A Blast from the Past

Posted on January 18, 2021January 18, 2021 by admin

Do you know when the first issue of the MATC Newsletter the MAINEtainer was published? Do you know what the name of the first issue was? Do you know who came up with the name, “The MAINEtainer?” Do you know who was MATC president when the first issue was published? Who was the first Editor? To find the answers and explore some MATC history check out past issues of the MAINEtainer. Special thanks goes to Ray “Walking Home” Ronan for providing dozens of scans of the old MAINEtainer newsletter. Thanks Ray!

One of the most remote areas of the A.T. in Maine – now newly accessible via the White Brook Trail.

Posted on November 20, 2020November 20, 2020 by admin

“The highest mountain in the Hundred Mile Wilderness is easier to access thanks to recent improvements and trail relocations.” Maine Appalachian Trail Land TrustNovember 20, 2020 White Cap Mountain was protected by the Gulf Hagas Whitecap project in 2017, which was completed by the Forest Society of Maine, the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands and the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust.White Cap is the highest mountain in the fabled Hundred Mile Wilderness and the trail this organization maintains – the White Brook Trail – is more accessible than ever. Take a tour of the project and learn about the ecology, history, recreation and […]

Our Volunteers Rock!

Posted on November 17, 2020November 17, 2020 by admin

Rocks aren’t placed by magic; it takes lots of hands and strong backs to make rock steps. Volunteers build stone steps at Gulf Hagas using pry bars, shovels, grip hoist and pick axes.

Get MATC Gear!

Posted on November 3, 2020November 3, 2020 by admin

Show your support for MATC by proudly wearing and displaying official clothing and accessories emblazoned with the MATC logo. Check out the variety of MATC branded items at our “Trading Post” – on-line store. MATC has partnered with Spreadshirt to provide MATC branded clothing and accessories to members and supporters of the Maine Appalachian Trail Club. Items are available in a variety of styles and colors. MATC is a non-profit, 501c3 charitable organization and does not make any profit on these items. Spreadshirt is a third-party, affiliated vendor who handles all sales and questions regarding their products.

MATC’s Position on Saddleback Ski Area Solar Project

Posted on October 22, 2020November 2, 2020 by admin

Regarding the Saddleback Ski Area Solar Project We encourage the owners of the Saddleback Ski Area (Arctaris Impact Fund) to move the location of its proposed grid-scale solar power generating facility to a location that would not impact the views from the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) on Saddleback Mountain. At just over three miles away, the proposed 35-acre solar array would become the dominant feature on the landscape view looking north from the A.T. Other than Katahdin, Saddleback offers the longest open ridge walk along the A.T. in Maine and about 1.5 miles of this section would have frequent views of […]

Illegal Fire Rings Concerning on AT

Posted on October 15, 2020October 15, 2020 by admin

ILLEGAL FIRE RINGS: In Maine, campfires in the woods require a fire permit or a permitted campsite to be legal. WIth the dry conditions this Fall, non-permitted campfires along the A.T. are especially concerning. A frequent task for maintainers is to dismantle and disperse fire rings which not only encourage more camp fires in inappropriate locations but also encourage trash accumulation. This particular fire ring just north of Orbeton Stream has been dismantled four times this season. Photo by @Tony Barrett

4-ft X 6-ft

Posted on October 12, 2020October 14, 2020 by admin

4-ft X 6-ft: Trail maintainers are tasked with keeping a 4 X 8 foot corridor along the tread way for clear hiker passage. “One should be able to carry a 4X8’ sheet of plywood upright through the woods”. That standard is a high bar to meet in some places. Photo by Tony Barrett

An Ideal Time for Corridor Monitoring

Posted on October 10, 2020October 10, 2020 by admin

THE FALL IS AN IDEAL TIME FOR CORRIDOR MONITORING: Simon Rucker, Mike Mahony, Mary Eagan and Kayla Gagner are happy to find a boundary marker without any digging. This section of A.T. corridor is just south of Long Falls Dam road. Photo by Tony Barrett

Kudos to Maintainers

Posted on October 5, 2020October 5, 2020 by admin

We received a nice note from a happy hiker…. I hiked from Gorham, NH to Caratunk, ME two weeks mid-Sept. and was very impressed at how well the trails were maintained. I was also impressed at how much planking there was along marshy areas, showing your respect of the underlying ecosystem. Please share my thanks to all the Trail Maintainers along these sections. – LightWalker

Author Archive: admin