Appalachian Mountain Club – Maine Chapter

Experience the Maine Woods for only $79 per person, and it includes a private cabin, dinner, and breakfast! AMC is offering an early season discount at its Maine Wilderness Lodges throughout the month of January. Get out now and enjoy the two feet of snow and 15 miles of open ski trails around Medawisla and Little Lyford! Private cabin rates include dinner and breakfast and start at $79 per person for members – 20% off already discounted member rates. Check out the current ski conditions. And, don’t miss out- check availability here or call 603-466-2727.

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 7:30PM. Please visit their website for ticket information.

On December 13, the Hill-Dale High School Outing Club participated in a Maine Chapter Youth Program winter hike. It was cold, clear and beautiful–a spectacular day to be out in the woods. From the top of Bradbury Mountain the outing club agreed to share a little holiday cheer with an impromptu chorus of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. Continue Reading »

Are you planning a multi-day winter trip to Baxter State Park? Bagging those 4,000-footers, a ski traverse, enjoying the silence. There are some new winter use rules that you should know about! Overall, the application process to get a permit is easier, there is no longer a minimum group size, the gear list is less rigid, and the weather coding system is now just a recommendation, not a requirement. If you are planning a day trip below tree-line, no special permissions are needed. Visit the Baxter State Park website or a news summary for more information. Enjoy Baxter in the winter!

Mt Abram ski area has generously agreed to again include AMC in their corporate program. The discounted rates are $39 for adults and $28 for students (thru age 17) and seniors (60 and up) any day, a nice savings from the regular rates of $49 and $37! A member need only present the AMC membership card with an up-to-date sticker to receive these rates for the member and that member’s immediate family. Mt. Abram is in Greenwood, just north of Bryant Pond on route 26. It is a favorite for telemark skiers, and also has snowboarding, and a tubing park. Mt. Abram has remained relatively small, folksy, and unhurried. Parking is right behind the rustic lodge. The full services are available, including rentals, instruction, day care center, retail shop, and an après ski lounge. Tasty soups and a nice range of other goodies are available for lunch. We are pleased to have this relationship with Mt. Abram. So, wax up those ‘boards’, gather up some fellow Appies, and get out to enjoy the 44 trails Mt. Abram has to offer! Contact Carolyn Welch for more information.

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. Volunteers are needed to help with race duties including helping with the dogs, directing traffic, and other logistics. Local accommodations for volunteers are available as space permits. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Peter Roderick.

The Maine Chapter’s Winter Hiking Series for Winter 2009 – 2010 starts this weekend! This series is organized into two separate ability levels: Beginner and Advanced.

The Beginner Winter Series is intended as introductory winter experiences for experienced three-season hikers and prior winter experience is generally not required to participate. The Beginner Series begins with trips which are relatively easy and gradually progresses to moderately difficult trips. It is not necessary to attend all trips in chronologic order, though later trips may require experience gained on earlier trips. Please download a Beginner Winter Series Flyer.

The Advanced Winter series is intended for experienced winter hikers who can demonstrate previous winter experience and knowledge in New England. The Advanced Series includes trips which range from moderate to difficult in ability. It is not necessary to attend all trips, though each trip will have minimum requirements for previous experience, gear, and fitness level. Please download a Advanced Winter Series Flyer.

The AMC Maine Chapter’s experienced leaders will organize and guide the trips, which are weather and conditions dependent. These trips are free and open to the public. Please see www.amcmaine.org/calendar for more information and contact the listed leaders to sign up for individual trips.

Summit of Katahdin, March 2009.

Please join us on Monday December 7 as we learn about the proposal for a Maine Woods National Park & Preserve. Ken Burns called the national parks our best idea in his recent Public Broadcasting Service TV series. Is this proposed park a good idea for Maine? Jym St. Pierre, Maine Director of RESTORE: The North Woods will be leading the presentation, which will be colorful and detailed. Light refreshments will be served. The location is the Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant St., Brunswick beginning at 7PM. Contact Bob Goldman(207-831-5929) for more information.

Be sure to join the Maine Chapter on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 to hear experienced winter leaders Peter Broderick and Laura Flight give an introduction to clothing, gear, snow travel, and taking care of your self in the winter. This workshop is designed to get experienced three-season trampers and those who would like to learn a few tricks ready for our winter hiking series. This event will be held at the South Portland Library at 482 Broadway in South Portland at 6 pm. Please call Peter Broderick at 207-778-0801 to register. This event is free and open to the public.

Please download a Winter Hiking Workshop 2009 flyer for more information.

Come join the AMC Maine Chapter for the Winter Hiking Series for Winter 2009 – 2010. This series is organized into two separate ability levels: Beginner and Advanced.

The Beginner Winter Series is intended as introductory winter experiences for experienced three-season hikers and prior winter experience is generally not required to participate. The AMC Maine Chapter’s experienced leaders will organize and guide the trips, which are weather and conditions dependent. The series begins with trips which are relatively easy and gradually progresses to moderately difficult trips. It is not necessary to attend all trips in chronologic order, though later trips may require experience gained on earlier trips. Please download a Beginner Winter Series Flyer.

The Advanced Winter series is intended for experienced winter hikers who can demonstrate previous winter experience and knowledge in New England. The AMC Maine Chapter’s experienced leaders will organize and guide the trips, which are weather and conditions dependent. The series includes trips which range from moderate to difficult in ability. It is not necessary to attend all trips, though each trip will have minimum requirements for previous experience, gear, and fitness level. Please download a Advanced Winter Series Flyer.

These trips are free and open to the public. Please see www.amcmaine.org/calendar for more information and contact the listed leaders to sign up for individual trips.

Descending North Brother, March 2007.