Category: News

Old Blue Mountain Trip Report

Old Speck and Grafton Notch.
The gang!
First rungs.
Old Blue through the trees.
Sawyer Mountain, across Black Brook Notch.
Looking south down South Arm Road. Telstar is in the distance.
The view north.
Roxbury Pond and Record Hill wind turbines.
Up a steeper section.
Cliffside on the trail.

We had a great hike up Old Blue Mountain over the weekend via the Appalachian Trail for National Trails Day – weather held (as it always does for Maine Hikes!!!) and we had some great company.  We started off at the South Arm Road crossing in Black Brook Notch with some great baked goodies courtesy of Rosemont Market in Portland.  There was enough to send some over to the Maine Appalachian Trail Club crew who were building a new campsite across the road.  Thanks guys!

When we finally got going, the trail is very steep initially and there is one section with rungs.  However, because of the lower elevation, there were no slippery rocks and ledges to contend with, and we slogged on until reaching the top of the Black Brook Cliffs.  From there, we had view through the trees across the notch and south to the Andover Earth Station which operated with the Telstar 1 satellite.  This middle section of the trail is moderate before again ascending steeply to the summit of Old Blue itself.  There was another section of rungs, but it was not difficult to climb (even for Shyla the dog).

The weather was threatening all day and the clouds obscured the views temporarily, but when we reached the summit those drifted away and we could see in all directions.  To the southwest we could see Old Speck, the Baldpates and the Shelburne-Moriah range in the distance.  To the north lay the huge mass of Elephant Mountain and, trailing northward, the Bemis Range.  Some of us could see Saddleback and Mount Abraham to the northeast if we stood on a high rock and peered over the krummholz.

We stayed on the summit for lunch for about half an hour (thanks for the chocolates Debi!) and headed back down.  The descent was much faster than the ascent since the 2.8 miles is almost entirely downhill.  Some of us stopped in Andover on the way out for some ice cream, though the weather was starting to turn by then.  Thanks for a great day everybody!

Redington Forest Mountain Bike Stewardship Report

The Nash Stream valley from the slopes of Black Nubble.
Crocker Mountain
East Kennebago Mountain to the north.
Fearless.
Biking along Black Nubble.

In anticipation of the acquisition of a conservation easement over the Redington Forest property, Maine A.T. Land Trust Vice President Pete McKinley, board member Claire Polfus and Executive Director Simon Rucker visited the property in order to collect GIS and scientific data for the baseline documentation of the property.  There have been several previous visits – mostly on foot or in a pickup truck – but this time the means of egress would be more innovative for a Maine woods project: mountain bikes.

As you can see from the video, the logging roads were somewhat bumpy but the crew was able to cover significant ground.  Many of the old roads are either closed off to vehicular access or have been out of use for so long that they are more trail than road these days.  By taking the bikes, we were able to get onto terrain that has not been visited since the roads were closed off by berms.  The views of the Nash Stream valley from the slopes of Black Nubble were spectacular – mostly unbroken forest from the Crockers over to Mount Redington and down to the stream valley.  This area is cooler and more densely forested than other areas of the Redington property.

The weather was nice if a bit hot, but any rain held off and we were able to visit three separate locations.  Everybody agreed that this is a special place and that conservation of it will be an enormous gain for the A.T. corridor.  And as you can see, there are plenty of recreation opportunities of all kinds in Redington Forest.

Spruce Mountain – Four Ponds Trip Report

Height of Land.
Bemis and Elephant Mountains.
View over Long Pond.
Spruce forest on Spruce Mountain.
The group.
Trail conditions.
Windy shore of Long Pond.
Snow falling on Moxie Pond.

The land trust held the season’s first Maine Hikes trip on the A.T. on May 15th. The destination for this hike was Spruce Mountain and the Maine Public Reserve Land’s Four Ponds unit. We had a crew of five on a windy, cloudy day but fortunately the heavier weather had moved out and we were in dense spruce forests for most of the trek. The meetup spot was the Height of Land parking area which overlooks the western Maine lakes and the Bemis Mountain range.  In 2011, the Maine Department of Transportation rebuilt the parking area at the overlook spot, putting in signs and laying stone steps for an as-yet-to-be-completed interpretive trail.

Having just come down Bemis Mountain, the Appalachian Trail proceeds from the parking area to the east, up Spruce Mountain (2530’) and down to large areas of montane spruce-fir forest in largely wet areas.  The terrain in this section is largely flat, and proceeds along the first two ponds, Moxie and Long, before heading up along the south side of Four Ponds Mountain.  While the conditions were pretty muddy even by Maine standards, the sights, sounds and company were all wonderful.  The A.T. skirts the northern edge of the state land while remaining just below the summit of Four Ponds Mountain and becomes steep in this section, but only briefly. Views to the south over Long Pond – the largest of the four in the state land unit – stretch to the south and west, where fresh snow dusted the higher ridges. As the trail descended to the isthmus between Long Pond and Sabbath Day Pond, the third of the Four Ponds, the group reached the A.T.’s Sabbath Day Pond shelter. The distance to the shelter was 3.6 miles but the mild terrain made it feel much shorter. After a nice lunch and some musings on the scattered bear skeleton in the vicinity, the group headed back on the same route.  There is a bushwhack route but the group decided to stick with the A.T. since it was a good hike in.

The wind along the shore of the lakes increased and the intermittent rain showers turned to snow and sleet.  The southern shore of Long Pond still showed deep areas on snow in the woods which were clearly visible from the higher elevations.  Fortunately, the snow and sleet remained light for the duration of the return journey, and back at the cars everybody agreed that this was a great, unknown Appalachian Trail hike in Maine.  Despite the lack of major mountain summits, there were plenty of views and not another hiker was to be seen.  A great day on the trail!

Look for information on our next hike – up Old Blue Mountain on June 11th – shortly!

The Next 100 Years of American Conservation

In remarks at the National Geographic Society on April 20th and released early on Medium, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell laid out a vision for actions the nation can take to build upon America’s rich conservation legacy and pass on healthy public lands and waters to the next generation.

The Secretary delivered the remarks during National Park Week to help mark the 100th birthday of the National Park Service. During the speech, Jewell called for a “course correction” for conservation that includes inspiring all Americans from all backgrounds to connect with public lands; implementing smart, landscape-level planning to support healthy ecosystems and sustainable development; and greater investments in national parks and public lands to prepare for the next century of conservation.

During her remarks, Jewell also announced that the federal government will undertake a first-of-its-kind study to analyze the impact outdoor recreation has on the nation’s economy. The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis feasibility study will present detailed and defensible data on the importance of outdoor recreation as a distinct component of the economy that can help inform decision making and management of public lands and waters.

“By producing credible data on the tangible economic benefits of public lands, we can help the public and Members of Congress better understand the benefits of investing in them,” Jewell said. “Industry estimates show that consumer spending for outdoor recreation is greater than household utilities and pharmaceuticals combined – and yet the federal government has never fully recognized or quantified these benefits.  This project is the start of a multi-year effort to count these contributions in a comprehensive and impartial way.”

Contact:  Date: April 19, 2016
Contacts: Jessica Kershaw (Interior), Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

Content courtesy of the Department of the Interior.

Maine A.T. Land Trust Acquires Longley Conservation Easement

Stream adjacent to the Appalachian Trail on the Longley Conservation Easement.
An unnamed stream on the Longley Conservation Easement.

The Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust is pleased to announce that is has acquired a conservation easement on approximately 17 acres of land adjacent to the A.T. just north of the Kennebec River crossing in The Forks Plantation.  The property was owned by the late Stephen Longley, the long-time, celebrated operator of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Kennebec River Ferry Service.  Mr. Longley shuttled some 19,000 hikers across the river over a twenty-year period and earned the trail name “The Ferryman”.  He also operated a small store that catered to thru-hikers on the east side of the river.

The iconic building in the commercial area of the Longley Property.
The iconic building in the commercial area of the Longley Property.

Mr. Longley graciously bequeathed his property by the Kennebec to the Maine Appalachian Trail Club in his will and MATC, wanting to permanently protect the area in order to provide a buffer for incompatible development and to conserve the significant values of the Appalachian Trail in Maine, has donated a conservation easement to Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust.  The easement covers the portions of the property closest to the Appalachian Trail, leaving the commercial footprint area free for continued operations as a store or other business catering to hikers.  The portion of the easement closest to the A.T. contains “forever wild” restrictions, meaning that the area is open to low-impact recreational use (hiking, nature observation, hunting, fishing) but motorized vehicles and timber harvesting are prohibited.  Between the “forever wild” area and the commercial footprint, a camping area may be developed.

Stewardship volunteer Olin Jenner collects GIS data.
Stewardship volunteer Olin Jenner collects GIS data.

MATC is a founding partner of the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust and they do fantastic work – as an all volunteer organization – to maintain the A.T. in Maine.  We grateful to Mr. Longley and MATC for protecting the trail through the donation of this conservation easement.

A.T. Hike 100

NPS100logo

Join the Appalachian National Scenic Trail as we celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service all year long! In honor of the 100th birthday we invite everyone to get outside and hike 100 miles on the Appalachian Trail during the year 2016.

Pro Tip: Not all 100 miles have to be on the Appalachian Trail!

The Challenge

Whether you are novice or professional – get ready to hike! The A.T. Hike100 Challenge invites everyone, regardless of skill level, to complete 100 miles of hiking – with at least one hike being on the Appalachian Trail. Hike solo or in a group; make a trip out of it or take it one mile at a time. However you choose to complete your 100 mile challenge, just get outside and have fun!

Those who complete the 100 mile challenge by the end of December 31, 2016 will be eligible to receive an awesome limited edition A.T. Hike100 decal sticker.

For more information head over to the NPS A.T. Hike 100 website.

Crockers and Redington Hike Cancelled

Unfortunately, due to trail conditions and the weather, we are going to have to cancel this hike which was originally planned for April 17th.  The road conditions getting to the trailhead are VERY poor at this time and due to the freeze thaw cycle, we would like to keep the impact on the subalpine vegetation common in the area to a minimum.

Our full roster of hikes for the spring, summer and fall should be posted shortly – this hike will be among them!  In the meantime, head out on the A.T. this weekend with AMC for in the same area.

A.T. Hike near Oberton Stream

The Appalachian Mountain Club will be having a hike of about two miles in the Orbeton Stream area of the A.T.  Here’s the info:

AT Hike near Oberton Stream

Date: Sunday, April 17

Low elevation hike (all under 2,300′ so low snow risk) with great scenery on a remote section of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). This two mile section of the A.T. is truly a “Walk in the Woods” crossing the Redington Public Reserve Land Unit and the US Navy SERE property, through mixed hardwoods, spruce/fir to old cedars. The Sluice brook waterfall should have plenty of water flow. Orbeton canyon and lumbering history are other highlights of this hike. The easy terrain and relatively short hiking distance make this walk a good start of the season hike for experienced hikers as well as beginners. Elevation gain of about 750′ but with easy grades. If you are looking to find an easy section of the A.T. in Maine, there are not many – but this is one. Due to vehicle logistics, this is a difficult hike to accomplish on your own. We will carpool and spot cars to avoid an up-and-back hike. Group is limited to 15. People with high-clearance vehicles (i.e. Subaru Outback – 4WD not needed) will have a priority.

HikingActivity Categories: Hiking
Location: AT near Oberton Stream
Region: Maine, Western
Leader: Peter Roderick 207-293-2704 (before 9pm)
Co-Leader: Tony Barrett 207-833-0939 (Before 9PM)
Registrar: Tony Barrett 207-833-0939 (Before 9PM)
Trip Difficulty: Moderate

This is an excellent alternative to our Crockers – Redington hike on the same day!

Crockers and Redington Hike

The next Maine A.T. Land Trust hike will be on Sunday, April 17th.  The destination will  be the Crockers and Mount Redington from Caribou Valley Road.  The route we will take will follow the Appalachian Trail from CVR to South Crocker, then (North) Crocker, and then back over South Crocker to the herd path over to Mount Redington.  From there, we can either back track or take another herd path from Redington down to CVR.

This is will be a very strenuous hike and the itinerary will depend on trail conditions.  You must be in good physical shape and have experience hiking 4,000-foot mountains in New England.  We have had an early spring this year but many areas on the A.T. in Maine have continued to receive snowfall in the past few weeks (there are reports of this area receiving five inches of snow last night).  Traction aids like microspikes will probably be necessary.  Please monitor our website and social media for updates.  There is a greater than normal chance that this hike may be postponed or the route will be altered.

You must RSVP for this hike by emailing us at info@matlt.org or by calling 207-808-2073.  Once we have a list of attendees (no more than 8) we will distribute information about meeting up, ridesharing, etc.

For those of you looking for a less strenuous hike, please see this post about a moderate hike taking place in the same area on the same day!

Old Speck Trip Report

View of the summit from the Eyebrow.
View of the summit from the Eyebrow.

On a recent Saturday, the land trust spent the day in Grafton Notch State Park as part of our Maine Hikes guided Appalachian Trail hike program.  The A.T. follows the Mahoosuc Range from the New Hampshire border for approximately twenty miles before crossing the Baldpates and heading north to Bemis Mountain and beyond.

The view west into Mahoosuc Notch and the Presidential Range.
The view west into Mahoosuc Notch and the Presidential Range.

We had a group of ten set out on the A.T. – destination, Old Speck, the fifth highest mountain in Maine and the highest until the A.T. reaches Crocker Mountain.  It was a beautiful, clear day (as you can see from the photos) and the conditions were manageable.  Kimberley had hiked up Old Speck just a week before and she said that snowshoes weren’t needed, so everybody in the group of ten (and two dogs) slipped on their traction aids and we headed up at 8:30am.

Negotiating the icy trail.
Negotiating the icy trail.

Traction aids were definitely needed!  While the ground was bare at lower elevations, once we entered the woods there was ice on the trail.  Above about 2,500 feet, there was 1 to 2 feet of snow in the woods and there were long stretches of trail that were covered in frozen meltwater.  Fortunately, everybody helped out and the dogs were either carried or they went through the deep snow in the woods.  The sun was out and the winds were generally light, and everybody was hungry by the time we reached the summit at 1pm.  We spent about half an hour on top and a few people headed up the fire tower.

The group as seen from the fire tower.
The group as seen from the fire tower.

Three or four additional groups were there at the same time.  The conditions were so nice that one group unpacked a camp stove and made grilled cheese sandwiches!  Temperatures were in the 40’s and winds remained light.  Another guy set up a hammock between a tree and the fire tower leg.  Our group hit the trail at 1:30pm.

The ice was a bit more difficult going down but we took our time and helped each other out.  We made up time by descending quickly, as the temperatures were in the 50’s at lower elevations and much of the snow and ice on the trail had softened significantly.  Back at the cars at 4:30pm.  A great hike with even greater company!

Photo courtesy of Deb Carroll, who I didn't ask to use this photo but she won't mind...
Photo courtesy of Deb Carroll, who I didn’t ask to use this photo but she won’t mind…