|
|
Dear Friend,
Welcome to the Winter 2008 edition of the Appalachian Mountain Club's Maine Woods Initiative News, a newsletter designed to keep you up to date on the Appalachian Mountain Club's Maine Woods Initiative, a plan for land conservation that incorporates outdoor recreation, natural resource protection, nature-based tourism, sustainable forestry, and community partnerships in Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness region.
It is, indeed, winter in the Maine Woods! It has been a wonderfully snowy season, and with new trails to explore, it's a great time to visit AMC's sporting camps in Maine. I am heading out next week to enjoy skiing with some of you on the new trail that links Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins with the Leon and Lisa Gorman Camps at Chairback Mountain. This seven-mile route, created by AMC's trail crew, is a beauty, and a great addition to our growing network of trails, some of which are even more enticing this winter, given our new trail maintenance efforts.
Skiers aren't the only ones exploring these woods. AMC Land Stewardship Manager and Maine Master Guide Bob LeRoy reports seeing two sets of Canada lynx tracks near Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins and a sighting of other lynx tracks on the way into Gulf Hagas recently.
I hope you'll make the most of the season with a trip to these magical places, where there's still a lot of winter ahead.
Walter Graff
AMC Deputy Director
Outdoor Recreation
This has certainly been a winter with lots of snow, and Bob LeRoy reports that ski trail conditions have benefited from new trail maintenance equipment in use at AMC's camps. AMC has purchased a trail roller that allows us to compact all the snow we've been getting this winter and a trail conditioner that allows us to level and compact trails. Trails aren't tracked or groomed to the Nordic standard but, rather, are what we consider "enhanced backcountry trails" that offer more consistent and enjoyable skiing conditions.
Camp-to-camp skiing between AMC's Medawisla Wilderness Lodge, the Stirlings' West Branch Pond Camps, and AMC's Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins continues to be a hot ticket and a unique way to enjoy the Maine Woods in winter. Guests can cross-country ski or drive a dogsled from camp to camp, with each leg of the trip a pleasant day's outing. However, every visitor must be prepared for winter conditions, which can add an extra degree of challenge. We urge you to read all our materials carefully and ask any questions before venturing out on the trails. Lodging and meals are provided at a different camp each night. Check out self-guided camp-to-camp ski options and a skiing map (PDF) or guided mushing options. Guests can also schedule a camp-to-camp dogsledding trip with Maine mushers by contacting Stephen Madera at www.songinthewoods.com ((207) 876-4736); Kevin Slater and Polly Mahoney at Mahoosuc Guide Service at www.mahoosuc.com ((207) 824-2073); or Ashley Simpson at Lone Wolf Guide Service, at (207) 997-3545.
 |
In keeping with the tradition of naming some of the cabins at Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins after fishing flies (for instance, White Wulff and Gray Ghost) we now have the Green Drake Cabin (seen in photo in midst of a recent spruce-up by AMC's Construction Crew). Green Drake, located between the main lodge and the sauna building, is the latest cabin available to camp guests. Its availability came about as a result of another Construction Crew project which created two new rustic cabins for staff housing.
Community Partnerships
AMC's Maine Chapter has been working with the towns of Greenville and Brownville to help plan SnoFest on February 8-10, and AMC again is a supporter of the increasingly popular 100-Mile Wilderness Sled Dog Race, which travels through AMC's Katahdin Iron Works property. The chapter is providing food and logistical support as well as some of the prizes for the winners. The race is set to begin on Moosehead Lake at 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 9. Twenty-five dog teams and their mushers will travel from Greenville to Brownville and back. This annual event involves participation from residents, businesses, clubs and civic organizations and is a great spectator event. A variety of activities will be going on throughout the day in Greenville.
A MC Land Stewardship Manager Bob LeRoy installed a culvert and performed some major leveling work to the Elliotsville connector snowmobile route last fall, and the route is signed and open and getting good use by local sledders, including members of the Elliotsville Snowmobile Club.
AMC Special Projects Manager Gerry Whiting and Programs Manager Shannon LeRoy have been collaborating with the Charlotte White Center in Dover-Foxcroft to develop a Junior Maine Guides Program. Organizers hope this program will help kids learn such outdoor skills as safe hatchet use, fire-building, and cooking over a campfire.
Conservation
In December, AMC staff testified before the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) on Plum Creek's Moosehead Lake Concept Plan. Through cross-examination and questions from the LURC Commissioners and staff, AMC commented on the proposed development and impacts on recreational resources. AMC Forest Ecologist Dave Publicover also testified in January specifically on conservation easements. AMC's guiding principles and response to the Plum Creek plan are online.
Recommendations of the Governor's Task Force Regarding the Management of Public Lands and Publicly-Held Easements were scheduled to be submitted to Maine Gov. John Baldacci on Jan. 31. AMC Deputy Director Walter Graff was among the 16 members chosen to serve on the task force, which was designed “to develop recommendations to improve the accuracy and availability of information regarding management of public lands in Maine and to ensure that decisions regarding management of public lands are made in a fair manner that meets the full array of recreational interests in Maine now and into the future,” according to the governor’s Executive Order (PDF).
People
Meet Peter and Janet Roderick >>
Sustainable Forestry
Project Forester Ted Shina of Huber Resources Corp. has developed recommendations for our forestry work on the Katahdin Iron Works property in 2008, which will focus on harvesting low-grade hardwood to be sold as pulpwood. Of special note this year, we will be supplying the town of Brownville with firewood for its town garage. For several years, the town has had difficulty finding sources of firewood, and we're pleased to fill that need.
 |
Campaign for the Maine Woods
AMC is now in the final few weeks to meet The Kresge Foundation challenge to raise $3.5 million for the Campaign for the Maine Woods, which seeks to achieve land protection and create recreational and educational opportunities in the 100-Mile Wilderness region. The foundation will grant AMC an unprecedented $1.5 million grant if we reach the goal. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect this very special place forever and all contributions will help us to raise the remaining $260,000 that we must raise by March 31.
MWI in the News
News of the Maine Woods Initiative and AMC's traditional Maine sporting camps reached more than a million readers via a January 4 feature story in The New York Times that focused on winter camping options in the Northeast. The article, "Camping Under a Mantle of Snow," by Dave Caldwell, highlighted AMC's Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins and Medawisla Wilderness Lodge in the 100-Mile Wilderness region, as well as AMC’s Cardigan Lodge in New Hampshire, and Mohican Outdoor Center in the Delaware Water Gap.
New Hampshire Public Television's Windows to the Wild series this winter features episodes on AMC's Medawisla Wilderness Lodge, Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins, and dogsledding in the 100-Mile Wilderness region. Episodes are also set for rebroadcast at later dates.
View ongoing press coverage of the Maine Woods Initiative and AMC's Maine sporting camps.
View back issues of MWI News.
Media Contact: AMC Public Affairs Director Rob Burbank at rburbank@outdoors.org or (603) 466-2721, ext. 195. Contact Rob if you have ideas for articles to be included in future issues of MWI News.
Photos: Bryan Wentzell, Jerry Monkman, Tom Bindas, Ben Bragdon/Moosehead Messenger, Courtesy of the Rodericks
|
 |
