Trails bill would be a wise investment

To the Editor; 

Trails are vitally important to the business and tradition of guiding in Maine by providing access to the places we take clients. That’s why the Maine Wilderness Guides Organization has joined nearly 300 other outdoor recreation groups, businesses, and towns in supporting LD 1156, the Maine Trails Bond. This bill would make grants to organizations and towns totaling $30 million over four years for the design, construction, and maintenance of trails of all kinds throughout the state.

Although Mainers enjoy a rich network of trails on public and private land, we cannot take that for granted. Access via trails to forests, ponds, rivers, streams, and the ocean enables guides to stay in business while helping create high-quality, memorable experiences for our clients.

The Maine Wilderness Guides Organization consists of over 90 registered Maine guides, sporting camp, and lodge owners. Our mission is to provide a unified voice for the profession of wilderness guiding while dedicating ourselves to ongoing conservation of remote woods and waters.

During the school year I teach at Nobleboro Central School, and in the summertime I am the recreation manager and a guide for Northeast Whitewater and Guide Service in the Moosehead Lake and The Forks regions. In my experience guiding our various recreational trips, it is clear that trails and access to natural settings are highly valued and sought after by both Maine residents and people visiting Maine from around the country and even around the world.

Passing LD 1156 would be a wise investment in our state’s economic future and in the small businesses we represent.”

Reid Anderson 

Dresden