April 1, 2008
Associated Press

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

ATC headquarters here has released a proposal to erect a One million dollar, 325 foot free span footbridge to span the Kennebec River in Carratunk, Maine. The bridge, which will be built in 2010, will allow hikers to cross the river safely at all hours of the day in all seasons of the year effectively doing away with the traditional Canoe Ferry.
More details to be released as permits are obtained.
April fools!

April fools
woodsy
Why give it away like that? :confused::eek:;):cool::rolleyes:

Nobody would drown fording the thing, ever again.

hmm

Why does the ATC need to spend a million dollars to build a bridge over the kennebec? They could spend just a few thousand for a ferryman or, better yet, build a simple rope for hikers to hang on to as they cross or perhaps a rope bridge of sorts.

But a million dollars? Gee, for that money would should be able to bridge all the streams of Maine, like Big Wilson in the 100 mile Wilderness. I bet that would be a tad dangerous at high water.

Seems to me like an excessive use of money!

DavidNH

hmm

Why does the ATC need to spend a million dollars to build a bridge over the kennebec? They could spend just a few thousand for a ferryman or, better yet, build a simple rope for hikers to hang on to as they cross or perhaps a rope bridge of sorts.

But a million dollars? Gee, for that money would should be able to bridge all the streams of Maine, like Big Wilson in the 100 mile Wilderness. I bet that would be a tad dangerous at high water.

Seems to me like an excessive use of money!

DavidNH


BWAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....

hmm

Why does the ATC need to spend a million dollars to build a bridge over the kennebec? They could spend just a few thousand for a ferryman or, better yet, build a simple rope for hikers to hang on to as they cross or perhaps a rope bridge of sorts.

But a million dollars? Gee, for that money would should be able to bridge all the streams of Maine, like Big Wilson in the 100 mile Wilderness. I bet that would be a tad dangerous at high water.

Seems to me like an excessive use of money!

DavidNH

of course you don't "get it' :rolleyes:

It had me going for a second!

I wish they'd just build the darn bridge already....

Why give it away like that? :confused::eek:;):cool::rolleyes:
Didn't want the phone at ATC headquarters ringing off the hook.

hmm

Why does the ATC need to spend a million dollars to build a bridge over the kennebec? They could spend just a few thousand for a ferryman or, better yet, build a simple rope for hikers to hang on to as they cross or perhaps a rope bridge of sorts.

But a million dollars? Gee, for that money would should be able to bridge all the streams of Maine, like Big Wilson in the 100 mile Wilderness. I bet that would be a tad dangerous at high water.

Seems to me like an excessive use of money!

DavidNH

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/merv/fishing.gif David, you took the bait, hook...line and sinker!

I just saw the plans.....yeeehaaa, it's wide enough for ATV's!!!!!!!!

geek

I just saw the plans.....yeeehaaa, it's wide enough for ATV's!!!!!!!!

geek
Snowmobiles too! That'll save some around the horn miles!

I just saw the plans.....yeeehaaa, it's wide enough for ATV's!!!!!!!!

geek

Yeah, but the ATV's gotta have at least 3 wheels!!!!!

Or be a sled

I would have believed it...

Yeah, but the ATV's gotta have at least 3 wheels!!!!!

How about a maximum of one wheel on ATVs? :D

How about a maximum of one wheel on ATVs? :D


Wheelies are cool!!!!!!

Wheelies are cool!!!!!!

Wouldn't a uni-wheeled vehicle doing a wheelie be better called a faceplant? :D

How about a maximum of one wheel on ATVs? :D

Dances With Mice would be all set!

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=7511&catid=member&imageuser=1030

Wouldn't a uni-wheeled vehicle doing a wheelie be better called a faceplant? :D

a hop.:eek:

geek

Wouldn't a uni-wheeled vehicle doing a wheelie be better called a faceplant? :D

Man, you dont make a no sense!!!!!!Troll!

a hop.:eek:

geek

Most of the time, it wouldn't. ;)

http://www.erwin.com.au/images/Classic/pole.jpg

April 1, 2008
Associated Press

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

ATC headquarters here has released a proposal to erect a One million dollar, 325 foot free span footbridge to span the Kennebec River in Carratunk, Maine. The bridge, which will be built in 2010, will allow hikers to cross the river safely at all hours of the day in all seasons of the year effectively doing away with the traditional Canoe Ferry.
More details to be released as permits are obtained.

I was just getting ready to get on the phone and form a protest! NOOOOOOO!
Glad it was an "April Fools"

Most of the time, it wouldn't. ;)

http://www.erwin.com.au/images/Classic/pole.jpg


I ride a unicycle...yes it's a hop!:cool:

geek

Leave it to a spectral North Woods icon to TOTALLY wuss out on a perfectly good April Fools day prank. Wuss!!!!:mad::mad:

:D:p

I ride a unicycle...yes it's a hop!:cool:

geek

Wouldn't that make it a Pogo Stick!!

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/laughing013.gifhttp://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/laughing013.gifhttp://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/laughing013.gif

Haha I was like "Dang! A million dollars for some stinky hikers?!"...
Had me goin...

Wouldn't that make it a Pogo Stick!!
http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/laughing013.gifhttp://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/laughing013.gifhttp://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/laughing013.gif
I never learnt how to ride a unicycle, just a motorcycle (http://gallery.backcountry.net/album48/aae).

On a pogo stick however, I can go until I'm tired... :jump

I never learnt how to ride a unicycle, just a motorcycle (http://gallery.backcountry.net/album48/aae).

On a pogo stick however, I can go until I'm tired... :jump

HMmmmmmmm:-?

Just got this one on the fax...

April 1, 2008

National Park Service, Washington DC

We regret to inform the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (ANST) community that the earlier announcement of a bridge over the Kennebec River in Maine (KRME) was premature. An environmental impact statement (EIS) was prepared and it was determined that a bridge would negatively impact the local viewshed (LV).

In accordance with (IAW) the EIS, the selected alternative to protect the LV of the KRME on the ANST will be a tunnel.

A tunnel is the locally preferred alternative in the New England States upon encountering difficult crossing conditions (see: "Big Dig"). Extending Big Dig technology to the KRME crossing will be facilitated by the discovery of barrels of concrete glue that suddenly appeared one night at an undisclosed location. "This is the true meaning of Trail Magic," said ... of the NPS.

Due to congestion experienced when hikers wait for the current ferry, this project is eligible for the Bush Administration's congestion reduction market-based incentive. Accordingly the estimated $10 million cost will be repaid by a tax on thru-hikers. Based on 2,000 thru-hikers or poseurs per year crossing, and interest waived, the $500 fee should repay the construction cost in only 10 years, making this the most cost-effective as well as environmentally preferable alternative.

The fee will be paid by automated means, eliminating the need for any "ferryman". Images will be taken of all fee payers. These images will be transmitted to the Harpers Ferry, WV office of the ANST partner organization Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Upon opening of the tunnel on February 30, 2012, no one will be eligible for the ATC's 2000-miler award who does not appear on the tunnel payment machine's image scanner. The images will be checked against either the images acquired at the ATC office in Harpers Ferry, or not to discriminate against hikers who appear in towns only late at night, those acquired here: http://www.doylehotel.com/

An artistic rendering of the proposed crossing follows.

http://www.geocities.com/cvatclub/PA944underpass.bmp

If they'd just go back to having a rope strung across the Kennebec...... Nobody would drown fording the thing, ever again.

I wasn't aware there was ever a rope, have a citation? AFAIK there's only been one drowning.

Minnesotasmith-"If they'd just go back to having a rope strung across the Kennebec...... Nobody would drown fording the thing, ever again."
++++++++++++++++
Sly-"I wasn't aware there was ever a rope, have a citation? AFAIK there's only been one drowning."There used to be 2 cables across Baker Stream near the end of Moxie Pond that were apparently used as a high water bypass. There is a photo of someone crossing via the cables (for demo purposes) in the February 1987 issue of National Geographic and that may be what MS is referring to.

There used to be 2 cables across Baker Stream near the end of Moxie Pond that were apparently used as a high water bypass. There is a photo of someone crossing via the cables (for demo purposes) in the February 1987 issue of National Geographic and that may be what MS is referring to.

I used those things.

I think I'd rather ford.

they were there for power company workers not hikers

Give me a million dollars and I'll be glad to move up there and ferry anyone across the river.

There used to be 2 cables across Baker Stream near the end of Moxie Pond that were apparently used as a high water bypass. There is a photo of someone crossing via the cables (for demo purposes) in the February 1987 issue of National Geographic and that may be what MS is referring to.

I just pulled out my mag...how about the picture of that guy fording the Kennebec below it. Water is up to his nipples.

Give me a million dollars and I'll be glad to move up there and ferry anyone across the river.

Ditto here and I would include, free of charge, each his/her own personalized "I DID THE RIVER" T-shirt (one size fits all) :D

I believe the hiker pictured on the Baker Stream cable crossing was Albie Pokrob, one of the charter members of ALDHA.

So no one wades or swims the river? I have seen photos of it, seems doable.

So no one wades or swims the river? I have seen photos of it, seems doable.

The issue is that a power plant upstream releases water without warning at unpredictable times in quantity enough to drown anyone crossing at the time. A section-hiker a few years ago was drowned by this.

The issue is that a power plant upstream releases water without warning at unpredictable times in quantity enough to drown anyone crossing at the time. A section-hiker a few years ago was drowned by this.

it was 23 years ago

So no one wades or swims the river? I have seen photos of it, seems doable.

sure. plenty do ford it. it is totally doable

I heard it was going to be an arch like the one in St Louis. The height will prevent the ice problems and they'll have motorized cars on the inside.

it was 23 years ago

So much for the significance of pre-2000 thruhikes, I guess. ;)

So much for the significance of pre-2000 thruhikes, I guess. ;)

huh? she was section hiking. not thru-hiking. there was no ATC ferry service. she panicked and had her waist belt fastened. it happened 23 years ago. an isolated incident. no drownings since

This thread is in the Hiking Humor forum folks.

Hiker catapults...

a trebuchet and net on each side of the river...

I stumbled on this thread again. I didn't notice the April fools at the bottom of the original post.

I am at a loss for words. I fell for it. *Blushing*

David

Hiker catapults...

a trebuchet and net on each side of the river...

============================

Need a huge catch net on both sides ...and a Trebuchet operator with great aim :D

'Slogger

I heard the Dept of Defense will be testing some new hoverboards out. I imagine the Kennebec crossing would be perfect for testing this new technology.



http://scienceblogs.com/omnibrain/backtothefuture_hoverboard.jpg