Each summer, volunteers from other parts of the country join with MATC members to work on the Trail. Directed by experienced crew leaders, volunteers receive food and lodging at a base camp in exchange for their labor.
Come out and learn the correct and safe usage of our various trail construction tools and learn valuable trail construction and reconstruction techniques.
This year, our weekly trail crew season runs from June through early August, Saturday to Wednesday, to allow members of the MATC to work with the crew on weekends.
rugged and remote terrain on the entire Appalachian Trail.In the photo at left, a Maine Trail Crew member safely crosses the Piscataquis River in Horseshoe Canyon to reach a remote worksite.
On recent projects, the Maine Trail Crew has constructed rock steps and waterbars on the south sides of Saddleback and Barren Mountains; installed hundreds of feet of cedar bog bridges near Gulf Hagas; quarried, cut, and placed more than 100 rock steps on the Hunt (Appalachian) Trail near Katahdin; dug new sidehill trail in Horseshoe Canyon; and created a safer ascent out of (or descent into) Orbeton Stream Canyon with 40 rock steps, including three carved into bedrock with the power drill.
Multiple goals of The Maine Trail Crew's program's are:
(1) to teach and accomplish quality treadway construction and repair on the AT in Maine (2) to supplement the ongoing efforts of maintainers and volunteers on the AT in Maine (3) to improve and build the trail-repair skills of the crew participants and MATC volunteers.
Persons age 18 or older--of all backgrounds--are welcome. Enthusiasm, good health, physical vigor, and adaptability are vital. Willingness to follow instructions and safety rules and to share equally in camp chores is essential. Experience helps but isn't necessary.
Reserve a week today; multiple weeks gladly accepted. Groups are also welcome to sign on for a week or more. For additional information and to reserve your space with the Maine Trail Crew, write to: Maine Trail Crew.
Last updated: June 7, 2007. This webpage was designed and is maintained
by MATC member Terry L. Karkos.
Copyright © 1997-2007 MATC. First photo opposite text is of 1997 FORCE co-leader Evan Ramsey using the club's new Dolmar Power Cut-off Saw with a diamond blade to cut through a rock on Hall Mtn. Last year's crew tried to split the rock there with a drill and the stone crumbled. This year a saw was purchased to help the crew make the needed rock steps. This photo and the photo of a 1991 FORCE member crossing Piscataquis River are Copyright © Terry L. Karkos. Photo at right by Chris Dorion is of a hiker resting on new sidehill rock work constructed by FORCE and MATC on the southwest (ravine) side of Sugarloaf Mountain.
