MATC’s annual business meeting will be on Saturday April 25th at Colby. Lunch will be provided by Colby Catering. We are asking attendees to make a cash donation to help the Club defray costs. We will have a limited selection of Club merchandise (hats and t-shirts). Sales are cash only.
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OPEN MATC CORRIDOR MONITORING ASSIGNMENTS
(Updated 1/4/2026)
Section 27. Little Wilson Falls to Leeman Brook Lean-to. This is a long (6.92 miles) section that does not involve significant climbing but includes some rough terrain.
Section 34. Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to to Marble Brook. This 5.03-mile section lies on both sides of the West Branch of the Piscataquis River, so monitoring requires crossing the river. All of the section lies in the valley cut by the West Branch so there is some side-hill walking.
Section 35. Marble Brook to the Outlet of Bald Mountain Pond. This section is easily accessible from the Breakneck Ridge Road in Blanchard (may need permission to pass through gate) and covers 5.29 miles of boundary line over nearly flat terrain.
Section 36c. West of Bypass Trail to Moxie Pond at Joe’s Hole. This assignment includes 5.5 miles of boundary line over the west side of Moxie Bald Mountain. Good access via gravel roads.
Section 38. Middle Mountain (of Pleasant Pond Mtn.) to Boise Road. This very scenic assignment includes 3.95 miles of boundary line over the northerly portion of the Pleasant Pond Mtn. ridge. Excellent access from the logging road near Pleasant Pond.
Section 43. North Branch Carrying Place Stream to Sandy Stream. This assignment includes 6.85 miles of boundary line over very gentle but somewhat wet terrain. It is accessible over the A.T. from the gravel Carrying Place Road.
Section 44. Sandy Stream to the SW inlet of West Carry Pond. This assignment includes 4.8 miles of boundary line over flat but sometimes swampy terrain. It is accessible over the A.T. from the Long Falls Dam Road or from the gravel Carrying Place Road. The section was carefully monitored and maintained for many years by Bill Geller and the boundary lines were renewed by A.T.C. Boundary Technicians in 2020 and 2021.
Section 50/51. West Peak of Bigelow to Bigelow Range Trail. All of this section is on State of Maine land so there are no boundary lines to walk. Just walk the A.T. and observe conditions along the way.
Section 54. North Crocker to Caribou Valley Road. This assignment includes 5.3 miles of boundary line that is easy to access but requires considerable climbing. Great views!
Section 57a. Mt. Abraham Side Trail to Barnjum Road. This section includes 3.6 miles of corridor boundary lines. Good access so long as Barnjum Road is passable and relatively gentle terrain.
Section 63b. Middle of Bemis Ridge to Bemis Stream Side Trail. This section includes 5.37 miles of corridor boundary lines over sometimes rough sidehill terrain. Access requires hiking in over the A.T. or over the gravel Bemis Stream Road, which begins at the gravel road between Mooselookmeguntic Lake and Houghton on Route 17. The Bemis Stream Road is gated but may be made available, although it is suited only for 4-wheel drive at best.
Section 67. Hall Mtn. Lean-to to Wyman Mtn. This section includes 4.2 miles of corridor boundary lines along gentle terrain, but requires a hike and a climb to reach either end.
MATC President Tom Gorrill speaks with Maine Senator Angus King on the Senator’s podcast – Inside Maine. Tom can be heard from minute 19-39.
Listen to other podcasts from Inside Maine here: https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/inside-maine-podcast
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/
-Craig Dickstein
When we joined in the efforts of MATC in late-2005, Donna and I were asked to help Gordon Clarke with the Carrying Place section in the Kennebec District. What a great introduction to Trail maintenance! Not only did Gordon have (and share) the requisite skills, but his passion for the work was infectious. The first trip out in the spring was the best as we got our annual spring wildflower lesson. His love of wildflowers was gained from the days that his wife Karen would join him on the Trail or on one of their many wilderness canoe trips.
A Club member since 1997, Gordon devoted much time and energy to the Kennebec District. He was one of the Club’s first Certified Sawyers and always enthusiastic about the program. Gordon was instrumental in erecting Maine’s first elevated bog bridge on the AT – located just north of Carrying Place Road. Whenever I am in that neighborhood, I make a point to walk into the bog and have a quiet moment of great memories.
MATC has lost a great friend of the Trail …. Happy Trails Gordon!
See Gordon’s obituary and preferred charities here.
Group Registrations Coordinator
MATC’s CARE Committee (ridge runner program) is seeking a volunteer to serve as the Group Registration Coordinator. The job includes: receiving information from groups that register to use and camp along the AT; corresponding with groups to advise them on their itineraries and, if necessary, provide alternatives; communicate with ridge runners in the field to inform them of groups passing through or camping in their areas; collecting data to help improve Trail use; providing feedback to camp groups and the CARE Committee on group usage of AT resources. Recommended qualifications for the position are: familiarity with the AT in Maine and its campsites; working knowledge of computer applications for tracking, storing and distributing data; good communication skills.
For more information or to request consideration for the position contact CARE Committee Chair, Janice Clain (jclain@midmaine.com) or MATC Club Coordinator, Holly Sheehan (coordinator@matc.org).
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
10:45 AM News from Appalachian Trail Conservancy – Paige MacGregor
11:00 AM Q&A
11:10 AM End of Day
The MATC would like to acknowledge the generous support of our most recent Sponsor: Flowfold
Launched in 2010, Flowfold makes everyday gear that is lighter, stronger, and lasts longer. Whether sewing lightweight wallets from recycled sailcloth, or making protective face shields for hospitals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, their mission remains the same: To make quality products that improve the everyday lives of the individuals and communities who use them.
With their mission to create better, longer-lasting gear, Flowfold has always been adamant that 100% of their products are Made in the USA. Flowfold is a Maine-based brand with a global reach, committed to supporting local communities and maintaining full control of design and production. (https://www.flowfold.com/) Learn more about MATC Sponsorship here. (https://www.matc.org/index.php/sponsorship/)
Please help us congratulate our very own Tony Barrett who is ATC’s featured volunteer for November! Currently Tony is on the MATC Executive Committee as well as a trail maintainer and chair of our Landscape Protection Committee. Please read the volunteer spotlight to learn about all of Tony’s contributions to the AT!
The current White Brook trail is an official Appalachian Trail side-trail. It goes up the south side of White Cap Mountain. The trail itself is a remnant of the original AT when it went up the White Brook from the KI road. There is a steep, badly eroded section that is 3 feet deep in places. A relocation of this section has been approved for a couple of years. It will do a 900′ foot bypass to the West of the current section.