District Overseer Reports
KATAHDIN DISTRICT
Overseer - Rick SteCroix
(The Katahdin District extends from the Jo-Mary Haul Road to the Summit of Katahdin.
It consists of 55.7 miles of the Appalachian Trail and 2.6 miles of side trails.)
Katahdin District - 2010 Annual Report
October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010
Volunteers
The Katahdin District consists of 56.0 miles of the A.T. and 4.0 miles of side trails. A total of 46 individuals worked 549 hours on the trails and campsites this year. They traveled 327 hours to get to their respective work sites. This comes to a total of 876 hours of volunteer work in the Katahdin District. There are 10 trail section assignments in the Katahdin District, the longest being 11.3 miles, the shortest is 3.5 miles and the average is 6.0 miles. The maintainers made 11 work trips this year.
- 3 maintainers made 0 work trips
- 4 maintainers made 1 work trip
- 2 maintainers made 2 work trips
- 1 maintainer made 3 work trips
Trail Work
We had below average snowfall during late winter and early spring which made for dryer conditions for spring trail maintenance. Work trips were done in May and early June to prepare the A.T. for the hiking season. The dry weather also lasted all summer into early fall. The usual trail work of clearing blowdowns and clipping back brush and branches from the footpath were done. Painting white blazes on the A.T. and blue blazes on side trails were done where needed. Cleaning waterbars and drainage ditches were also done. Some bog bridges were replaced, a few waterbars were built, some step stones were added to muddy areas of the trail. Most trail signs are in good shape. New signs were installed at the following areas: Golden Road (with new post), Rainbow Ledges (with new post), Rainbow Lake Dam side trail, Rainbow Spring, Rainbow Tentsite and Nesuntabundt viewpoint. A new hiker Register Box was installed on the northern end of the “100 Mile” Wilderness on July 17th. On October 30th I found the register box was damaged so I removed it and brought it home to be repaired. I will reinstall it in May 2011. A relocation of the A.T. in Baxter State Park was opened in May from Daicey Pond to Katahdin Stream Campground and goes near Grassy Pond. This relocation eliminates a 0.6 mile road walk. Beaver activity is occurring at both outlets of the northern and southern Deadwaters of Rainbow Stream. The Maine Trail Crew worked 1 week in June installing 20 rock steps and 1 waterbar on Nesuntabunt Mt. The crew also worked 3 weeks in July, on the Hunt Trail (A.T.) in Baxter State Park building 68 rock steps and 1 waterbar and 3 step stones. The Baxter State Park Trail Crew also worked 2 weeks in September, quarrying rock and building rock steps on the Hunt Trail (A.T.) north of Katahdin Stream Falls.
Campsites
All 7 campsites received regular maintenance by the maintainers this season. The leantos at Hurd Brook, Rainbow Stream, Wadleigh Stream and Potaywadjo Spring are all in good shape as are the tent sites at Rainbow Spring, Nahmakanta Stream and Antlers’ Campsites. Trash was picked up, firepits cleaned of ashes and unburnable trash. Abandoned clothes, gear, food and books left behind by inconsiderate hikers was also carried out and disposed. All campsite signs showing directions to water sources, privies and tent sites are in good shape. The moldering privy at Hurd Brook Leanto, built in September, 2000, is doing well. The moldering privy at Rainbow Stream Leanto, built in June, 2001, is also doing well. The 5 pit privies at the other campsites are in fair to good shape. Various bootleg campsites continue to be used along the trail and the maintainers continue to clean up trash that is left behind and to break up the illegal fire rings.
A.T. Corridor
Boats and canoes continue to be stored in the corridor at the following sites: Big Beaver Pond, Rainbow Lake Dam, Rainbow Deadwaters and Crescent Pond. The area in the vicinity of Rainbow Lake Dam has many fishermen’s campsites. About 25.5 miles of the A.T. is on National Park Service Land from the JoMary Road to Murphy Brook. About 15.2 miles of the A.T. is on land owned by The Nature Conservancy from Murphy Brook to the Golden Road. About 1 mile of the A.T. is a road walk on the Golden Road owned by the Katahdin Paper Company. The balance of the A.T., about 14.4 miles, is in Baxter State Park, from Abol Stream to Baxter Peak, Katahdin.
Abol Ridge Runner
This was the 9th year of the Abol Ridge Runner program. Some of the duties were to meet A.T. hikers that were heading to Baxter State Park to finish their thru hike and to inform them of the rules and regulations of Baxter State Park. Some of which are camping fees, camping restrictions, no pets allowed and Class Day rules of trails on Katahdin. The ridgerunner patrolled about 4 miles of the A.T. from Hurd Brook Leanto to Katahdin Stream. The ridge runner program is made possible with the cooperation of the National Park Service A.T. Office, Baxter State Park, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Maine A.T. Club.
I would like to thank everyone that volunteered their time and effort in the Katahdin District in 2010. Your work is very important in maintaining and protecting the A.T. in Maine. Thank you.
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Looking at Barren Moountain from Borestone - Winter 2010
Photo by Julian Wiggins
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WHITECAP DISTRICT
Overseer: Ron Dobra
Assistant Overseer: Bruce Grant
(The Whitecap District extends from Maine Highway 15 to the Jo-Mary Haul Road.)
Whitecap District - 2011 Annual Report
Having been elected to the position of Whitecap Overseer this past April, I’ll pick up the annual report narrative with my first obligations: filling the maintainer vacancies that had (or were going to) happen. Luckily, it wasn’t hard to find willing and enthusiastic volunteers: Mary Ellen BaRoss for the Gulf Hagas Rim Trail; Steve Condon on the Pleasant River tote road;Lloyd Dickson for Leeman Brook lean-to; and Dick Welsh for the stretch in from Route 15 to Leeman Brook. In addition, I secured the continuance of Bruce Grant as assistant overseer. The district cadre of 34 veteran maintainers were joined by 55 other individuals, largely thanks to group efforts from the folks at LL Bean and the Maine chapter of the AMC. These efforts amassed a total of 1,785 hours combined work and travel, with only one section not reported on and many logging four or more work trips.
Major projects in Whitecap this year included a two week stint by the Maine Trail Crew on the west peak of Whitecap Mtn., finishing a multi year project to harden trail with steps and rock work; rebuilding the foundation and repositioning the privy at Long Pond Stream lean-to; cutting, milling, and laying a single track of stringers to replace the 200 feet of rotted bridging in Fourth Mtn. Bog; and replacing the front foundation logs at Leeman Brook lean-to. The ridge runner based in our district, Krisdin Diehl, was very pro active in moderating the effects of heavy foot traffic by encouraging Leave No Trace practices to the hundreds of hikers she met, as well as reporting any trail conditions of concern she encountered while hiking. An additional pleasant experience for me was once again co-leading the annual Greenville Elementary fourth grade hike AT hike from Route 15 to Leeman Brook in June.
Future plans and expectations include filling an ongoing maintainer vacancy from Fourth Mtn. Bog to Barren Mtn. fire tower; hosting the Maine Trail Crew for a round of trail hardening up Chairback Mtn. as well as at the bottom of Chairback Gap; finishing the bridging at Fourth Mtn. Bog with a second track of stringer; and contemplating new privy construction at Carl Newhall lean-to.
Please feel free to join us in these major work trips as they are posted on the web site, and grateful thanks to all the folks who fulfill their commitments as AT maintainers in the Whitecap District.
Posted 12.10.11
View from the summit of Whitecap
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KENNEBEC DISTRICT
Overseer Peter Roderick
Assistant Overseer: Craig Dickstein
(The Kennebec District runs from the Long Falls Dam Road north of North New Portland to Route 15 north of Monson a total of 54.2 AT miles with an additional 1.2 miles of side trail. Included in the district are 6 lean-tos and 1 campsite plus the only ferry service on the AT.)
Kennebec District – 2011 Report
October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011
There are 23 maintainers assigned in the Kennebec District currently including two organizations, Pine Island Camps and the University of Maine Outing Club. 80 volunteers reported a total of 1108 hours of work and travel time during the reporting period.
Highlights of the 2010-2011 reporting period included:
Roof repair at the Pleasant Pond shelter by members of the Campsite Committee aided by district overseer Craig Dickstein and new maintainer of the shelter and nearby trail section, Shawn Small.
 In support of this project, the section maintainers organized a prison work crew from the Somerset County Jail. Having had great success working with the County facility in 2010, contact was made with the Sherriff again this year to get a team of 4 prisoners and a supervisor sent up for two days of heavy lifting. This year’s project called for the carrying of two truckloads of milled cedar bridging material from the truck into the woods about 0.2 miles and neatly stacked. The enthusiasm and energy of the crew accomplished the tedious task in record time. The County’s work release program allows prisoners with less than 30 days left on their sentence to come out to do community based projects. This relationship is a win-win and we hope to continue and expand upon the opportunity.
The Maine Conservation Corps worked in the Kennebec District this summer and completed an extensive trail relocation on Pleasant Pond Mountain. The work will improve erosion control and hiker safety on the northbound approach to the summit.
MCC – PLC - Pleasant Pond Mountain July 5 to August 11
This MCC crew installed numerous stone steps, step stones and stone waterbars on the Appalachian Trail where it climbs the south side of Pleasant Pond Mountain. It was originally intended to have the crew clear a short relocation near the summit of the mountain, but the NPS NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) compliance team did not arrive early enough to make that possible.
Work Accomplished:
95 Stone steps
20 Stepping stones
5 Stone waterbars
5 Stone waterbars maintained
2 Ditches
The MTC also completed a unique bridge over a long stretch of beaver bog using unusual materials and construction techniques devised by club president and trail guru, Lester Kenway. Photos included with this report show the finished project and some of the MTC crew driving piles to support the walkway. It seems likely that we have found a way to overcome the engineering prowess of beavers with our own engineering skill.
Speaking of beavers, Stan and Michelle Moody dealt with another beaver built challenge (trail flooding) with a nice job of relocating a long section of the trail near Doughty Pond near the northern end of the district.
Last year it looked like the beavers were getting the upper hand (paw) but I think we have regained the advantage at least for now. We will see what next spring brings us for surprises.
In addition to these accomplishments completed while working with the MTC, MCC and the Campsite Committee, all of the district maintainers got out and took care of their sections reporting great success in keeping the trail in top condition and hiker ready for another year.
Craig and I want to thank each maintainer for their continued support for the Kennebec District and the MATC. We also thank all the friends and family that worked with the maintainers to help keep the Kennebec District in great condition. Congratulations on doing your best to make the AT in Maine the standard by which all of the trail is judged.
Posted 12.21.11
Peter Roderick
Overseer Kennebec District
E-mail: Kennebec@matc.org
Craig Dickstein
Assistant Overseer
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BIGELOW DISTRICT
Overseer Dick Fecteau
(The Bigelow District extends from Route 4 to the Long Falls Dam Road. It has 68.3 miles of A.T. and side trail.)
Bigelow District - 2011 Annual Report
I received trip reports this past season from 29 maintainers who turned in 2342 volunteer hrs. A total of 89 individuals worked on 92 trips in the district this past year.
Highlights include:
- Under the expert direction of retiring site facilitators Bill and Jan Eddy we were fortunate to have had Piazza Rock caretaker Adrienne Tauses on site this past season. Adrienne was an A.T. thru-hiker in 2009, as well as having worked as a wilderness therapist on the west coast for several years.
- It was discovered on the Piazza Rock caretaker pack in day that the clear acrylic panels that had been replaced two years ago had been damaged by a recent hail storm.
During her first week on site, Adrienne helped carry in and install new clear panels on the shelter roof. Adrienne was very effective as a caretaker, site maintainer and ridge runner in the area, plus being a friendly and helpful host to many hikers.
- A Maine Conservation Crew spent six weeks under the direction of Tim St. Thomas doing extensive rock work at numerous points on the trail between Piazza Rock and Ethel Pond.
- The Maine Trail Crew spent three weeks under the direction of Chris Binder doing extensive rock work at numerous points on the trail between Eddy Pond and treeline on Saddleback.
- The Camp Teki girls hauled enough cedar lumber into the Reddington Stream campsite to build two new tent platforms during the last week of July. Other helpers included Dave Field, Nancy Fisher, Ben Godsoe and Adrienne Tauses.
- In a partnership with the Bureau of Parks and Lands under the direction of Kim Lynch and MATC, the Camp Teki boys hauled enough lumber into the new Abraham campsite to build a moldering privy. Additionally they created a fire pit and five tent pads at the site during the last week of June.
- Kim also managed to have a private contractor finish rock work on the lower section of the trail and complete extensive rock work on the upper section of the trail after Hurricane Irene washed out the Rapid Stream road and the twin bridges last August. The road is passable again but the bridges have not been replaced. It is 0.6 mi. to the trailhead from this area.
- On Sept. 7, 2010 the MATC exec committee approved accepting the old Firewarden's trail from the Rapid Stream Valley to the summit of Mt. Abraham as an official blue blazed side trail to the AT. The trail has been assigned by MATC to the Maine Chapter of AMC who currently partners with the Bates Outing Club on this trail.
- The District was not affected too bad by Hurricane Irene except for the section between the Abraham side trail and Spaulding shelter where two dozen mature fir blowdowns blocked the trail for a couple weeks until they were removed by maintainer Ed Schaff.
Sugarloaf reported over 8" of rain from Irene which removed the plank across the Carrabasset in addition to washing out two bridges on Rt. 27 that spanned the river.
- The Stratton Brook bridge was replaced last May as mentioned in the Summer maintainer. The crew consisted of myself, Steve Swatling, Rob Reed, Jonathan Lemberg and Bob Weingarten. To my great relief the bridge survived the high waters of Hurricane Irene.
- A crew from Unity College hauled cedar bog bridging planks into the trail section between Stratton Brook and Cranberry Stream campsite last August and a crew from the Maine Chapter of AMC installed the planks last October.
- Jonathan Lemberg was the Horns Pond caretaker extrodinaire this past season. Jonathan was the caretaker on Springer Mountain last Winter greeting many of the thru hikers who passed through Maine this season. Jonathan was very efficient as a caretaker, site maintainer and ridge runner in the area, plus being a friendly and helpful host to many hikers.
Dick Fecteau
Overseer, Bigelow District
284 Ramsdell Rd.
Farmington, ME 04938
Phone: (207) 778-0870
E-mail: rfecteau@midmaine.com |
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BALDPATE District
Overseer Tom Gorrill
Assistant Overseer: Mike Ewing
Section Description: The Baldpate district runs from Route 26 in Grafton Notch State Park to Route 4 in Sandy River Plantation. The District consists of 46.8 miles on the Appalachian Trail and 26.3 miles of side trails including the Grafton Loop Trail on the easterly side of Route 26, the Bemis Stream Trail, the Upper Dunn Notch Falls and Cascade Side Trails.
Baldpate District - Annual Report
Posted 12-7-11
Maintainers: There are a total of 31 dedicated maintainers with sections or campsites within the District who, along with other volunteers who helped them, spent 1780 hours this season working on the trail. We had two maintainers retire this year to whom we’d like to express our appreciation; Dave Hodgkins and Ray Thompson who have co-maintained the AT from the junction of the Bemis Stream side trail to the junction of the Old Clearwater Brook trail since 2000. Dave and Ray have been wonderful maintainers coming up from Massachusetts to work on the trail and we will miss them very much. They are replaced by Richard Gower, who has volunteered for numerous work trips this summer.
Projects Completed: For the most part, it was a fair weather hiking season which allowed maintainers to clear the trail of blow downs, clear the waterbars as well as other usual spring duties. Several projects were also completed or worked on this year including the following:
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Maine Trail Crew worked on three projects in the district and did wonderful work:
- Substantial completion of the relocation of the trail around the Moody Mountain Landslide. Their work included installation of additional stone steps and retaining walls
- Continued Trail Relocation on West Baldpate
- Completion of stone steps and other trail improvements on Old Blue
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The outing Club at Dixfield High School did two projects this year. They installed a cover on the water supply at the Little Swift River Pond campsite. They also helped do the spring maintenance up Old Blue which is no small feat! They are already making plans to return for a project next year!
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The Camp Tekakwitha girls carried in the materials for bog bridging between Little Swift River and Sabbathday Pond.
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The Camp Tekakwitha boys installed the bog bridging carried in by the girls between Little Swift River and Sabbathday Pond.
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The Maine Department of Transportation completed the Route 17 reconstruction project which required a temporary relocation of the AT from mid June thru August. The AT has now been reopened and the section just north of Route 17 was re-routed for several hundred feet. The new lookout is absolutely wonderful and you should take a trip up if you have a chance.
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Mike Ewing and I had an experience of a lifetime, which we hope never to repeat, when we had to dispose of a moose which had succumbed adjacent to the Bemis Lean- to.
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Two privies were relocated; one at the Bemis campsite and the other at the Frye Notch site.
Projects Planned for the Upcoming Season: This year we hope to continue with replacement of bog bridging at many locations along the Baldpate district as it is nearing the end of its useful life.
We are looking forward to the 2012 season and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you notice something along the trail that needs attention.
Tom Gorrill
Baldpate District Overseer
tgorrill@maine.rr.com
Phone (207) 657-4249
Mike Ewing
Assistant Overseer
swango.mike@yahoo.com |
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