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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Request for Proposals for Training our Trail Crew in Trail Building for the Years 2024, 2025, 2026
Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC) Request for Proposals for Training our Trail Crew in Trail Building for the Years 2024, 2025, 2026 Background – During the 2024, 2025, 2026 field seasons, the MATC’s Maine Trail Crew will work on remote sections of the Appalachian Trail. Projects will focus on rebuilding and restoring heavily impacted sections of the Appalachian Trail. The Trail Crew will utilize rigging equipment and hand tools to build stone steps, stone stairs, waterbars, and complete short relocations. Scope of Work – To provide five days of training each of the three years to the Maine Trail Crew […]
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Campsite Maintainer Wanted – White Cap District
Wilson Valley Campsite: Be the maintainer for a campsite in the 100-Mile! The Wilson Valley campsite is near the Barren-Chairback Range. Drive access is via Greenville and an old logging road where a high-clearance vehicle is recommended. Walk access is about 0.5 miles with a small drop in elevation. 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. Contact campsite@matc.org or whitecap@matc.org
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Maintainer Needed in the Bigelow District
Maintainer Needed in the Bigelow District This section spans the 2.3 miles from the East Flagstaff Road north to Long Falls Dam Road, gaining about 500 feet of elevation gain. There is road access on both ends, and a nice walk along the shore of Flagstaff Lake. Please contact Bigelow District Manager Mike Blais (Bigelow@matc.org) if you are interested in this section.
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Maintainer Needed in the Baldpate District
Maintainer Needed in the Baldpate District AT Side Trail: Bemis Stream Side Trail: Gated bridge over Bemis Stream to the intersection with the AT. Bemis Road can be accessed via Route 17 south of Rangeley, ME. Approximately 3 Miles long. This section used to be part of the AT but was relocated many years ago. The southern end of this section starts at the gated bridge over Bemis Stream. This requires a 3 mile hike from the parking lot on Bemis Road. The section terminates at the intersection of tis trail with the AT, a distance of approximately 3 miles. […]
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MATC Annual Meeting
Please join us at the Annual Meeting, held in person for the first time since 2019. Saturday, April 22, 2023, 9 am – 4 pm Schair-Swenson-Watson Alumni Center, Colby College, Waterville, ME (Directions) Hear what’s going on in the club. Get ready for a successful season. Highlights include: Barry Dana Barry Dana is a teacher, artist, and former chief of the Penobscot Nation. He grew up on Indian Island in the Penobscot River, where he learned traditional skills and values from tribal elders. Barry creates traditional styles of birchbark baskets, many etched with artwork or quill decoration. Credited with reviving the […]
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Advisory to Appalachian Trail Certified Sawyers on Battery-Electric Chainsaw Use
While corded electric chainsaws have been available for years, over the last decade, chainsaw construction design has evolved to include battery‐powered cordless designs. As these quieter, lighter tools have become increasingly available, there is increasing likelihood that A.T. Certified Sawyers would prefer to apply these tools in lieu of gas‐powered chainsaws in the course of their work to maintain the A.T.
This advisory aims to provide reasonable considerations to the benefits, drawbacks, and other considerations of these respective design models of saws, that all require adherence to accepted safety practices.
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