Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund awards $20,000 grant to trail club

A $20,000 grant from the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund (MOHF) awarded to the Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC) is helping fund critically-needed trail improvements along a popular stretch of the Appalachian Trail. Members of MATC’s Maine Trail Crew are working at two exceptionally wild, remote high elevation trail-sections on either side of White Cap Mountain in the 100-Mile Wilderness.

Using MOHF grant money to fund the work in part, the crew built more than 25 stone steps on the Western Ridge of White Cap Mountain in July, and at the second project site near White Cap’s Logan Brook area cleared accumulated gravel from 30 water bars. They are now halfway through building 40 steps at a much higher elevation along the mountainside where the terrain is littered with rock and roots.

“As the Appalachian Trail continues to grow in popularity, vigilant trail maintenance is critical to ensure both hiker safety and the conservation of Maine’s natural attractions,” remarked MATC President Lester Kenway. “We are grateful to The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund for enabling us to achieve great progress every trail season.”

The Appalachian Trail continues to experience a rise in hiking traffic, influenced in recent times by the popularity of Bill Bryon’s “A Walk in the Woods.” This influx is placing great strain on the already aging infrastructure by accelerating trail erosion, littering and wood waste. MATC seeks funding for critical trail projects through organizations such as MOHF to maintain and manage 267 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Maine.