If you are an outdoor adventurer, you likely see some spectacular scenes in your travels. And if you are like me, you madly snap pictures hoping the saved images will capture the beauty you felt, only to perhaps be later disappointed. The newly published book “AMC Guide to Outdoor Digital Photography” may be your, and my, answer. Authors Jerry and Marcy Monkman have some advice for us, that includes techniques for shooting in different conditions, weather, and seasons; how to organize and store your precious photos; case studies; and an appendix of digital resources. This guide is available from the AMC Store and check out this review.

Check out this article in Backpacker magazine on AMC’s lodge to lodge ski trips in the 100-Mile Wilderness region in Maine. The article details the route and you can also download map files. Get more details from AMC’s web page. Snow is here, so get those skis out and make you winter plans!

New Yorker John Davis recently pedaled through Fort Kent, Maine as part of a 7,000-mile journey up the east coast of the United States. He has already biked, hiked, and paddled 6,500 miles in the last 36 weeks. Why is he doing this? He likes wild places, and he wants others to recognize the importance of these places for wildlife. In particular, he believes we need more emphasis on connected conservation areas. You can read about his journey in this Bangor Daily news article or follow his blog.

Have you ever wished you could take one of those distinguished white-background and green-lettered AMC trail signs home with you? You can! Every year the AMC’s White Mountain Trail Crew replaces weathered or out-of-date trail signs with new signs. These signs are considered collector’s items, having guided thousands of visitors for many years along celebrated paths throughout the Whites. And best of all, these retired signs are auctioned off with proceeds going to support trails in the Northeast! This year’s auction will take place on eBay and will begin on Tuesday November 22, 2011 at 12:00PM and ends on Friday, December 2 at 12:00PM. All proceeds will support AMC’s trail efforts in the Northeast. Here are a list of signs to be auctioned off continue

Bob Arledge and a crew of four other paddlers kayaked the entire Maine coast from Kittery to Eastport in a single trip. They camped on islands, experienced every type of ocean-generated weather, paddled with and alongside marine mammals, and encountered precious few other kayakers. They will share their experiences on Wednesday November 16, describing what worked well and what didn’t, showing photos from their high points and low points. Join us for a potluck dinner that evening just prior to the talk at the Freeport Community Library, 10 Library Rd in Freeport, 04032. The dinner begins at 6pm; the presentation at 7pm. Bring a potluck item to share and your own dinnerware (plate, utensils etc.). Drinks will be available. Parking is free and plentiful. For more information, please download a flyer (136 KB PDF) or email Education Chair John Mullens All events are free and open to the public.

Join Ruth (Sam) Jamke, a veteran hiker and hike leader, on Tuesday November 15 to hear her talk about tramping in New Zealand, home to the largest national park system in the southern hemisphere. Sam, who has backpacked the four most famous routes in the country, will describe these adventurous treks and narrate fabulous pictures of the enchanting land where the “Lord of the Rings” movies were filmed. This program is co-sponsored by Maine Audubon and the Maine Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club, and is free and open to the public. Jamke’s talk in Holden is at 7pm on Tuesday, November 15th at Maine Audubon’s Fields Pond Center, 216 Fields Pond Rd, Holden, ME 04429, about 15 minutes south of Bangor. Parking is free and plentiful. For more information, download a flyer (132 KB PDF) or email Education Chair John Mullens or Audubon Naturalist Holly Twining.

Join experienced winter leaders Peter Broderick and Laura Flight on the evening of Tuesday December 13 for an introduction to clothing, gear, snow travel, and taking care of your self in the winter. Learn to keep warm, dry, and functional. The 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 evening workshop will be held at the Freeport Community Library at 10 Library Drive, Freeport, 04032. Please e-mail Laura Flight or call her at 215-5306 to register. This event is free and open to the public.

It seems a ways off now, but registration is now open for the 2012 AMC Annual Meeting! The meeting will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. There will be workshops and committee meetings as well as volunteer award recipient presentations during the day, and then a dinner, business meeting, and presentation in the evening. This year’s meeting will include a special celebration honoring retiring President Andy Falender. Registration information is available at this website. If you have any questions regarding the 2012 136th Annual Meeting, please call Cindy Martell, Event & Office Coordinator, at 617-391-6603, or e-mail her.

The woods is a big place in Maine, and there are a variety of activities that people enjoy from hiking, to birding, to ATV riding, to plant foraging, to hunting. Sometimes these activities can cross into the same geographic area, and hunting is potentially one of them so here are a couple of items to keep in mind if you are out in the woods this fall. There are different seasons depending on the game sought such as birds, moose, bear, deer and more. So how should a non-hunter prepare for an outdoor outing? Know what game season it may be by checking the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife web page for more date and geographic location hunting information. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy also has a summary of hunting seasons by state for states along the AT. Non-hunters should also wear blaze orange (make sure any upper body garment is not covered by your backpack!) and be more aware near road crossings. Visit the ATC web page for more hunting awareness information.

Part of the management plan for the approximately 67,000 acres of land the AMC owns as part of the Maine Woods Initiative (MWI) is sustainable forestry. Timber is harvested to improve stand health and generate some revenue when the products are used by local mills. Check out this YouTube video of this process in action!