We've been invited by the Maine Department of Parks and Lands to have a representative from the club serve on the Down East Sunrise Trail Advisory Committee. The first meeting will take place September 24th at University of Maine at Machias (Science Building, Room 102, 6:30 P.M.) Let me know if you are interested. I've inserted a brief description of the proposed trail. Sounds like a great project.

"...Imagine a trail that connects a wealth of nature, culture, history and geography as it wends its way over a sinuous route; a trail that connects wild and scenic places with people and communities; a place where one can explore, exercise, recreate and renew, for a few hours or a week, a few miles or many dozens.

Well, there is such a trail, or will be in about two years — the Down East Sunrise Trail. This proposed 87-mile long multiuse trail will traverse a significant portion of Hancock and Washington Counties in eastern Maine, following the old Calais Branch Rail Corridor from Washington Junction in Hancock (just east of Ellsworth) to Ayers Junction in Pembroke (south of Calais).

The trail project will connect a number of existing recreational areas, and will open many new areas previously unreachable for lack of a public right-of-way. Walkers, hikers, bicyclists and other people-powered users will be able to visit and enjoy this beautiful corridor as it transects Down East Maine, traveling off-road from place to place, away from cars, traffic and noise." (Cary Kish, mainetoday.com 4/27/08)