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19th Annual Meeting of the Maine Chapter
International Appalachian Trail
May 2-4, 2013
A group of approximately forty scientists, artists, writers, and natural resource professionals representing government, non-government, recreation, and business organizations descended on Shin Pond Village, Maine to attend the Annual Meeting of the Maine Chapter of the International Appalachian Trail (MCIAT).
Spain Honours Dick Anderson & Alicia Scribner
In March 2013, the Spain chapter of the Sendero Internacional de los Apalaches (International Appalachian Trail) honoured IAT Founder Richard "Dick" Anderson and IAT Spain honorary member Alicia P. Scribner for their roles in establishing the IAT and IAT Spain, respectively.
Maine IAT Board Member Thomas Urquhart Takes a Walk on South Downs Way
In late March 2013, IAT Maine board member Thomas Urquhart set off on the South Downs Way to again walk the hills he roamed as a young lad growing up in the south of England. Join him and his wife and sister as he recounts the sheep and grazing bunnies on Easter Sunday morn. |
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Join Us for the Maine Chapter Annual Meeting
May 2 - May 4
The 2013 Maine Chapter Annual Meeting is going to be held at the beautiful Shin Pond Village in Shin Pond Maine. As always, the weekend will be filled with lots of great topics, information, and camaraderie.
Maine Chapter of the International Appalachian Trail Participates in Geological Meetings in Canada and the United States:
The Atlantic Geoscience Society 2013 Annual Meeting, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and the Northeastern Section of the Geological Society of America.
On February 1-2 2013, Board members Don Hudson, Robert Marvinney, Bill Duffy and Walter Anderson traveled to Dartmouth Nova Scotia to meet with officers and members of the Atlantic Geoscience Society (AGS), and to deliver a talk entitled: “The Role of Geology in the Development of the International Appalachian Trail” by MIAT members Walter A. Anderson, Robert G. Marvinney, Douglas N. Reusch, Julia Daly, and W. Donald Hudson. Our participation was acknowledged with hospitality and enthusiasm by AGS President Elizabeth Kosters and members of the AGS. Among others, two very important connections were made with John Calder, Senior Geologist with the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources Geoheritage Program, Halifax, NS, and Randall Miller, Head of Geology and Paleontology, Research Center, New Brunswick Museum, Natural
Science Department, St. John’s, NB.
On March 18-20, Board members Walter Anderson and Bill Duffy traveled to the Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Section Meeting of the Geological Society of America (NEGSA) at the historic Mount Washington Resort in the majestic Presidential Range in Bretton Woods New Hampshire. Our tasks included: (1) display our IAT Exhibit and (2) deliver an IAT talk , entitled: “The Role of Geology in the Development of the International Appalachian Trail”-authors noted at AGS above. As a surprising occurrence, the talk that followed ours was given
by Harrison Schmitt, Astronaut Geologist who was on the Apollo 17 mission to the moon.~ Needless to say, our talk was given before a full house! I had to resist the temptation to end our narrative by asking for his recommendation concerning the extension of the IAT to the moon. Many students were also in attendance. This was followed by a very interesting lunch with Astronaut Schmitt and George Davis, President of the Geological Society of America.
 Entrance to Bretton Woods, White Mountains Range in the Background
Bretton Woods Resort
Walter Anderson hosting IAT Exhibit at NEGSA Conference in Bretton Woods, NH
Astronaut, Harrison Schmitt visiting IAT Exhibit at NEGSA Conference in Bretton Woods, NH
Our IAT Exhibit was strategically located very near the NEGSA Poster Sessions which maximized exposure to hundreds of professionals and students, and access to IAT information and material.
Attendees at the exhibit
More Attendees at the exhibit
More Attendees at the exhibit
Photos by Bill Duffy and story by Walter Anderson 3-21-13
Send-off for Ed Friedman...
On Thursday, March 7, 2013, a delegation from the Maine Chapter of the International Appalachian Trail/Sentier International des Appalaches gathered at Sebago Brewing in Portland, ME, to send off our fellow board member and esteemed colleague Ed Friedman in the style he deserves. This week, Ed will embark on a northbound hike of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, beginning at Spring Mountain, Georgia, and walking the crest of the Appalachian mountains to Mt. Katadhin, Maine. Ed's journey will span 2,180 miles, through the spring snow of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the summer heat of Central Pennsylvania. In addition to these challenges, Ed will enjoy the rewards of the diverse cultures, flora, fauna and geology that characterize the North American Appalachian Terrains. Please join us in wishing Ed a happy, healthy hike!
Our send-off of Ed Friedman anticipates our upcoming send-off party for another Ed – Ed Talone, who will depart Maine this May to complete his hike of the entire length of the North American Appalachian Terrains. Last year, Ed completed a walk that stretched from the Dry Tortugas Islands, and included segments of the Florida National Scenic
Trail, the Benton MacKaye Trail, the Pinhoti Trail System, the Appalachian Trail, the Maine Segment of the International Appalachian Trail, the Downeast Sunrise Trail, and the East Coast Greeenway. This year, Ed will explore the IAT in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Quebec!
Stay tuned for periodic updates from both Eds here and on our Facebook page."
Story by Seth Levy, IAT Maine Chapter Board Member
IAT North America Meets in New Brunswick
On March 2 - 3, the IAT North America Council gathered in Moncton, New Brunswick to discuss issues of common interest, report chapter progress, and relax with friends over good food and drink!
Topics for discussion included IAT maps and trail markers, websites and social media, corporate sponsors and long-distance hikers, and IAT Europe and the 2013 AGM.
IAT North America Geologist Walter Anderson discussed meetings and presentations at North American Geological Societies where he introduced the IAT project to a diverse audience of North American geologists.
Will Richard from IAT Maine, gave a presentation on his new book Maine To Greenland, Exploring The Maritime Far Northeast, much of it in "Appalachian" territory,
while Bill Duffy used the opportunity to present an updated version of his IAT Appalachian Domain map.
As usual, the IAT Council Meeting weekend closed out over dinner and drinks!
Next stop: September 18-20 at the IAT AGM at Scotland's magnificent Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park !!
story and photo by Paul Wylezol, IAT Council President
IAT Receives Gifts from Supporters
Left to right: Elizabeth Swain, Chris Herter, Earl Raymond, Dick Anderson,
Eddie Woodin, Don Hudson, Thomas Urquhart, Tom Brennan, and Walter Anderson
Eddie Woodin, President of Woodin & Company Store Fixtures and Tom Brennan, Resource Manager, NE, of Poland Spring Water Company present IAT gift donations to Don Hudson, President of the Maine Chapter of the IAT. The event took place on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012 in Yarmouth, Maine during the NFL Patriots-Miami football game at a local Sports Pub. The IAT greatly appreciates the long standing support from Woodin & Company and Poland Spring.
England's South West Coast Path Joins IAT
In November 2012, England's South West Coast Path National Trail joined the International Appalachian Trail as the England's ultimate challenge for long-distance hikers - a 630 mile (1008 km)adventure around the scenic coastline of the Southwest Peninsula, from Somerset's Minehead on the edge of Exmoor around to the shores of Poole Harbour in Dorset.
Schedule Set for 2013 IAT AGM in Scotland
The International Appalachian Trail 2013 Annual General Meeting will be hosted by IAT Scotland and held at the magnificent Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park September 18-20. Meetings will be held at the park headquarters in Balloch, within easy reach of the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. The three-day event will also include a walk on the West Highland Way and an excursion on beautiful Loch Lomond.
Stay tuned for more information on the AGM schedule of activities, as well as details on transportation and accommodations.
Nimblewill Nomad Completes ALL eleven of America's National Scenic Trails!
Nimblewill Nomad at the summit of Monadnock Mountain
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Nimblewill Nomad, the first thru hiker of IAT - Katahdin to Belle Isle completes his trek on the NET (New England Trail which makes him the second hiker to complete thru hikes of all 11 of America's National Scenic Trails! You can read his journals of this hike and all the others at www.nimblewillnomad.com.
Maine Chapter Officers Meet with Appalachian Trail Conservancy Directors
(L-R) Dick Anderson, Mark Wenger, Don Hudson, and Bill Plouffe
Maine IAT Chapter President, Don Hudson and IAT Founder/Treasurer, Dick Anderson, recently hosted a seafood dinner on the Portland, Maine waterfront for three key officials of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC). Mark Wenger, ATC Executive Director/CEO; Amy McCormick, Assistant Development Director and Bill Plouffe, ATC Board Vice-Chair.
Appalachian Trail's Next 75 Years Story by Morgan Simmons for Knoxville News Sentinel - Photo by Bill Lea/Special to the News Sentinel
(Excerpt from Appy Trail's next 75 years: 'There's a need for constant vigilance' on Knoxville News Sentinel website knoxnews.com.)
Over the course of its 75-year history, the Appalachian Trail has earned a reputation as one of the most popular long-distance footpaths in the world.
The AT's status as a true icon is evident in recent efforts to develop an "International Appalachian Trail" that eventually will extend from Canada across the Atlantic to Iceland, Scandinavia and Great Britain before dipping south to France, Portugal, and finally, Morocco.
The rational behind the International Appalachian Trail is that the Appalachian chain in North America actually extends undersea to emerge as the Caledonides Mountains of Scandinavia and Scotland, and the Atlas Mountains of northwest Africa.
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