REGION — The Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust recently announced its winter hikes schedule. The Community Hikes program provides free guided hiking trips to the general public.

The program has been enormously successful at bringing individuals to the A.T. landscape but hikes can fill to capacity quickly. The limit for participants is usually 5-8 individuals. Those interested in joining must RSVP through the Maine A.T. Land Trust website, matlt.org, by emailing info@matlt.org, or by calling (207)808-2073.

If a hike you would like to attend is currently filled up, please email info@matlt.org to get on the waiting list.

Old Speck Mountain, Grafton Notch
Saturday, Feb. 1, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

This challenging yet awesome hike will run via the Appalachian Trail for a total roundtrip hike of 7.6 miles. The summit elevation is 4,170 feet – the fifth highest summit in Maine and the highest in the Mahoosucs/Grafton Notch area. This is a strenuous hike which will require snowshoes and/or traction aids for ice. You must be prepared for a winter ascent in the mountains.

We will meet in the Grafton Notch parking lot on the west side of Route 26 where the A.T. crosses the road. Carpooling will be arranged.

Bald Mountain, Oquossoc
Saturday, Feb, 15, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Hike Bald Mountain in Oquossoc, right between Mooselookmeguntic and Rangeley Lakes. The plan is simple: the Bald Mountain Trail ascends from the parking area off Bald Mountain Road to the summit of Bald Mountain.  The hike each way will be just 1.3 miles.  This is a moderate hike but there are steep sections near the end and conditions may be icy enough to require microspikes.  However, this is a good winter hike due to the accessibility of the trail, the short length and the great views on the summit (with a fire tower).  From the summit, you can see about fifty miles of the Appalachian Trail in Maine.

Little Bigelow Mountain, Bigelow Preserve
Saturday, March, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

We will be tackling Little Bigelow, the long, lower peak at the east end of the Bigelow Range.  This hike is approximately 6.2 miles in length and should take at least 6 hours start to finish.  It features spectacular views of the Bigelow Range, Flagstaff Lake and Maine’s High Peaks. It is a strenuous hike and you will need full winter gear, including snowshoes.

You can find more info on this hike online at Maine Trail Finder and at the Bigelow Public Reserve Land website (which has a printable map in the sidebar).

For more information, visit matlt.org