Uncategorized | Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust https://www.greatpondtrust.org Conserving land, water, and wildlife habitat in Hancock County, Maine. Fri, 17 Jul 2026 18:10:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 https://www.greatpondtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/cropped-GPMCTfavicon-32x32.jpg Uncategorized | Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust https://www.greatpondtrust.org 32 32 8/8/2026 Annual Meeting https://www.greatpondtrust.org/2026/07/8-8-2026-annual-meeting-proposed-amendments-to-bylaws/ Fri, 17 Jul 2026 16:59:06 +0000 https://www.greatpondtrust.org/?p=16237

GPMCT ANNUAL MEETING
Saturday, 8/8/2026
11am-12pm

@ Wildlands Dead River Trailhead
Half-Mile Field
24 Don Fish Trail, Orland, ME 04472

GPMCT Supporters are invited to our Annual Meeting. The meeting includes reports from the prior year on activities and finances, the election of board members and officers, the presentation of volunteer awards, and a member vote on proposed amendments to the bylaws.

The event will take place at Half-Mile Field, which is a half mile from Dead River Trailhead. Drive through the gate and park on the left side of the gravel road. The gate will be open at 10:30.

Please bring a chair. There will be sun and shade options for seating.

Optional group walk to follow meeting.

As GPMCT’s bylaws require, we are notifying you of the attached proposed amendments to those bylaws. Members will vote on the proposed amendments during the Annual Meeting.
View the proposed amendments to bylaws below.

Directions: Turn off US Route 1 in East Orland onto Hatchery Road, following signs for Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery. Go 1.4 miles to the Hatchery. Continue through the parking lot, through the yellow gate onto the gravel Don Fish Road, another .6 miles. The trailhead parking lot is on the left. Volunteers will direct you.
Street/ GPS address:  24 Don Fish Trail, Orland, ME

RSVP

 

Proposed Amendments To Bylaws:

2026.08.08 Proposed amendments to bylaws

]]> Happy Holidays! https://www.greatpondtrust.org/2018/12/happy-holidays/ Thu, 13 Dec 2018 17:14:00 +0000 https://www.greatpondtrust.org/?p=10843 ]]> Start Here https://www.greatpondtrust.org/2018/06/gpmct-annual-meeting-august-16th/ Fri, 08 Jun 2018 13:35:40 +0000 https://www.greatpondtrust.org/?p=10386

   
   

Great Pond Mountain T-Shirts available at bonfire.com/store/gpmct

Great Pond Mountain T-Shirts available at bonfire.com/store/gpmct


   

 

]]> Events https://www.greatpondtrust.org/2017/12/events/ Wed, 13 Dec 2017 18:50:22 +0000 https://www.greatpondtrust.org/?p=8333
August 16, 2026

  • South Trailhead Gate Opening


    August 16, 2026  7:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Wildlands South Trailhead, Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust, 1589 Acadia Hwy, Orland, ME 04472, USA

    The South Trailhead gate will be open on Sundays from June through September, providing vehicle access closer to popular trailheads in the Wildlands. Visitors may drive to Mitchville Meadow, approximately 1.5 miles into Hothole Valley.  

      Open from 7 AM to 6 PM (closes at 6 PM sharp).
      Access is subject to change due to weather or conditions.

    Trailhead openings are made possible by dedicated GPMCT volunteers. As a result, access schedules may change. We appreciate your understanding.

      For maps and additional information, please visit:
      greatpondtrust.org

       Visitor Guidelines:

    • Visitors must sign in upon arrival to ensure contact in case of gate closure time changes.
    • Drivers must respect hikers, walkers, cyclists, and equestrians.
    • Do not exceed 15 MPH.
    • Vehicles must remain on Valley Road and may only park in designated parking areas.
    • Do not drive beyond designated areas.
    • No off-road recreational vehicles permitted.
    • Follow Wildlands usage guidelines.
    • Pack out all trash.
    • Respect wildlife and habitat—do not disturb natural areas.
August 19, 2026

  • Happytown Farm Tour


    August 19, 2026  4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
    Happytown Farm, 1138 Happytown Rd, Orland, ME 04472, USA

    Spend an evening on a beautiful working farm – the kind your support helps keep farming for generations to come. Walk the land with Paul and Karen Volckhausen, who've tended it for decades, and meet Angelica Harwood, the next farmer to call it home. Paul and Karen will share the story of what they've created, and Angelica will talk about her vision for the farm's next chapter. See firsthand what a farm transition looks like and how collaboration is key to the future of farming in Maine.

    MFT and Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust are partnering to permanently protect Happytown Farm with an agricultural easement – helping to make this transition possible. 

    • Rain date Thursday August 20, 4:30-5:30pm
    • Carpooling encouraged and appreciated!
    • Free; RSVP by August 17 at mainefarmlandtrust.org
August 20, 2026

  • VIEWS FROM GREAT POND MOUNTAIN What Should We Remember about the Declaration of Independence in 2026?


    August 20, 2026  6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
    Northeast Historic Film / Alamo Theatre, 85 Main St, Bucksport, ME 04416, USA

    This illustrated lecture sets the 250th commemoration of the American Revolution in both a historical and contemporary context. How was the Declaration of Independence created, and what did it mean in 1776? Equally important, what should it mean to us today? The presentation is intended to spark discussion.

    Please come with your questions about the Declaration, the Revolution, and what they should mean to us today.

    RSVP @ greatpondtrust.org

August 23, 2026

  • South Trailhead Gate Opening


    August 23, 2026  7:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Wildlands South Trailhead, Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust, 1589 Acadia Hwy, Orland, ME 04472, USA

    The South Trailhead gate will be open on Sundays from June through September, providing vehicle access closer to popular trailheads in the Wildlands. Visitors may drive to Mitchville Meadow, approximately 1.5 miles into Hothole Valley.  

      Open from 7 AM to 6 PM (closes at 6 PM sharp).
      Access is subject to change due to weather or conditions.

    Trailhead openings are made possible by dedicated GPMCT volunteers. As a result, access schedules may change. We appreciate your understanding.

      For maps and additional information, please visit:
      greatpondtrust.org

       Visitor Guidelines:

    • Visitors must sign in upon arrival to ensure contact in case of gate closure time changes.
    • Drivers must respect hikers, walkers, cyclists, and equestrians.
    • Do not exceed 15 MPH.
    • Vehicles must remain on Valley Road and may only park in designated parking areas.
    • Do not drive beyond designated areas.
    • No off-road recreational vehicles permitted.
    • Follow Wildlands usage guidelines.
    • Pack out all trash.
    • Respect wildlife and habitat—do not disturb natural areas.
August 30, 2026

  • South Trailhead Gate Opening


    August 30, 2026  7:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Wildlands South Trailhead, Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust, 1589 Acadia Hwy, Orland, ME 04472, USA

    The South Trailhead gate will be open on Sundays from June through September, providing vehicle access closer to popular trailheads in the Wildlands. Visitors may drive to Mitchville Meadow, approximately 1.5 miles into Hothole Valley.  

      Open from 7 AM to 6 PM (closes at 6 PM sharp).
      Access is subject to change due to weather or conditions.

    Trailhead openings are made possible by dedicated GPMCT volunteers. As a result, access schedules may change. We appreciate your understanding.

      For maps and additional information, please visit:
      greatpondtrust.org

       Visitor Guidelines:

    • Visitors must sign in upon arrival to ensure contact in case of gate closure time changes.
    • Drivers must respect hikers, walkers, cyclists, and equestrians.
    • Do not exceed 15 MPH.
    • Vehicles must remain on Valley Road and may only park in designated parking areas.
    • Do not drive beyond designated areas.
    • No off-road recreational vehicles permitted.
    • Follow Wildlands usage guidelines.
    • Pack out all trash.
    • Respect wildlife and habitat—do not disturb natural areas.
September 6, 2026

  • South Trailhead Gate Opening


    September 6, 2026  7:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Wildlands South Trailhead, Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust, 1589 Acadia Hwy, Orland, ME 04472, USA

    The South Trailhead gate will be open on Sundays from June through September, providing vehicle access closer to popular trailheads in the Wildlands. Visitors may drive to Mitchville Meadow, approximately 1.5 miles into Hothole Valley.  

      Open from 7 AM to 6 PM (closes at 6 PM sharp).
      Access is subject to change due to weather or conditions.

    Trailhead openings are made possible by dedicated GPMCT volunteers. As a result, access schedules may change. We appreciate your understanding.

      For maps and additional information, please visit:
      greatpondtrust.org

       Visitor Guidelines:

    • Visitors must sign in upon arrival to ensure contact in case of gate closure time changes.
    • Drivers must respect hikers, walkers, cyclists, and equestrians.
    • Do not exceed 15 MPH.
    • Vehicles must remain on Valley Road and may only park in designated parking areas.
    • Do not drive beyond designated areas.
    • No off-road recreational vehicles permitted.
    • Follow Wildlands usage guidelines.
    • Pack out all trash.
    • Respect wildlife and habitat—do not disturb natural areas.
]]> 2017 Downeast Double Trouble Trail Race Challenge https://www.greatpondtrust.org/2017/10/downeast-double-trouble-trail-race-challenge/ Mon, 02 Oct 2017 19:32:04 +0000 https://www.greatpondtrust.org/?p=3537 FBC-Trail_Race_Logo_2013Looking for a fun running challenge and a way to support local trails? GPMCT and Frenchman Bay Conservancy (FBC) are sponsoring the 5th annual Downeast Double Trouble Trail Race Challenge. That’s two races held one weekend apart, with the GPMCT Wildlands Trail Race on Sunday, October 29 and the FBC Autumn Trail Race on Sunday, November 5. Participants who run both races are eligible for a special prize.

The GPMCT Wildlands Trail Race in Orland’s scenic Great Pond Mountain Wildlands offers two courses this year; choose the two mile fun run (NEW!) or the 6.3 mile challenge. The 6.3-mile course covers dirt roads and single track, over roots, rocks and mud, up and down hills, over small streams, past lovely views and munching moose. Total climb is approximately 1,200 gut-or-calf-busting feet. The two miler goes out Hothole Brook Trail and back, past giant boulders and over a bridge. Registration starts at 10 am, races at 11 and 11:15 am. Enter through the South Gate on Rte. 1, near the Rte. 176 intersection. Here’s a TRAIL MAP for the 6.3 mile run.

The FBC Autumn Trail Race starts and finishes at 11 am at Sumner Memorial High School in Sullivan, and offers a 4-mile run on FBC’s Long Ledges & Baker Hill Preserves or an 8-mile course traversing the new Schoodic Connector Trail. You’ll encounter steep climbs, exposed granite ledges, gorgeous views, tree roots, varied and wild terrain, old white pines, a glimpse of Long Pond and the chance to twist an ankle.FBC-decal_final

Lunch will be available at both events. Please, no dogs, for the safety of all runners.

Cost for the 6.3-mile Wildlands Race is $20 pre-registered (plus a $2 online registration fee) or $25 race day; the Fun Run is $10 or $15 race day. Pre-register for BOTH races for only $35/$25! Family rate: With two family members registered for either run, additional kids under 15 run free! Registration deadline to get a mug for the Wildlands Trail Run is Wednesday, October 18! Register online until 5 pm, Oct. 20. 

You can Register Online for one or both races, download 2017WildlandsTrailRunentryform, or call Peter at 288-3909 or e-mail pktrldrt@myfairpoint.net for more information on the Wildlands Trail Race. Go to www.frenchmanbay.org for more info on the FBC Autumn Trail Race. First 50 entrants who sign up for and complete the Double Trouble Challenge receive a Downeast Double Trouble Trail Race Challenge prize. Swag is also available for pre-registrants at both races and prizes for top finishers. Walkers welcome.

Want to be a sponsor? Call Cheri at 469-6929 or e-mail info@greatpondtrust.org.

Thanks to our sponsors thus far: Awards, Signage & Trophies; Dave’s Tractor Services; Tradewinds Market; Cadillac Mountain Sports; Hannaford, Bucksport; MacLeod’s Restaurant & Pub; Grand Rental Station; Curtis Family Shoe; Great Maine Lumberjack Show.

 



 

daves-logo-2016

]]> Thanks, Maine Conservation Corps! https://www.greatpondtrust.org/2015/11/thanks-maine-conservation-corps/ Fri, 13 Nov 2015 17:25:51 +0000 https://www.greatpondtrust.org/?p=4950 A Maine Conservation Corps crew of four men and two women worked Oct. 14 thru Nov. 12 to install stone steps and retaining walls, remove roots and stumps and level and stabilize the first 0.3 mile of the Stuart Gross Path up Great Pond Mountain. Come check it out! Work was funded by a $20,000 grant from McKee Foods’ Outdoor Happiness Movement.

OutdoorHappinessLogo

]]> KidsPeace Teens make Contributions https://www.greatpondtrust.org/2012/05/kidspeace-teens-make-contributions/ Tue, 01 May 2012 15:29:52 +0000 https://www.greatpondtrust.org/?p=1040 Check out this article from the Bangor Daily News featuring Hans Krichels and the KidsPeace crew and their sawhorse inventions – which are now being used far and wide! Did you know KidsPeace does community service in the Wildlands every week?

]]> Maine Championship Snowshoe Race Jan. 22, 2012 https://www.greatpondtrust.org/2012/02/maine-championship-snowshoe-race-jan-22-2012/ Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:46:07 +0000 https://www.greatpondtrust.org/?p=1017 Snow was in short supply for the Maine State Championship Snowshoe Race Sunday in the Great Pond Mountain Wildlands – but that didn’t stop 14 competitors from running the race sans snowshoes. Jeff Lombardo of Old Town, 24, won the event by running 4.9 rugged miles in 35 minutes, 8 seconds. Photos by Karen Keeney and Cheri Domina.

]]> Wildlands Bike Quest 2011 https://www.greatpondtrust.org/2011/08/wildlands-bike-quest-2011/ Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:03:34 +0000 https://www.greatpondtrust.org/?p=770 Kids ages 6-10 participated in a Biking Quest on August 8-10 led by intern Georgia Doucette. They played games at the Baker Brook campsite, learned about beavers before venturing to Hothole Pond, climbed the boulder at the end of the new Birding Path, explored Cascade Brook, climbed Bump Hill, and constructed fairy houses at a newly cleared site near the North Gate.

]]> Moose on the Loose https://www.greatpondtrust.org/2011/08/moose-on-the-loose/ Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:43:16 +0000 https://www.greatpondtrust.org/?p=752 This moose was captured in downtown Bucksport July 26, 2011 and transported to the Wildlands by state game wardens and biologists.  Unfortunately, the moose seemed to prefer city life and returned to downtown Bucksport the next week; he was then transported to woods farther north.  

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