The Island Trail T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E M A I N E I S L A N D T R A I L A S S O C I AT I O N W I N T E R 2 0 1 5
Million Dollar Milestone for Island Stewardship BY DOUG WELCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, & JACK PHILLIPS, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
The Maine Island Trail is seven times larger today than it was when it started in 1988. From the original 30 islands, it has grown to 212 scenic wild islands and coastal mainland sites, border to border, thanks to the generosity of the families and institutions that share these beautiful places with others. As the Trail has grown, so have MITA’s caretaking responsibilities, which means that MITA will have to dramatically grow its capacity to coordinate and execute volunteerdriven stewardship activities. This work is “mission-critical” to the Trail—it is the bond that cements the trust shared with island owners through our promise that their property will be better cared for as part of the Trail than it would be otherwise. As such, the reliability of our stewardship work cannot be dependent on the economic climate or short-term membership trends. Instead, MITA’s Board of Trustees, after considerable discussion and a detailed feasibility study, determined that an endowment should be created to fund the costs of this stewardship work every year... forever. continued on page 18
In This Issue A 500-MILE ADVENTURE. . ................................ 2
Launching from Fort Popham on a recent MITA Meetup circumnavigation of Georgetown Island.
Meetup Helps MITA Members Connect and Explore B Y J E N N I F E R VA N A L L E N
Day trips around Bailey and Orr’s Islands. A 10-mile paddle from Ocean Point around Damariscove Island during the sunset and rise of the Sturgeon Full Moon. A seven-mile expedition from Popham Beach to Seguin Island that includes a tour of Maine’s highest lighthouse. These are the kinds of Trail adventures that MITA paddlers, sailors, and powerboaters pine for all year long. They’re also just a few of the more than two dozen excursions facilitated by the MITA Meetup group, which was launched in June. The MITA Meetup group was one of several initiatives undertaken in response to members’ call for more social events and more opportunities to interact with fellow members and staff, which came up in surveys conducted during the strategic planning process.
TAKING CARE OF THE TRAIL. . .......................... 8
“We’ve heard from MITA members for years that they want to be able to find one another for safe on-water adventures and fun social opportunities to get together,” says MITA Executive Director Doug Welch. “Meetup felt like the perfect platform for this.”
HONORING OUR STEWARDS......................... 16
continued on page 15
BOATING WITH KIDS......................................... 3
M I TA .O R G
Proving You Can Do It in a Small Boat BY D O U G W E LC H, E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R
M I TA B O A R D O F T R U S T E E S Sam Adams, Freeport, ME Stephen Birmingham, Cape Elizabeth, ME Kelly Boden, Brunswick, ME Dan Carr, Dayton ME Nicole Connelly, Falmouth, ME Mark Fasold, Yarmouth, ME Tom Franklin, Portland, ME Odette Galli, Falmouth ME Lindsay Hancock, Gray, ME Alicia Heyburn, Brunswick, ME Rodger Herrigel, Phippsburg, ME Liz Incze, Cumberland Foreside, ME Cindy Knowles, Cumberland Center, ME John Noll, Orland, ME Melissa Paly, Kittery, ME Lucas St. Clair, Portland, ME Andrew Stern, Falmouth, ME
S TA F F
Doug Welch • dwelch@mita.org Executive Director Greg Field • gfield@mita.org Director of Finance & Operations Margaret Gerber • mgerber@mita.org Membership & Development Associate Maria Jenness • mjenness@mita.org Regional Stewardship Manager
Thinking through the physical requirements of a two-week solo island camping trip in an open skiff, my most immediate concern was how to get ashore and what to do if I couldn’t.
Brian Marcaurelle • brian@mita.org Program Director Erin Quigley • erin@mita.org Membership Manager
Jack Phillips • jphillips@mita.org Director of Development Jennifer Van Allen • editor@mita.org Newsletter Editor Chris Wall • cwall@mita.org Regional Stewardship Manager Pro-bono newsletter design services by Jillfrances Gray : www.jfg.com JFG Visual Communications + Creative Goodness
The Maine Island Trail is a 375-mile long waterway extending from the New Hampshire border on the west to Cobscook Bay on the east. Along the route, state-owned and private islands are available to members or the public for overnight stopovers where one can picnic or camp in a wilderness setting. The Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) is a nonprofit conservation organization, whose goal is to establish a model of thoughtful use and volunteer stewardship for the Maine islands that will assure their conservation in a natural state while providing an exceptional recreational asset that is maintained and cared for by the people who use it. This goal is achieved by encouraging a philosophy of low-impact use and environmental awareness among MITA’s members and island visitors.
M A I N E I S L A N D T R A I L A S S O C I AT I O N Vol. 26 2
58 Fore Street, 30-3 Portland, ME 04101 (207) 761-8225 • info@mita.org
M I TA . O R G
In July of 2014, my brother and I took a two-week trip down the Trail in a spectacular charter boat—a Duffy 37—that provided modern comfort, technology, and security. With my brother unable to accompany me this year, I had to be more resourceful for my excursion. I thought of Dave Getchell Sr. (Getch) and other members of the MITA vanguard, whose epic journeys in open Lund Alaskan skiffs are the stuff of legend. With this tradition in mind, my 17foot Boston Whaler Outrage II was, if anything, overkill. And so evolved a goal for my 2015 trip: to put my boating skills to the test and, in so doing, continue the MITA tradition of proving you can do it in a small boat.
No. 2
I had a “haul-off” anchored pulley system to get ashore and then pull the boat back out to deep water beyond the reach of low tide. It is far from a perfect system, particularly in surf of any size, so I also needed to be able to sleep on board if necessary. This would require a simple platform and shelter. Concerned that plywood would damage my gelcoat, and be unwieldy, I made a platform of rigid foam insulation from Marden’s on four plastic paint buckets that doubled as waterproof storage. Lacking the budget for a proper canvas cuddy, I learned that an appropriately sized grommeted tarp could be pulled tight over my bow and center console, providing elevation. On Getch’s recommendation, I used my push pole as the ridge pole. This happened to be one of the oars from his boat Torngat, the original MITA boat! It worked like a charm, and also provided security and confidence— a talisman from those early
MITA journeys from Maine to New York and Labrador, and everywhere in between. My brother and I made our 2014 journey as far as Halifax Island, but had not managed the leg to Cross Island. So my second goal for 2015 was to make it to Cross—one of the few Trail islands I had never seen. Once the trip was underway a third goal emerged. My interest in camping began as a child with my father. Having three boys and an aversion to team sports, camping, fishing, and boating had been my dad’s interests, which he conveyed to us. While his own childhood camping stories involved my grandfather and pack animals in the High Sierras, our trips were all in the Northeast. But for several years now, my dad has been on the steep, deep decline of Alzheimer’s disease. So I realized on my first solo night on an island Downeast, with only myself for company, that the trip was also a tribute to him. Having enjoyed shooting and editing a video from my 2014 trip, I decided to step it up a notch with this trip and make a more professional, stand-alone video. With several delicate, powerthirsty electronic devices to manage with one power outlet on board, this was no small feat. Making a film is hard work, as it turns out, especially in the absence of script or talent. But it is amazing what one can do with a GoPro, an iPhone, and two weeks alone. While the travelogue is best left to the video, which you can view at talesofthetrail.wordpress.com, the trip was a great success. The beginning and the ending were delightfully social. I spent nights with two dear friends, connected with three MITA-related excursions (including the Small Reach Regatta in Deer Isle), and had chance meetings with several members along the way. But it grew powerfully solitary the farther east I traveled. continued on pg 17
Raising the Next Generation of Trail Stewards B Y J E N N I F E R VA N A L L E N
Some of Zack Anchors’ fondest childhood memories revolve around excursions he took with his dad on the Maine Island Trail. “It was this experience of discovering a whole new world, pulling up on an island where it almost felt like no one had ever been before,” says Anchors, owner of Portland Paddle. Those early outings gave Anchors what so many of us wish to give our own kids—an enduring love of the Trail— and a desire to steward it for future generations. But boating with young kids requires some planning, creativity, and honest assessment of their needs and limits. “Incorporating kids into your water adventures should be natural, and you can make the water and boating a normal part of their lives,” says Maria Jenness, MITA’s Regional Stewardship Manager, who is also a Registered Maine Master Sea Kayak Guide and a river guide. At 3 years old, her son is enthusiastic about boating. That’s especially important since she and her partner (who is a Maine Master Sea Kayak Guide and owns Tidal Transit Kayak Company) have built their careers around the water.
Maria Jenness shares the Trail with her son Roy, age 3.
START EARLY. And go often, says MITA board member Lucas St. Clair. From the time his daughter was three months old, they started taking her in a baby carrier for cruises in their Boston Whaler. Now that his two kids are ages 2 and 5, their adventures have become together time he cherishes, from quick cruises to overnight boating trips. “It just made me so proud to feel that we shared these adventures,” says St. Clair.
Here are some tips on how to share your water adventures with your young ones.
START SMALL. Plan outings that are in your own comfort zone, Jenness advises. On your first excursions, stay in protected waters that are close to shore or are in an area without a lot of exposure to currents or winds—so you’ll feel safe even if weather changes. “When parents are tense, kids pick up on it right away,” says Jenness.
SAFETY FIRST. Find life jackets that fit and feel comfortable for your kids, and make wearing them non-negotiable. Of course, a PFD is an easier sell if you’re wearing one too. Jenness’ son gets excited to put on his life jacket, because he knows that it means a boating adventure is imminent. Hone your own rescue and safety skills before you go out, so you’re prepared in case of emergency, says Anchors.
KNOW THEIR LIMITS. Design your trip around your kids’ needs for naps, snacks, breaks to run around, and their threshold for unfamiliar environments. “A day on the boat with kids is not like any other day on the boat,” says St. Clair. “We’re not going to spend all day cruising around. We’re going to stop, get out on the beaches, let them run around, and make time for snacks and games. I had to learn this over and over.”
“We feel so lucky that he shares our passion, and that he can be a part of it in both our work and home lives,” she says.
DON’T FORGET FUN. Kids are eager to identify birds, marine plants, and animals they see. Kids as young as 8 can identify where they are by matching the mark on a nautical chart with the channel markers they see. And have a concrete destination, Anchors adds. “If they don’t have a clear idea of where they’re heading, it’s more likely they’ll get bored and tired sooner,” he says. It doesn’t have to be ambitious. Circumnavigating a ledge a mile off shore can be an exciting adventure. MAKE IT A HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE. Enlist your kids in pre-trip prep, onboard jobs, and post-trip cleanup. “At a certain age, they just want to be with you whatever you’re doing,” says Jenness. Even toddlers can help you pack lines and fold sails. In the motor boat, Jenness’ son likes to take the fenders in as they shove off from shore, and put them out when they pull in. “Let them be a part of it,” Jenness says. “If it’s constantly ‘you can’t do this or that,’ they’re going to lose interest.” GET THE TIMING RIGHT. Anchors recommends that kids be 10 years old before they paddle a single kayak. By then they usually have the strength and body mass to control the boat, he says. For younger kids, a tandem kayak with an adult is best. M I TA . O R G
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New Apps Help Navigate the Island Trail BY D O U G W E LC H, E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R
Any captain should rely principally on a paper chart, and anyone going out on the water without one is begging for serious trouble. But several new useful mobile apps have been developed in the past few years. During my recent 500-mile trip in my Boston Whaler, I found that when piloting an open skiff at 20-something knots, with neither cabin nor chart table, a tightly mounted mobile device has some practical advantages over a paper chart. Price makes these apps appealing. Compared with a marine chart plotter, which can cost up to $1500, app costs are modest. Of course we’re accustomed to apps that provide almost-magical functionality for free. But remember, one of these apps could save your life. Even at $350, the the DeLorme inReach Explorer is a steal when you consider the safety and peace of mind it provides. And consider convenience. As we become increasingly reliant on mobile devices in all realms, their portability for functions like GPS for your car or boat come into play. That said, you must pay far more attention to hardware than you would with a marine-grade chart plotter. Between the hazards of dropping an iPad or iPhone on hard or wet surfaces, fog exposure, and the vast hungry ocean all around you, there is surely no more hostile environment for your phone than a boat. Anyone using a mobile device on a boat must purchase a waterproofing kit and spend time practicing operating a touch screen through a wet plastic bag. I tested four apps on my iPhone 6: iNavX, Skipper, Earthmate Explorer (with the InReach Explorer handheld unit), and the 2015 MITA app. The following is not a scientific review like you would find in Consumer Reports. Any reporting errors are my own, but could also reflect a typical user’s experience. 4
M I TA . O R G
Shots from four of the useful mobile apps that I tested during my 500-mile trip on the Trail.
I used iNavX most often. But the Skipper app frequently came to my aid as well. Whenever I needed to identify the location of an island on the Trail, I would use the MITA app.
We’re accustomed to apps that provide almost-magical functionality for free. But remember, one of these apps could save your life. The inReach unit proved invaluable for communication and tracking when I went out of cell range. inReach does not rely on cellular service to communicate; it uses a separate global satellite system called Iridium. That means you can send a text message, which includes your exact latitude and longitude, to any phone. Indeed, my wise wife and colleagues probably would not have let me take the trip without it. I was able to text them my precise location upon anchoring each evening to assuage their concerns.
As it turned out, they were even able to track me in real-time on an Earthmate website. Over 500 miles, there was only one point where I knowingly lost my GPS signal. It was near Butter Island in Eastern Penobscot Bay, and it lasted for several minutes, across all apps. That was very unnerving; I was lucky that I knew where I was and the sun was shining. I had my compass and GPS service returned before I needed to unfold my paper charts. The table at right provides details on the four apps mentioned above. Other great (free) marine apps I like include: Weather Underground (for weather and radar, plus a weather radio and marine forecast links), NOAA Radar Pro (for radar), Hi Tide (for a tide chart with graphic display), and BuoyData (for weather buoy data). Want to learn more? Explore http:// i-marineapps.blogspot.com/. I would be interested to hear what apps you find useful. Contact me at dwelch@mita.org.
DeLorme Earthmate Explorer (withinReachExplorerhandheld)
Chimani Maine Island Trail App (2015)
A cheaper, lighter navigation app,butwitheasy,Cloud-based functionalityandgreatfeatures. Automatically syncsall datato a cloud account in your name. Has basic weather, tide and radarfeatures.Somequirkiness, including occasional crashes.
Anintegratedhardware/software system that allows real-time tracking and communication fromanywhereonearthusing the Iridium satellite network. Includeshandheld,phoneapp, and Web page display.
Not for navigation, but the sourceforeverythingtodowith MITAandtheTrail,includingthe Guidebookandbeyond.Includes tide and sunrise/sunset data.
$49.99 plus $9.99 for Fugawi chart data.
Basic is free, or $11.99/year for the full pro version.
$12.99/month with inReach Explorerhandheldunitat$349 retail.
Free for basic features; $25 for MITA digital membership and advanced features.
Chart download for offline use in remote areas?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Waypoints (single points on a chart)
Easy to set - arguably too easy, as every time you touch the screenitasksyouifyouwantto setawaypoint.Youcanimport waypointsbutonlyviaaFugawi account.
It is very easy to create waypoints,butyoumustdosoin theapp.Youcannotimportthem from another source.
Yes–You can create waypoints oneatatimequiteeasilyeither as a mobile function or from a home computer to import to a mobiledeviceforuseinthefield.
N/A
Routes (betweenoneormorewaypoints)
Has a simple“go to”feature to takeyoutoaspecificwaypoint.
Caneasilysetuparouteusinga series of waypoints.
You cannot create routes underway–only from a home computer.Thisisaveryserious shortcoming on the water.
N/A
Tracks (ofwhereyouhaveactuallytraveled)
Tracks your actual course and uploads it to your account at Fugawi.com. You can then importittoanotherprogramto create tracks on Google Earth, etc., but you have to do this via thesynctoyourFugawiaccount.
Tracks yourprogress (fromthe instrumentpanel).Conveniently uploadsdirectlyfromtheappto KML or GPX data.
The best tracker–sends real –timetrackdatafromExplorer unittoEarthmateforuptonine weeks! That said, care should begiventosettheappropriate trackingintervalforthespeedof your vessel.
N/A
Instruments
Hasahighlydetailedinstrument panelthatyoucanviewinwhole or as a banner. Has NMEA data functionfordetailedinterfacing withyourmotorandassociated instrumentation. (I have not used it.)
Hasaminimalinstrumentpanel, showingtime,speed,heading, etc.
Has an instrument panel showing speed, heading, elevation, position.
N/A
NOAA chart display
Fulldetail,althoughedgesfrom original paper charts appear, which can be frustrating.
Yes,withverysmoothtiling.Can setcharttransparencylevelsand overlay with satellite imagery.
The Earthmate charts are very grainy–withinadequatedetailfor navigation.TheExplorerunithas a small screen of its own, but it is useless as a chart viewer.
Full detail, although does not zoom as deeply as others.
Chart transitions
Requires frequent manual selection of which chart to download, which becomes tiresome.Youwouldthinkitcould tellwhichcharttobringupwhen you cross from one to another.
Automatictransitionsbetween charts
N/A. While it has a crude‘map’ display, it is not practical for ocean navigation
Fairlysmoothzoomingfeature, butsometilingissueswherethe paper NOAA charts intersect
Maine Island Trail included?
No
No
No
Yes!
Emergency communications
No
No
Fully integrated SOS communicationsstaffed24/7. Alsoallowstextingtoanyphone number in sub-emergency situations.
No
Summary
Good for extended cruising, particularly if you are a little geeky.
Anincredibleappforthemoney. Whilethemenusarenotalways intuitive, and it takes some learning,itisgreatforovernight and day trips.
Excellent communications package,thoughnotspecifically gearedtoboatnavigation.More expensive, but your spouse/ family will thank you for it.
Indispensablewhentravelingthe Maine Island Trail!
iNavX
Skipper
What is it?
A powerful navigation app, similar to Navionics, with full waypoint-setting, courseplotting, and track-mapping functionality.Requiresanonline account for up/downloading.
Price
M I TA . O R G
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IDEXX Work Days Support Stewardship Efforts B Y J E N N I F E R VA N A L L E N
On a typical day as Director of Hematology Analysis at IDEXX Laboratories Inc., Bob Barca is bustling between meetings and huddling with his team on marketing, customer service, and new product development. But one of his favorite work days in 2014 involved standing with his colleagues on the shores of Little Chebeague Island, cutting up and removing massive styrofoam pieces that had broken free from a dock. “It was very gratifying and just such a kick,” says Barca. “It was all about helping and having fun and building a team.” Barca is just one of 53 IDEXX employees who used at least one of their two allotted community service days this year to help complete needed work on the Trail. IDEXX, the Westbrook, Maine-based maker of animal health care diagnostic products, is one of a rising tide of institutional groups that have been using their community service days to contribute to MITA’s stewardship efforts. That includes groups from L.L. Bean and Royal Bank of Canada, plus student groups from Bowdoin College, Unity College,
Waynflete and University of New England. With the addition of a caretaker on Little Chebeague Island in 2014, and the addition of Chris Wall as Regional Stewardship Manager in May, MITA has been able to host more of these groups than ever. The ranks of IDEXX volunteers have more than doubled in the last three years. This past summer, 53 IDEXX workers devoted more than 424 hours of service to MITA projects in Casco Bay, up from 22 workers and 176 hours in 2013. “It’s remarkable how much the word has spread amongst IDEXX employees,” says Regional Stewardship Manager Maria Jenness. “In addition to the returning volunteers, I never cease to be amazed at the number of new individuals who reach out each year because they heard about volunteer opportunities with us through IDEXX’s internal network.” Groups from IDEXX and other institutions have played key roles in completing critical projects, particularly on Little Chebeague, Jewell, Bangs, and Crow Islands, says Wall. They dismantled derelict floats, rebuilt
boardwalks, removed graffiti, replaced fire rings, cut back vegetation on trail corridors and disentangled native plants from invasive species. These efforts complemented the work of Monitor Skippers, Island Adopters, and individual staff and volunteers. With teams of six to ten people on hand, you can complete big, unwieldy projects that require multiple pairs of hands and lots of heavy lifting. “On the projects that take huge amounts of human-power, these groups are invaluable” says Wall. For example, a group working on Jewell Island hauled lumber for a 12-foot bridge. “They lifted two 12 foot long 6”x 6” beams up a cliff then hauled them to the project site,” says Wall. “That would have been impossible for one person to do.” And since these corporate groups work together on a daily basis, no ice breakers are required. “Having that rapport established beforehand is definitely something we benefit from,” says Wall. “They take pleasure in achieving something together as a team.” Partnerships with institutional groups allow MITA to engage with a wide array of people who might not otherwise intersect with the organization. For staff and student groups, the camaraderie and sense of accomplishment they gain on the Trail bonds them when they return to their desks. “When you’re out there working with a team of people pushing a little harder trying to get things done,” says Barca, “it all flows back when we get back into the office.”
An IDEXX crew teams up with MITA for a work day on Little Chebeague Island. 6
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What’s more, “it’s neat to come back and see how much progress has been made by us and others,” Barca says. “It’s great to see what we’ve done the year before, and how it’s taken hold.”
Three Decades of Adventure on the Maine Island Trail B Y J E N N I F E R VA N A L L E N
Mark Berghash first felt Maine Island Trail magic in 1985, while test-paddling a kayak in Castine. He was grabbed by that stillness and sense of adventure the moment he felt unmoored from shore, buoyed by the water. “It changed my life,” says Berghash, a New York-based photographer. The 18-foot Eddyline kayak he bought was the passport to 30 years of camping and water adventures on the Trail with friends who dubbed themselves “The Salami Rangers.” The name was a nod to the Tsunami Rangers, a group of adrenaline-seeking adventure kayakers on the Pacific Coast, and the insatiable craving for a deli sandwich that emerged after being on the water. Berghash, whose photographs have been featured at some of the world’s most esteemed institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, recently collected his paddling photos and shared them with friends, supporters, and family. Berghash and his brother owned a house in Castine for 11 years. Since he bought that first kayak, he and the Rangers have covered most of the coast between Thomaston and Eastport in expeditions of all distances and levels of intensity, including trips to North Haven, Vinalhaven, and Great Spruce Island. They did most of the outings before GPS, which meant negotiating pea-soup fog and sudden 20-knot winds with only their compasses, charts, and the sound of the water breaking against the rocks as guides. There were plenty of touch-and-go moments, like a close encounter with an oil tanker when paddling between Turtle Head and Belfast. They had dismissed the fog horn they heard as the Isleboro ferry. But as the horn grew louder and the rumble of a diesel engine became unmistakable, the Rangers realized that they had come within a few strokes of a collision.
Some images from Berghash’s 30 years of Castine-based paddling adventures on the Trail. Photo Credit: Mark Berghash, markberghash.com.
“We just saw this thing that looked like an apartment house coming at us,” he says. “We only missed it by about 100 meters.” More modest excursions were no less magical, including the 20-minute paddle from Castine to Holbrook Island that Berghash routinely took. “When I went out alone to places where there weren’t any houses or people, these were the high points,” he says. “It’s like being really close to God. I look forward to that every time I go to Maine.” Just as memorable were the characters he met, the friendships he forged, and the random acts of kindness that strangers were constantly showing. On one trip, a paddler developed disabling back spasms. Passing sailors ferried her to Jonesport so she could get to a hospital. A local fisherman saw the Rangers towing her empty kayak and offered to loan them his truck, only asking that they return it within two weeks. “Feeling that kind of generosity, trust, and goodness among strangers was quite extraordinary,” says Berghash. “It was a profound experience.”
Berghash joined MITA in 1992 along with his fellow Rangers. “Just having this string of islands and campsites, and all the good cleanups— that kind of concern about nature—is for me so important,” he says. The ranks of Salami Rangers have dwindled over the years, but Berghash, now 80, still makes the eight-hour drive to Castine each year from Manhattan, in part for paddling adventures in his Epic 16X kayak with the other last remaining Ranger, his friend Dick Hale, who is 85. They paddle from Stonington around Frenchman’s Bay and Castine. And when Berghash is back home in New York City, he paddles every few weeks on the Hudson River. “There’s something special and spiritual about my experiences in Maine,” he says. “It’s a wonderful feeling.”
View Mark Berghash’s photos on MITA’s Tails of the Trail blog (talesofthetrail. wordpress.com). Read more about him at markberghash.com. M I TA . O R G
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TAKING CARE OF THE TRAIL In 2015 MITA volunteers were out in force, sprucing up trails, building bridges, dismantling rotted walkways, cleaning graffiti, and hauling countless pieces of trash from the pristine shorelines we treasure. All told, MITA had a successful year of spring and fall cleanups, with 130 volunteers visiting 54 islands over the course of 8 events, and hauling over 80 cubic yards of marine debris. That’s 8 dump trucks full!
Hurricane Island Work Day MITA staff and volunteers spent a work day on Hurricane Island in Penobscot Bay, clearing downed trees, and fixing up tent platforms that hadn’t been used in 15 years.
Carrying on a Grand Tradition Monitor skipper Henri Gignoux shows his daughter, Hannah, the way as she drives the skiff back to the South Addison boat ramp from the spring Downeast cleanup.
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Cleaning Up the Cuckolds Volunteers from MITA and LL Bean had a beautiful September day for a cleanup of the Cuckolds in Boothbay Harbor, removing a full skiff-load of debris from the small island.
Lost and Found! One of the more interesting finds from an island this season was this beat up dinghy in Muscongus Bay. Through a connection made at the Regional Steward Picnic a few weeks after hauling it off the island, we were able to find the owners who lost it from the other side of the bay during a storm last winter. They are happy to have it back, and plan to repair the damaged hull and return it to the water.
Big Progress on Little Chebeague IDEXX volunteers dismantled an old float on Little Chebeague Island. This was the largest of 4 floats MITA dismantled on various islands during the 2015 season. The salvaged wood was used to construct a 50-foot boardwalk on the island.
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Donors Making a Difference Wild Island Campaign Donors The Maine Island Trail Association gratefully acknowledges the following individuals and institutions for their commitment to the Wild Islands Campaign. Their support will ensure that Maine’s wild islands will be well cared for in perpetuity. $100,000+
Arcadia Charitable Trust Donna & Greg Barmore GE Foundation L.L. Bean
$50,000-$99,999
Anonymous Louise H. & David S. Ingalls Foundation Sand Dollar Foundation
$10,000-$49,999
Stephen & Paula Birmingham Mark & Patricia Fasold Scotty Folger Harriette & Peter Griffin Morris Hancock & Linda Peyton Rodger & Jillian Herrigel Long Cove Foundation Quimby Family Foundation Seth Sprague Educational and Charitable Foundation Cynthia Sortwell William Stewart
Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation
$1,000-$9,999
Peter & Elizabeth Adams Mr. & Mrs. Charlton Ames Mr. & Mrs. O Kelley Anderson Ronald & Sally Bancroft Emily Beck & Geoffrey Young Becton Family Foundation Roger Berle Kelly Boden & Scott Anderson Erno & Victoria Bonebakker Scott Camlin & Beth Uptegrove Daniel & Pamela Carr Eliot & Melanie Cutler J Thomas Franklin & Anna Ginn Wendy & Stephen Gaal William Gallagher III Odette Galli Dorrie & David R. Getchell, Sr. Richard & Cate Gilbane Lindsay & Bill Hancock Henry & Alicia Heyburn John Huth & Karen Agnew
Elizabeth & Lewis Incze Anthony & Hilary Jessen Jonathan & Cindy Knowles Lucy Foundation Morgan Stanley Foundation Michael Perry & Christine Wolfe Malcolm Poole & Family U. Charles & Kathy Remmel Parker & Jeanette Rockefeller Stafford & Leslie Soule Yemaya & Lucas St. Clair Andrew & Sarah Stern Robert Stewart Hans & Rosemary Underdahl Unum Group Roderick & Lori Vogel Doug Welch & Caitlin Gutheil Daniel & Frances Zilkha Michael Zilkha
$1-$999
Kelly & Sam Adams Blanche Belliveau & David Lyall Rob & Emlen Cabot
Thomas & Rachel Claflin Nicole & John Connelly Chris Corbett & Manny Morgan Nan Cumming & Drew Masterman Mr. & Mrs. Joseph C. Donnelly Greg & Ginny Field Kathryn Henry & Rob Center Kenneth & Meredith Hutchins Peter & Jessica Kenlan Christopher Knight Bill & Paige Mangum Brian & Melissa Marcaurelle Alexandra & Richard Maurer Annette Naegel Melissa Paly Jack & Jane Phillips Proprietors of Union Wharf Ted Scharf James & Lynn Shaffer David & Ann Shultz Joan Smith Alan B. Stearns Warren Valdmanis & Family William Wertz & Deborah Panitch
Supporters in the Fiscal Year 2015 The Maine Island Trail Association thanks the many individuals, businesses, and institutions that helped the Trail thrive during the fiscal year that ended on September 30, 2015.
Trailblazers The Maine Island Trail Association recognizes the extraordinary generosity of our Trailblazers, individuals whose annual operating gifts reached $1,000 or more during fiscal year 2015. Anonymous Dr. & Mrs. Robert Barchi Donna & Greg Barmore Linda Bean Roger Berle Stephen & Paula Birmingham Erno & Victoria Bonebakker Willard Brown Jr Scott Camlin & Beth Uptegrove Daniel & Pamela Carr Cara Chebuske & William McCue George Cogan & Fannie Allen Gianne Conard Madeleine G. Corson Mazie Livingston Cox & Brinkley Thorne Sara Crisp & Gregg Lipton Allerton Cushman Jr
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Richard Engel & Barbara Chilmonczyk Sylvia Erhart Joseph Faber & Family Johnson-Wortham Family Mark & Patricia Fasold James Gagnon & Margaret Hausman J. Thomas Franklin & Anna Ginn Odette Galli Harriette & Peter Griffin Morris Hancock & Linda Peyton Whitney & Elizabeth Hatch Rodger & Jillian Herrigel Henry & Alicia Heyburn Alison & Horace Hildreth Norm & Beth Hildreth Timothy Hilton
John Huth & Karen Agnew Elizabeth & Lewis Incze Mark Isaacson & Karen Herold James & Pat Kelly Jonathan & Cindy Knowles Charlotte Lawton William & Gail Legge George Lucas Cornelius & Suzanne McGinn Kevin & Sheila McManus George & Elizabeth Murnaghan Halford Park & Annie DeFeo Michael Perry & Christine Wolfe Elise Pettus Sara Pierce Sam Plimpton & Wendy Shattuck Ronald & Mary Pressman Marietta & Robert Ramsdell
Diane & Raymond Rymph Michael & Kristin Sant Karl Sims & Pattie Maes Kristen Roos & Dan Smith Ann Sonnenfeld & Family Yemaya & Lucas St. Clair William Stewart Jeff Tarr, Sr. Joan Tilney Diane & Ian Walker Michael & Rachel Warren Gregory Welch & Ann Lewnes Jeremy Wintersteen David Witherbee & Michelle Bociek Gary Lee York
$25,000+
Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands
$10,000 - $24,999
Horizon Foundation Quimby Family Foundation Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation
$2,500 - $9,999
Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust L.L. Bean Inc Acadia National Park Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust RBC Wealth Management Charles L. Read Foundation Chester Kitchings Family Foundation Farnsworth Fund of the Essex County Community Foundation GE Foundation James and Betty Jacobs Family Charitable Trust L.L. Bean Inc. Manufacturers Reserve Supply, Inc Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust Nine Wicket Foundation RBC Wealth Management Sand Dollar Foundation Seal Bay Fund of the Maine Community Foundation
$1,000 - $2,499
Acadia National Park Bangor Savings Bank Cadillac Mountain Sports Inc Edmund and Betsy Cabot Charitable Foundation Kittery Trading Post Patagonia Reverb Sellers Publishing, Inc Verrill Dana LLP Westwind Foundation
$500-$999
Penelope & William Bardel Ben Blake Laura Blutstein & Charles Duncan Cameron & Patricia Bright Stephen H Brooks Mary & Thomas Cabot Richard J Perry & Elaine Carlson Thomas Carr & Family W. Morgan & Sonia Churchman Rory & Charlotte Cowan Jon Edwards & Nancy Fox Elizabeth Ehrenfeld Matthew Faulkner & Alice Grant David & Heidi Fitz Scotty Folger John Winthrop & Mary Lee Fowler Suzanne Fox & Moritz Hansen Joel Frantzman Lisa Gorman Cyrus Hagge Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Hargraves, Jr Mr. & Mrs. Edmund L. Harvey, Jr Joseph Higdon & Ellen Sudow Dr & Mrs. George Higgins Michele Janin & Tom Linebarger Kamasouptra Paul Knight & Kimberly Keaney Karen & James Lee Lee Auto Malls Ron Leeking & Donna Roggenthien
Linda & Jeff Lennox John MacKinnon Malcolm & Emily MacNaught Mary Maran Mark Mason & Trish O’Donnell Heather McCargo & Brian McNiff Craig Mudge & Family Eric & Linda Murphy North Shore Paddlers Network Suzi Osher Beth & William Owens Arthur & Constance Page Patricia H. Bischoff Fund of the Maine Community Foundation Bob & Susan Peck Jack & Jane Phillips Christine & Doug Preston U. Charles & Kathy Remmel Matthew & Sheila Rogers Mr. & Mrs. Martin G. Rosansky Jean-Andre & Vicki Rougeot Catherine Rymph & Family Peter Schwab James & Lynn Shaffer Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network John & Julia Ver Ploeg Jim & Meg Wilson Wallace Young
$250-$499
Gregory Bowes & Alice Albright David & Holly Ambler Scott Anderson & Kelly Boden William Baetz Walt & Corinne Bailey Drs Jane & Roderic Beaulieu Emily Beck & Geoffrey Young Harrison Bispham David A & Maureen E Bluett David M Braslau & Yain Y Lu Dr. Bobbie Brown Leonard Buck Alexander K Buck Jr Carrine Burns & Pete Bouman Regina Burzynski Catherine Chute Thomas & Rachel Claflin Susanne & Benjamin Clark Katherine & Thomas Clements Les & Joyce Coleman Phyllis D Collins & Family Nicole & John Connelly Linzee Coolidge Richard & Barbara Couch Peter H Creighton Hilary Creighton Robert & Norma Davee Paul Demers Katie Donovan Janet Dooley Michael P & Jan Douglass Johan & Patricia Erikson Wesley & Kathleen Fairfield Rol & Averil Fessenden Douglas & Judy Fitzsimmons Jeffrey R & Sarah B Flause The Flow Fund Mr & Mrs John D Freeman, Jr Kathryn & Dan Frost Wendy & Stephen Gaal H. Landis Gabel & Dominique Gabel Susan George & Miles Epstein Mark Goff & Anne Powelson Robert & Sarah Gould James & Mary Gribbell John Hagan
Lindsay & Bill Hancock Karen Hartman Robert & Margery Healing Roger & Marny Heinen Alan Chebuske & Melissa Hewey Betsey Holtzmann Stephanie & James Huger Gary Hughes Ogden & Nina Hunnewell Werner E Maas & Suzanne Hutchinson Chuck Irose Donald Hendrich & Lynn Jenness Wade & Nancy Judge Edmund C Kielty Joy & Kenneth Kleeman Sue Klem Conrad & Deborah Kozak Mark Lefkin Dennis C & Jayne T Leiner Karen Leland Katie Murphy & Peter Lindsay Wayland F. Linscott Bill & Paige Mangum Anne & John Marshall Dana & Alison Martin Jose Mas & Deirdre Strachan Emsbo-Mattingly Family Matt & Josephina McComiskey Jeff McKinnon Charity McNabb Carolyn & Paul Meadows Todd Mellin Bob Miller J. Philip Miller & Courtnay Malcolm Daniel A. Morgenstern & Moriah Moser Christopher DeCardy & Tracy Morris Chip Newell & Susan Morris Sigrid Noack Richard P Noonan, MD Ian S Ogilvie Bob Olney & Catherine Richards Daniel & Nancy Paduano James Parmentier & Elizabeth Fowler David A & Julie Pease John & Charlotte Phillips Tyler Philpott Karen Payne & Michael Pilkovsky Christopher Porter Alison & Todd Prawer Sheldon Prosser Nathan Raab William K Raabe Antonio & Ann Marie Ramos Michael Roberts & Family Ann Rougle George Liam & Constance Russell John W. Ryan & Jenny Potter Scheu Wickes Rossiter & Leila Schueler David Schwartz & Family Joe & Elizabeth Seamans Marguerite Shaffer Marcia & Larry Sharp Ellen Shockro Mark & Linda Siegmund Cyndi Morse & Carolyn Stevenson Karen Stimpson Valerie Stone Stephen Sullens R Gordon & Carole Talley Bert Troughton Sonia Turek Keith E Stone & Steven Watts Jeff & Gerri Weiss Howie & Sue Wemyss
Edward & Mary Wendell Blake Whitman C S Whitney William J Wiegmann Jeffrey Wooster John & Sheila Zittel
$100-$249
Xan Abess Robert E & Cynthia Abrams Dr. & Mrs. Frank Adshead E Davies Allan Parker Allen Jim Allen Jonathan & Joanne Allen William Pohle & Sarah Allen Mr & Mrs William C Allison Dr. Robert P Andrews Jennifer Andrews & Mark Battista Christopher Angell Mr. & Mrs. C. D. Armstrong Frederick & Jennifer Aronson Stephen Babcock JoAnne & Ross Babcock Steven Baer & Rosa Ergas Michael Baldwin Alan Baldwin JoAnne & Michael Bander Jim & Ellen Banks Robert & Drusilla Barkalow Bill Barker & Family Henry & Doris Barlow Richard Barnes Capt. Noah & Jane Barnes Diane Barnett Peter & Vicki Bartholow Sara Barwise Evan Bash Prudence Baxter Morgan Baxter & Family Kevin Beane John E & Mary S Beard John & Harriet Beckerman Henry P Becton Jr John Benning & Family Dan & Ellen Benthal John R Bergeron Timothy Bergeron & Susan Lee Stefan Bergill & Family Ben & Victoria Bernard Ted Berry Franklin S Beveridge John & Carol Bianchi Llewellyn B Bigelow MD Richard Birns & Madeleine Sann Stephen & Shirrin Blaisdell Gary Blake Colin Bliss Sidney & Martha Block Scott F Bloom Dennis J Bobilya Mr Charles P Bolton Henry H. Booth Stephen Booth Timothy & Gail Borkowski Franklin D Bouchard Jonathan Bourne Michael Bourque Roland H Boutwell Steven D Bradley Jane Brady Julia & James Brady David & Pam Brennan Josephine P Briggs & Family Brian Briggs Robert Spielvogel & Karen Brobst Fred Brooke M I TA . O R G
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Sean Brown John K. Brown Allen Browne & Family Michael & Judy Bruenjes Bob & Kathy Brustlin Donald P Sarles & Carolyn Bryant Elizabeth Buchanan Paul Buckley Robert & Rebecca Bunton Andrew Burgess & Family Prescott Burk Susan & Josh Burns Anne & Charles Butterfield Rob & Emlen Cabot Tom Caldwell & Michele Robitaille David Callahan Deborah Campbell Annie Campbell Mary E Campbell & Deborah A Chase Eleanor & Jerry Caplan Peter & Jan Carleton James Fraser Carpenter & Toshiko Mori Gregg & Emily Carville Liana Cassar & Larson Gunness Dr. & Mrs. Bruce R Cassidy Ry Cavanaugh & Jennifer Kimball Leland Chang John Chapin Peter B & Karen A Chapman Robert & Laura Chapman Glenn Charles Reid Charlston Aquila Chase Corinne & Charles Chasse Will & Lee Cheever Mr. & Mrs. Morris Cheston Jr. Penny & John Chowning Jennifer Clancy Caren M Clark John Clark Roxanne & Kevin Coady Coastal Kayaking Tours Marnie Cobbs Ellen Cohen & Family Daniel & Catherine Coit Robert Arledge & Nananda Col Virginia & Ken Colburn College of the Atlantic Stephen A Collins & Family W Douglas & Harper Lee Collins Henry Conklin & Carol Pierson James Connell Carol & Paul Connor M.B. & Mary M. Converse Stephen Cook & Family James Covington Doug & Sophie Cowan John & Davilynn Cowperthwaite Frank Crohn Carol Cross & Family William Crouch & Family Francis Crowley & Family Richard E. & Jane Cullen Holly J & Stephen F Culver Ellen & Bruce D Cummings Dick & Margaret Curran Colin Apse & Rachelle Curran George Cushing Richard & Shirley Dalbeck David Dalena Joan & Jim Darby Mark & Virginia David Darwin & Jacqueline Davidson Joe & Jane Davin Whitney Davis 12
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Leverett B Davis Jr Alan & Susan Davis Alexander Davis Mr & Mrs Endicott P Davison Tom & Beth Day Charles & Harriet Day Ciro & Amy de la Vega James & Elizabeth Deane Karen Deane Douglas J. DeAngelis Marc DeBell Michael Dedekian & Family Nick DeFriez Suzanne Deitz James Dembowski Troy DeRoche Jesse Deupree John & Bernard Devine Andrew & Barbara Dickinson Jeff Diggins Martin Dodd Marianne Dodge Charles & Marylee Dodge Mr. & Mrs. Joseph C. Donnelly John & Sandra Donnelly Kimo Juliane Dow Jeffrey & Alice Dow Walter L & Doris Downey Thomas R & Margaret Downing James S Draper & Family George Dresser Patricia Dubois Stephen F. Dubord Jennifer Duchon Michael & Patricia Duffy Brian Dumez Richard J Dumler Sandra Dunham & Family David Spahn, DVM Oakley Dyer Janet & Tom Dykstra Mr & Mrs Larry Eaton Frederick Ebinger & Family Jonathan Eden Robert & Blythe Edwards Lea Edwards & Alan Green Betsy Eiseman Charles Kane Jr & Anne Eldridge David & Marilyn Ellwood Mr & Mrs Samuel Emerson Dan & Ginny Emerson Grant Emison Benjamin & Dianna Emory David & Nancy Erb Donald Erskine & Leslie Henry Elizabeth S M Estey Devon & Heather Evans Preston Everdell & Family Kroka Expeditions James M. & Margaret O. Eysenbach William & Rebecca Ezzard Charles & Charlotte Faulkner Jeffrey Fernald Deborah Fickling Stephen & Frances Fink Thomas Finlay & Family Nancy Fishwick & Family Ann Flannery Peter Flaxman & Family William & Adele Fletcher Juan M Florin & Family James Flowerdew Mr & Mrs Charles M Foote, Jr Capt. John & Kathryn Foss David Cole & Kimberly Foster
Paul Foster-Moore & Family Roger & Kimberlea Francoeur Cindy & Mark Freese Steven Fried Richard Fried & Family Friends of Nature Spencer Fulweiler & Family William W Gallagher III Caitlin Callahan & Eli Gallaudet James Gallea Regina Snyder & Brevard Garrison Alan C Gault, Jr Jeffrey & Margie Geiger Martin Gellert William E. Gerber, Jr. Charles W. Gesner James C & Judith W Gibbons Thomas T & Margaret Gilbert Thomas & Jody Gill Bob Gill Daniel Gilmor George & Martha Gilmore William Ginn Eric Girardi & Family Jack R. Glover Henry Goldberg & Kim Hetherington Lyn Goldsmith John Gooch John & Jeanne Goodman Jeffrey Gordon & Donna Jean Ahigian Charles W Graham Peter Hinsch & Donna Grant Nancy Grant & Michael Boyson Samuel P M Gray Cindy Greathouse Richard Greene & Family Arthur W Gregg & Family Rich & Sarah Gregory Corey Grobe Richard & Susan Grondin Laurie Gullion Gary Gustafson Amy Gustavson Robert & Karen Gutheil Sandra & Arthur Hall Phil Hall Bonnie Hallisey Robert & Donna Hamill Samuel M Hamill, Jr Larry Hamm Dr Karen Hancock Denzel Hankinson Albert Hansen Kathy Harding Richard Harris Betty J Harris Donna Harris Anne Harrison Robert & Elizabeth Hart John Hartmann & Gabrielle McDermit Michael Hayward Erik Hayward Robert L Hazard Atwell B & Elizabeth Hedly Doug Heely Erling Heistad & Kim Rheinlander Richard Hero & Jane Whitney Jim Hicks Tim Hille Robert Hilscher David & Lois Hinman Caroline & John Hodsdon Richard Hokin Gerhard Holleck Richard J Horan
Michael Horn Mark & Peggy Horton Henry & Sharon Hosley John Norris III & Catherine Houlihan Douglas & Susan Houston Marion & Mark Howard Sue Hriciga John Hubbard & Family Samuel Huber Stefanie & Fred Hufnagel Patrick & Carole Hughes Hans & Betsy Humes Kenneth & Meredith Hutchins Stephen & Amy Hutnak Dr Nathaniel Hyde & Polly Arnoff IBM Corporation Robert Sessums & Susan Inches Herbert & Kathleen Janick Peter A. Jay Judith Jellinek Karen E Andrews Mr & Mrs Edward C. Johnson, IV Eric Johnson & Margaret Cox Mark Jones Caren & Robert Journagan Kathy & Brian Kaczor Mickey Gillmor & Henry Kahn Lisa J Kane Robert & Patricia Kane Barbara & A.W. Karchmer Jay Kearney Margaret & John Kelley Luke & Katie Kenbeek John & Helen Kenefick Kevin & Kris Kenlan Mr. & Mrs. John Kerney Geoff Kerr David & Carol Kerr R Ross & Dale Ketchum David & Jane Kidder Cynthia & Gary Kiedaisch Frank Kieliszek James & Elizabeth Kilbreth Owen Kiley Liana & Don Kingsbury Charles Kinney & Pamela Myers-Kinney Joan Knight Hans Koehl & Christina Haiss-Koehl Henry C. Kohn, Jr. & Family Shepard Krech III David Kuhns & Patti Lerwick Rowan Kunz Paul & Sarah Lachance Denis Lachman Andrew Lackoff Geoffrey & Anne Lafond Charles C. Pinkerton & Deborah Lamson Lorrie Landsberg David Langdon & Family Carol Lariviere & Rick Wahle Amy Fulton & John Laterra William E Laverty Monica Joyce & David Lawrence Martha Lawrence & Robert McArthur Edward & Gail Lawson Dick Leask Charles & Eliza Lee Christian & Marcy Leger John & Susan Lehmus Richard Lenz & Jean Tibbetts Deb Leon Dana & Georgiana Leonard Kirk & Judith Leoni Lynne Lewis
Mac & Catherine Lewis Jon Lichter Linda & Steve Lindsay Joel P. Greene & Ann T Lisi Eric D & Marcie Lister Thomas P Livingston Daniel K Livingston David A. & Judith Lloyd William & Beth Long Jeffrey & Beth Longcope Keith & Kathleen Longson Richard D & Elizabeth Lord Mr. Robert & Mrs. Elizabeth Loring Charles Lucas & Deborah DeWitt John A. Lumbard Theodore Johanson & Patricia Lundholm Michael Lyle John & Donna Mabus Owen MacCausland & Family Arnie Macdonald & Liza Moore Ruby MacDonald Richard MacKinnon Kevin Mahoney Maine Coast Sea Vegetables Inc Maine Island Kayak Co Maine Sport Outfitters Peter & Susan Maloney Robert Manchik Deborah Manegold & Win Quayle Thomas & Denise Marcaurelle Frank Marinace Harris & Felicia Markhoff Paul Martino Thomas & Marcia Mason Edward Matlack Hilary & Richard Matlack Alexandra & Richard Maurer Don Maurer David & Joan Maxwell Paul & Lyn Mayewski Mary K. McCabe & Sam W. Joffe John McClelland Frank McCreary Alyssa McCulloch William McCullom David L. McDonald & Florence Varleta Richard, Susan & Sarah McGinley Larry McKenna Tom & Jane McKinney David & Anne McLain Douglas McLellan Ruth McNamara William Meier Geoffrey Meissner David Merriman David Michaelis & Family Brandy Miller Nevin Miller Kenneth & Nancy Mirman Judith W Miskell Jeffrey & Susan Moeller Kent & Ann Mohnkern Michelle & Stanley Moody Anne Morehouse & Family F Corlies Morgan II David & Debra Morrill Christopher & Michele Morris Sam Morris & Connie Jones Theresa Morrison Rick Lutes & Jodi Mosher Egbert Most & Regina Badura John B. Murphy & Anne W Moulton Dr. Frank Moya Randall & Mary Mraz Thomas R Selden & Nancy Murdock
John H. Murphy J. Richard Murphy Janet Myers & Family Thomas W. Myers Ellen & Duane Nadeau Jay Neil Harry & Elizabeth Nelson Martha Nelson & Family Robert Nelson Leonard & Merle Nelson Mason & Catharine Newick NH Printworks Rob Nichols Barrett W. Nichols & Family Ben Niles & Family Megan Nolan David O’Connell Kenneth Oehmig Michael D O’Keefe Donna & Al Olsen Thomas Olsen John Oram Charles Osborn Trissa Otto & Tim Pinette Nick Ouellette John Overton Richard Owens Peter Owens Jeffrey B Palmer Lucius Palmer & Sloane Lederer Melissa Paly Tony Parr & Family Sandy Pasalic Stella Patten David Patton Eric Paul David S Payne & Annie Piatt Nancy Payson Valerie & Tobin Peacock Jim Pedersen William P Perkins & Family Paul F Perkins Julie & Charles S Perry Ned Perry Joseph Perseille James Peva Martin Phillips Michael Prokosch & Rebecca Pierce Dr. & Mrs. Richard N. Pierson Joanna Pi-Sunyer & Michael Ballo Gregg Pitman Pitney Bowes Steve Plissey & Cathy Mandis Gail & James Plotts Pamela Plumb & Family Joseph Poland III Tim & Joan Porta Art & Jayne Posey Laurence Marner & Elisabeth Post-Marner Steve & Rebecca Powell Michael Prior Nancy Pugh Gloria & Donald Quigley Tom Quinby & Family Craig Raabe Martin Rachels John & Pauline Rand Doug Randolph Doug Henderson & Kerri Lynn Ratcliffe Peter & Ellen Rawlings Abbie & Bart Read Daniel & Elizabeth Reardon Robert & Susan Reece Martha L. Reeve
Jay Reighley Paul Reinert & Family David Reinholt Mark Remick & Family Patricia Rettaliata W. Edwin Reynolds III & Family Steve Reynolds Mr & Mrs William P Rice William & Deborah Ridlon Martha Riehle & Janis Childs Sandy Ritchie Bruce & Virginia Roberts Peter H Robinson Mr Andrew C Rockefeller Lynne Rockwood Erin Rodriguez Karen Baumgartner & Bill Roebuck Bruce & Becky Roesler Douglas Rogers & Susan Eggenberger Robert Rogers James Root & Family W Allen & Selina Rossiter Jon Rotenberg Juanita Roushdy Cate Rowen Ms. Leigh Baker & Josh Royte Gary & Leslie Rudolph William J. Deignan & Molly Ruffle James Emery & Allison Runsey Kristen Rupert & John Foote Ben & Nancy Russell James & Susan Russo Michael & Pamela Ryan Katie Pindell & Robert Sabolefski Barry Salussolia & Joanne Draghetti Arthur & Rebecca Sanborn Piero Sarti Steve Saudek William & Sandra Savage Isaac Savitz W G & Nancy Sayre Gillian Schair & Seth Rigoletti Ham Scherpbier Mark Schmidt William Schroeder Carol Hawran & Matthew Schwartz David Schwartz James Love & Emily Scott John & Josie Scully Stephen F Sears David & Valerie Seaton John Sedgewick & Family Walter Slocombe & Ellen Seidman Edmund Semeneshen James M. & Sophie Sevey Jeremy Muller & Family Christopher Seymour Robert J & Kristine Shabunia Howard Sharp & Family Bill & Eileen Shaughnessy Aaron Sheer Martin & Ellen Shell John & Judy Sherman Edward Sherwood Andrew & Sybil Shiland John Shorb Richard Short Jonathan & Suzanne Sibley Kevin Siegrist Eric & Rhoda Silverberg Robert Silverstein Seville H Simonds Stephen Simonds John H Singleton Sarah & Hudson Slay Dr & Mrs C B Sledge
Richard W Smith Sherry Smith Malcolm M Smith James & Susan Smith Nancy Egan & J. Otey Smith Jeff Solof Andrew Soloway Stafford & Leslie Soule Irwin & Sonia Spalding Judith & Carl Spang Alison & Kevin Sparks Steve Spencer & Libbey Siegars Colin & Virginia Steel Robert D & Roberta M Steele Mason & Linda Stephenson John Stevenson Robert K. Stewart Peter Stewart Andy & Sue Stoessel Timothy B. Stone Gregg & Lisa Stone Ryan Storey & Family Andrew Sumberg Bradshaw & Jana Swanson Walter Swift Paul Sylvester Tee Taggart & Jack Turner Susan Talbot Matthew Terenna Cloe Chunn & David Thanhauser The Ladies Improvement Society, Isle of Springs Assoc. J Scott Thomas Brian Wells & Cathy Thomas Lee M Thompson Ned Smith & Megan Thorn Gregory L Thornton James Tibensky Allan & Kathleen Toubman John W. & Connie Towne Paul Egbert & Jean Towns C. Elizabeth Trefts Charles Trout & Beth Weachter-Trout Paul Tully Mark Tux Turkel & Amy Sinclair Oscar & Diana Turner Leslie F. Tuttle Unum Group Glen & Andrea Urban Chris Valentine Peter Van Alstine Claire & William Van Deinse Seth Van Liew Ellen & Barkley Van Vranken Amanda P Vandeveer Amy Vankirk Reina & James Vannatta Zoe & John Veasey Charles & Susan Vecchi Frederick Veitch Timothy Luehrman & Ann Velie Michael Vetsch Thomas Mason & Emily Vickers Roderick & Lori Vogel Ted von Gerichten Carl & Sue Von Saltza Peter & Kathryn Wagner John & Lee Walker Priscilla Wallace George Wallis Pat & Laurie Wardell David Warren Seth Webber Bill Webster & Family Margaret D. Webster Andy Weeks M I TA . O R G
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Michael Weinberg Jan & Susan Wejchert Richard & Frederika Welch Carolyn Welch Stephen & Elizabeth Welch Robert Cowan & Jean Weld Jane Cassidy Wellehan & David Ruff Caroline Werth William Wertz & Deborah Panitch Patricia Ryan & David E Westphal Randall & Sharon Wetzel Kenneth & Barbara Wexler Jean A Whelan Malcolm & Nancy White William & Pamela White Elbert White Terrell R Whiting & Family G. Robinson & Robin Whitten Markus Wiles John R. Rader & Catherine Wilkinson Mark & Sarah Williamson John F Winchester Katherine Pharibe Wise David & Gail Witherill Louisa & Nick Witte Craig & Maris Wofsy William & Christianne Wohlforth Rikka Wommack Daniel & Linda Wood Charles & Susan Woodman Jessica Yates Paul Robie & Karen Young Cal & Mary Anne Young
Boat Donors
Charles Johnston David Jones L.L. Bean Inc Charlotte Lawton
John Norris III & Catherine Houlihan Bill Perry Dick & Patricia Roderick Christopher Tessier & Family Gale & Charles Willauer David, Nell & Miles Wing
Memorial and Honoraria
In memory of Matt Abercrombie In memory of Bob Patten In memory of Jon Lawton In memory of Sandy Martin In memory of Charles Messier In memory of James Rasmus In memory of Georg L. Rymph, M.D. In memory of Merv Taylor In memory of Mildred Worthington In honor of wedding of Robin Bechofer and Patricia Lambert In honor of Butter Island In honor of Morris Hancock In honor of Harley Lewin
Gifts in-Kind
Acadia Stand-Up Paddleboarding Adventurous Joe Coffee Anonymous Appalachian Mountain Club The Apprenticeshop Bay of Fundy Sea Kayak Symposium Belted Cow Company Suzanne Blackburn David M Braslau & Yain Y Lu Breathing Room Yoga Browne Trading Company Cadillac Mountain Sports Inc John & Marybeth Carmody Daniel & Pamela Carr Casco Bay Catamaran Adventures Casco Totes
Chebeague Island Inn Lee & Will Cheever Chewonki John & Nicole Connelly DeLorme Mapping Co. East Coast Yacht Sales Eastern Mountain Sports Evo Rock & Fitness Kelly Farrin Mark & Patricia Fasold David & Heidi Fitz Flatbread Company Foodworks Wayland F. Linscott & Susan Fuller Garbage to Garden Henri & Wendy Gignoux Good To-Go Grandy Oats Granola Jillfrances Gray Greener Postures Doug Welch & Caitlin Gutheil Lindsay & Bill Hancock Hennessy Hammock Rodger & Jillian Herrigel Home & Away Gallery Ibex Wool Henry Isaacs Alfred Johnson Katahdin Woods & Waters Jonathan & Cindy Knowles Kokatat Maine Huts & Trails Maine Magazine Maine Sailing Adventures Brian & Melissa Marcaurelle Tom & Jane McKinney Migis Hotel Group New Meadows Marina, Inc. Northern Outdoors
Ocean Navigator Old Quarry Ocean Adventures, Inc. Oxbow Brewing Patagonia Robert H Pawle Pinniped Kayak Portland Museum of Art Portland Paddle Portland Schooner Co Portland Yacht Services Reve Cycling Studio Deborah & William Ridlon Rising Tide Brewing Company Rosemont Bakery Royal River Grill House SailMaine Salt Water Workshop Schulte & Herr Sea Cliff Kayakers Sea Tow Services Seattle Sports Shipyard Brewery Jim Shula Skillins Greenhouses SopoSUP The Standard Baking Company Summerfeet Cycling Sweet Sensations Bakery Chris & Lynda Tadema-Wielandt Teva Footwear Tidal Transit Kayak Jennifer and Peter Van Allen Waste Management W.B. Mason WCLZ-FM Monica Wood WoodenBoat Publications, Inc. Wendy & John Zarrella
We have tried to make this list as accurate as possible and apologize for any errors or omissions. We ask that you let us know of any concerns via email to jack@mita.org.
MITA Earns Top Honors on National Stage B Y J E N N I F E R VA N A L L E N
MITA had plenty to celebrate this year! National Geographic Adventure listed the Maine Island Trail as a top adventure destination, and the American Canoe Association (ACA) applauded MITA for its commitment to stewardship. In its state-by-state web guide the National Geographic media organization named the Trail one of “America’s 100 Best Adventures” and the “top kayaking destination” on the East Coast. The writers recommended spending two open-water days in the Merchants Row area around Stonington. This was the second time the Trail earned a national distinction from the esteemed publisher. “We were thrilled to be recognized as one of National Geographic’s ‘50 Best American Adventures’ in 2009, and 14
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then to have that status confirmed in 2015,” says MITA Executive Director Doug Welch. “The entire MITA community should be really proud of this national recognition of the extraordinary destination they have built!” The American Canoe Association presented MITA with its waterway conservation award. ACA Stewardship Director Chris Raab noted that in 2014, MITA documented 4,850 hours of volunteerism, including the removal of over 900 bags of trash from the islands. “Where most reports arrive in terms of the number of bags of trash collected, often MITA’s reports come in terms of cubic yards,” he said.
Welch attended the ACA awards ceremony in South Carolina to accept the honor on behalf of MITA’s volunteer stewards. “This award is not a reflection of MITA’s small staff, but of its army of volunteers who work to keep the Maine islands clean,” Welch said. “Because of these people, Trail users experience pristine conditions, and MITA’s pact with our 90 island-owning partners is sustained: their islands are in better condition as part of the Trail than they would be otherwise.” He noted that most boaters use ‘Leave No Trace’ practices and leave the islands at least as clean as they find them. “But the level of water-borne trash, including plastics and styrofoam, keeps us very busy,” he said.
continued from page 1. Nearly 300 MITA
members, staff, volunteers, and friends gathered for more than 30 Meetup events in 2015. More excursions were on the calendar as The Island Trail went to press, even as water temperatures dipped into the low 50s. The number of MITA Meetup members hovered between 95 and 117 throughout the season.
Since Darrow was so familiar with the territory from his own expeditions and MITA cleanups, he was able to point out other MITA sites like Strawberry Island and good camping spots they passed. He even brought trash bags so they could clean up while they were out.
The group passed Pond Island and made their way out to Seguin, where they got a tour of the lighthouse. Everyone brought a picnic lunch.
Meetup events in 2015.
Meetup isn’t just about big excursions, and some of the events didn’t even involve boating. They included gatherings at restaurants in Portland, Bar Harbor, Brunswick, Boothbay Harbor, Rockland, and Stonington, and an island cookout that allowed members to meet, reconnect, and celebrate and compare notes about their Trail adventures.
“It’s an area of the Trail that I’d always really liked and seemed to be underused,” says Darrow, of Falmouth. “It’s just a unique mix of islands, and sheltered and open water, where there’s always wildlife.”
In August, Darrow organized another outing—a seven-mile trip to Seguin Island from Fort Popham. The trip is challenging but rewarding—it starts at the mouth of the Kennebec River, where you can expect to encounter strong currents and a variety of challenging paddling conditions in a short period of time. “It wasn’t a paddle I would do solo, so having a group that could go was a gift,” he says.
Dan Carr, a MITA volunteer and trustee, organized a paddle from Grimes Cove to Damariscove Island on August 30. It included family, an old friend, and MITA members he had never met before from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. The most rewarding part, he says, was that many in the group had never explored that part of the Trail or experienced a moonlight paddle, and may not have done that trip on their own.
They launched at 10 a.m. and returned at 3 p.m.. They stopped at Crow and Hungry Islands, and circumnavigated Havener Ledge along the way.
The group of eight included paddlers from New York, as well as a member from Vermont who drove over just for the event.
Fortunately the weather and sea conditions cooperated, and they caught a beautiful sunset and moonrise. “Trail magic at its best!” Carr says.
For many MITA members, Meetup provides an opportunity to reconnect with longtime boating friends, make new ones, share favorite Trail sites, and explore destinations that they might long to check out, but be reluctant to visit solo. A group of seven MITA members who’d never met before gathered at the end of June for a seven-mile outing to check out the Medomak River and upper Muscongus Bay on an excursion organized by longtime member Mitch Darrow.
Nearly 300 MITA members, staff, volunteers, and friends gathered for more than 30
JOIN THE MITA MEETUP! This is the online destination for paddlers, powerboaters, sailors, and members from all over the nation to connect for adventures on the Maine Island Trail. You don’t have to be a MITA member to join. You just have to register at meetup.com. Here’s how: 1. Create a Meetup account at https://secure.meetup.com/register/. 2. After you’ve created and verified your account, go to meetup.com/MITAmeetup and join the MITA Meetup group. Or, go to Meetup.com, click the red “Find” button, and type “MITA” into the box. 3. Once on MITA’s Meetup homepage, click the ‘Join Us’ button. 4. You will be prompted to sign a Participation Agreement, which includes a waiver and photo release. Anyone interested in joining the Meetup group must sign this. 5. T here is a one-time $5 fee to join, even for MITA members. The fee helps ensure the online veracity, privacy, and safety of the group for the sake of everyone in it. At the end of the year we will apply the balance to MITA’s Stewardship Fund. 6. Want to organize a Meetup? Please send a message to mgerber@mita.org to express your interest. As a token of appreciation, we’ll gladly waive your $5 fee when you schedule your first event!
Learn more about Meetup at http://www.meetup.com/MITAmeetup/pages/FAQs/.
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MITA Honors Outstanding Stewards Volunteers are the lifeblood of MITA’s stewardship efforts. Whether they’re clearing shorelines of bait bags and plastic bottles, disentangling native habitat from invasive species, or inspiring other Trail users to become active caretakers, it would be impossible to maintain the Trail’s 212 sites without them. On August 20, more than 80 MITA members and friends gathered in Rockport for the annual Stewardship Party to honor volunteers who have made outstanding contributions to the Trail. Longtime trustee Jeremy Wintersteen was given the 2015 Dave and Dorrie Getchell Spirit of MITA Award, honoring Trail heroes for their vision for the islands and tireless work to develop MITA. Wintersteen has volunteered many thousands of hours on the Trail on cleanups, committees, and on the Board since he first started interning at MITA in 1991. He is the first and only trustee to serve two consecutive nineyear terms. He has been a principal champion of the Wild Islands Campaign to endow MITA’s island stewardship work for future generations, and has given generously to the organization. He owns a Trail island, and co-owns another with six other MITA members. “Jeremy is a champion of the mission, a hero to the organization, and a spirit of the Trail,” says Executive Director Doug Welch. Wintersteen ended his service as a Trustee at the expiration of his second term earlier this year. The following volunteers also received accolades: Bryan and Darla Edmonds were given the Spirit of Stewardship award. They joined MITA in 2014 and quickly jumped in on cleanups, special projects, and monitoring runs. They were always quick to offer a helping hand, a boat, or even a place to stay. They generously offered their restaurant, Morning Moon Cafe in Brooklin as a venue for MITA events. The Edmonds are now apprentice Monitor Skippers. 16
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MITA co-founder Dave Getchell (left) with Jeremy Wintersteen (right) recipient of the Dave and Dorrie Getchell Spirit of MITA Award
Dan Smith and Kristen Roos received the Spirit of the Trail award. Smith is a member of the Trail Committee, and Roos is an apprentice Monitor Skipper. They are avid paddlers, rowers, sailors, and whitewater adventurers, and eagerly lend helping hands on everything from cleanups to photography. Smith was an integral part of helping launch MITA’s Meetup site this year. The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) won MITA’s Spirit of Partnership award. Kathy Eickenberg, BPL’s Chief of Planning, represented the agency with BPL’s John Noll. The BPL was one of the Trail’s founding partners, along with the Island Institute and L.L. Bean. The state agency remains the single largest landowner with 68 sites. Its critical backing for MITA’s stewardship work has included strong support of the longtime caretaker program on Jewell Island and the recently added caretaker on Little Chebeague Island. It was a good occasion to celebrate Eickenberg’s four-year tenure as BPL ex officio on MITA’s Board, which ended in 2015. Noll, Submerged Lands Director at BPL, joined the MITA board as BPL ex officio.
Chris Tadema-Wielandt received the Margaret C. Emerson Spirit of Giving award. A member since 1991, TademaWielandt has been a stalwart on cleanups and work projects. During his 18-year tenure as a Monitor Skipper, he has been out at least twice a week to monitor his territory, which stretches from Stonington to Cutler, an area with few skippers. He has stepped in to fill gaps in monitoring and train apprentice skippers. He is unflappable at the tiller— not daunted by wily weather or gnarly tangles—and always willing to wield a chainsaw to reopen a campsite. He keeps MITA’s Downeast skiff in top shape and offers summer storage at his home.
Make a Splash in The Island Trail We’re always looking for contributors with interesting stories and insights. If you’d like to write for The Island Trail, send an email with your article idea to editor@mita.org. We’d be glad to talk it over with you!
My days were surprisingly busy and exhausting. Somehow I had envisioned long, contemplative evenings by the campfire, eating the day’s catch, and quaffing Maine Island Trail Ale. The reality was far less relaxing. I kindled nary one fire. Even in modest seas, the physical strain of long hours of Whaler-style wave-pounding, lots of hand-over-hand boat hauling, and sleeping on the hard at night became back-breaking. And between managing the boat, navigation, landing, food, shelter, and video, I rarely stopped moving from dawn to dusk. From dusk to dawn, I slept soundly! continued from page 2.
The trip was inspiring and humbling. It felt daring without being reckless. I took some calculated chances, but happily avoided notable assault to boat or crew. When camping ashore was not possible, sleeping on the boat did suffice. And using a new device from DeLorme, I was able to communicate via text message my exact location and well-being to my wife and colleagues each evening. [See pages 4 and 5 for reviews of navigational apps.]
Any struggles at sea were definitely magnified in a small boat—particularly because I was solo. There was no need to worry about communication errors among the crew. And I didn’t have to wait for or rely on anyone. But that’s a
And for the record, Getch was right. The most important tool was my push pole, the original oar from Torngat. I took some comfort in that. It felt a little bit like Getch was there with me in spirit, along with my dad.
double-edged sword of course! Except for my smartphone, depth sounder, GPS tracker, and chart, the only thing I had to guide me was my senses. And with a two-stroke motor, my ears
Any struggles at sea were definitely magnified in a small boat—particularly because I was solo.
weren’t much help. So it was all about keeping a sharp eye on surf and sky. I had to be vigilant. An encounter with a rock would have, at best, ended the trip immediately! I was also struck by the intensity of the impact of the seas on the body in such a small boat. A Boston Whaler really only has two speeds—idling or planing. I didn’t do a lot of idling. So the waves left me, and the boat, feeling pretty beat up. The boat never complained, but my back was a mess after several days.
Most importantly, in the 500 miles I journeyed, I experienced a broad array of islands in all their glory: from barren to wooded, delightfully sheltered to totally exposed, sundrenched to fogbound. With great humility, I will never forget those places or my time on them. In the end, I accomplished what I set out to do, both for myself and hopefully for you. In whatever trip and style you choose, I hope you too will be inspired to act, knowing that you can do it in a small boat.
VISIONARY STATEMENT “It is astonishing that this late in the 20th century there remain so many wild and attractive places along a coast that has seen busy activity for some 400 years. There has to be a reason that so much of the coast has survived with its beauty intact. We believe the answers will be revealed to those who follow a Maine island trail with that quest in mind.” -MITA co-founder David R. Getchell, Sr. Island Journal, 1987
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And so MITA launched
the Wild Islands Campaign to fund Trail stewardship, including the purchase, operation, coordination, and periodic replacement of its fleet of skiffs and vehicles, in perpetuity. Once completed, income from the endowment fund earnings will ensure that the wild islands of Maine will remain pristine, well cared for, and open to visitation for generations to come. The Wild Islands Campaign has achieved much success since it first launched, thanks to many significant financial commitments from core supporters including 100% of the Board of Trustees. The fund has already enabled the purchase of a MITA RAV4 towing vehicle and two skiffs and associated equipment, and it has funded a portion of the salary of our second regional stewardship manager. Following a $100,000 commitment by L.L. Bean and many contributions in honor of retiring MITA trustee Jeremy Wintersteen (see page 16 to read more about Jeremy), we were thrilled to witness the campaign cross the one million dollar mark this fall!
But our work is not finished. Our nearterm goal is to reach $1,275,000, the amount required to fully endow a fleet of six skiffs and two tow vehicles forever. We hope to meet this benchmark by the end of 2016. We look forward to keeping you apprised of our progress. In addition, MITA will allocate all planned gifts or bequests to the endowment fund, which is managed by the Maine Community Foundation. In this way, people who love the islands can have a lasting impact on the coast through a gift that supports island access and stewardship indefinitely. Please join us in thanking the individuals and institutions that have contributed to this essential effort thus far, as you consider what you yourself might do. These MITA heroes have helped ensure that the Trail will continue to thrive forever. You can find a complete list of Wild Islands Campaign donors on page 10. We hope you will consider joining them next year.
Wish List MITA will gladly consider donations of anything from boats to vehicles to office equipment. Please call us at 207-761-8225 or email info@ mita.org if you would like to donate these or other items.
FOR OUR BOATS
• Chart cases (contact MITA for details)
FOR THE CARETAKERS • Impact drill (18-20V)
• Garden cart or wheelbarrow • Queen or full-size mattress /box spring • Gas grill
• Compost tumbler
• Gas-powered lawn mower
FOR THE OFFICE
• Vacuum cleaner
For more information on the Wild Islands Campaign, go to www.mita.org/ wildislandscampaign or contact Jack Phillips at 207-761-8225 or jack@mita.org
Give the gift of the Maine coast! A gift membership to the Maine Island Trail Association is the perfect way to spread holiday cheer to the boater in your life. Celebrate the holidays with two special limited time offers: •W hen you order a gift membership for someone else, you get a complimentary MITA floaty keychain to keep for yourself. • Add a MITA hat to any gift membership for only $12. All memberships come with our 250 page Guidebook to the Maine Island Trail, including detailed information about all Trail sites, as well as full access to our new MITA mobile app. Visit www.mita.org/gift Be sure to select priority shipping if you’re ordering at the last minute, to ensure your gift arrives before Christmas!
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TIP FROM THE TRAIL There’s one piece of gear that veteran MITA member Mitch Darrow never hits the Trail without. “I always bring a trash bag so I can pick up garbage,” says Darrow, who lives in Falmouth, Maine. He keeps a few bags in the safety kit that stays in his kayak, and on multi-day excursions he stows them in a burlap bag that he straps onto the rear deck over the hatch. When he’s leading a group of other paddlers, he brings extras. “It’s important to me to set an example that stewardship is a daily activity on the Trail and it starts with each of us.”
2015 Stewardship by the Numbers • 4100+: Hours logged by MITA volunteers • 1000+: Stewardship visits including over 700 by Monitor Skippers and almost 200 by staff • 200+: Volunteers on stewardship events • 139: Trail sites covered by MITA’s stewardship activity
Protect Maine’s Wild Islands Forever by Making a Planned Gift to MITA A planned gift to MITA will support stewardship of the Maine Island Trail in perpetuity To learn more about the advantages and impact of planned giving at MITA, contact Jack Phillips at jack@mita.org/(207) 699-4373.
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NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MAINE ISLAND TRAIL ASSOCIATION
58 FORE STREET, SUITE 30-3 PORTLAND, MAINE 04101 207.761.8225 MITA.ORG
Care for the islands you love Help ensure that Maine’s wild islands remain beautiful, pristine and accessible by making your gift to MITA’s Annual Fund today. Mail a check to 58 Fore Street, Ste. 30-3 Portland, ME 04101 Donate online: mita.org/annualfund
Thank you for all you do for the Maine Island Trail.