Month: June 2012

Walter Anderson, Don Hudson, Ed Friedman and Dick Anderson went north to the IAT Annual meeting one day early and did some trail work. They stayed Wednesday night at the Brookside Motel in Oakfield. On Thursday morning, on their way to Shin Pond, they did the regular cleanup of both Wright Farm and Roach Farm campsites.

In general both campsites were in good shape. A ,Don Hudson made, new sign replaced the 10 year old ones at both campsites. Floors were swept, litter was picked up, toilet paper was added and brush was pruned. At the Wright Farm the privy door was repaired. At Roach Farm the fire ring needed a lot of work and about a foot of each perlin was removed to correct an error made in the original construction.

Thur hiker Michel Jacques assisted them in the cleanup work.

Both campsites are now ready for hiker use.

Ed Friedman and Don Hudson installing Roach Farm Campsite Sign

Dick Anderson and IAT Thru Hiker Michelle Jacques cleaning up Roach Farm Campsite

Don Hudson and Dick Anderson installing sign at Wright Farm Campsite

Don Hudson working on roof at Roach Farm Campsite

Maine IAT Chapter Board members; Herb Hartman, Dick Anderson, Walter Anderson, Bill Duffy and Dave Rand recently completed the spring cleanup of the section of trail between the summit of Deasey Mountain and the Matagamon Wilderness Campground —a distance of about 17 miles.

Walter, as usual, did all the camp work, including buying food, cooking and cleanup.

Walter "Camp Chef" Anderson – photo by Bill Duffy

On Wednesday, Walter and Dick inspected the northernmost section of trail from Grand Pitch to Matagamon. They found that section in pretty good shape, with the exception of some serious beaver caused flooding near Checkaberry Camp. As a result they relocated a short section of the trail and replaced the "Tags" and arrows to guide hikers over the new section. Minor trimming was also needed along the entire section.

Dave Rand at work on the trail – – photo by Bill Duffy

Dave, Herb and Bill ,assisted by Dave’s ATV ,were able to accomplish the cleaning of both Campsites in this section of trail—Lunksoos and Grand Pitch—-both of which were in good shape. This crew also cleared some big blowdowns and pruned brush along the many miles of trail from Bowlin Camps to the Summit of Deasey Mountain. Bill hiked both Deasey and Lunksoos Mountains to accomplish the necessary trail upkeep and improve the marking of the trail. Herb and Dave cleared the Lunksoos Campsite area, the trail to the water supply and the first 200 yards of the trail up Lunksoos Mountain.

Dave Rand Crossing Hathorn Brook – photo by Bill Duffy

After a long day’s work on Wednesday, the crew enjoyed a few cold ones with Pat Clymer, the new manager of Bowlin Camps, before a traditional Walter Anderson dinner of beans and franks.

Having completed all necessary–and planned—work by darkness on Wednesday the crew packed up early on Thursday, while Walter cooked breakfast, and hit the road south at about 6:00 A M. It was a great and successful trip and we hope other volunteers can join in on the next work trip.

Herb Hartman, Trip, and Dave Rand – photo by Bill Duffy

The crew stayed overnight for two nights at Bowlin Camps and that allowed the more efficient use of time, since there was no setting up of tents or the doing of other camping chores.

IAT Members and Friends and 2012 Annual Meeting Shin Pond Village

Photo by Will Richard www.wilfredrichard.com

Members and friends of the International Appalachian Trail met this past week – May 17th to 19th – at Shin Pond Village for the 18th Annual Meeting of the Maine Chapter. IAT Chief Geologist Walter Anderson assembled a compelling and full program that began at 3:00 pm Thursday afternoon, May 17th, at the Lumberman’s Museum in Patten. Museum Director Ronda Brophy and the Director of the North Light Gallery of Millinocket, Marsha Donahue, presented the opening of a traveling exposition – “North Woods and Katahdin Art”, celebrating the work of more than a dozen painters. David Little spoke to the group about the art of the Katahdin region, soon to be published in a large format book by Down East. Look for it at the year-end! Maine Chapter board member Will Richard made the Thursday evening keynote illustrated by a beautiful collection of images made during his many visits to Newfoundland, Labrador and Greenland. The Smithsonian Institution will publish Will’s book about the region he calls the “Far Northeast” in 2013.

Lumberman’s Museum – Photo by Walter Anderson

A full day of presentations on Friday was highlighted by a special presentation to IAT Founder Dick Anderson and Maine philanthropist and conservationist Roxanne Quimby. Program Coordinator Anderson took special care this year to invite speakers who had received grants of support for their projects and work by the Quimby Family Foundation. Author Howard Whitcomb made the Friday evening keynote address, “A Pictorial History of Baxter State Park and Katahdin.”

The Friday morning program began with a brief report by Maine Chapter board member Herb Hartman on the status of the chapter’s first topographical guide, which will be completed in July. What came next was a surprise for IAT Founder and first President Dick Anderson when current President Don Hudson veered from a talk about identifying plants online. Don switched from plants to photos of Dick fishing with his family in the 1940’s. The photos were two of over one hundred that tell the story of Dick’s life from childhood to the establishment of the IAT, compiled in a beautiful book by Maine Chapter Coordinator Carol Gay.

Don Hudson presenting book to Dick Anderson – Photo by Bill Bentley

Dick Anderson receiving book – Photo by Bill Bentley

The rest of the morning was filled out with a number of talks about the natural resources of the East Branch region. Earl Raymond spoke about historic surveys of the region, including the first that dates to 1793. Laura Rose Day updated the group on the status of the restoration of the Penobscot River, with the removal of the Great Works Dam in Old Town that will begin on June 11th. Randy Spencer spoke about the translocation of Atlantic Salmon in the Penobscot River watershed as part of the statewide effort to restore the endangered fish. Baxter State Park Director Jensen Bissell wrapped up the morning with a presentation about the state of affairs in the park, including an effort to document every foot of trail for long-term management and maintenance.

Over 40 participants gathered after lunch for the traditional photograph on the lawn of Shin Pond Village before reconvening for the afternoon session. New Maine Chapter board member and University of Maine at Presque Isle professor of geology Chunzeng Wang opened the session with a presentation on an initiative to map all of the trails of Aroostook County (UMPI provides high-tech tools to municipalities)

Author Steve Pinkham followed with a brief description of his new book “Old Tales of Maine Woods”, an anthology of stories from historic sportsman’s magazines of the mid- to late 1800’s and early 1900’s. University of Maine at Farmington professor of geology Julia Daley, who joined the Maine Chapter board in April, spoke next about the status of her project to monitor temperature in remote mountain ponds and included time-lapse photography to illustrate the dynamics of ice formation and ice “out”. Artist and naturalist Jude Eldridge followed Daley and used images, video and sound to introduce the amphibians of the Maine section of the IAT.

Sarah Spencer of the Sewall Company reviewed the management of the Elliotsville Plantation, Inc. (EPI) lands east of Baxter State Park, with special notes about the Canada Lynx. Friends of Baxter President Barb Bentley next updated the group on a number of activities including the week long exploration of the park by Maine teenagers and a variety of projects aimed at highlighting and supporting the wilderness values of the park.

Bryan Wentzell presented the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Maine Woods Initiative, which is centered on their land and adjoining land in the 100-mile Wilderness south of Baxter. The AMC has linked a half dozen historic sporting camps in the region with existing and new trails, including new opportunities for Nordic skiing and dog sled trips in winter, in addition to more traditional uses in spring, summer and fall.

Maine philanthropist and conservationist Roxanne Quimby took the floor next to present her proposal for a National Park or National Monument on EPI’s lands east of Baxter State Park. The special designation for these lands is part of a comprehensive proposal that includes conservation of land north of Monson for the Appalachian Trail as well as the creation of a special motorized sports conservation area on lands east of the East Branch. The proposal is currently on hold, waiting for support by Maine’s congressional delegation. In addition to efforts to create a national park on her land in Maine, Roxanne is also working hard to consolidate ownership of national parks by purchasing in-holdings within the boundaries of over a dozen parks in the country. Her goal is to acquire as many parcels as possible before the 100th anniversary of the national parks in 2016, at which time she and her children Lucas and Hannah will make a special gift of the in-holdings to the Department of the Interior.

Before Roxanne was able to take her seat Don Hudson noted the special contribution that she had made to the Maine Chapter by allowing the IAT to be located on EPI lands. Don then presented Roxanne with a drawing by Jude Eldridge of the Haskell Deadwater made during a visit as part of EPI’s Visiting Artisits program. EPI, under Roxanne’s direction, opens several wilderness cabins and lodges on its land for the use of artists throughout the year – free of all charges. Just as planned for Dick Anderson, Roxanne was completely surprised by this special award, and she thanked the group for its support.

Photo by Bill Bentley

The very full afternoon ended with the presentation of the Grindstone Scenic Byway by Maine DOT’s Fred Michaud and Bruce Hazzard. The Scenic Byway links Matagamon to Patten on Route 159, south to Medway on Route 11, and finally through East Millinocket and Millinocket on Route 157 to the Togue Pond gate of Baxter State Park. Bruce concluded the presentation with a special invitation to the Maine Chapter to join the area coordinating committee for the Scenic Byway.

The annual business meeting was conducted quickly in order to get participants to “Attitude Adjustment” session before a special dinner cooked by Terry and Craig Hill and their staff at Shin Pond Village.

One of the most successful annual meetings continued after dinner with a special keynote presentation by Author Howard Whitcomb of his and co-author John Neff’s publication of “Baxter State Park and Katahdin” in the Images of America series. The book is an extraordinary collection of over 200 images gleaned from a review of well over 1000. Howard took the group through the several chapters of the book with a series of slides and brief mention of the significance of each. John and Howard have written detailed captions for each image, which adds special value to an extraordinary compilation. All of the proceeds from the sale of the book will flow to the Friends of Baxter to support its activities.

The Saturday morning field trips included hikes of Mt. Chase, Sugarloaf Mountain, and a visit to the Bowlin Camps and the adjoining stretch of the IAT from Big Spring Brook to Bowlin Falls and the approach to the famous “Hulling Machine” on the East Branch.