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 […]
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.
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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Privies in the News!
While using a privy is typically and preferably a solitary experience, the how and why of privies deserve some face time. Check out this recent ATC article explaining the privy “Facts of the Matter.” The banner photo was taken by MATC volunteer Emily Zimmerman from the 2021 Sabbath Day Pond privy project! https://appalachiantrail.org/register-blog/privy-choices/
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2022 Annual Business Meeting
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 […]
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