Appalachian Mountain Club - Maine Chapter

On Monday, May 19, 2008, AMC Maine member Fran Leyman will present a slideshow on her experiences rafting through the Grand Canyon. An experienced raft guide, Fran will share her story of 18 days on the Colorado River through video and photographs. By request, she’ll also do some bonus storytelling on her rafting trips to the lower Rio Grande canyons and also the Bio-Bio River in Chile. Prepare for a wet and wild evening, this is a bring-your-own towel event!

The location is at the Morrell Room, Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant Street, Brunswick, ME: parking is available on the street and off Union Street. Dinner at 6 pm, presentation at 7 pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring a potluck item and their own dinnerware (plate, utensils etc.). Drinks will be provided and plastic-ware will be available.

A reminder that April’s potluck and presentation will be Wednesday, April 16, 2008. The Maine Search And Rescue Dogs (MESARD) organization will present on their search and rescue service, including a visit from their four-legged staff members.

For more information, please click here or on the Calendar link above.

On Wednesday, April 16, 2008, the Maine Search And Rescue Dogs (MESARD) will join us for the April potluck and presentation. Since 1983, this volunteer, non-profit group has assisted the Maine Warden Service with search and rescue by providing teams of highly-trained handlers and search dogs. MESARD Vice President Spencer Fuller will explain the many facets of Search and Rescue operations using dogs and this event will include members of their four-legged rescue staff! Come join Spencer and his furry friends for an evening of education and fun about the awesome service this organization provides for outdoor enthusiasts who find themselves in need of help.

The location is at the Morrell Room, Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant Street, Brunswick, ME: parking is available on the street and off Union Street. Dinner at 6 pm, presentation at 7 pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring a potluck item and their own dinnerware (plate, utensils etc.). Drinks will be provided and plastic-ware will be available.

There may still be 3 feet of snow in your back yard, but AMC’s Spring Gathering is less than a month away! This year’s event is at a YMCA camp in Sandwich, Massachusetts on April 18-20, 2008. There will be hiking, biking (on- and off-road), and kayaking on beautiful Cape Cod. Other available activities include a tour of historic Nobska Light, a visit to the world-famous Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, an outdoor climbing wall, and canoeing on a pristine pond. Please visit AMC’s web page for more information!

Interested in canoeing, kayaking, bird watching, swimming, hiking, biking, sailing, or general exploring in an ocean setting? The AMC volunteer managed facility Knubble Bay Camp in Georgetown, Maine may be just the spot for you! Try one of their committee sponsored trips for a weekend of 2 nights lodging and 3 meals with paddling jaunts in the area on Saturday and Sunday. There is something for new and experienced paddlers alike that will accompany good food and camaraderie in a beautiful ocean setting!

Be sure to join us on Monday, March 17, 2008 for Wayne Newton’s presentation on Flowers of the AT.> Come see and hear of Wayne’s observations of the flowers along the AT in a slideshow presentation.

The location is in the Community Room at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 15 Pleasant Street, Brunswick, ME 04011. Please note that this is a change of location as of January 29, 2008: the Unitarian Universalist Church is next door to the Curtis Memorial Library at 23 Pleasant Street.

For more information, please see the AMC Maine calendar.

Have you hiked any of the Appalachian Trail? Why did you do it? A graduate student in the Recreation and Tourism Studies Department at Old Dominion University would like to know why! She is conducting an exploratory study on the motivations and benefits of hiking the AT. The purpose of the study is to better understand why people hike the AT, and ultimately to attract more supporters and volunteers in order to acquire funding for continued maintenance of the footpath, and preservation and protection of its surrounding corridor lands. You can visit this website to participate in the survey. Results of the study will be shared with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and with local clubs such as the Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC). Please give her your thoughts!

On Monday, March 17, 2008, AMC Maine member Wayne Newton will present a slideshow on Flowers of the AT. Wayne’s thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail twice and has collected a photo library of the many flowers he encountered on his journeys. This is an excellent opportunity to experience the varied flora of the AT from the comfort of a chair while enjoying Wayne’s famous storytelling.

The location is in the Community Room at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 15 Pleasant Street, Brunswick, ME 04011. Please note that this is a change of location as of January 29, 2008: the Unitarian Universalist Church is next door to the Curtis Memorial Library at 23 Pleasant Street.

Parking is available on the street and in the municipal lot off Pleasant Street. Dinner at 6 pm, presentation at 7 pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring a potluck item and their own dinnerware (plate, utensils etc.). Drinks will be provided and plastic-ware will be available.

…to Carey Kish for his presentation last night on his trek through Corsica at February’s monthly potluck and presentation event. His June 2006 trek across the GR20 trail in Corsica had been called the “Toughest Hike in Europe” and last night’s attendees would likely not argue that.  The Meetings and Education Committee relies on the generous efforts of volunteer presenters for these events and Carey’s just the one of many who help to make this program a success.

Do you have a trip, trek, or other experience you’d like to share? Contact Jeff Aceto, the Meetings and Education Chair to be part of our monthly adventures from the comfort of a chair!

Be sure to join us on Wednesday, February 20, 2008: Cary Kish, outdoor blogger and Outdoors writer for the Portland Press Herald, will present on his 2006 experiences hiking the GR 20 Route in Corsica, France. The GR 20 is reputed to be the hardest long-distance hike in Europe, with 81,560 feet of elevation gain and loss. Cary did 180 km in 15 days across the rugged interior of the island of Corsica with it’s very beautiful and awesome mountain scenery. Come share his experiences on what he’s called a ‘bruiser’ of a trek.

For more information, please see the AMC Maine calendar.