Appalachian Mountain Club - Maine Chapter

Army Sergeant Jarad Greeley, 25, of Jay is planning to hike the Appalachian Trail to raise awareness of the situation of America’s homeless veterans. Per Department of Veterans Affairs sources, approximately 195,000 veterans are homeless on a daily basis, with up to 400,000 experiencing homelessness throughout the year.

He’ll be joined by Army Sergeant Marshall Berry, 28, of New Hampshire. Greeley and Berry served together with the 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq and were discharged in February 2008. Both Greeley and Berry are experienced hikers and have done sections of the AT. Their plan is to start at Springer Mountain, Georgia on March 8 and complete the AT in about 5 months.

Please click here for a recent article in the Portland Press Herald.

For more information, contact The Homeless Veterans, PO Box 27, Jay, ME 04239, 207-897-0900.

For thousands of cyclists and volunteers, the annual Trek Across Maine is more than just a worthy fundraiser…it’s a three day adventure! The ride is from Sunday River to Belfast, Maine from June 13-15, 2008.

- The Trek: Is a ride, not a race. all experience levels are welcome.
- The Road: Ride from Sunday River to Belfast on secondary roads and enjoy the scenery.
- The Support: You don’t have to be a cyclist to have fun! Volunteers are needed.
- The Friends: Any time with friends is a good time. Add a 3 day weekend, bicycling, and activities at the end of each day and you’re building memories.
- The Team: Work together to support a great cause with your neighbors, friends, co-workers, or family.
- The Cause: Promote lung health, lung disease prevention, and healthy air for Maine.

Visit us online or e-mail trek@lungme.org for more details. Continue Reading »

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.

How would you handle an injury in the backcountry? A simple sprain can become serious when there are miles of stone-littered and root-infested trail between you and definitive medical care. And the biggest threat isn’t always the injury, but the “E” factor- the “E”nvironment. Come learn how to adequately respond to backcountry injuries with confidence in this 2-day course taught by experienced outdoor wilderness medicine instructors from SOLO. Please contact Joleen Rice for more information.

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!

It is in the news nearly every week, but what does it mean for Maine? Come learn about wind power potential in Maine, how wind power proposals are evaluated, and if wind power can reduce Maine’s carbon footprint. Dave Publicover, AMC Senior Staff Scientist, will speak on wind power at the University of Southern Maine, Luther Bonney Auditorium, Bedford Street, Portland on March 6 at 7:00 pm. Dr. Publicover, Assistant Director of Research, advises the AMC and partner organizations on conservation and management of the Northern New England landscape. See the Maine Chapter calendar for more information.

Time is running out! The deadline for the AMC’s $45 million dollar capital campaign to support the Maine Woods Initiative is March 15th. There is still a few hundred thousand dollars left to raise, so please contribute any amount you can toward this goal. Every dollar donated is a step toward this goal to assist in preserving this area which offers numerous recreational opportunities such as hiking, cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing, and paddling. Please make a donation today! Thank you for your support! Continue Reading »

The Resources First Foundation (RFF) has recently launched a new website as a source of information on land conservation in Maine. StateConservation.org/Maine has been designed to be a comprehensive source of information on conservation of natural resources, including links to educational tools and solutions. Continue Reading »

…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.