Appalachian Mountain Club - Maine Chapter

A reminder that April’s potluck and presentation will be Wednesday, April 16, 2008. The Maine Search And Rescue Dogs (MESARD) organization will present on their search and rescue service, including a visit from their four-legged staff members.

For more information, please click here or on the Calendar link above.

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.

There may still be 3 feet of snow in your back yard, but AMC’s Spring Gathering is less than a month away! This year’s event is at a YMCA camp in Sandwich, Massachusetts on April 18-20, 2008. There will be hiking, biking (on- and off-road), and kayaking on beautiful Cape Cod. Other available activities include a tour of historic Nobska Light, a visit to the world-famous Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, an outdoor climbing wall, and canoeing on a pristine pond. Please visit AMC’s web page for more information!

Interested in canoeing, kayaking, bird watching, swimming, hiking, biking, sailing, or general exploring in an ocean setting? The AMC volunteer managed facility Knubble Bay Camp in Georgetown, Maine may be just the spot for you! Try one of their committee sponsored trips for a weekend of 2 nights lodging and 3 meals with paddling jaunts in the area on Saturday and Sunday. There is something for new and experienced paddlers alike that will accompany good food and camaraderie in a beautiful ocean setting!

Be sure to join us on Monday, March 17, 2008 for Wayne Newton’s presentation on Flowers of the AT.> Come see and hear of Wayne’s observations of the flowers along the AT in a slideshow presentation.

The location is in the Community Room at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 15 Pleasant Street, Brunswick, ME 04011. Please note that this is a change of location as of January 29, 2008: the Unitarian Universalist Church is next door to the Curtis Memorial Library at 23 Pleasant Street.

For more information, please see the AMC Maine calendar.

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.