View Full Version : Appalachian Trail relocation proposal
Baxter State Park officials are suggesting a relocation of the Appalachian Trail to bypass what is now a long road walk.
Park Director Jensen Bissell reports his crews are building a new trail from Katahdin Stream southwest to connect with an existing trail that connect Grassy POnd with the trail at Daicey POnd.
Bissell is telling MATC that this new trail "provides an obvious opportunity to relocated the AT from its current route from Daicey Pond to Elbow and Tracy Ponds and then onto the Park tote road."
He adds, "We suspect that this reroute would be a pleasant improvement for AT hikers compared to the road hiking they currently experience."
The issue will be taken up by the MATC board at a board meeting in Augusta, Maine on Friday.
I'm going to try to attach a sketch map, but that is not something I've done before, so it may not work.
Weary
Jack Tarlin
11-03-2008, 15:53
Nice idea, but I don't remember that particular road walk as being that long.
Agree. They have to do something in all those meetings.
Weary, your map looked pretty good to me when I stood to the left of my monitor and oriented my eyes perpendicular to the floor here in Pennsylvania.
I noticed the proposed trail may be shorter. Are relocations which cause the AT to be shorter advisable? Wouldn't that result in decreased funding?
I like going by Tracy and Elbow ponds. I think its Tracy that has a nice view of some mountain as you cross over the bridge. The road walk is not really that bad and it is not even on paved road.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_fd2vj3z5SFk/SQ9bsVWqyrI/AAAAAAAAAr8/xG03OBwaqKA/s640/Baxter%20relocation.jpg
My map from the ATC Maine Mountain Guide (1999) shows the Grassey Pond Trail already. Why is new construction needed? Should just require painting white blazes.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_fd2vj3z5SFk/SQ9bsVWqyrI/AAAAAAAAAr8/xG03OBwaqKA/s640/Baxter%20relocation.jpg
Thanks for straighting me out.
Cabin Fever
11-03-2008, 17:46
Weary, your map looked pretty good to me when I stood to the left of my monitor and oriented my eyes perpendicular to the floor here in Pennsylvania.
I noticed the proposed trail may be shorter. Are relocations which cause the AT to be shorter advisable? Wouldn't that result in decreased funding?
The Trail length is always ebbing and flowing because of relocations. Some make it longer, some make it shorter. Typically, the Trail is getting longer because of adding switchbacks which, by nature, are longer.
My map from the ATC Maine Mountain Guide (1999) shows the Grassey Pond Trail already. Why is new construction needed? Should just require painting white blazes.
I don't think there is a trail from Katahdin Stream, directly to the Grassey Pond Trail. To reach the pond from Katahdin Stream you have to walk 3/4 of a mile on the Tote Road.
MATC's Steve Clark, who knows the park better than most, is going to submit an alternative relocation at Friday's meeting. I haven't had time to check Steve's ideas. I've spent much of the day putting out the MATC newsletter.
Weary
TJ aka Teej
11-03-2008, 22:53
The is a re-opening of the old Grassy Pond Trail that was directly across the tote road from Katahdin Stream Campground. The Appalachian Trail once followed this very route from Daicey Pond to Katahdin Stream, and there are still old AT metal diamonds on the trees behind Grassy Pond. BSP crew was finishing the relo and some bridge work on this trail at the end of the season. Here's a pic of Katahdin from the trail behind Grassy Pond:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=28781&catid=member&imageuser=314
Many thanks to Jensen for bringing this bit of old AT back to life!
Looks like there is a trail there...
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_fd2vj3z5SFk/SQ-5Dx_m_fI/AAAAAAAAAsk/bM3fp1lnndA/s400/Grassy%20Pond.jpg
TJ aka Teej
11-03-2008, 22:56
My map from the ATC Maine Mountain Guide (1999) shows the Grassey Pond Trail already. Why is new construction needed? Should just require painting white blazes.
The Grassy Pond trail was closed about that time. It's been slightly relo'd to higher and drier ground.
Sign at GP trailhead:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=29049&c=528
TJ aka Teej
11-04-2008, 10:10
Nice idea, but I don't remember that particular road walk as being that long.
It's not. But it's pretty dangerous walking considering how narrow and twisting that stretch is. I hope Jensen's proposal also includes putting the AT back through Daicey Pond Campground. That little detour through the bog to the old AT lean-to site is a bit insulting.
heywhats another relo they seem to be everywhere anyway