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Trip Number: 12303A
Price: $495
Deposit: $50
Capacity: 12
Staff: Faye Sitzman
Highlights:
- Help preserve one of Maine's unspoiled treasures
- Hike the island's headlands and extensive trail network
- Explore the galleries of the vibrant local art community
Includes:
- All meals
- All group cooking gear and tools
- Transport to and from the island
The Trip
Photo: Faye Sitzman
Monhegan is a small, rocky island 10 miles off the coast of Maine, measuring
scarcely a square mile in area. It is accessible only by boat, and there are
no cars or paved roads. In recent times, the year-round population has seldom
exceeded 75. For more than 100 years, Monhegan has been a summer haven for artists
and other visitors who appreciate its isolation, the beauty of its wilderness,
its quiet atmosphere, and its unhurried pace. The unoccupied island areas, called
the Wildlands, make up about 80 percent of the island. These are almost entirely
owned by the Monhegan Associates, a land trust created by Theodore Edison, son
of inventor Thomas Edison. About 17 miles of trails, often steep and strenuous,
lead through wooded areas and over rocky ledges up to some of the highest ocean
cliffs on Maine's offshore islands.
We plan to have one layover day to hike, swim, wander, or just relax. On your
layover day, you might want to hike to the island's spectacular viewpoints,
spend time at the lighthouse, schoolhouse or museum, or visit the galleries
of local artists. There is no formal entertainment such as golf or tennis on
the island. There is also a beach, for people who enjoy swimming in 50-degree
water.
The Project
Photo: Faye Sitzman
The fact that Monhegan is an island makes it an ideal research site -- Monhegan
Associates sponsored a study of forest health there by the University of Maine.
The university's research has shown that several invasive plants threaten the
island's fragile ecosystem -- the most potentially damaging being Japanese barberry.
Introduced during the last century by homeowners, it is being spread by birds
that eat its brilliant red berries in the fall. We will work on cutting, applying
a regrowth deterrent, and hauling out this or other invasive species. We may
also work on trail maintenance. Any group trip in the outdoors involves adventure
and unpredictability! We will plan to work for a minimum of four full days and
have one layover day to rest, explore, and enjoy the island.
Itinerary
Trip participants should plan to meet the morning of Saturday, June 9th in
New Harbor, Maine. Specific time and location will be provided to approved participants.
If you are flying, it's best (in terms of time and price) to fly into Portland,
Maine. The leader will send detailed directions to the meeting place to all
approved participants.
The trip will end after our ferry ride back to New Harbor on Friday, June 15.
While the scheduled time of arrival is just before noon, sea conditions and
other unexpected events may cause delays so plan a flexible departure time.
After our ferry ride, please consider joining us for an optional seafood lunch
at Shaw's Wharf (not included in the trip price). It has become a nice tradition
for saying our goodbyes.
Getting There
Photo: Faye Sitzman
The ferry rides to and from Monhegan are included in the trip price. Participants
are responsible for getting to and from New Harbor. However, the leader will
encourage carpooling and provide a list of drivers willing to take passengers
and participants requesting rides. Other options: 1) take public bus service
from Portland to Damariscotta, Maine and arrange for a ride the last 12 or so
miles to New Harbor, 2) use a car service from Portland to New Harbor or, 3)
rent a car and offer rides to other participants coming from Portland's jetport.
Accommodations and Food
Sleeping accommodations will mostly be in tents provided by the participants.
We will have access to bathrooms in one or two of the cottages on Monhegan Island.
Water, and other utilities, are limited and very expensive. Conservation practices
will be very important. Our group meals, meetings, guest speakers, and most
other activities will be centralized in an historical cottage's kitchen and
deck overlooking the harbor. Meals from dinner on the first day through breakfast
on the last day are included. Participants will assist in cooking and various
cleanup duties on a scheduled, rotating basis. There is no smoking permitted
on the ferry or island.
Trip Difficulty
Photo: Faye Sitzman
During the course of our work, we may be hiking several miles a day on hilly,
uneven terrain, and will be exposed to the elements, so good field clothing,
raingear, and sturdy boots are a must. Our work will mostly consist of using
hand loppers and hand saws to cut down prickly invasive shrubs and hauling your
cuttings to a group brush pile. This trip is suitable for active, healthy people
who are repared for an arduous project. Some previous trip participants have
underestimated the difficulty of our service work, so feel free to ask questions
of the leader before submitting your application and deposit.
Equipment and Clothing
At this time of year, Maine can be either spectacularly sunny or wet and foggy
with cold nights, so come prepared. A very informative and complete list of
all necessary tenting, field gear, clothing and equipment will be provided by
the leader. Expect to provide excellent raingear (no ponchos), sturdy hiking
boots, leather work gloves, sleeping bag and pad, tent (or arrange to share,
borrow or rent, if you have no tent). Tools are provided by Monhegan Associates.
Sturdy chaps, long welder's gloves, and other protection from the thorny barberries
are recommended.
References
Websites:
Conservation
Photo: Faye Sitzman
For more than 50 years, Monhegan Associates has been an organization whose
mission is "to preserve and protect the wild lands, educate the public about
them, and support the simple, friendly way of life on the island." The year-round
population is also very active in fishing conservation issues and in strategies
to maintain an economically viable island community. A talk by a local lobsterman
is planned for us one evening.
Trip Price
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details
about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.
The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Staff
Leader:
Faye Sitzman successfully led the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Monhegan Service trips and has been active in many leadership aspects of the Sierra Club since 1974. She has been a life-long educator and wilderness traveler. Perhaps her most adventurous experiences include bicycling Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island, sea kayaking in Alaska's Glacier Bay, Misty Fjords, and Admiralty Island, the Everglades, the Rio Grande, the Great Lakes, the Maine Island Trail, and Greenland's west coast above the Arctic Circle. She has organized service outings and many other environmental projects. Faye has also led many backpack outings, river trips, and especially loves leading in Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area. Previous trip participants have described Faye as a "truly competent wilderness leader with a special knack for keeping people from getting unnecessarily serious."
E-mail: faye.s@cox.net
Cook:
Susan Ziering has been active in co-leading and cooking for various Sierra Club trips for over 10 years. She has prepared fabulous meals in kitchens and campsites, enjoys relating to her daily kitchen crew and is a creative presence in the kitchen. Susan is well organized and a champion at planning menus plus a few nice surprises that really please. Also a long-time educator, Susan contributes to interesting and fun conversations. She's been our Monhegan Island trip cook for many years.
E-mail: suzier@verizon.net
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips