About the Completion of the Appalachian Trail
The original A.T. took more than 15 years to build and the last
two-mile stretch was completed by a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
crew on August 14, 1937. The last section of trail was completed in Maine
and within the town of Carrabassett Valley on the backside of Sugarloaf
Mountain. A historic plaque is located on a section of trail that is
difficult to access. With the arrangement of a shuttle bus and the
Sugarloaf Superquad chairlift, hikers can reach this remote section with
a moderate 8 or 4-mile hike to sign the special 75th Anniversary
register.
About the Appalachian Trail
An estimated 2 to 3 million people visit the A.T. every year. Hikers
from across the globe are drawn to the Trail for a variety of reasons:
to reconnect with nature, to escape the stress of city life, to meet new
people, strengthen old friendships or to experience a simpler life.
About 2,000 people attempt to “thru-hike” the estimated 2,180 miles of
the Trail each year, with only one out of four completing the entire
journey. Many of these thru-hikers will be passing through Maine in August.
About the 75th Appalachian Trail Anniversary Celebration in Maine
Multiple hikes will be offered, at varying levels of difficulty on Saturday, August 18th:
- An 8-mile, all-day hike from Lone Mountain to the top of Sugarloaf will transit the entire last two miles of completed A.T. and pass by the plaque. Hikers will depart at 7:45am on a bus.
- A moderate, 4-mile afternoon hike to the plaque where hikers are assisted by a chairlift at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort ski area.
- Short walks or observation from the mountaintop chairlift.
The day will conclude with a ceremony featuring guest speakers
including Mark Wegner, Appalachian Trail Conservancy Executive Director.
A social gathering at the Rack BBQ, a local restaurant features music,
food, trail displays and raffles to benefit the Crocker Mountain
Conservation Project.
The Maine Appalachian Trail Club, Town of Carrabassett Valley and the
Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust organized the 75th Anniversary
events in Maine. Event information and registration is available at http://www.matc.org or by email, mainetrails(at)comcast(dot)net.
About the Organizers
The Maine Appalachian Trail Club manages and maintains the 267 miles
of the Appalachian Trail in Maine. Founded in 1935, MATC is an
all-volunteer, donor-supported nonprofit that welcomes new members and
inspires respect for this natural treasure.
The Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust is committed to protecting the
traditional, ecological and recreational values of wilderness, wildlife
and undisturbed scenic beauty that is most often associated with the
Appalachian Trail in Maine. The protection of 11,798 acres of Crocker
Mountain is MATLT’s newest conservation project.
The Town of Carrabassett Valley is a Four Season recreation-based
community located in the heart of the western mountains of Maine. The
town, located two hours northwest of Portland and two hours west of
Bangor, Maine, is home to the Sugarloaf Maine Ski Resort.
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