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.