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Hiking Club’s Treks Get New Winter Hikers on Right Track

January 17, 2011 - Augusta - The hubbub of the holidays is over and the long, cold winter has settled in. You can choose to hole up indoors and try to wait out the next several months, but what fun is that?

Better to get outside on foot, skis and snowshoes, get some healthy exercise and enjoy the snowy scenery with friends. And come March you might even lament winter's passing.

The folks at the Maine Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club know how to make the best of winter, with an outings calendar chock-full of day hikes, walks and climbs, and overnight camping and hut trips. You want inspiration and company to bolster your spirit and provide that over-the-top motivation to get off the couch? You'll surely find it with the Maine AMC.

"The Maine landscape in winter is remarkable," said Jeff Aceto, outings chair. "Take some mountains and put snow on them and you've got a beautiful scene to be out in. For us, outdoors is all year round."

Traveling outdoors in winter is challenging and has inherent risks. So it's necessary to be self-sufficient, well-equipped and use good planning, advises Aceto.

And that's where the Maine AMC plays a strong role, connecting winter enthusiasts of all levels with a network of experienced people and a broad knowledge and information base that helps keep outings safe.

Enter the group's beginner winter hiking series, now in its fourth year.

The series is intended for three-season hikers to discover how to get outside in the cold, gain winter experience and enjoy themselves in a safe and comfortable manner on simple walks, hikes of 2 to 8 miles and climbs of up to 1,500 vertical feet.

"Three years ago we discovered that too many of our members weren't getting out in winter," Aceto said. "So we created a program to educate and expose them to the fun of winter."

The series starts out with an intensive workshop where participants learn about training and conditioning, the winter environment, clothing, footwear, packs, food and water and hints for trail travel. The outings follow, extending through the winter.

"The hikes are not progressive. There are easy hikes all season and more difficult hikes all season," said Aceto.

The premise of the series is that leaders would share knowledge and educate participants, helping them in a friendly manner, finding ways to properly prepare them, take them out in hikes in appropriate conditions and keep them in their comfort zones.

Clearly, Maine AMC is on to something good, as the series has grown from seven hikes that first season to 25 hikes this season; 16 beginner and nine advanced trips. You don't have to be a member to go on a Maine AMC trip, and there is no charge. Trips are run by volunteer leaders.

"Our leaders are very experienced, the equivalent of a Maine Guide, with years of experience. They're good decision makers," stressed Aceto. "Returning to the parking lot is mandatory, summiting is optional."

Winter trippers can count on a well run outing, with leaders maintaining a pace that allows everyone to conserve energy and stay warm and dry as best they can throughout the day.

Given that it's January and potential trip participants have missed the introductory winter hiking workshop (it was held in early December), can interested people still get involved in the beginner winter hiking series?

"Yes!" said Aceto. "Part of the focus is on shorter hikes of 4 to 5 miles, so the leader can help trip-goers learn on-the-go what they need to know to be safe and comfortable."

The 24-page outline of the instructional workshop is available for reference. Just ask any trip leader for a copy. As for needed gear, beyond a day pack of essentials, Aceto is clear: "The one thing to buy to go on all the beginner winter hikes is a good pair of snowshoes."

The beginner trip schedule is stocked with great hikes: From Little Bigelow, Speckled and Bald mountains to Cranberry Peak and Ragged Mountain.

Beyond hiking, there's an Acadia camping weekend, a backpack trip to Bigelow, easy urban walks, a naturalist snowshoe trek, cross-country skiing at four Nordic centers and a day of downhill skiing.

Experienced winter hikers, those self-sufficient types with the knowledge, gear and physical conditioning are, of course, welcome as well.

Advanced winter trips on the calendar include forays to Bald Pate, Old Speck, Saddleback, Katahdin and Mount Washington.

Carey Kish of Bowdoin, MaineOutdoors@aol.com, January 16, 2011


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