Author Archive: Laura Flight

Campsite Maintainer Coordinator

Posted on by

We’re looking for a person or two to coordinate campsite maintainers. This role involves duties in the field as well as administrative work (email etc.). Here are the job duties:

  • Recruit, interview, and select maintainers for campsite vacancies (MAINEtainer, website, etc.)
  • Perform new maintainer orientation and education
    Aid, train, and communicate with new and existing campsite maintainers in the performance of their duties
  • Ensure maintainers are current members of the Club and have signed the Volunteer Service Agreement (VSA)
  • Review incoming work trip reports and monitor activities (and inactivity) of campsite maintainers
  • Recommend replacement of campsite maintainers when circumstances warrant
  • Communicate and coordinate work needs beyond the capability of the maintainer to the Campsite Manager, and District Manger as appropriate
  • Work with the Campsite Manager to provide written annual summaries of work performed by maintainers and issues encountered

Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator with your interest or any questions.

Airlift of Materials in the Barren-Chairback Range

Posted on by

August 8-11, 2024

One day during August 8-11, 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 8-11. The activity will last about 1-2 hours at each location. 

Several volunteers will be at the campsites and bog assisting with the effort. Please heed any instructions by volunteers to keep their activities running smoothly and everyone, including you, safe. 

Questions can be directed to:

campsite@matc.org 207-215-5306

dhumphrey@matc.org 207-944-3054

MATC on “Borealis”

Posted on by

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.

Hurricane Lee and Potential Impacts to Maine

Posted on by

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 fall on saturated ground into already swollen streams increasing stream flows even further. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy Monson Visitor Center also has information. For more information about Hurricane Lee, visit the National Hurricane Center’s website.

Work on Stratton Brook Pond Road

Posted on by

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 asked to park at the Rt. 27 parking area and begin the hike from there instead of the Stratton Brook Pond Road.

Frye Notch Privy

Posted on by

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.

Dave Field: “Loving the Trail”

Posted on by

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/

2022 Annual Business Meeting

Posted on by

Save the date! The Maine Appalachian Trail Club’s 2022 annual meeting will be held on Saturday April 9th from 9-11am on…. you guessed it- Zoom! Again, we will miss seeing familiar faces and the stories of blow-downs, privies, and flat tires. And we’ll especially miss the coffee and doughnuts! But, with the latest news of COVID-19 this is the best we can do. We are planning on a 2-hour meeting to prevent screen fatigue and stick to the tasks at hand. Based on last year’s meeting we should be able to make it within the 2 hour time-frame. We’ll send out more information, including a Zoom invite, as the date approaches. In addition, we’ll be reaching out to those without the internet to make accommodations. Below is a sneak-peek of the agenda. “See” you all on April 9th! For more information, please contact: Tom Gorrill tgorrill@matc.org

Agenda
Maine Appalachian Trail Club Spring Meeting Via Zoom
Saturday, April 9, 2022

9:00 AM Annual Business Meeting of the Club

  • Welcome – Lester Kenway
  • Approval of the 2021 Annual Meeting minutes – Janice Clain
  • Treasurer’s Report – Jonathan Ellis
  • Adoption of Budget for FY 2022-2023 – Jonathan Ellis
  • Corresponding Secretary Report – Doug Dolan
  • President’s Report – Lester Kenway
  • Recognition and awards – Peter Roderick, Lester Kenway, Tom Gorrill
  • Election of Officers – Janice Clain

10:45 AM News from Appalachian Trail Conservancy – Paige MacGregor
11:00 AM Q&A
11:10 AM End of Day