Appalachian Mountain Club – Maine Chapter

Please join us on Wednesday March 24 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 at the Bangor Public Library, Maine. Come early for the potluck dinner at 5:30 pm followed by the presentation at 6:30 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

Happy Spring all! Registration for the second annual ‘Spring Fling‘ at Mohican Outdoor Center is now open. From Friday, April 30, to Sunday, May 2, members and non-members will be gathering again at the Mohican Outdoor Center in the Delaware Water Gap where you can look forward to a weekend of hiking, biking, paddling, Irish Dancing, food, fun, and festivities. Stay in one of Mohican’s newly renovated multi-bed cabins with kitchen and indoor bathroom, or enjoy some tenting. For more information or to register, call 908-362-5670 or email. For more information about the AMC’s Mohican Outdoor Center, check out the website.

“Life Happens Outside!” That is the theme for the 2010 Teens to Trails Biennial Conference to be held at Windham High School on Saturday April 3rd. There will be exhibits and over 50 workshops to choose from. Hands on activities include fly casting, climbing a rock wall, or tasting some backcountry cooking. In addition you can learn about trip planning, orienteering, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, owls & eagles, biathlons, and all kinds of outdoor opportunities for teens. There are special sessions for anyone wanting to start an Outing Club at their own school. To register and get more information, visit the Teens to Trails website!

As you likely saw in your latest edition of AMC Outdoors, the winners of the 15th annual AMC Photo Contest were featured. If those photos peaked your interest, more are available on the AMC website including the honorable mention selections and a slide show.

The Green Mountain Club (GMC) will celebrate 100 years of the Long Trail in 2010. This 273-mile footpath is the nation’s oldest long-distance trail, and the GMC and its dedicated volunteers are its caretakers. The GMC is planning several events to celebrate its centennial. Learn more, or hike the trail to see why it is so special!

BPA- bisphenol A is back in the news. The Food and Drug Administration now has “some concern” about its potential effects on fetuses, infants, and children. A 2008 review by the FDA found the small amounts in food containers to be safe. But recent studies have caused them to take a second look. In addition to its presence in food containers, it is sometimes a component in plastic water bottles popular among hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Many water bottle manufacturers are now making BPA-free plastic products, or alternate materials such as stainless steel.

When Bill Bryson, author of “A Walk in the Woods,” and his friend Steve Katz set out to hike the Appalachian Trail, they brought two very different styles of packing to the trailhead. This presentation will examine the differences between “regular” backpacking and “ultralight” backpacking and ask the question, “Was Katz really right?” Proponents of each style will display gear and argue the merits of each. Join us on Thursday, March 4, 2010, as the Maine chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club presents gearheads Charlie Ek and Mark Courtenay for a talk and demonstration comparing traditional hiking and packing gear to ultralight gear. They will Continue Reading »

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!

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.