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The Maine Appalachian Trail Club is responsible for building, maintaining and protecting 267 miles of the Appalachian Trail, 50 miles of side trails and nearly 40 shelters and campsites between Grafton Notch and Baxter State Park. There are also 305 miles of surveyed corridor boundary to monitor on 32,300 acres of National Park Service land. 

All of the above and much more is a tall order for an all-volunteer organization, but the MATC has been accomplishing these types of demanding tasks with aplomb ever since its founding in 1935, two years before the AT was officially completed high on the slopes of Maine’s Spaulding Mountain. And the results speak for themselves every hiking season. 

The Maine section of the AT has long been regarded by many in the hiking community as the most beautiful on the long path from Georgia, as well as being the best maintained. From the Mahoosucs to the Bigelows and the Kennebec River to the majestic summit of Katahdin, the natural scenery is superb and the footpath is in top-notch condition. 

This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the MATC’s 730 members, who not only keep the trail and its facilities in great shape but also keep the organization running smoothly. Last year, for example, volunteers from both Maine and out-of-state contributed somewhere in the neighborhood of 15,000 hours to support the organization’s mission. 

“We take a lot of pride in our work as volunteers. It’s a long standing tradition,” said Janice Clain, MATC’s president. “The routine trail work is all done by volunteers, but we do hire a trail crew to help with the heavy lifting. And it’s not just about maintaining the trail but also maintaining the club. There’s something for everyone to do, both outdoors and indoors.” 

The MATC’s annual volunteer gathering, held last winter at Camp Mechuwana in Winthrop, drew over 100 attendees, including 13 new members. The atmosphere in the packed hall was warm and welcoming, the energy and enthusiasm for the trail and the club was palpable, and the informative programs and potluck lunch made for a very fun, full day. 

If you love Maine’s Appalachian Trail and are looking for a way to give back, well, the MATC could be just the place to devote some of your time and energy. If you’d been at the February event, you might well have signed up on the spot and volunteered to take on a task or two. As a longtime member, I was there and felt excited all over again for the AT!

According to the MATC Member and Volunteer Handbook, “Members and volunteers join the MATC for a wide range of reasons — giving back to the trail they love, service to the community, engaging with others or simply to work hard. Whatever your reason for joining, we welcome you and want you to have a positive experience.” 

Some of the most common roles MATC volunteers take on are as a trail maintainer,  campsite maintainer, corridor monitor, sawyer, committee member and participating in work days. From clipping brush, clearing water bars, tending to lean-tos and privies, hiking boundary lines, clearing blowdowns and admin work, there’s much to do. 

“An easy way to get started is to check the MATC website, peruse the calendar and find something interesting you want to do,” said Clain. “There are many tasks large and small that need doing. You can give whatever you can knowing that it’s all for the good of the trail.” 

A throng of northbound AT thru-hikers are already headed our way from Georgia, while the rest of us regular hikers are sorting our hiking gear for the coming season. Meantime, MATC trail maintainers are readying their tool kits in anticipation of the work that lies ahead on the white-blazed trailway. Won’t you consider joining in and helping out? 

“New people are always welcome. You are vital to the health of the MATC and the sustainability of the AT,” said Clain. “There’s a great sense of pride, a tremendous sense of purpose in this volunteer work. And you’ll be duly recognized for it.” 

There’s a bounty of information and resources to be found at www.matc.org. Do note that the MATC Annual Meeting is April 25 at Colby College in Waterville. All are welcome. 

Carey Kish of Mount Desert Island is a Triple Crown hiker, freelance writer, author of three hiking guides, and an MATC volunteer. Connect with Carey on Facebook and Instagram and at [email protected].