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Trail groups work together on Saddleback Mountain

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Volunteers work to build bog bridges on Saddleback Mountain recently. (Photo by Ben Godsoe) 

By Benjamin Godsoe

SANDY RIVER PLANTATION – Members of the High Peaks Alliance, local ATV clubs and the Maine Appalachian Trail Club got together for a volunteer work day recently on Saddleback Mountain.

ATV club members, from the Narrow Gauge Riders and the Camp Two Riders, ferried in bog bridging materials, tools and supplies to the Appalachian Trail. A bog bridge is a cedar board positioned to keep hiking traffic above wet marshy areas of trail. High Peaks Alliance members helped install the bridges on the trail.

The High Peaks Alliance is a diverse group of local people interested in working forest conservation and preserving public access to the back country in the High Peaks Region. This is the area between Routes
4, 142, 27 and 16 that encompasses eight of Maine’s 14 mountains above 4,000 feet.

Alliance meetings are held monthly, every second Friday, at the Phillips Public Library at 6 p.m. (meetings are open to everyone). Members of the alliance are skiers, bikers, hikers, ATVers, snowmobilers, equestrians, dog-sledders, Maine guides, teachers, farmers, small business and land owners.

The Alliance organized this event to help develop goodwill between motorized and non-motorized recreational trail groups operating in the High Peaks Region. Trail groups can successfully work together to improve the multi-trail network and create positive recreational experiences for all trail users in the High Peaks. At the end of the day, 20 spans of bog-bridging had been transported to and installed on the Appalachian Trail with enthusiastic help from local volunteers. Thanks to everyone who
volunteered for a great day.

Benjamin Godsoe is an environmental educator with the Maine Conservation Corps/AmeriCorps Program working with the Sandy River Land Trust & High Peaks Alliance on various projects.

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