Work continues on Fly Rod Crosby Trail

MADRID –  Despite driving rain, chilly temperatures, malicious bugs and lots of mud, 24 volunteers spent June 23 not only building one and one-half miles of the new Fly Rod Crosby Trail along the Orbeton Stream in Madrid, they also carried material to the nearby Appalachian Trail to be used in construction of a new tent site and cleared an ATV trail in East Madrid.

“We hope to finish the first section of the Fly Rod Crosby Trail, in Madrid, later this year and this work day really helped us get much closer to that goal,” said Ben Godsoe, a Maine Conservation Corps member serving with the Sandy River Land Trust and High Peaks Alliance. The first section of the Fly Rod Crosby Trail being built starts in the field below the StarBarn B&B in Madrid. On completion, it will stretch four miles north, following the western bank of Orbeton Stream.

The volunteers included 13 Maine Conservation Corps  environmental educators from all over Maine, a contingent of members of the local Narrow Gauge Riders ATV Club and assorted area students and residents. In addition to work on the Fly Rod Crosby Trail, volunteers worked on the Appalachian Trail and an ATV club trail in Phillips.

The work day was hosted by the High Peaks Alliance, a group of local people working with motorized and non-motorized trail groups in the area to conserve land for traditional use and to show that through communication and collaboration, trail groups can work together to make the High Peaks Region’s trails a truly unique resource for both residents and visitors.

Organizers would like to thank the Maine Conservation Corp Environmental Educators, the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, Narrow Gauge Riders ATV club, Little Debbie’s Snacks, Coca-Cola, Poland Spring and all the community volunteers who made this work day possible. Keep an eye out for more volunteer work days on the Fly Rod Crosby Trail. For more information visit www.highpeaksalliance.wordpress.com.