Take a good look at the photograph above. Do you recognize the location? Can you make out the fire ring in the left foreground? It may be slightly difficult to identify, but this is the Wassataquoik lean-to under a blanket of 34” of powdery snow at Katahdin Brook on the IAT just west of Katahdin Lake. The lean-to is located on land owned by Elliotsville Plantation, Inc. (EPI) and I had the opportunity to visit the site on February 29th during routine biological monitoring work.

As a biologist at Sewall, the winter months are a great time of year for me to document the presence of a variety of wildlife on EPI lands without ever seeing the animal. When I stopped at the lean-to that day, I was conducting a snow-track survey for Canada lynx, listed as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. In order to efficiently cover many miles in a single day, we use snowmobiles to traverse the property. On the day I took this photo, I documented tracks made by lynx, moose, coyote, mice, ermine, snowshoe hare, red squirrel, fisher, river otter, and ruffed grouse. So the next time you’re recreating in the snow, or even walking to your car on the way to work, think twice about that track you see in the snow, however small or large it may be. Then ask yourself what made the track, when was it made, and why was it made, and think about the adaptations and preparations that allow wildlife to spend their winters in such harsh climates.

If you’re curious about how to identify animals based on their tracks, check out your local land trust, refuge, or conservation organization, which often offer programs to the public for little or no cost to participants.

Sarah Spencer

The Management Officer of the American Embassy in Reykjavik, Iceland has decided to plant some roots in Maine, and the Maine Chapter organized a special dinner recently to welcome Andrew and Kristin Graves to Portland. The dinner served a second important purpose, as several board members in attendance will attend the first international meeting of all of the chapters of the International Appalachian Trail scheduled for June 15th in Reykjavik. The Maine delegation will be lead by IAT founder Dick Anderson, and will also include geologists Walter Anderson and Robert Marvinney, as well as Will Richard, Earl Raymond and Maine Chapter President Don Hudson. In addition to the board members, Cheryl Marvinney, Lindsay Dorney, Phine Ewing and Maureen Ellerton will complete the Maine delegation. Though Earl and Maureen were unable to attend the dinner, Thomas Urquhart and Amy MacDonald, Herb Hartman and Lucy Martin, Ann Anderson, Geraldine Wolf, Bob Lemieux, and Seth Levy completed the party.

An important and symbolic event will be held at the American Embassy on June 15th for the representatives of all of the chapters as well as the Ambassadors of a number of embassies and consulates that represent IAT member countries in Iceland. Although originally planned for just over 20 people, the reception will likely include over 50 people once all of the chapters make their final plans for travel. Andy Graves spoke to the group about how he landed the job of running the embassy in Reykjavik, and he painted a wonderful picture about what to anticipate and expect from a visit to Iceland in June. He looks forward to welcoming the group to the American Embassy on June 15th.

The gathering and dinner at the Sebago Brewing Company pub was a great success, and served to introduce one of Maine’s newest couples to an important slice of the greater Portland and Maine communities. The Maine delegation traveling to Iceland looks forward to seeing Andy and Kristin in their work environment in mid-June.

Check out the interview with Maine Chapter President Don Hudson at Hiraeth Press’s website – http://is.gd/Odi3Hf. Go ahead. Support Hiraeth and the IAT and invest in some poetry this year — lots and lots of it. Good for Hiraeth; good for the IAT; and good for your soul!

IAT Maine Chapter Board members; Walter Anderson, Thomas Urquhart and Dick Anderson share a laugh, and a beer, with IAT Maine benefactor Eddie Woodin.

The event was the SUPER BOWL party hosted by Eddie Woodin and Nancy Robinson at Eddie’s home in Scarborough, Maine. There was some good talk about the upcoming International meeting in Iceland and the Annual Meeting of the Maine Chapter, in June.

Unfortunately the Patriots lost the game, But IAT supporters had a wonderful time and took the opportunity to thank Eddie for his long-time and continuing support of the IAT.

Photos by Walter

Saturday, April 16th, Eastern Continental Trail thru-hiker Ed Talone reached the southernmost mountain of the Appalachian Mountains in North America, Flag Mountain in Alabama. Departing mid-February, from Dr Tortugas National Park, some 60 miles off the coast of Florida, Ed took approximately 70 days to walk the 1400 mile length of Florida. After walking the Florida National Scenic Trail, Ed walked approximately 160 miles of roads through Alabama, to reach the beginning of the 335 mile Pinhoti Trail on Flag Mountain. Flagg Mountain is also the very southern end of the Appalachian Mountain chain in North America.

When he arrived at Flag Mountain, he was greeted by members of the Alabama Hiking Tail Society, who provided good fellowship, cold beverages, a well-maintained campsite and a warm fire to help Ed recuperate. In the images included, you can see Ed Arriving at the observation tower atop Flag Mountain, enjoying a frosty beverage, and a group picture of the Alabama Hiking Trail Society, who maintain the campsite and tread surface of the Pinhoti Trail.

fter ascending to Flag Mountains’ modest 1,148 feet (349.91 m) peak, Ed will walk through the southwest corner of Georgia on the Pinhoti Trail, do 20 miles on the Benton MacKaye Trail and join up with the Appalachian National Scenic Trail at Springer Mountain. Ed will hike north on the 2180-mile Appalachian Trail, through Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecuticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

In Maine, Ed will summit Mt. Katahdin in Baxter State Park. After walking north through Baxter State Park, Ed will join the route of the International Appalachian Trail Through Maine, to New Brunswick, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

On February 24th Hiraeth Press will be releasing its first title of 012, Border Crossings: Walking the Haiku Path on the International Appalachian Trail by Ian Marshall. This book follows Ian Marshall on this journey over the International Appalachian Trail, from Mt. Katahdin in Maine up through New Brunswick and out to the tip of Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula.

In addition, the Hiraeth Press has named the The International Appalachian Trail the 2012 Eco-charity of the Hiraeth Press of Danvers, Massachusetts! Don Hudson and Dick Anderson will attend the release in Hartford.

Countless books have been done to chronicle humanity’s communion with nature, from the classics written by naturalists such as Henry David Thoreau or John Muir, to the more contemporary offerings such as Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer and A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson; however Border Crossings stands out as unique among its fellows. Composed of Haiku and contemplative prose Border Crossings is book of braided styles: poetry, prose and travel writing. This style, as the author explains, is akin to that of haibun—a style of writing made popular by such Japanese poets as Matsuo Bash that merges poetic and meditative prose, literary criticism and cultural meditation.

Ian Marshall is a professor of English and Environmental Studies at Penn State Altoona and a former president of the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment. Border Crossings is Mr. Marshall’s fourth book. He is the author of Story Line: Exploring the Literature of the Appalachian Trail published in 1998, Peak Experiences: Walking Meditations on Literature, Nature, and Need published in 2003, and Walden by Haiku published in 2009.

For more information on Border Crossings visit: www.hiraethpress.com

You can read the announcement on the Hiraeth Press website: http://hiraethpress.com/announcing-our-2012-eco-charity

Don Hudson, Dave Startzell, Dick Anderson

On Saturday, January 21st, IAT Founder Dick Anderson and Maine Chapter President Don Hudson traveled to the Bavarian Inn on the banks of the Potomac River in Shepherdstown, West Virginia to join over 100 family, colleagues and friends to celebrate the 34-year leadership of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy by David Startzell.

Dave announced his retirement in November 2010 and he’ll wrap up his work for the ATC on January 31, 2012. It is fair to say that no one in the world has done more to promote the benefits to people and communities of long distance trails. The International Appalachian Trail was one of many footpaths in the world that were inspired by the Appalachian Trail. David Startzell began his career in planning 40 years ago and moved to the ATC 34 years ago. That move has proved to be one of the most important dates to remember in the annals of land conservation in North America. The idea of connecting mountain tops and communities along the spine of the Appalachians was first presented by Benton MacKaye in 1921 and it became a reality on the ground by the end of the 1930s as a result of the leadership of Maine-born Myron Avery. The route from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Maine came into the portfolio of the National Park Service a few short years into Dave’s leadership at the ATC. There is no doubt that the consolidation of land ownership along the Appalachian Trail could not have been achieved without Dave’s efforts. He galvanized ATC board members and staff, as well as state, federal and non-profit partners throughout 14 states, and showed them the way to completing the monumental task of conserving the AT corridor forever. MacKaye envisioned the AT; Avery built it; and Dave Startzell protected it forever. Throughout his storied career at the ATC, Dave has taught generations of hikers and ‘maintainers’ about the values of stewardship.

Dick Anderson

When it was Dick Anderson’s turn to celebrate Dave’s tenure at the ATC, he chose his words carefully (watch video). Dick made a special note of the difficult and complicated nature of conserving the AT corridor, and said, "We owe Dave a wicked debt of gratitude for his 34 years of leadership!"

While at the party, Dick and Don were able to meet the new Executive Director of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Mark Wenger (read story), who will bring great experience in non-profit leadership to the ATC on February 1, 2012. Dick briefed Mark on the current status of the IAT in North America and Europe and invited him to attend the first meeting of all the IAT chapters, which will be held in Reykjavik, Iceland, June 15-17, 2012 (read story).

Mark Wenger

Dick Anderson, Mark Wenger and Don Hudson

As the speeches wound down, nearly 3 dozen ATC staff and former staff came to the front of the room to show off their tribute to their leader. Baring arms, necks, (upper) breasts, and ankles, all showed off tatoos of Dave Startzell’s distinguished and memorable profile (temporary, we presume!). We’re pretty sure that no former non-profit leader has inspired such a unique measure of devotion and affection, and… it got a great laugh from all in attendance!

And so concluded a warm and wonderful celebration of a giant in conservation and long-distance hiking, Dave Startzell.

By Don Hudson

Dick Anderson, Eddie Woodin, Don Hudson, and Walter Anderson

On Sunday, December 18th, long-time friend and champion of the International Appalachian Trail Eddie Woodin made a $1,000 contribution to the Maine Chapter for the Annual Fund. Eddie’s gift was accepted by Maine Chapter President Don Hudson, along with Treasurer Dick Anderson and Chief Geologist Walter Anderson, in Yarmouth during halftime of the Patriots football game. Eddie has supported the Maine Chapter for over a dozen years and his gifts have allowed us to make great headway in a variety of activities, especially trail building and maintenance. Eddie is an avid birder and lover of the outdoors, and he appreciates the efforts of the Maine Chapter to promote appreciation of the common natural heritage of Maine and Canada’s Maritime Provinces. The Maine Chapter is just one of many organizations and causes supported by Eddie, among which youth sports and the Audubon Society stand out. With Eddie’s generous gift in hand, the Maine Chapter capped another successful annual fund, raising over $4,000 for chapter activities.

Richard Anderson has enjoyed an illustrious career during which is constantly sought to protect Maine’s natural resources. He has quietly, but effectively, enhanced Maine’s natural resources and wildlife habitat for the past 50 years.

Working as a fisheries biologist for Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in the late 1950’s he studied the effects of pesticide use on Sebago Lake salmon populations, advocating successfully against the use of DDT. From 1969 through 1972, he served as conservation director and eventually executive director for Maine Audubon Society where he worked to assure the passage of Maine’s "Bottle Bill," the ban on highway billboards, the establishment of the Maine Board of Pesticide Control, and the improvement of environmental conditions in the Presumpscot River estuary. He also was instrumental in the acquisition of the property that is now the Maine Audubon Headquarters at Gilsland Farm. He also was involved in the development of the Scarborough Marsh Nature Center.

In the 1980s, he served as the Commissioner of Maine’s Department of Conservation, leading the Department as it oversaw legislation to protect Maine’s natural resources, most notably, securing the consolidation of the State’s more than half million acres of Public Reserved Lands, producing the legislation that protected the States most valuable rivers and writing the legislation that resulted in the Land for Maine’s Future Program. He was also a key person in the establishment of the Saint Croix International Waterway Commission.

Mr. Anderson was co-founder, board chair, and executive director of the Coastal Conservation Association. He was appointed as a member of the Maine Board of Environmental Protection by Governor Curtis. Governor John Baldacci appointed him to be Chairperson of the Maine

Outdoor Heritage Fund Board of Directors. He is founder and President of the Maine Chapter of the International Appalachian Trail/Sentier International des Appalaches, a trail that connects the bioregion of the northern forest from Maine to Newfoundland and Labrador. This

project connects two countries, two major watersheds, the English and French cultures and seeks to foster international cooperation.

Mr. Anderson’s career has been one of high-minded, continuing and truly outstanding contributions to the health of Maine’s environment, the improvement of Maine public policy, and the well being of all Maine people.

The University of Southern Maine is honored to award Richard Anderson a Distinguished Achievement Award.

Ed Talone

Dick Anderson, Founder & ME Chapter Treasurer with Ed Talone

This weekend, Dick Anderson, Treasurer of the ME chapter of the SIA-IAT, Geraldine Wolf , and Seth Levy, Secretary of the SIA-IAT, traveled more than 6 hours north to the border of Maine and Canada to join Ed Talone on the last few steps of his 4554-mile hike. Though there is no "traditional" way to hike the length of the east coast, Ed’s journey has been exceptionally unique. Rather than begin at Key West, Ed journeyed nearly 70 miles west of Key West by ship to Dry Tortugas National Park, hiking across the park before taking a boat back to the mainland and continuing his walk north on the Florida Trail. After the Florida Trail, Ed explored the Pinhoti Trail system, and meeting members of the Alabama Hiking Trail Society at Flagg Mountain, the southernmost peak of the Appalachian Mountains in North America. Ed then bore north on the Appalachian Trail until New England, where a close encounter with Hurricane Irene and the closure of the Green Mountain National Forest led him on to a network of rail trails and byways. In Maine, Ed left the AT, walking the portions of the East Coast Greenway, the planned route of the Merrymeeting Trail, the Down East Sunrise Trail, and some segments of the International Appalachian Trail. After a journey that began nearly 8 months before, Ed crossed the US/Canadian border, surrounded by good friends and the memories of a wonderful walk.

After such a journey, most hikers would be content to rest for a while. After an hour or so, Ed and Dick were well into a detailed conversation, planning the next leg of Ed’s journey north through Canada, and perhaps beyond!

Photos and Story by Seth Levy, ME Chapter Secretary