Appalachian Mountain Club – Maine Chapter

Since 1934, Mt. Washington in New Hampshire had held the record for the fastest wind speed ever recorded on earth; a hold-on-to-your-hats 231 mile per hour gust on April 12th. That’s three times the magnitude of hurricane-force winds! But this record was surpassed by a gust of 253 mph on Barrow Island in Australia during Cyclone Olivia. And this actually happened in 1996, but was just brought to the forefront recently. Read more about it. But don’t worry; Mt. Washington still holds its distinction has having some of the worst weather in the world!

Wolves are as native to Maine as Katahdin, the Kennebec, moose and lobstah. Not long ago, they lived and roamed free throughout the forests and mountains of Maine, the Northeast and much of North America. Many believe the land and nature of our region will not be healed and complete until they return once again, while others are opposed to their restoration or are not so sure. What do you think and feel about the wolf? Come join us on Thursday, February 25 as we together watch the beautifully done, science-based and enlightening one hour video “Lords of Nature: Life in a Land of Great Predators” followed by a discussion and update on the wolf and its status in Maine and the Northeast.

Sponsored by the AMC Maine chapter conservation committee. The event will be Thursday February 25, 2010, at the Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant St., Brunswick beginning at 7PM. Please contact Bob Goldman(207-831-5929) for more information.

Have you ever considered writing an essay about your experiences in the mountains? Or, do you already have some? The Waterman Fund is seeking submissions on life in the mountains of the northeastern Unites States for its annual essay contest. Topics can range from personal stories about hiking experiences, scientific essays on topics such as global warming, or the relationship between people and wildness. The winning piece will be published in “Appalachia Journal” and receive $1,500! The Waterman Fund’s objective is to strengthen the human stewardship of the open summits, exposed ridgelines, and alpine areas of the Northeast.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is coming to the South Portland Auditorium on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010. The film festival will feature 2 hours of magnificent cinematography of skiing, climbing, kayaking, mountain culture, the environment, and more and is produced by some of the world’s best outdoor cinematographers. The show starts at 7:00PM. Visit the webpage for ticket information.

It’s not too early to sign up for summer teen Wilderness Adventures with the AMC for 2010! Teen Wilderness Adventures offer more than 30 exciting and rewarding outdoor adventures in the White Mountains and Lakes Regions of New Hampshire, as well as Acadia National Park and western Maine, for youth ages 12 to 18. Summer trips range in length from 5 to 23 days, and many of them combine different outdoor elements such as backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. New programs for 2010 include a waterfalls and swimming holes backpack, ocean kayaking in Maine, and introductory single and multi-sport adventures. See this webpage for more information.

Please join us on Wednesday February 10 for a presentation by Bryan Wentzell, AMC’s Maine Policy Manager, to talk about AMC’s Maine Woods Initiative and plans for 66,000 acres of conservation lands in the heart of the 100-Mile Wilderness region. AMC has permanently protected a 63-mile-long corridor of conservation land—the organization’s largest investment in its 134-year history. Bryan Wentzell will talk about balancing new backcountry recreation, timber harvesting, wilderness lodges, and traditional recreation activities, and will also touch upon the Plum Creek Timber Company’s concept plan and what it means for development and conservation in the Moosehead region. The program is free and open to the public. It will be in the Morrell Room of the Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant Street, in Brunswick, Maine. Come early for the potluck dinner at 6 pm followed by the presentation at 7 pm. Bring a potluck item to share and your own dinnerware (plate, utensils etc.). Drinks will be provided and plastic-ware will be available. Please contact John Mullens (207-361-1210) for more information, visit our calendar page, or download a flyer (PDF).

Be sure to join the Maine Chapter for an alpine Ski Day at Mt. Abram on Sunday, February 7, 2010. Meet Leader Carolyn Welch in the Mount Abram lodge at 9:00 am and bring your AMC membership card to get a lift ticket for a $39 corporate rate.

Contact Carolyn at cwel...@gmail.com to sign up and to receive carpooling info.

On Saturday February 6, 2010 there will be a sled dog race starting in Greenville and proceeding to AMC’s Gorman-Chairback Camps on Long Pond, via West Branch Pond Camps, and onward to AMC’s Medawisla Camps on Second Roach Pond. Much of the 100-mile race route will be on AMC lands and pass through their wilderness lodges. If you have never seen dog sledding in person, it is an exhilarating experience!

The opinion piece published on the front page of the Winter 2010 issue of Wilderness Matters, written by Bob Goldman, was not necessarily the opinion or position of the Appalachian Mountain Club or the Maine Chapter. The published piece should have contained a statement clarifying this. We apologize for any confusion or concern that this caused AMC members. You can read about the AMC’s conservation strategy in the Northwoods of Maine or by contacting Bryan Wentzell, AMC’s Maine Policy Manager at 207-725-2248.