Spring is here — at least it is in Georgia, where hundreds of hikers are starting the Appalachian Trail, a continuous footpath that stretches all the way to Maine. Among those ambitious hikers are a number Maine residents. This week, I tracked a few down (with the help of the BDN Outdoors online community) and asked how the trail is treating them so far.
— Aislinn Sarnacki
Get to know some of the Mainers hiking the Appalachian Trail this year
Marked with white paint and rock piles, the Appalachian Trail is one of the longest continuous footpaths in the world. It spans from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine, and each year attracts thousands of hikers.
Established in 1936, this 2,180-mile trail — the AT for short — cuts across 14 states … Last year, about 900 hikers completed the trail. Of the successful hikers last year, 32 were Maine residents, according to Appalachian Trail Conservancy records.
This year, several more Mainers are attempting the arduous journey.
New owners take the helm at iconic Grand Lake Stream store
The whispers began a few months ago, as often happens in a one-horse town in the middle of next-to-nowhere. And even 100 miles away, outdoors enthusiasts who have adopted this little village as their favorite outdoor playground heard those whispers, loud and clear.
New folks in town. Bought the general store, they did. Longer hours. Different kinds of grub. That’s what they say, anyhow.
Forget disco duck: This woodcock does the funky chicken
Mother nature is full of surprises. And when our woodland critters start to get a little amorous, you never know what you’ll see. Here at the BDN, we’ve got dozens of wildlife-watchers on staff. When your winters last six or eight months, like ours do, it doesn’t take much to spice up our days.
Howland fish bypass construction to start next month
Construction of the $3.5 million fish bypass at the former Howland tannery site is likely to begin next month, ending 11 years of preparation, officials said Friday. Construction crews already demolished the former powerhouse attached to the Howland Dam on the Piscataquis River.
Blog log
Act Out with Aislinn: Appalachian Trail to Buck Hill in Monson
The AT has long been a rite of passage for the long-distance hiker, but it is also an excellent source of day hikes — hikes that can be completed in less than a day. One of the many day hikes on the AT in Maine brings you to both Lake Hebron and the 1,587-foot tall Buck Hill in Monson.
George’s Outdoor News: Should Maine allow hunting on Sunday?
Question: What is allowed in 46 other states, but never in Maine? Answer: Hunting on Sunday. We’ll never hunt on Sundays in Maine. That was clear at yesterday’s legislative hearing on three Sunday hunting bills.
On the horizon
BDN Outdoors editor John Holyoke has been pursuing stories about all types of Maine critters — including amorous woodcock, hungry bobcats and “superbears.” And Outdoors reporter Aislinn Sarnacki has been focusing on the birds. Stay tuned.
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