Maine is full of beautiful trail systems that provide access to amazing places! Behind every mile of trail there is a trail manager, whether professional or volunteer, working hard to ensure the trails are open for all to enjoy. At MTF Stories, we are launching an ongoing series, Behind the Bow Saw, to introduce you to the great people who build and maintain your favorite trails across Maine. To start us off, we asked Gabe Perkins of Mahoosuc Pathways a few questions.
We are dedicated to connecting communities through the development, maintenance, and promotion of a multi-use trail network.
At Mahoosuc Pathways, we are currently developing the necessary amenities for our new Bethel Community Forest including winter parking, snowshoe and backcountry ski trails. Next year we'll break ground on some new mountain bike trails and more hiking trails there and at our Bacon Hill and Bethel Village Trails locations. We recently started building mountain bike trails in Rumford and look forward to developing a community trail network there. We work with a great group of volunteers to help make it all possible.
This is a tough one, but on my first trip to Katahdin in the mid-90s my friends and I had the "good" idea to hike the mountain at midnight during a full moon to watch the sunrise. We got so excited that we summited about 2 hours before sunrise. We sat there lightly shivering until the sun started to come up and the full moon set. The view at dawn on the opposing horizons and the shadow of the mountain slowly drawing back towards us – that's the image that's seared into my brain forever. We went back the next year and tried again and got caught in the rain and fog at the summit. Needless to say, I don't hold those memories as close as the previous year.
Stay on the trail and obey the signs!
To support the great work Mahoosuc Pathways is doing to create sustainable trail systems in the Bethel area and beyond, become a Mahoosuc Pathways member or volunteer at one of their events.
All photos courtesy of Gabe Perkins
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