Appalachian Mountain Club – Maine Chapter

On Tuesday June 29, Dick Anderson will talk about the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) that extends along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains north of Mount Katahdin 1900 miles to the northern tip of Newfoundland and Labrador. The trail currently has more than 40 official tent platforms, lean-tos, and cabins along the way for hiker use. Continue Reading »

The Maine Chapter is in-search-of beginning hikers! Did you join AMC because you were interested in hiking but have not hiked since or hiked only a little? Do you have a friend or family member you would like to introduce to hiking? Have you heard the phrase “get out more” but don’t know how to accomplish that? Let us help!

The Step By Step: Introduction to Hiking Workshop on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 is for you! Experienced Maine Chapter AMC leaders Peg and Joleen love to talk about everything hiking, gear, and eating-related. Workshop will progress from easy and short hikes to strenuous long hikes, and everything in between. All that is needed is to put one foot in front of the other and have the right gear for the right hike.

Workshop is free to members and non-members and is held at the South Portland Library, 482 Broadway, from 6:00-8:00pm. L Joleen Rice (207-892-2685 6:30-9:00pm, jri...@verrilldana.com), L Peg Nation , R Joleen Rice (207-892-2685 6:30-9:00pm, jri...@verrilldana.com)
229-1368 before 9:00pm)

Did you join AMC because you were interested in hiking but have not hiked since or hiked only a little? Do you have a friend or family member you would like to introduce to hiking? Have you heard the phrase “get out more” but don’t know how to accomplish that? Let us help!

Come join us for Step By Step: Introduction to Hiking on Wednesday, June 23, 2010. Experienced Maine Chapter AMC Ls Peg and Joleen love to talk about everything hiking, gear, and eating-related. Workshop will progress from easy and short hikes to strenuous long hikes, and everything in between. All that is needed is to put one foot in front of the other and have the right gear for the right hike.

Workshop is free to members and non-members and is held at the South Portland Library, 482 Broadway, from 6:00-8:00pm. L Joleen Rice (207-892-2685 6:30-9:00pm, jri...@verrilldana.com), L Peg Nation , R Joleen Rice (207-892-2685 6:30-9:00pm, jri...@verrilldana.com)
229-1368 before 9:00pm)

Get ready for the coming paddling season this coming Sunday! The Maine Chapter will sponsor a Sea Kayak Rescue Workshop on Sunday, June 6, 2010. Whether a rookie paddler or experienced sea tourer, there’s something for all kayakers in this workshop. A professional instructor from Lincoln Canoe and Kayak in Freeport will demonstrate and coach both guided and independent practice of wet exits, self rescue, braces, and paired rescues. This material is great stuff-to-know-and-own-before-you-go for the Maine Chapter’s Summer 2010 sea kayaking trips.

The workshop will run from 1 pm to 4 pm at Highland Lake in Westbrook and has a fee of $10 for AMC members, $20 for non-members. Contact the leader for more information and to participate; Jeff Aceto 207-650-5674, outi...@amcmaine.org.

Are you an avid day hiker who has always dreamed of linking your trail-filled days together into a multiple-day journey? To see the stars at night from a remote campsite? To listen to a babbling stream lull you to sleep? To awake to chirping birds? On Thursday June 3, the Maine Chapter will be hosting an evening workshop on backpacking at the South Portland Public Library. Learn what you need to bring to safely hike multiple days in a row without returning to the parking lot at the end of the day! Information on backpacks, gear, clothing, stoves, food, water, hygiene, trip planning, and a variety of outdoor hints will be presented. This workshop is designed for experienced hikers ready to move into overnights on the trail or backpackers looking for new ideas. Please contact the leaders for more information or to sign up.

This annual, national event is sponsored by the American Hiking Society to promote awareness and cooperation among trail users. The event occurs this year on Saturday, June 5th and there are several ways you can get involved! Join the Maine Chapter of the AMC on June 5th for a work day on a new trail on Stone Mountain. Or, check out AMC’s web site for trail day events. Or, donate some of your own time to clean-up a favorite trail in your neck of the woods. And as they say, “Trails Day is EVERY day!” so check out the many opportunities to volunteer on Maine Chapter trail maintenance trips. There’s a job for everyone!

Welcome to Summer 2010, sponsored by the Outings Committee of the Maine Chapter! Jeff Aceto, Outings Chair, and the Chapter’s 50 leaders have been busy planning a number of terrific outings, which are organized into series in a non-progressive manner so members can select trips that meet their ability and schedule. There’s much more to do beside hiking and this summer’s series include:

- hiking and backpacking; dozens of trips of all abilities, on weekends and weekdays
- biking; weekly road rides in the Portland area
- sea kayaking; ocean trips with million dollar views of Maine’s scenic coast
- flat water paddling; trips for canoe or kayak on rivers, lakes, and ponds
- MWI trips; trips in the Greenville and Brownville area to experience the Maine Wilderness Initiative

So, we’ve got a great schedule for an awesome summer; all we need now is you! Please check out our calendar to review Maine Chapter trips and contact leaders directly to join in the fun.

Get ready for the coming paddling season by brushing up on your kayak safety skills! The Maine Chapter will sponsor a Sea Kayak Rescue Workshop on Sunday, June 6, 2010. Whether a rookie paddler or experienced sea tourer, there’s something for all kayakers in this workshop. A professional instructor from Lincoln Canoe and Kayak in Freeport will demonstrate and coach both guided and independent practice of wet exits, self rescue, braces, and paired rescues. This material is great stuff-to-know-and-own-before-you-go for the Maine Chapter’s Summer 2010 sea kayaking trips.

The workshop will run from 1 pm to 4 pm at Highland Lake in Westbrook and has a fee of $10 for AMC members, $20 for non-members. Contact the leader for more information and to participate; Jeff Aceto 207-650-5674, outi...@amcmaine.org.

Headed to climb Katahdin this summer from trailheads at Abol, Roarding Brook, or Katahdin Stream? You will want to know about the new parking rules in place effective May 1. The reasoning from the park’s perspective “… is to continue to protect Katahdin trails and alpine habitat while removing the uncertainty in acquiring access to a Katahdin trailhead.” So, no more waiting in line in the wee hours of the morning wondering if you will have a spot to park! Day Use Parking Reservations (DUPR) can be made in advance (up until 3PM the day before the reservation) for $5.00 on the Baxter State Park website or by calling 207.723.3877 (DUPR). The park will post daily parking availability updates also on their website and on the information line as well.

Looking for a great paddling adventure? The Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) traverses the roof of the Adirondacks and the Northern Forest following traditional Native American travel routes across 740-miles of inland water from New York through Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire, and Maine. On Thursday, May 6th, the Maine Chapter of the AMC presents Kate Williams, NFCT Executive Director, for a virtual journey along this diverse and enchanting route. She will give an overview of the water trail, show slides of special places along the trail, and share her favorite ideas for day-tripping, for week-long adventures, and for through-paddling the entire route. Continue Reading »