July

• Saturday, July 5 - Take the scenic route to the Orland River Day festivities –   join the annual Alewife Run paddle from Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery to Orland Village! Canoers and kayakers will leave the Alamoosook Lake beach at 8 am sharp for a leisurely 3.5-mile (less than two hour) paddle down the lovely Narramissic River, arriving in the village in time for the parade. One short portage around a dam is involved. For those wishing to leave a vehicle in the village, shuttle service from the village to the hatchery will be available, leaving from the FL Davis parking lot on Rte. 175 (next to the Post Office) at 7:30 am. A kayak safety demo courtesy of Castine Kayak will also be available at the hatchery beach prior to the paddle. Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery is located 1.3 miles off Rte. 1, on Hatchery Road in East Orland. For more information or to reserve a rental kayak from Castine Kayak Adventures, call Cheri at 469-2008 or e-mail cdomina@midmaine.com.
• Sunday, July 13 – GPMCT’s Annual Meeting at Orland’s Alamoosook Lakeside Inn will begin at 6:30 pm. Partake in a dessert potluck, vote for new board members and hear the latest GPMCT news; then enjoy a talk by best-selling author Bernd Heinrich. Among his best-known books are Bumblebee Economics, The Mind of the Raven, The Geese of Beaver Bog, Ravens in Winter and A Year in the Maine Woods. Of his beautifully-crafted books, the New York Times observed: “These passionate observations of a place ‘where the subtle matters and the spectacular detracts’ superbly mix memoir and science.”  The Washington Post stated: “He richly deserves the comparison to Thoreau.” Heinrich will base his July 13 talk on material from The Trees in My Forest. Heinrich’s forest is near Weld State Park here in Maine, and what he has observed there should apply in fascinating ways to the trees in our forest—the Wildlands. Daytime events will also be planned in the Wildlands. You must RSVP for the meeting, to greatpond@midmaine.com or 469-7190.

• Trail work day Saturday, July 19
  Join the Wildlands Trail Work Crew to help us finish the great new Esker Path. Meet at the South Gate on Rte. 1 (just south of the Rte. 176 intersection in East Orland) at 1 pm and bring bug spray, sun protection, gloves, water and snacks. Some tools will be available, but pruners, loppers, bowsaws and other hand tools will come in handy. For more information, please call Scott at 825-4709.

   
• Saturday, July 26 –  First annual Chainsaw Safety Workshop in the Wildlands will be conducted by a Stihl chainsaw instructor. This professional loggers’ chainsaw safety workshop will be adapted to the needs of volunteers and woodland owners. The workshop will be recognized by the Bureau of Public Lands as a valid safety workshop to qualify volunteers to work on Public Lands with chainsaws. The workshop is free of charge, but donations will be welcome.
  Please call Jake at 989-1403 or email j.m@jmforestry.com for registration information.

• Oak Hill Hike encore Sunday, July 27
  Due to popular demand (and not enough room the first time), we’re reprising our July 13 Oak Hill Hike on July 27 (without Bernd Heinrich this time).  Join us on this 3.5-mile moderately strenuous hike on one of the Wildlands’ newer trails, meeting at 9 am at the South Gate. Starting on Flag Hill Road, Scott Bennett will lead the hike up Hillside Trail, then up Oak Hill Path to the top of Oak Hill, with fine views of Great Pond Mountain, Hothole Valley and beyond. Then we hike down the East Ridge Path back to Flag Hill Road and back down the road to our starting place.  The walk should take about 3 hours, with a 400 foot elevation gain. Bring sun protection, bug protection (deer flies could be a nuisance), water, snacks and binoculars if you have them. Space is limited – please pre-register at 469-7190 or cdomina@midmaine.com.

August

• Sunday August 17 – Two Peaks Hike in the Wildlands. Meet at South Gate at 9 am and join Scott Bennett for a hike across both Oak and Flag Hills. This moderately strenuous walk is a great introduction to our new trails. Those wishing for a shorter hike can skip Flag Hill and return to their cars via Flag Hill Trail. Bring water, snacks, and bug and sun protection. Call 825-4709 for more info.
  
• Saturday, August 23 – Join volunteers from Trout Unlimited for a stream habitat workday in two of our Wildlands brooks. Get wet and wild – help restore some native trout habitat!