A cool north wind blows refreshingly across the crystal-clear waters of the pond. I’d say it’s helping keep the bugs at bay, but truth be told, the varmints just haven’t been a bother. I haven’t even sprayed myself with repellent yet. But there’s time, especially if the mostly cloudy skies clear and the temperature rises. For now, though, I’m happy to be in a bug-free zone.
Trundling along the narrow path marked by white blazes, rich green spruce and pine woods to my left and a wild, beautiful pond to my right, I couldn’t be happier. Saw in one hand and brush clippers in the other, it’s just me out here this trip, tackling the task of clearing my section of the Appalachian Trail a few miles west of the Kennebec River.
These are glory days. Whether I’m out here with the help of good company — goodness knows every trail maintainer needs and appreciates assistance, and I’ve been blessed with plenty over the years — I so enjoy the precious times when I’m alone on this 1.8-mile stretch of trail that I know so well. I know every inch of it, in fact, since I adopted it way back in 2004.
But wait, there’s more. In 2009, I also adopted a 1.2-mile section of the AT in Monson. It’s near our camp, so when it became available, I couldn’t resist taking on the maintenance of this sweet stretch, which includes a lovely pond, slate ridges, coniferous woods and a shelter on a brook at the far end. It’s a fine walk every time.
You’ve no doubt heard the term “a labor of love.” Well, this is exactly that. Nothing’s finer than being a member of the Maine Appalachian Trail Club and helping care for a small slice of what I believe is the most beautiful part of the entire Appalachian Trail. Yep, Maine’s miles are the best.
I have a well-worn T-shirt that says on the front, “If You Have Time to Hike on Trails,” and on the back, “You Have Time to Work on Trails.” I got it at an MATC meeting probably 20 years ago. The words resonated with me because trails don’t maintain themselves. It takes people. And one of those people might as well be me. Maybe you, too.
To be sure, I’m just one volunteer among more than 700 MATC members who not only help keep the trail and its facilities in shape but also manage the organization, contributing some 15,000 volunteer hours annually in support of the club’s mission. I’m just a very small cog in a very big wheel that keeps rolling down the trail, getting things done.
Ninety-one-year-old Appalachian Trail thru-hiker Dale “Greybeard” Sanders, left, pauses with Associated Press photographer Bob Bukaty, center, and Fran Leyman during trail work in Monson on July 28. Sanders is nearing Katahdin in his attempt to become the oldest person to complete the Appalachian Trail. Credit: Courtesy of Carey Kish 
A Maine Appalachian Trail Club volunteer installs a new bog bridge. Credit: Courtesy of Maine Appalachian Trail Club 
Maine Appalachian Trail Club volunteers take a break at East Carry Pond after a day of trail work. Credit: Courtesy of Maine Appalachian Trail Club 
Maine Appalachian Trail Club volunteers work on a section of the Appalachian Trail near Barren Mountain. Credit: Courtesy of Maine Appalachian Trail Club 
Volunteers with the Maine Appalachian Trail Club pose during a trail maintenance trip. Credit: Courtesy of Maine Appalachian Trail Club
But many hands make light work, don’t you know. There’s work aplenty, like maintaining 267 AT miles and 50 miles of side trails, 305 miles of boundary lines on 32,000 acres, as well as campsites, shelters, privies and signs. But you contribute what you can when you can, and it all makes a difference for the betterment of the trail.
And better the trail surely is thanks to all the hard work and dedication. It’s no secret that the Maine section of the AT has long been regarded by the hiking community as not only the most beautiful but also the best maintained on the 2,200-mile trail between Springer Mountain in Georgia and the summit of Katahdin in Baxter State Park.
Love the Appalachian Trail? Then maybe spending some time volunteering with the MATC is just the ticket. You’ll get enormous satisfaction from volunteering, meet some great like-minded people and have a whole lot of fun along the way. You’ll be a true white blaze hero and duly recognized for your efforts.
How can I get involved? I’m glad you asked. Perhaps the easiest way to get started is by visiting MATC’s website and clicking the “Get Involved” tab. The events calendar is another good resource. You’ll discover there’s no shortage of trail tasks, small and large, that need the helping hands of good people like you.
If the AT is too far afield for you and your schedule, perhaps something closer to home would work. There are land trusts and conservation groups aplenty all over Maine that would love to have you participate in their volunteer workdays and other events. Ask around and do some searching online. You’re sure to find a match that works.
Meantime, I’m readying my trail tools for another round or two up on the AT this summer. I’ve bog bridges to install, brush to clip and blazes to repaint. And no doubt, more downed trees to clear. I can always use the company, so let me know if you’re interested in helping. Just don’t tell the black flies and mosquitoes.
Well, I’ll be. The honor, the pleasure, the joy. On the morning of July 28, my wife, Fran, and I were out on our section of trail in Monson doing the work we like to do. The day’s project was to finish installing bog bridges north of the North Pond outlet. Lo and behold, as we were arranging sleepers and stringers and drilling and pounding spikes, along came a modern-day AT hero, none other than Greybeard (aka Dale Sanders of Tennessee).
This amazing 91-year-old fellow was just 100 or so miles from becoming the oldest person ever to complete the AT. We had a fantastic chat. He’s looking great and in great spirits. My heart is full. This remarkable man actually clasped his hands and gave me — the other guy with a gray beard, aka Beerman — a bow when he learned from Fran that I was a Triple Crowner. But no way, this guy deserves the real crown of long-distance walking achievement, hands down.
Greybeard thru-hiked the AT in 2017, becoming the oldest person to hike the trail. His record was eclipsed by his friend and mine, Nimblewill Nomad, in 2021. Greybeard set out in September 2025 to reclaim the title. Cheer him on as he makes his way through the 100-Mile Wilderness toward the finish atop Katahdin. Wow!
