Appalachian Mountain Club - Maine Chapter

Brian Doble of Lisbon, Maine recently completed a “yo-yo” hike of the Appalachian Trail. No, that doesn’t refer to a nightly demonstration of his entertainment talents at shelters. A “yo-yo” is a thru-hiker who travels the 2,174 miles north from Springer Mountain, GA to Mount Katahdin, ME and then turns around and goes back south to Springer Mountain in the same season. That’s over 4,348 hiking miles in a calendar year!

Brian’s also an ‘ultralighter’, which is a technique of hiking with an absolutely bare minimum of gear. His base pack weight on this trip was only 4 pounds, with an additional 4 to 10 pounds for food and water.

Brian’s hiking experiences were recently featured on Bill Green’s Maine; please click here for an article and video.

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 $2,000! The Waterman Fund’s objective is to strengthen the human stewardship of the open summits, exposed ridgelines, and alpine areas of the Northeast.

The subtitle says it all: “Everything you need to plan your next cold-weather adventure.” Thinking about taking the plunge into that 4th season; the frosty summits, the snow-covered trees, the crystal views? This book recommends the gear, clothing, and food you will need for safe winter travel. Injury prevention, outdoor stewardship, weather considerations, winter campsite and snow shelter construction area all discussed. There are even suggestions for hiking with kids! So get out and enjoy winter, but read this book first! Remember, AMC members receive a 10% discount on books!

On Wednesday, December 10, 2008, the Outings Committee will sponsor the first event in its Winter Hiking Series for Winter 2008-2009. Come join us for a Winter Hiking Skills Workshop starting at 6:30 pm at the South Portland Library. This event is intended for hikers of all abilities, rookie to experienced, to share knowledge on clothing, gear, and other essential knowledge in a classroom setting. AMC Maine Chapter leaders Peter Broderick, Joleen Rice, and Jeff Aceto will lead the discussion and share their experiences and knowledge.

This will be an excellent “things-you-need-to-know-before-you-go” opportunity for anyone who will be hiking this winter! This event is free and open to the public.

The South Portland Library is located at 483 Broadway in South Portland, ME. Parking is available off Highland Avenue.

Please click on the link below for a pdf flyer with more information on this event:

Dec. 10, 2008: Winter Hiking Workshop

The AMC Maine Chapter’s monthly potluck presentation will be a Two-Fer event in December with a great mix of education and entertainment! Please join us on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 for two presentations in one evening.

Steve Taylor, of the Environmental Health Strategy Center, will give a presentation on the potential health issues associated with BPA (a.k.a. Bisphenol A) which is commonly contained in many plastic drinking bottles, including Nalgene products popular with hikers. TheGreenGuide.com has some useful information on this topic in this article. This article explains that the risk from #7 plastic is the possibility that it will leach BPA with exposure to very hot temperatures over a long period of time. These risks have not been fully identified and to complicate matters, not all Nalgene bottles are made from #7 plastic. Confused yet? Come join us for Steve’s presentation for the most current information on this issue which should be of interest to all outdoor enthusiasts.

Finish up the evening with a great presentation by AMC members Cam and Julie Weaver on their recent trip to New Zealand. If you enjoyed the Lords of the Rings movies, then you’ve also had a taste of the land the indigenous Māori called Aotearoa, commonly translated into English as The Land of the Long White Cloud. Julie and Cam will share their experiences exploring the diverse climates and ecology of this isolated part of the world.

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.

Please click on the link below for a pdf flyer with more information on this event:

Dec 08 Event: BPA & New Zealand

A reminder that November’s potluck presentation topic is a discussion on land use issues concerning Maine’s Northern Forest. Bryan Wentzell, AMC’s Maine Policy Manager, will give a presentation and lead a discussion on recent developments in this region and possible implications for the future. This event will be on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at the South Portland Library in South Portland, ME.

Please check out the Calendar link above or click here for more information.

Or click on the link below to download a pdf flyer for this event:

Nov 08 Event: NorthernMaineForest

Just a friendly reminder to exercise your right as a citizen of the United States of America to cast your ballot on Tuesday, November 4th. Although there are no specific conservation-related items on this election’s ballot, your elected officials have power and influence on bills throughout the legislative sessions. Please know how they stand on conservation, energy, and other important issues. And remember that they are YOUR elected officials, so make your voice heard! If you need more information on voting in Maine, check out the state’s website.

Times running out to enter the AMC’s 14th Annual Photo Contest . The entry deadline is November 30, 2008 for both on-line and mailed entries.

You still have time! Select the photos you’d like to share with your fellow AMC members and submit them in three categories: Scenics/Nature, People Outdoors, and Visions of AMC. You may submit three photos in each of the categories.

There are prizes for winning photos and all submissions may be used in AMC publications including the Outdoors Magazine and www.outdoors.org.

Here is a link to the Contest Information and Rules.

AMC’s website has launched a new “Member Center” where you can take care of many administrative tasks at your own convenience, or sign up for electronic newsletters and get links to chapter activities. If you shared your e-mail address with AMC when you joined or renewed your membership, you should have received an e-mail informing you of this new opportunity. If not, you can go to the above address and sign on. In the Member Center database, you can renew your membership, change your contact information, subscribe to Appalachia magazine, subscribe to other chapter’s newsletters (if they are available in electronic format), see special member benefits, as well as view current chapter and AMC activities- all from one web page!

Many have heard about large development proposals in northern Maine, but what is going on in Maine’s Northern Forest that led to this? And, what’s so special about this region, anyway?

Come join us for November’s potluck and presentation event to learn more about these land use issues and participate in a discussion about the future. On Thursday, November 6, 2008, AMC’s Maine Policy Manager Bryan Wentzell will present a slide show and discussion on land ownership changes in Maine’s Northern Forest over the last decade, and what this may mean for the its future. Bryan will share information on the potential impacts of these recent events, the effects of land conservation tools in recent years, and how these tools may work in the future. This event is open to the public.

The location is at the South Portland Library, 482 Broadway, South Portland, ME: parking is available off Highland Avenue. 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. Come join us!