just a bobcat or another yellow Labrador retriever. -- 7-feet long with a round face and pointed ears.

A 7-foot-long bobcat! A round-faced, pointed-ears Labrador?

The reason the officials always snicker at the idea that someone might have seen a mountain lion is because "nobody has seen a mountain lion" -- at least that can be proven -- in so long most people in New England don't remember what they look like.

There has also not been any proof -- scat, hair, tracks, etc. -- found.

But there have been many mountain lions that have been seen, and evidence has been collected showing that the big cats are on the doorstep.

There weren't any wolves in Massachusetts either, until one was shot and killed by a rancher in March of 2008.

Eventually, someone will see a mountain lion, proof will be obtained, and state officials will believe them.

Or not.

OutdoorsVT 11-14-08

There is no shortage of reasons that hikers hit the trails in the fall.

The mild weather, lack of bugs, fewer people, even better views as the foliage thins and the landscape opens up.

But as is usually the case, for all the positives, there are negatives that have to be overcome in order to hike in the fall — particularly as the season heads downhill toward winter as we are now.

Safety becomes paramount. In addition to being in the backcountry during hunting season, the weather becomes a major concern.

To read about staying safe in the fall woods, read the full article here.

OutdoorsVT 11-7-08

During hunting season, hikers and backpackers need to take extra precautions when venturing into the woods.

While hunters are a safe group in general, there are incidents in which a hunter will misidentify a person as a game animal. The overwhelming number of these events are hunters on hunters.

But any time a hiker can make sure he doesn't look like a game animal, the better it will be for everyone.

Here are some tips for hikers and backpackers to help ensure everyone stays safe during hunting season.

Read the article here.

OutdoorsVT 10-31-08

Nov. 4, we're heading to the polls to choose a new leader for our country. Unfortunately, neither of these men have talked about issues near and dear to the hearts of outdoor enthusiasts across this country. The closest they have come is the clear difference the two have when it comes to gun control.

Fortunately, there is another party -- the Outdoor Party -- organized in the mind of someone tired of the same old tired party politics -- me.

Pull on your hip boots and wade into my final column about the Outdoor Party's run for the highest office in the land.

Read the column here.

OutdoorsVT 10-24-08

Oct. 1, recreation professionals from throughout Vermont gathered at the 65th Annual Governor's Conference on Recreation.

Read about the conference in my column.

OutdoorVT 10-17-08

My ongoing run for president under the banner of the Outdoor Party is still short on endorsements and campaign donations. Still, I continue the campaign to discuss the issues important to outdoor enthusiasts everywhere.

Read about the campaign here.

I'm Writing Another Blog

I launched another blog today.

OutdoorsVT, will be an off-shoot of my weekly column in the Rutland Herald.

Topics will focus largely on Vermont but will expand to include anything of interest to Vermont readers, which includes just about anything related to the outdoors in northern New England.

Check it out and tell me what you think.

You can find the blog at: www.rutlandherald.typepad.com/outdoorsvermont

OutdoorsVT 10-10-08

The Rutland area in Vermont has an outdoor champion in Michael Smith. The dedicated mountain biker and outdoor enthusiast is active in a variety of outdoor recreation planning and volunteer work. His latest undertaking is an incredible bridge in a trail system called Pine Hill Park, for which Smith has designed and built most of the trails as well.

Read about the bridge and Smith's efforts in my column.

OutdoorsVT 10-3-08

Vermont's fall foliage season brings autumn splendor as well as a steady stream of tourists. It's hard to blame them for wanting to come experience what Vermonters enjoy year-round.

Read the column here.

OutdoorsVT 9-26-08

The Dead Creek Wildlife Day is an event worth attending every year in Vermont. This year's wildlife day promises to be as good as always.

Read about the event here.

OutdoorsVT 9-19-08

It looks like the poor economy is helping outdoor retailers. Read about it here in my weekly column.

OutdoorsVT 9-12-08

The Outdoor Party candidate launches his run for the White House in presidential bid.

Read the column.

OutdoorsVT 9-5-08

Run for those who can't in this fundraising run for a good cause.

Read about it here.

OutdoorsVT 8-29-08

Long-time outdoor campanion, Bubba, my golden retriever who accompanied me on hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and photography trips was one of the all-time great dogs.

There are dozens of memories stored away that have Bubba's big goofy face in them.

Bubba died one year ago ending more than a decade of outdoor fun.

Read about how dogs are an important part of the outdoor experience and how Bubba would add to the enjoyment of my outdoor adventures.

Read about Bubba here.

OutdoorsVT 8-22-08

First one to the top wins in this hill-climb running race.

Read about it here.

OutdoorsVT 8-15-08

The Long Trail Festival returns to Rutland offering outdoor fun and education.

Read about the festival.

OutdoorsVT 8-8-08

A gate may be the answer to a long-standing problem for a shelter on the Appalachian Trail.

Read the column.

OutdoorsVT 8-1-08

Training for the grand adventure. Read about how to get ready for the big event.

Read the column.

OutdoorsVT 7-25-08

The Vermont Lakes Region Cycling Weekend is considered the best little bike ride in Vermont.

Read about it here.

OutdoorsVT 7-18-08

A boot is not a boot is not a boot.

This is part one of a two-part series on how to buy hiking boots.

Read the column.

OutdoorsVT 7-11-08

Choosing a pair of hiking boots isn't as simple as buying the cheapest pair that looks cool.

This is part one of a two-part series on how to buy hiking boots.

Read the column.

OutdoorsVT 7-4-08

Trail runners tackle Mount Ascutney's 3.8 miles.

Read about it here.

OutdoorsVT 6-27-08

Taking your kids into the outdoors can instill a life-long love of wild places. It's something that is critical as fewer and fewer people are active in the outdoors.

Read the column.

N.M. Lion Trapped, Killed

The lion believed to have killed a New Mexico man was trapped and killed, according to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

The lion's body will be sent for a necropsy to confirm if it is the lion that killed Robert Nawojski, 55, who was killed June 17 or 18.

The cat killed June 25 was an average-sized male that weighed about 125. It had four bullet holes in it, consistent with buckshot. A New Mexico Department of Game and Fish conservation officer had shot at the cat with a shotgun June 19 at the scene after the cat wouldn't leave

The lion was caught in a USDA Wildlife Services snare about a half mile from the site where Nawojski was killed. Officers with lion hounds are still searching for a second lion reported to be in the area.

Officials Confirm Lion Killed Man

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has issued a press release confirming that a lion killed the New Mexico man found partially eaten in southwest New Mexico. Read the release here.

An autopsy confirmed that the man died from injuries suffered in a mountain lion attack north of Silver City.

Conservation officers and USDA Wildlife Services agents are using dogs and snares to catch the lion.

Officers found the body of Robert Nawojski, 55, June 20, but believe he was killed late June 17 or early June 18.

Family members said the man liked to shave and bath on a rock ledge about 60 yards from his small trailer. It is believe he was killed just below the ledge, then dragged a short distance, partially eaten and then covered.

State wildlife officials say such attacks are very rare, but could become more common.

"Attacks by wildlife may become more frequent as our growing population expands into the urban-wildland interface," said Rick Winslow, the state's large carnivore biologist. "New Mexico has a healthy population of mountain lions and people who live around them must learn to take precautions and avoid dangerous encounters."

The death is the second in the state's history. An 8-year-old boy was killed while playing in Arroyo Seco in north-central New Mexico in 1974. In that case, the lion was an emaciated female that weighed only 47 pounds when it was later killed by a neighbor.

Cougar Suspected in N.M. Man's Death

The Silver City Sun News is reporting that a N.M. man found partially eaten and buried may have been the victim of a mountain lion.

Robert Nowojski, 55, was found 80 yards from his small trailer home near Silver City in southwest New Mexico.

An autopsy is pending to confirm cause of death.

While police couldn't determine cause of death due to the condition of the body, a state police spokesman said it appears the body had been fed on.

Officers who arrived at the home to check on Nowojski after he was reported missing saw a mountain lion that wouldn't leave. Officers contacted the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and a conservation officer took a shot at the lion with a shotgun. The lion is being tracked by hunters with hounds.

Neighbors in the area reported a problem lion in the area with many dangerous encounters including a bold lion and an encounter during which a lion stalked a couple up their driveway. Other encounters report a lion in backyards and looking in windows of homes.

Read the full story here.

Montana Fishing Guide Killed

A fishing guide was killed in a rafting incident on the East Fork of the Bitterroot River in Montana.

Dave Dedmon, 53, of Corvallis, a former sheriff's deputy, police officer, was apparently scouting the river for an upcoming fishing trip. He owned and operated Montana Flywater Co.

Dedmon and his wife were floating down the river when their raft was sucked into a snag, which unseated the pair and flipped the raft. The couple hung onto the raft before it hit another log. His wife was pulled from the river by some kids, but Dedmon wasn't retrieved from the river until farther downstream.

Despite CPR at the scene and en route to the hospital, Dedmon was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Read the full story here.

OutdoorsVT 6-20-08

Staying hydrated in the outdoors is a matter of planning.

Read the column.

Outdoors 6-13-08

If you find wildlife babies alone, walk away. Here's why.

Read the column.

Boy Lands New KS Record Bass

A 14-year-old Kansas boy has laid claim to the states new largemouth bass record after landing a 11 pounds, 12.8 ounce bucketmouth from a private strip pit in Cherokee County.

Tyson Hallam took the fish during the West Mineral Eagles fishing tournament with a jig and pig combo May 3.

The bass barely topped the old record of 11 pounds, 12 ounces, a fish caught by Kenneth Bingham in 1977

Hallam's bass measured 28 inches in length and had a girth of 19 1/8 inches.

OutdoorsVT 6-6-08

Vermont is offering a weekend of free fun during Vermont Days. See what you and your family can do at state parks, historic sites and more.

Read the column.

NWTF Has Its Leader

The National Wild Turkey Federation named George C. Thornton its chief executive officer June 2.

He will begin his duties immediately.

Thornton is well known throughout the agribusiness community, according to a news release issued by the NWTF. Most recently he was president and CEO of Agriliance, LLC., before retiring in 2007.

Also according to the release, "He is a past director of the Minnesota Zoo, and has served on many civic, industry and company boards including chair of the Chemical Producers and Distributors Association, Crop Life America, The Fertilizer Institute, local Boy Scout councils and church groups. In 2006, George was named Agribusiness leader of the year by the National Agricultural Marketing Association."

"We are thrilled to have George leading this organization," said Jere Peak, NWTF chairman of the board. "His background heading up Agriliance, which became the largest Agricultural products distributor in North America under his leadership, and his commitment to the same conservation principles and hunting heritage values that the NWTF family holds dear, makes him a perfect fit to take us to the next level."

Thornton is a lifelong hunter with a passion for restoring and maintaining wildlife habitat, according to the release.

"As a conservationist and hunter, the NWTF's mission really resonates with me, and I'm committed to working with this team of staff, volunteers and partners to fulfill the organization's goals," Thornton said. "The track record of the NWTF is very impressive. We can build from this foundation of success to find new and exciting ways to enrich the experience of our membership."

Thornton replaces Rob Keck who served as CEO of the NWTF for 27 years before resigning recently following the dismissal of COO Carl Brown who had 28 years with the NWTF, and Dick Rosenlieb who had been with the group for 19 years.

Brown and Rosenlieb have sued the organization claiming they were the victims of an organized smear campaign by members of the board that used lies and defamation to sully their reputations.
Read the news release here.