Along Maine's Appalachian Trail Book

[peakbagger]

I picked up a copy of this book recently. The title is somewhat misleading as the book is really a history of the creation of the trail through Maine. Lots of great historical photos of the original trail routing and many of the sporting camps and other points of interest along the way. The biggest disapointment is that its way too short as I expect the archives have a lot more photos and there is a lot more history.

For those just hiking through its not a "must read", but for those who want to know the history of the Maine AT, its a good start and will leave you wanting for more.

Its available in many locations on the web, but I expect the MATC would appreciate the orders through their website.

[DLANOIE]

Its a little known fact that the AT origionally went through the town of FLagstaff, now a lake...The history of the trail in Maine has changed alot since its conception. Some 180 miles give or take have been rerouted over the years. Thanks for the post peakbagger.

[The Old Fhart]

DLANOIE-"Its a little known fact that the AT origionally went through the town of FLagstaff..."

Actually I believe it was the village of Dead River. Flagstaff is the lake formed when the village was flooded. There is an excellent book available with photos of the houses in the village, many with 'sold' marked on them to indicate that CMP had bought them.

[peakbagger]

I was under the impression that the AT route that used to go through the area flooded by the dam was abandoned because of the dam, but I was corrected by someone that it was abandoned prior to the dam project as the alternative Arnold route was a better route. I always did like that for awhile there were two accepted parallel routes of the AT in part of Maine, either the AT route or the Arnold trail.

[DLANOIE]

Actually I believe it was the village of Dead River. Flagstaff is the lake formed when the village was flooded. There is an excellent book available with photos of the houses in the village, many with 'sold' marked on them to indicate that CMP had bought them.

Thank you for the correction.

[The Old Fhart]

Peakbagger-“I was under the impression that the AT route that used to go through the area flooded by the dam was abandoned because of the dam, but I was corrected by someone that it was abandoned prior to the dam project as the alternative Arnold route was a better route….”

My 1936 ME guidebook mentions the “new” alternate trail they were clearing will also have white blazes, the 1938 guidebook says either trail can be used and both are white blazed, and my 1942 guidebook says: “With the view of providing a superior route and preserving the old Indian carry, CCC Forester James W. Sewall suggested in 1935, a reopening of the original route of Benedict Arnold’s march past the Carry Ponds. This trail was known as the Arnold Trail route. The Dead River route was abandoned in 1939 as part of the Appalachian Trail but its course can still be followed…..”

The Long Falls Dam that created Flagstaff Lake was completed in 1950.