August 6-11, 2024 One day during this period, the Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC) will be working with a helicopter contractor to airlift 12,000 pounds of lumber and tools to the Cloud Pond Campsite, Chairback Gap Campsite, and Fourth Mountain bog. Materials will be used to build new privies at the campsite, and install new bog bridging through the bog. The date will be the first good weather day during the period August 6-11. The activity will last about 1 hour at each location. Several volunteers will be at the campsites and bog assisting with the effort. Please heed any […]
Read MoreAuthor Archive: Laura Flight
Maintainer Needed in the Bigelow District
Maintainer Needed in the Bigelow District This section spans the 2.3 miles from the East Flagstaff Road south to the summit of Little Bigelow, gaining about 1,800 feet of elevation in 3.25 miles. There is road access on the southern end. Please contact Bigelow District Manager Mike Blais (Bigelow@matc.org) if you are interested in this section.
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Corridor Monitors Wanted
OPEN MATC CORRIDOR MONITORING ASSIGNMENTS (Updated 1/22/24) There are only nine opportunities left for becoming involved in this exciting aspect of caring for the Appalachian Trail in Maine. For information about corridor monitoring and field training sessions, visit the MATC website at www.matc.org or contact me (Dave Field) at 862-3674, meeser3@roadrunner.com. You must participate in a field training session before an assignment will be made permanent. If you are unable to join a group session, I will make arrangements to train you on your own section. Note: The mileages given for each section are the distances along the boundary lines on each side […]
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Campsite Maintainer Wanted – White Cap District
Carl A. Newhall Campsite – Be the maintainer for a campsite named for a MATC legend! The Newhall campsite is located in the beautiful White Cap range and near Gulf Hagas. Drive access is via Katahdin Iron Works and an old logging road, but no special vehicle is required. Walk access is about 2.6 miles with ~700 feet of elevation gain. This campsite has a lean-to, tent sites, as well as a moldering privy. Privy maintenance involves “raking the pile”, but it’s really not that bad (witnesses available upon request); become a MATC “turd herder!” More information on campsite maintainer duties and privy maintenance. […]
Read MoreMATC on “Borealis”
MATC President Tom Gorrill is interviewed in Episode 2 of Borealis! You can watch it on Maine Public’s YouTube channel. Borealis is a new multi-media outdoors series hosted by Aislinn Sarnacki and produced by Maine Public highlighting. This episode also features Native Nyle “River” Sockbeson who thru hiked the AT this summer to inspire Wabanaki youth and raise awareness to indigenous lands and cultures along the Trail.
Read MoreHurricane Lee and Potential Impacts to Maine
Alert – Hurricane Lee 9/14/23 Update: The National Hurricane Center is predicting winds and rain from Hurricane Lee will impact Maine Friday evening (9/15) through Saturday night. The predicted track could change, so hikers should continue to monitor the forecast. Stream flows are already challenging due to significant rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. As of 11:30 AM on 9/14, the USGS gage on the Piscataquis River in Blanchard was at 644 cfs, more than three times the flow at which we expect stream crossings to become challenging. The National Weather Service is predicting significant additional rain on Saturday. The rain will […]
Read MoreWork on Stratton Brook Pond Road
A contractor for the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands will be working on the Stratton Brook Pond Road (popular access to the west side of the Bigelows) around the third week of September (mostly on weekdays). They will be brushing out the sides of the road and then pulling the wood to spots along the road where it can be chipped, and trucked out. This road is narrow and the construction equipment is large so some closure of the road and parking areas may occur during this time. Persons looking to hike the AT or Fire Warden’s trail are […]
Read MoreFrye Notch Privy
On August 12th, the Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC) will be airlifting lumber and tools to the Frye Notch campsite to build a new privy (NOBO mile 1,936.8). Several MATC volunteers will be at the Frye Notch campsite assisting with the effort. Hikers should follow all instructions from volunteers and stay out of the immediate transport zone. For questions or for more information, contact campsite@matc.org or 207-215-5306.
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2022 Kennebec River Ferry Schedule
The official way to cross the Kennebec River is the canoe ferry.
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Dave Field: “Loving the Trail”
MATC’s Dave Field was a featured author in the Winter 2022 edition of ATC’s “Journeys” magazine. Dave is a life-long volunteer on the A.T. and has witnessed and instigated many change over the years. The trail you know and love today is in in large part Dave’s doing. Please thank Dave for his dedication to and love of the trail! Check out the article: https://appalachiantrail.org/official-blog/loving-the-trail/
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