Many thanks go to Mark and Susan Adams, Recreation Managers of Kathdin Woods & Waters Recreation Area (KWWRA) for the use of two comfortable cabins (Hunt and Deasey) at Lunksoos Camps for the Maine Chapter of the International Appalachian Trail (IAT-ME_ work crew from June 2 – 4, 2016 and for all of their much appreciated assistance during our work!
Mike Zimmermann (aka “Old Moose”) IAT-ME HikeOctober 10, 2015 & April 24 – May 8, 2016
Ever since hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) in Maine in 2006, Mike Zimmerman (aka “Old Moose”) has been interested in hiking the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) in Maine and Canada. Since then, he has hiked the AT as far south as Sherburne, Vermont and two-thirds of the Long Trail in Vermont.
Old Moose actually started the IAT in Maine on October 10, 2015, when he took the Katahdin Lake Trail in Baxter State Park to Katahdin Lake Wilderness Camps, then continued on the South Katahdin Lake Trail to the park boundary at the Katahdin Lake East (KLE) access point, the IAT southern terminus. He hiked on the IAT for a total of 0.3 miles to the old Gardner Road before turning around.
May 2016 Trail Work Trip Report
Don Hudson arrived at Bowlin Camps before everyone else and rode his bike north on the IAT looking for blowdowns and clearing brush on the trail. Around noon, the rest of the work crew arrived: Dave Rand with his ATV, Julia Daly and two UMF students (Mike Paradis and Maria Noyola), Kirk and Cheryl St. Peter with an ATV, Lucy Leaf and Nancy Hathaway. We had the larger “No Aces” cabin for the women and the “Chapman 2” one room cabin for the guys. This had to be the first trail work trip ever where the women outnumbered the men!
IAT-ME Annual Meeting – May 6 – 8, 2016
The Maine Chapter of the International Appalachian Trail (IAT-ME) held its 2016 Annual Meeting at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center (PIICC) on May 6 – 8, 2016. Off site activities on Friday afternoon, on a gorgeous spring day to be out and on the mountain, included a tour of the SunEdison Wind Park, explanation of the interesting Mars Hill conglomerate geology, and a trip to the IAT Mars Hill lean-to.
International Appalachian Trail seeks to reroute 52 miles of path in Maine
The International Appalachian Trail continues to draw hikers to northern Maine, offering a tour through varied landscapes and a connection to Canada and beyond.
Trail enthusiasts celebrated some of the best of Aroostook County’s outdoors the weekend of May 7-8 at the International Appalachian Trail Maine Chapter’s annual conference in Presque Isle, sharing stories about local history and geology, visiting Mars Hill and Haystack mountains, and looking forward to the hiking season ahead.
One hiker known as Old Moose has already traveled through much of the Maine segment this spring, in a unique trip heading south from the Canadian border to Katahdin.
Created by volunteers in Maine, New Brunswick and Quebec 20 years ago, the International Appalachian Trail starts east of Baxter State Park, makes its way over more than 700 miles to Cap Gaspe, Quebec. The International Appalachian Trail’s trail network extends to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador, Greenland and Iceland, and then across the Atlantic to the Appalachian’s sister mountains, the Caledonians, through Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, England, France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco.More…
Fiddlers and Fiddlehead Fest
Saturday, May 21, 2016 11- 6pm at Patten Lumbermen’s Museum, 61 Shin Pond Road – Patten, Maine FREE Admission. Donations support the Patten Lumbermen’s museum endowment fund.
Sponsored by Katahdin Woods & Waters & Patten Lumbermen’s Museum.
Rain or Shine… Fiddlers and musicians from around the state will take the stage. Enjoy artisan demonstrations, museum tours, children’s activities and local craft and food vendors.
Cast Iron Cook Off at 12:00pm.
Bring your favorite fiddlehead dish to the Cast Iron Cook Off. From the entries, judges will choose two chefs to compete in a fast-paced show-down featuring fiddleheads and several "mystery ingredients". When the dust settles, the chef with the most innovative fiddlehead dish takes home the coveted "Cast Iron Fry Pan Award".
When a Simple Walking Trail Headed North From Maine, and Made Conservation History
IAT North America Meeting held at Mabou, NS
On April 8 & 9, IAT North America held its Annual Spring Council Meeting in Mabou, Nova Scotia. The two-day event held at Duncreigan Inn was an opportunity for the U.S. and Canadian chapters to gather to discuss common issues and joint initiatives, as well as provide updates on regional and international progress.
IAT Annual AGM – May 6 – 8 Presque Isle Maine
Please Join us for the IAT Maine Chapter Annual Meeting in Presque Isle Maine May 6-8, 2016
We are looking forward to a fun filled weekend with our IAT friends and colleagues in Presque Isle Maine! In addition to our annual meeting of the members and the board, there will be plenty of opportunity to socialize and take in a variety of topics including:
Sun Edison Wind Farm Tour/Geology at Mars Hill MountainAlaska to Maine – Snowmobile Ride of the Millennium (after dinner presentation – open to the public)History & Geology of the IAT, with website, maps & guide informationUpdate on Trail RelocationUMPI Outing ClubBeyond LimitsAroostook BirdersDriving the Solor SystemNative American & First Nations CultureAcadian History & CulturePaul Cyr PhotographyInterhemispheric Aspects of Climate ChangeMatt "Gator" Miller, 2015 AT Thru-Hiker & IAT-ME Hiker (after dinner presentation – open to the public)Stars Over Presque IsleHaystack Mtn. Geology Field Trip & Ashland Logging Museum Visit
We hope you can join us! To register, mail registration form and payment to Maine Chapter IAT, PO Box 916, Gardiner, ME 04345 or make a payment online by going to the IAT website annual meeting page. Please forward registration information to carolgay@gwi.net.
Registration and payment is due by April 29, 2016.
Lodging reservations must be made with Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center directly at 207-764-3321. Ask for IAT reduced rate.
You can also show your support by becoming a member with a $25 donation.
2016 AGM Dedicated to William (Bill) H. Forbes
The Maine Chapter of the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) dedicates the 2016 Annual Meeting on May 6-7-8, 2016 to Bill Forbes. Bill, a Maine Paleontologist, was a long time member of the IAT whose knowledge, expertise and many contacts helped in the concept and trail designation in Maine and the Canadian Maritimes. Born in Presque Isle 1931 and passed in May 2011, Presque Isle, after a long battle with cancer.
Bill viewed Aroostook County as the gateway to the world. His love for science and particularly geology started before high school and remained a central theme throughout his life. Bill was a scholar in the traditional sense. He had a voracious interest in many areas of the natural sciences and resources worldwide. Bill’s passion was focused research and teaching at the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI). He was beloved by his students and colleagues at UMPI where he quickly advanced to full time instructor in geology in 1971, and was promoted from Associate to full Professor of Geology in 1985. He was co-discoverer of the land plant fossil, Pertica quadrifaria in northern Baxter Park and upon an act of the Maine state legislature, it is now designated as Maine’s official fossil. He eventually was invited to apprentice under a specialist in paleo-botany at the U.S. Natural History Museum in Washington, DC and was recognized worldwide for his discoveries and research in paleontology. For his many contributions to Appalachian geology and the International Appalachian Trail, The IAT is honored to dedicate this annual meeting to member William (Bill) Forbes, including his wife Warrena and family.
2016 Stars over Katahdin
Save the date… Saturday, October 1st for Stars over Katahdin on Katahdin Woods and Waters Overlook on the Loop Road. Camping with tents is available on the overlook that night only.
Chats around the Campfire at 6pm. Bring your picnic supper.
More updates to come!
Nancy Hathaway, M.Ed., LpastC