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Pitch In: A Little Trail Work Goes a Long Way

July 08, 2009 - National Trails Day, the annual event to celebrate our nation's trails and recognize trail volunteers and supporters, has come and gone. Here in Maine, the June 6 event drew hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts to a record 56 trail-related activities.

What happens now, though, after National Trails Day? One day of trail work, fun, food and friends certainly helps the cause of trails, but it's not nearly enough. Our trails require help from dedicated people – volunteers like you and me – throughout the hiking season.

The Maine Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Maine Appalachian Trail Club are two organizations with big trail maintenance responsibilities – more than 500 miles of trails between them – that can certainly use your assistance. Consider devoting some of your time and energy to them on a regular basis. A few hours to a full day to a weekend or two each summer can go a long way.

Pitch in, and you'll discover all that goes into the building and upkeep of our trails. The trips are fun, and no special skills are required. You'll meet like-minded outdoors people and gain immense personal satisfaction and a lasting appreciation for our trail clubs.

MAINE AMC

"Our role is to take care of the trail, to make trails better," said Keith Chapman, co-chair of the trail maintenance committee at Maine AMC, which manages 212 miles of recreational trails in the state. "We're always looking for more help, because there are too many trails for the volunteers we have."

Routine maintenance mostly involves keeping the trail clear of growth by clipping and sawing trailside brush and cleaning out the water bars that help control erosion. Volunteers do this type of light work, while AMC trail crews take on the heavy work, like blowdown removal and bog bridging, work that requires chain saws and heavy lifting.

No experience is required, there's no cost, and you don't have to be an AMC member. Volunteers need only bring a day pack of the usual hiking items, including bug juice, food and water, gloves and "the spirit to want to get out and help on the trails."

"It's more fun than work, and our volunteers always have a great time," Chapman said. "Come on along, and we'll show you what to do."

Start by checking the calendar at www.amcmaine.org online, choose a trip of your liking, and then contact the trip leader for specific details. The calendar is subject to change as more trips are posted, so do check back occasionally.

Maine AMC trail work trips are scheduled from now through late autumn for a variety of beautiful settings, like Pleasant, Bald, Speckled and Tumbledown mountains, Rumford Whitecap, Mount Cutler and Little Lyford Ponds in the 100-Mile Wilderness.

MAINE APPALACHIAN TRAIL CLUB

The sole mission of the Maine Appalachian Trail Club is to manage, maintain and protect 267 miles of Appalachian Trail and 40 miles of side trails in Maine, tasks it has been hard at work at since 1935.

"It takes a considerable effort and a large number of volunteers," said Peter Roderick, Kennebec District overseer for the club. "Fortunately, many hands make light work."

The club has upwards of 700 members, and along with many volunteers, devoted an astounding 20,000 hours to the Maine Appalachian Trail in 2008. Still, more help is needed.

Volunteers can sign on for a regular assignment as a trail section or campsite maintainer, or corridor monitor. More informally, section maintainers will happily accept additional help on an ad hoc basis.

Typical trail work includes brush clipping, erosion control, blazing, sign erection and trash removal.

"Tools are provided," Roderick said. "Simply dress as you would if hiking for the day, and bring bug dope, food and water and work gloves."

The club has a number of "good old-fashioned work trips" scheduled this summer. Help rebuild a log lean-to at Chairback Gap, relocate a section of trail on Little Boardman Mountain, or carry sections of a new summit sign to the top of Mount Katahdin.

Feeling ambitious? Join with the Maine Trail Crew for a weekend or a week and immerse yourself in some serious (but fun!) trail projects. Help build rock steps, do erosion control, and relocate trail in scenic backcountry locations around Maine. Food, lodging and safety gear are provided.

Check out the complete list of Trail Club volunteer opportunities at www.matc.org online.

CAREY KISH, Portland Press Herald, July 5, 2009


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