The Island Trail The Newsletter of the Maine Island Trail Association • Summer 2007
Stonington Islands in Great Shape, Visitor Survey Finds The vast majority of island visitors to the Stonington area believe that the Trail sites in that region are being maintained in good condition. That finding, from a survey of 361 island visitors conducted last summer, is a welcome confirmation that your member-supported stewardship efforts are paying off. At the height of the season in one of the most popular sections of the Trail, some 98% of visitors surveyed rated their trip to Trail islands as either “good” or “very good.” Moreover, nearly everyone who completed a survey described his or her experience on the Trail as either “valuable” or “extremely valuable.”
Meeting Visitor Expectations
As gratifying as those results may be, MITA’s Trail Director Dave Mention says that those numbers tell only part of the story—and arguably not the most important part. The real news to emerge from this project is (continued on page 10)
In This Issue Celebrating a Career See page 2
A Minnesotan Conquers Maine See page 3
A Lobsterman-Led Cleanup See page 14
Welch Named Executive Director Long-Planned Transition Prepares MITA for New Challenges By Kevin Lomangino Like many of us involved with MITA, Doug Welch began his love affair with islands during the lazy Maine coast summers of his childhood. Each year his family rented a rustic camp on John’s Bay near Damariscotta, where Doug would spend countless hours exploring the local coves and islands on foot or by rowboat. Looking back on those adventures now, says Doug, it is clear that they were more than just an idyllic way to enjoy his summer vacations. They also formed the foundation for a life’s work devoted to islands. “The sense of discovery that you have when you land on an island for the first time is something very special and it’s worth protecting,” Doug says. “I want to be part of projects that not only preserve islands but also make them more accessible to respectful users.” He observes that thoughtful visitors not only care for islands in the short term, but also gradually build political constituencies for their care over the long term. “Given that orientation,” he adds, “joining MITA was truly the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Nationwide Search
Doug was named MITA’s new Executive Director in March, following a five-month search that screened dozens of well-qualified candidates from around the country. Board Chairman Tony Jessen, who organized the seven-member search committee, says that Doug is the right person to lead during a time of unprecedented change on the Maine coast. “The past decade has been a time of Doug Welch with wife Caitlin and daughter Genevieve in Blue Hill. tremendous growth not only for the Trail but also for MITA’s infrastructure,” Tony notes. “We were lucky to have Karen Stimpson here to guide MITA through this period, and now we are incredibly fortunate to have someone with Doug’s skills and energy to build on those accomplishments and take us to the next level.” Karen Stimpson, MITA’s outgoing Executive Director, concurred with that assessment, noting that Doug’s acceptance of the position completes a transition she had long contemplated for herself and for MITA. “I am truly delighted with this choice,” she says, “and I think MITA will benefit tremendously from Doug’s background and fresh perspective.” (continued on page 6) 1
Celebrating a Career in Island Conservation MITA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Peter Adams, Yarmouth ME Greg Barmore, Harpswell ME • Bill Brown, Brooksville ME • Scott Camlin, Belmont MA Steve Gent, Cape Elizabeth ME • Kathryn Henry, Waitsfield VT • Rodger Herrigel, Phippsburg ME Tony Jessen, Freeport ME • Annette Naegel, Camden ME • Chuck Remmel, Portland ME • Joan Smith, Portland ME • Greg Shute, Wiscasset ME • Stafford Soule, Freeport ME • Steve Spencer, Augusta ME • Natalie Springuel, Bar Harbor ME • Hans Underdahl, Yarmouth ME •Rod Vogel, Cumberland ME • Jeremy Wintersteen, Boston MA Julie Wormser, Littleton MA STAFF Doug Welch • dwelch@mita.org Executive Director Patricia Dano • pdano@mita.org Business Manager Tom Franklin • marketing@mita.org Director of Marketing & Membership Lisa Kelley • membership@mita.org Membership Manager Kevin Lomangino • kevinl@maine.rr.com Newsletter Editor Brian Marcaurelle • brian@mita.org Stewardship Manager Dave Mention • trail@mita.org Trail Director Peg Willauer-Tobey • development@mita.org Development Coordinator Pro-bono newsletter design services by Jillfrances Gray JFG Graphic Design|Art Direction The Maine Island Trail is a 350-mile long waterway extending from Cape Porpoise on the west to Machias Bay on the east. Along the route, state-owned and private islands are available to members or the public for overnight stopovers where one can picnic or camp in a wilderness setting. The Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) is a nonprofit conservation organization, whose goal is to establish a model of thoughtful use and volunteer stewardship for the Maine islands that will assure their conservation in a natural state while providing an exceptional recreational asset that is maintained and cared for by the people who use it. This goal is achieved by encouraging a philosophy of lowimpact use and environmental awareness among MITA’s members and island visitors. MAINE ISLAND TRAIL ASSOCIATION 58 Fore Street, Building 30, 3rd Floor Portland, ME 04101 (207) 761-8225 • info@mita.org www.mita.org
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A festive group of more than 100 has remained a champion of visitor friends, colleagues, and associates education and voluntary compliance gathered at the Portland Yacht Club with capacity guidelines as the in Falmouth recently to celebrate primary island management tools. Karen Stimpson’s many important Spencer also read from a letter accomplishments during a 17-year that Maine Governor John Baldacci career at the Maine Island Trail wrote to Stimpson to commemorate Association. the occasion. Baldacci said that under Karen started at the then-fledgling Stimpson’s leadership, MITA has organization in 1990 as its Trailkeeper, accomplished “outstanding successes” and rose to become its Executive in providing public access to Maine’s Director in 1998. She has guided coastal islands and teaching visitors the organization to care for the through a period islands. “You have of tremendous been a tireless and effective advocate expansion and has for responsible helped establish public access to the MITA as a model coast and islands,” for water trail he wrote. “Your management efforts have helped throughout the to ensure that the country. The guest of honor received many wellThe evening deserved accolades from the governor, friends, islands are cared for, appreciated, culminated with and colleagues. and that they will a stirring tribute be accessible for generations to come. to Stimpson delivered by friends and Thank you Karen Stimpson!” colleagues. They acknowledged her After a stream of well-wishing commitment to protecting the coastal toasts and tributes, Karen herself took environment and praised her role in the microphone to rousing applause engineering MITA’s growth over the from the assemblage. In her trademark past decade. self-deprecating style, she deflected MITA’s founder, Dave Getchell, the praise from herself and bestowed noted that when he hired Karen it on the MITA volunteers whom she as Trailkeeper in 1990, he was said were the real engine behind the the organization’s sole part-time employee helping to manage a Trail organization’s success. She singled out consisting of 38 public islands and a MITA founder Dave Getchell and the few private sites. Under Stimpson’s BPL’s Steve Spencer for their vision in able stewardship, however, the Trail establishing the Trail’s unique model. has more than tripled in size and She also lauded Sid Quarrier, a longnow includes some 162 island and time MITA volunteer who has logged mainland sites that are available for thousands of hours in the office public access. and on the islands supporting the Steve Spencer, Recreational organization’s mission, as well as Tom Specialist at the Maine Bureau of Franklin, who currently volunteers Parks and Lands, praised Stimpson’s full-time as MITA’s Director of support for a sometimes-controversial Marketing and Membership. approach to island management. He noted that as the Trail’s popularity has risen, pressure has mounted for MITA Karen recently accepted the position of Executive Director of the Coastal Humane to regulate island access through Society in Brunswick, Maine. We wish more restrictive mechanisms such as Karen the best as she pursues her passion reservation systems and uniformed enforcement patrols. However, he said for the care of unwanted & abused animals. Stimpson has resisted these calls and
A Rugged Maine Coast Companion, Imported from the Prairie By Dave Getchell, Sr.
MITA and 18-foot Lund skiffs have been married from day one to the present, and the long-lasting bond appears solid for the future. Considering how often things change today, one might wonder how this unusual situation came to be. Having been intimately involved in bringing about this marriage, I thought this might be a good time to tell the story behind the nuptials before all is lost in the dustbin of time. The beginning starts in the winter of 1979, long before MITA was even a dream. In fact, another dream was its genesis, one formed at the base of an ice cliff in Camden. Geof Heath, a first-rate ice climber, and I (thirdrate at best) had just completed a satisfying day of picking our way up frozen waterfalls. In a moment of elation, Geof uttered what were to be the first words of an exciting journey: “Let’s go on an expedition.”
more months to return home. Neither of us had that kind of time. We needed something just the opposite— reasonably fast and cheap. We didn’t have much money and no sponsors. Owning a 14-foot aluminum skiff, I suggested an alternative. “If we could find a big aluminum skiff we would have a boat that could be trailered behind my Scout from Maine to Newfoundland in just a couple of days,” I said. “With relatively low power we could sneak along the coast and carry enough
tin skiffs stopped in length at 16 feet, which was just not big enough for our needs. Then, late in the hunt and ready to give it all up as a bad idea, I came across a Lund catalog. And there it was! The barebones S-18—already well known in the Midwest, where it was built, and popular in Alaska —looked to be the perfect boat for our low-budget needs. Then, more disappointment—no northeastern dealers. I called Lund and talked with a knowledgeable sales rep. I told him our plans.
Credit: Dave Getchell, Sr.
Why did a boat built in Minnesota become the first to travel the Maine Island Trail from end to end? MITA’s founder tells the unlikely story of how the Lunds came to Maine and why they’ve remained our flagship design for nearly 20 years.
A Longing for Labrador
Both of us were fans of the late British explorer H.W. Tilman, who had sailed his wooden pilot cutters literally to the ends of the earth on climbing expeditions with only a few like-minded companions. Also an experienced boatbuilder, Geof was just completing a handsome Friendship sloop. “There are some great mountains in northern Labrador,” he said. “We could sail the sloop there!” His enthusiasm caught me. I agreed. Reality took over in the following days. Labrador was a long way off and northern Labrador was even “offer.” Friendship sloops are pretty and seaworthy but agonizingly slow; it would take months to get there and
Torngat is set to leave from Rockland during the first trip to cover the entire Maine Island Trail. At left is Julie Caniff of the Island Institute with Steve Spencer, Recreational Specialist for the Bureau of Parks and Lands.
fuel to get us from one distant port to the next, and could haul up on the beach at night safe from the weather and while we went climbing. And we could modify it almost as easily as we could one made of wood. Not very aesthetic but practical as hell.”
Plan B Takes Shape
Disappointed but realistic, Geof went along. Now all we had to do was find the right boat. I turned to the boat catalogs (this was long before the Internet) and started looking. Soon I discovered an unpleasant fact: open
Yes, he said, the S-18 could carry a sizable load. Despite its size and though it was rated for 55 horsepower, it would go well with 25 horsepower. “Seaworthy?” He answered my question, “I’ve had one out of sight of land in the Gulf of Mexico using a 25.” I heard a salesman talking. “Yes, I can give you a good price, but you will have to pick it up in Columbus.” “Columbus?” I replied, a bit puzzled, “The only Columbus I know is in Ohio.” “That’s right. Our nearest dealer to you.” (continued on page 8) 3
LETTERS Dear MITA, My wife Sheila (Long) Leavitt is the “former student” mentioned in your recent newsletter article, “The Difference a Decade Makes” by Reinhard Zollitsch. [See the Winter 2006-07 issue.] She took Reinhard’s German class at the University of Maine, Orono in his first year there. I have included a photo of one of the hybrid kayaks he talked about in the article (plywood hull and wood strip deck). I am in the process of establishing a website, SheepscotWoodenKayaks. com, to see if I can attract prospective buyers that want distinctive, light-asKevlar, sea kayaks – 40-43 pounds for a 17-foot sea kayak with the glide of a racing hull. The hull pictured below is a multi-chine 22” wide. Under construction is a 16-foot hard chine with two mermaids on the deck. The mermaids will be designed by my daughter Joelle. Ted Leavitt, Wiscasset, ME
Credit: Ted Leavitt
Reinhard Zollitsch, in his article, commented that Ted’s boats were “the most beautiful wooden kayaks I’ve ever seen.” And Reinhard has seen a lot of boats in his many decades pursuing waterborne adventures! Now you can read all about Reinhard’s experiences on the water at his website, www.zollitschcanoeadventures.com, which includes all 51 articles he has written since 1996, including several in German.
The SeaStar’s distinctive deck pattern was inspired by Sheila’s love of quilting. 4
Becky Pierce approaches Stevens Island during a six-day trip in the Jonesport area.
Water, Water, Everywhere...
Credit: Mike Prokosch
The Most Beautiful Wooden Kayaks
are no longer operating, as the town doesn’t have the money to pay for the Dear MITA, required testing. We ended up getting We just completed a wonderful water from a homeowner we talked to six-day kayak trip starting and ending when we landed and went looking for in Jonesport. Thanks so much for the Town Hall. making these islands available and By asking around some more known to us! We’re enclosing some we found that the Henry Point comments on our stay at Ram Island Campground listed in the Guidebook in Machias Bay and some info we (known locally as the “Jonesport learned about the difficulty of getting Campground”) usually provides water. water in Jonesport. However, they were First, regarding awaiting test results the water: Our plan was to carry What we learned is that on their supply and expecting to have water for four-plus there is no public water to upgrade their days, go east from system in Jonesport, and filtration system. Jonesport to Ram Island, and refill that good drinking water is They said they’d probably have to water bags when we scarce. Everyone has their charge a dollar a came back through Jonesport/Moosabec own well, and wells go bad gallon to cover their costs. Reach to the Stevens regularly and then need As for our Island area. What we more expensive filters, etc. Ram Island visit, learned is that there we stayed there is no public water overnight during system in Jonesport, a several-day and that good drinking water is excursion exploring the nearby scarce. Everyone has their own well, outer islands as well Halifax, the and wells go bad regularly and then other MITA island in the area. What need more expensive filters, etc. There a wonderful, rugged, beautiful is no good water at the fish docks on place! We were very taken by the Great Wass or Jonesport, and probably appropriate level of development—a not on Beals Island either. People we huge, comfortable tent platform, asked said there were public spigots positioned to have a view of the Libby at the Town Hall but both of these
Island Light through a slot in the rocks (!), plus a ladder to go up and down the bank to the beach, without eroding the bank. We left the owner a thank-you note in a Ziploc bag under the trapdoor in the platform, where the owner keeps two folding lawn chairs and a toilet seat for a latrine set-up—the only other furnishings we found on the island. We landed on the northwest beach as the guidebook recommends, looked for possible campsites, found the tent platform, and paddled around to the southwest cove. The wind was light from the southwest and the waves and surge quite manageable for our non-expert skill levels. The northwest landing is flatter and sandier, and the southwest is steeper and cobbly. We found no trash or evidence of human visits, no remarkable wildlife, and few boats going by. However, we did see a rotting, washed-up whale carcass on the west side of Libby Island near the Coast Guard boat ramp. Thanks again for your wonderful work on the islands and for helping us help you maintain them. Becky Pierce & Mike Prokosch, Dorchester, MA A call to the Jonesport town offices confirms that there is no public supply of potable water in the town. The campground was still closed for the season as of this writing and we could not obtain an update on their water situation. However, town officials indicated that the water there was unlikely to be drinkable without being treated first. Members should plan accordingly before visiting the area.
Annual Gathering: Save the Date
This year MITA’s Annual Gathering for members will be a campout on September 15th and 16th at Warren Island State Park in Penobscot Bay. Come and enjoy a fun-filled weekend with fellow boaters and islandlovers. There are several activities planned for kayakers, pocket sailors, hikers and kids, as well as a communal pot luck supper on Saturday night. There is no registration fee and just a small fee of $3 per person to camp for the night. To get to Warren Island, members will need to arrange their own transport; there is a launch area and ramp at Lincolnville Beach, and moorings are available at Warren on a first-come, first-served basis. If you plan on joining us for the event, please RSVP by August 31 to info@mita. org or 761-8225. Check our website for more information and updates as we get closer to September.
“Your Road Service at Sea”®
772-6724
The paddle-a-Lund race is a perennial conference favorite.
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(continued from page 1) Observing that Doug understands the needs of the various waterfront players better than most, “I expect that he will lead MITA confidently through the tricky waters that lie ahead,” she added.
A Passionate Realist
That Doug is passionate about islands is something that comes through almost immediately upon meeting him. But a glance at his impressive resume shows that he is no starry-eyed stranger to the challenging realities of island management. Prior to joining MITA, Doug spent five years at the Island Alliance of Boston as its Vice President of Business Development and Interim Executive Director. The Island Alliance is the nonprofit lynchpin in the public/private partnership that manages the Boston Harbor Islands National Park. Congress chartered the Park in 1996, but called for a portion of its funding and management to come from the private sector through the activities of the Island Alliance. Doug was on board early working to develop mission-supportive, revenueproducing ventures in the park and helped raise more than $8 million to support park-related activities and projects. Allowing that there are some important differences between his work in Boston and that which lies ahead of him in Maine, Doug says that his experience leading the Alliance has taught him some important lessons that should apply here in the Pine Tree State. “First, I learned that when you are dealing with islands – which are typically owned by disparate entities – it is fundamentally important to manage in partnership with others,” Doug explains. “In addition to ownership issues, the legal, physical and managerial challenges are often too numerous for any one group to handle alone.” Another core principle he cites is that human visitation can, where appropriately educated and motivated, be a net benefit not only for people but also for the island 6
environment. “This isn’t a zero sum game where every human footprint has to be a degrading force on an island,” Doug comments. “Experience shows quite clearly that many people will, when given the chance, show up with trash bags and try to make things better than how they found them. That is the very ethic we try to instill in MITA members.”
A Vision in Progress
As for where he sees MITA heading in the months and years ahead, Doug says that he is actively listening and seeking the comments of MITA’s many constituencies before charting a course for the future. “There is no shortage of great opportunities for us to explore, which are limited primarily by the resources we can bring to bear,” he says. “We’ll decide which ones are appropriate to pursue
first through a process of consultation with the membership, owners, donors, and strategic planning with the Board and staff.” He notes that all members should have received a survey with their 2007 membership packet, and he asks for everyone to please take the time to complete and return the survey to the office. Doug says that these survey results, along with feedback from his many informal discussions with members and partners, will play a key role in determining his views about how the organization should move forward. Doug commutes to the office via bicycle from his home in Portland, where he resides with his wife Caitlin and 7- yearold daughter Genevieve. He can be reached by e-mail at dwelch@mita.org.
A Backyard Paddle By Jay Hui
On September fourth, my friend and fellow New York-area resident Warren and I set out on our first official Maine Island Trail paddle—or so we thought, since the remnants of hurricane Ernesto had other plans. Small craft advisories were up and because we were not sure how exposed the trip would be, we postponed the trip to the following day. It didn’t mean we didn’t go out and play. We launched from the public boat launch/marina in Stockton Harbor in the town of Stockton Springs, but we only did a day paddle towards Castine, testing the somewhat more open water south of the harbor itself. The next day, we officially embarked on the intended four-day circumnavigation of Vinalhaven and North Haven. Our initial plan was to camp either at Butter Island or East Barred the first night, but by the time we got to East Barred, it was only about 1:30 pm and we were both feeling great. We pushed on to Little Hen Island and camped there, sheltered from the wind but not from the mosquitoes. Needless to say, we retired to our tents early after sunset! We woke up the following day to dense fog and 100-foot visibility, but we were determined to continue the circumnavigation. We knew we had to get to Ram Island for the next MITA campsite on the Trail, or divert to the mainland site which required a shuttle. In any case, we accidentally paddled right past the cove without recognizing the landing site.
After retracing our steps, we eventually found the Ram Island site, where we met up with four other kayakers who arrived there after launching in Rockland. We still felt great, and so we decided to continue on our way. Reaching Butter Island would complete our circumnavigation a day early, so we spent the third day just paddling around the northern islands and checking out the wildlife below the surface and the many harbor seals peeking their heads above. During our trip, we faced a number of different challenges, including fog, strong currents, fast moving lobsterboats, and mosquitoes. However, the experience overall was very positive and provided a good confidence booster for bigger and longer trips on the Maine Island Trail. It sure has piqued my interest in paddling the Trail in a more linear fashion, especially since we have friends up and down the coast of Maine that we’ve met during our many years of four-season backpacking in the Northeast. I feel that we at least have an idea about the Trail, the conditions one would face, and what the islands are like to camp on.
As a very active person who loves to bike, hike, and paddle, I had heard of MITA long before I even got into paddling. Two years ago, I biked from my house in northern New Jersey to the border of New Brunswick, Canada, near Fosterville. The sense of freedom I get from any kind of touring has led me to research ways to explore the Northeast in non-motorized fashion. Long distance hiking trails (Appalachian Trail, Long Path, Long Trail), biking trails (Adventure Cycling), as well as kayaking trails (MIT, Northern Forest Canoe Trail) are all on my to-do list. I love getting outdoors and I feel like the entire Northeast is my backyard. In this sense, even though I live about 5 hours (by car!) from Portland, ME, I never feel that far away. I proudly display my MITA sticker on my car and feel a kinship with all of the other adventurers who travel the Trail, no matter where they live. In that regard, the Trail for me is more a state of mind than a physical place. And even though I live “way down” in New Jersey, I care very much about the Trail and feel very much a part of the MITA community of stewards.
Credit: Jay Hui
Out on the Trail this summer, Trail Director Dave Mention met a group of MITA members from the New York-New Jersey area on a group paddle with the Jersey Shore Sea Kayak Association. Interested to learn about their experience with the Trail and MITA, Dave asked the group if they would write about their trip for the newsletter. The resulting article confirms that although the Trail itself may be in Maine, its dedicated stewards can be found well down the East Coast and beyond.
Heading towards Butter Island on the north shore of North Haven. 7
the wild Labrador coast in some of the finest small-boat cruising waters one could ever hope to find. Torngat, named for a mountain range in northern Labrador, did everything we asked of her in calm and rough seas. Sometimes we beached her and camped ashore. Other times we Eastward Ho! dropped our two anchors and slept I’ll spare the reader the aboard on top of our load of stuff. transpirations and trepidations of The Mariner gave us five miles to the what went on before I drove into my gallon, a remarkable mileage given yard in Camden with the “huge” the load it was pushing. S-18 on a used trailer except to say The 900 miles of cruising left me I was thrilled with the size and with a feeling of pride and admiration obvious quality for our Lund. The of the boat. Geof, salesman had not too, brightened exaggerated after During our expedition when he saw her all! During our and immediately and many times after when expedition and began planning asked how far we had come, many times after modifications for when asked how the unbelieving comment far we had come, our trip. I started looking for a motor, was: “In that?” the unbelieving rejecting a loaned comment was: “In 18-horsepower Fiat that?” Since I had and eventually paid a fair price for the S-18, I was buying a 25-horsepower Japaneseunder no obligation to a sponsor to built Mariner, the single toughest praise the boat, but whenever asked I outboard motor I’ve ever seen before did just that. or since. During the next few years, I used Geof built a seven-foot long, Torngat for cruising and camping lightweight, fiberglass-covered, raised on Maine’s lakes and coast. Then, in foredeck that fit into wood channels 1985, I went to work part time for attached along either gunwale. This the Island Institute and spent the could be easily removed. Aft of the following summer surveying stateforedeck we added a six-foot-long owned islands from Penobscot Bay canopy that gave us a nicely protected to Eastport. The Lund was our go“cabin” while allowing ample room anywhere boat and covered hundreds still further aft for supplies and of miles that summer on the road and equipment. A high grab rail was made coastal waters. out of half-inch galvanized pipe so that we could move fore and aft safely Envisioning a New Water Trail over all the gear. Fired by memories of our Finding and outfitting the boat Labrador trip and impressed with took the better part of a year, but in the “exploring” possibilities of some mid-August of 1980 we headed for of the dozens of wild state islands Canada—New Brunswick, Nova we had visited, I wrote an article for Scotia, Newfoundland, and across the the 1987 Island Journal, the Island Strait of Belle Isle to Quebec and north Institute’s flagship publication, to Red Bay, Labrador, some 1500 miles detailing the potential of a Maine from home and the end of the road. We headed out from a fisherman’s log Island Trail. With some hesitancy because of the launching ramp and turned north— possibility of overrunning the islands into thick fog. with recreationists, the Island Institute agreed to support the trail idea, and Testing “Torngat’s” Mettle the Maine Island Trail Association was During the next four weeks, we established in 1988 traveled 900 miles up and back along 8
Credit: Dave Getchell, Sr.
(continued from page 3) I gulped, thought of the gas shortage then sweeping the country, considered that I didn’t yet have a trailer, and would have to make the tow with my little VW Rabbit. Whatthehell. “I’ll take it.”
MITA’s first full-time employees, Cate Cronin (at the tiller) and Karen Stimpson, ease an 18-foot Lund Alaskan into a hole in the cliffs of Maine’s Bold Coast.
as a division of the Institute. I was the sole part-time employee with the title of Trail Coordinator. The Lund became my work vehicle as I visited dozens of uninhabited islands looking for landing spots and campsites. Over wide windblown bays and up sunny sheltered salt creeks, Torngat proved her worth. The reliability of boat and motor was never questioned It was with considerable excitement and a strong sense of exploration that Julie Caniff of the Island Institute, Steve Spencer of the Bureau of Public Lands and I traveled the length of the newly created Maine Island Trail for the first time. Thus, Torngat was the first boat to travel the entire “official” trail. MITA grew rapidly as more public and private islands came into the trail system. Membership grew also but failed to overrun the islands as feared. The Association bought its first boat, another 18-foot Lund, which supplemented the continuing work of Torngat. A second MITA Lund was soon added. I was able to step aside with the hiring of Cate Cronin and Karen Stimpson in the early ‘90s, and shortly thereafter MITA was spun off from the Island Institute to become an independent organization.
Over the years, the somewhat heavier 18-foot Lund Alaskan was tried and served well, but the S-18, soon to become the SV-18, proved better for MITA’s needs. The boats continued to be powered by the 25s, the only change being from two- to four-cycle outboards. The Association’s present fleet of four Lunds keeps busy throughout the boating season, as handsome a collection of small workboats as one could ask for. As for my old Lund, I sold it to a member on Casco Bay in 1995, replacing it with an aluminum 16-foot Smoker Craft, a lighter boat than the Lunds although of similar dimensions (except in length). The new boat was fine, but I soon missed the S-18 that had served me so well.
Then, at the Stewardship Meeting in Rockport last year, I saw a familiar hull on a trailer and, sure enough, there were the wood channels that had held the foredeck. The old boat showed her 25-plus hard years but still looked serviceable. And did I hear that it might be coming up for auction soon? Well now. . . The rumors are true: although Torngat is currently in storage, she will be put up for Credit: Dave Getchell, Sr.
Still at Work on the Waterfront
auction at an as-yet undetermined date. Keep an eye on these pages or the MITA website for details. Meanwhile, if you find yourself in the market for a new vessel, click the Boats for Sale link at Mita.org to view used boasts that we are reselling to
An advantage of the metal flat-bottomed skiff can be seen as it waits in shallow water while the crew gets fresh mussels for dinner.
support island stewardship.
Expedition to Benefit Paddling Programs for the Disabled By Kevin Lomangino projectpaddleme.com) and Karyn’s trip blog (www.projectpaddleme. blogspot.com) for updated information about her appearances. Karyn would enjoy meeting up with fellow MITA members at these events or paddling with them between stops. “I will have some disabled paddlers
A helping hand is needed to get disabled a paddlers on the water.
non-profit that provides free lessons to hundreds of children and adults with physical disabilities in downhill and cross country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, kayaking, canoeing, golf and cycling. Karyn has set a target fundraising goal of $35,000 and says there is a real need for this level of support. “I have talked with many people who would like to get into kayaking but might have something stopping them,” she commented. “When I started learning about Maine Handicapped Skiing and all the great opportunities they provide, I knew I wanted to help them somehow. My husband makes prosthetic limbs and it was actually one of his patients who sparked this idea for me.”
joining me for various parts of the paddle, and would like to extend the invitation to any MITA members who would like to join,” she said. Funds raised by the project will go to Maine Handicapped Skiing, a
Donations can be made online at www. firstgiving.com/projectpaddleme or you can mail them to: Maine Handicapped Skiing, attn: Project Paddle ME, 8 Sundance Lane, Newry, ME 04261.
Credit: Karyn Roy
Member Karyn Roy will be paddling the length of the entire Trail this summer to raise awareness and funding for programs benefiting disabled paddlers. She will be launching from Kennebunkport on June 23 and plans to stop at several major harbors to put on adaptive paddling clinics, slideshows, and demonstrations. “I have always loved the Maine coast and since I started paddling about 11 years ago, this has been a dream of mine,” Karyn, a special education teacher, said. “I hope it will eventually lead to providing more opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in outdoor activities.” As of this writing Karyn plans to be in New Harbor on July 11, when participants and volunteers in the Maine Handicapped Skiing program will converge for a day of paddling on the water supported by Maine Kayak. Members can check out the Project Paddle ME website (www.
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Credit: Daniel Smith
(continued from page 1) not what the survey found but rather overall good health. that the survey was conducted at all, “What we’re hearing from he contends. visitors confirms data that we’ve “We think this is an important been collecting through careful site milestone because it represents the assessments for many years,” Dave first time that anyone has actively, observed. “All the indications are that and with some degree of accuracy, the islands are doing quite well.” tried to quantify visitor attitudes and perceptions about the islands,” Dave Shared Priorities explained. “It’s one thing for me or a The survey was conducted by Monitor Skipper to tell you that the Andrea Ednie, a University of Maine islands are in great shape, but it’s graduate student who was in the something different Stonington area last and probably more summer to collect useful to hear data for a different Nearly every visitor visitors themselves study. On days with surveyed said that saying, ‘Yes, this is navigable weather the experience we Leave No Trace practices between June 21 and had hoped for on Labor Day, Andrea are “important” or the Trail.’” visited Trail islands “very important” The survey is and collected the just one of several addresses of willing on the islands. initiatives MITA survey participants. has undertaken She later mailed to expand its data questionnaires to collection activities. Dave cites the those addresses and analyzed the Island Monitoring Task Force, a multi- results of the surveys that were year project to track markers of social returned. and environmental change on selected Andrea mailed 427 surveys and islands, as another key project that received 361 completed responses, for will yield better and more reliable a response rate of 85%. In addition to monitoring data. He comments that asking about island conditions, the these new projects complement our survey also queried visitors about existing member and volunteer-led what makes for a memorable island data collection activities, which have trip. As the following statistics show, also painted a picture of islands in the findings largely confirmed what
Most visitors surveyed said that they were pleased with their visits to Stonington area islands like Sheep-Stinson, pictured here. 10
MITA has long believed island visitors hope to gain from a trip on the Trail. • 98% said that scenic quality is “important” or “very important.” • 84% said that solitude is “important” or “very important.” • 99.5% said that Leave No Trace practices are “important” or “very important.”
A Natural Experience
According to Dave, the findings suggest that our priorities are right in line with what island visitors expect MITA to be doing. “What this tells us is that visitors want a natural, scenic experience where evidence of human activity is kept to a minimum,” he commented. He adds that member and volunteer support – whether through membership dues, clean-ups, the monitoring program, or other activity – has been critical to achieving these goals and will continue to be the driving force behind MITA’s island stewardship efforts. MITA would like to thank the University of Maine, the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Old Quarry Ocean Adventures, and the Island Heritage Trust for their crucial participation in and support of this project.
PARTNER PROFILE
Audubon Partnership Features New Access, Guided Expeditions The addition of Hog Island to the Bill Hancock, Maine Audubon’s Trail represents an important step Director of Environmental Centers, forward in our relationship with agrees that a MITA-Audubon Maine Audubon. Founded in 1843 partnership has something in it for and boasting some 11,000 members everyone. ”We’ve been very impressed statewide, Maine Audubon is one with what MITA has done with the of the largest and most respected islands in Muscongus Bay, and we players in the coastal conservation thought it would be good to have community. They share many of the more help looking after Hog,” he said. same goals as MITA Noting that Audubon and together we can is always exploring reach more people new ways to connect Given that our with important Leave missions complement people with the No Trace information. outdoors, Hancock one another in so many explained that putting Given that our missions complement the island on the Trail ways, the decision to one another in so many was a logical next step collaborate on Hog ways, the decision to to take. “It’s a good Island seemed like a collaborate on Hog way to collaborate, and Island seemed like a natural progression for it’s something we want natural progression to be part of,” he said. both organizations, for both organizations, For many members according to MITA Trail a trip to the 330according to MITA Trail Director Director Dave Mention. acre Hog will be a Dave Mention. homecoming of sorts. “This is an exciting Throughout the 1990s new partnership that should have MITA held its annual conferences benefits for everyone involved,” at the northeast end of the island at Dave commented. “Hog Island is a the developed Hog Island Audubon tremendous resource for members, Camp. Members are welcome to tour and I don’t think anyone who is lucky the old conference site after checking in enough to visit will leave the island at the office in the large white building disappointed.” He added, “At the (“The Bridge”). The tent platforms for same time, I think Maine Audubon overnight camping are located on the will appreciate our volunteer-led southeast end of the island opposite monitoring and stewardship efforts.” Hog Island ledge.
Guided Expeditions
Another way to experience the island is to participate in one of several joint MITA-Audubon guided trips that will use Hog as a base camp. One of the upcoming trips is geared toward paddlers and will explore some of the special places that make Muscongus bay such a wonderful and diverse ecosystem. Another naturalistled trip aboard Audubon’s MV Puffin-V will seek to identify birds, flora and fauna during a glorious morning tour of the bay. According to Mention, the new trips are part of an effort to provide more MITA-themed opportunities to explore the coast and socialize with other members. “One thing I hear pretty frequently is that members don’t just want a guidebook of the islands, they want us to help them get out there safely and show them things they wouldn’t necessarily have seen on their own,” Dave said. Information about these and other trips is available on the MITA calendar on the back page of this newsletter or on our website, www.mita.org/calendar.php. For more information about Maine Audubon activities and accomplishments, visit www.maineaudubon.org
Although its name is synonymous with birding, Audubon in fact is active on a wide range of fronts that impact wildlife and wildlife habitat. They notably helped lead the charge to approve a bond package that includes $17 million for the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) fund. As development inexorably encroaches on Maine’s remaining wild places, LMF is absolutely critical to maintaining recreational opportunities on the coast and throughout the state. Maine residents will have a chance to vote on the bond in the upcoming November elections.
Credit: Daniel Smith
A Conservation Leader
Hog Island would make a great base camp for exploring other islands in Muscongus Bay, including Crow Island, pictured here. 11
The Ghosts of Jewell Island by Meg Miller
As a perennial volunteer for MITA, I am treated to an entire buffet of “work” opportunities in and out of the third floor headquarters on Fore Street. As much as I enjoy the spring and fall cleanups that allow me the chance to explore (and help spruce up) many beautiful MITA sites, there’s an off-season office routine that gives me this same opportunity in a more figurative, imaginary sense. I am one of the volunteers who take all the data, including comments, that visitors write (scribble, jot, scratch) into the log books we collect at MITA sites each fall and enter them into the database. Yes, we read (decode, decipher) and record everything written in these journals, although technology cannot do justice to the artists’ sunset sketches, the soloists’ heartfelt poetry, or the vengefully flattened mosquito. When Stewardship Manager Brian Marcaurelle hands me a Jewell Island log book to enter into the system, he knows I am about to embark on a simultaneous mission. I am going on a ghost hunt, searching for that one evasive log entry that confirms that I am not the only one who has seen ghosts on Jewell, the outer Casco Bay island that still harbors legends of piracy and remnants of wartime. Back in the seventies, I loved to explore Jewell Island with my cruising family. We dared to climb the steep, rusting stairs and rickety ladders in both military lookout towers (long before MITA helped make these passages safer), we circled the farmhouse that has since crumbled, pretended we were prisoners in any structure with steel bars that we came upon, and we watched crabs and even lobsters scurry off when we swooshed our hands through rockweed while wading at the Punch Bowl. 12
Credit: Daniel Smith
Television isn’t the only place where seemingly impossible events take place on a remote island. As volunteer Meg Miller explains, happenings on Casco Bay’s own Jewell Island can rival anything you’ll see on ABC’s supernatural thriller “Lost.”
In addition to its ghosts, Jewell also features scenery that is almost otherworldly in its beauty.
I felt like I knew the island inside and out, which is why I didn’t mind hiking the worn dirt paths alone. Often I would meet up with other island explorers while I wandered around, so I never felt like I was going solo anyway. On this particular summer day in 1978, I was fifteen years old and venturing off on my own while my mother sunbathed ashore at Cocktail Cove and my
father tended to matters aboard our vessel, Macomser (an acronym for his business, Maine Compass Services). I wove my way along the familiar paths until I came to the vegetationcovered underground tunnel and the nearby circular concrete gun emplacement where, during World War II, ammunition was stored and firearms stood guard against an enemy attack on Portland Harbor.
When I heard voices inside the In 1989 I shared my encounter with tunnel, I shouted, “Hello,” and author Thomas Verde, who included stepped aside so these other visiting it in a chapter called “Pirate Coves explorers, who chose to ignore my and Haunted Caves” in his book, greeting, would exit before I entered. Maine Ghosts and Legends (published I didn’t feel like by Down East bumping into them Books). My purpose in the enveloping in sharing, then and I was fine with that; the now, is to find out darkness just beyond whole scenario didn’t scare if there is anybody the tunnel opening. As I stood out there who has me one bit – until they waiting, three figures had the same, or a came into view from reached the tunnel opening similar experience and vanished. Evaporated. on Jewell Island within the tunnel depths; dressed in and can validate my fatigues. All three claim. men wore helmets and one of the men I cannot accept that this very real, wore wire-rimmed glasses. A cigarette almost tangible image would avail was passed from one man to another itself to me, just one mortal soul, over as they walked closer to where I the course of almost three decades. Yet waited near the entrance. so far, in the Jewell Island logbooks They completely ignored me. I that I have pored through, the only assumed that they were in the midst entry that broaches the subject is an of some kind of military reenactment account of hearing ghosts in the night. and didn’t want to be interrupted. I Even Vinny Marotta, MITA’s summer was fine with that; the whole scenario resident caretaker on Jewell, reports didn’t scare me one bit – until they nothing suspicious. reached the tunnel opening and Please contact me at mmiller@maine. vanished. Evaporated. I took a few rr.com if you have had a supernatural paces toward the path and paused experience on Jewell Island. Perhaps this briefly before sprinting full throttle all could lead to a follow-up story in the the way back to Cocktail Cove. next MITA newsletter. What had I just seen? They couldn’t have been people because they had The Island Trail wants to hear your tales disappeared without a trace. But they about unusual happenings on Jewell or couldn’t have been ghosts either, any other Maine coast island. Write your because they looked like people, just story in 300 words or less and send it to as solid as you and me. I thought info@mita.org. We’ll print the spookiest ghosts were semi-transparent, sweeping along in a ghostly way like submissions in an upcoming issue. ghosts are supposed to do.
Hey Kid, Nice Lid! Back by popular demand – MITAthemed hats, shirts and other apparel are now available through our website. Now you can look great while also supporting critical island stewardship activities. Made from top-quality material and locally embroidered; choose from a range of styles and colors. Check our website for product and ordering information, www.mita.org.
MITA WELCOMES KITTERY TRADING POST AS BUSINESS PARTNER Kittery Trading Post, one of Maine’s oldest outfitters, has joined MITA as a Business Partner in order to support our stewardship and educational programs. Kittery Trading Post is one of Maine’s first “destination” stores and now features three spacious levels of quality outdoor recreational gear, casual and sport-specific apparel, footwear, gifts and specialty items. MITA members are invited to browse old-time Maine favorites such as beaded moccasins in addition to the latest innovations in camping, hiking, paddling and fishing equipment. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly and makes shopping for outdoor gear almost as much fun as using it! Kittery Trading Post is easily accessible from I-95 and is open Monday through Saturday, 9-9, and on Sunday 10-6. You can call 888-587-6246 or visit www.ktp.com for more information.
Boats Make Great Donations
You already know that MITA is a cause worth supporting, but you may not have considered the tax benefits that you stand to reap from donating your vessel to a non-profit. Especially if you are in a high-income tax bracket, the impact on your next return could be significant. Another advantage of donating to MITA is that we now have a dedicated program run by Block Island Maritime Funding to handle all aspects of these transactions— from your initial inquiry right through to the closing. It only takes a phone call or email to get started making your donation (and deduction!). Contact MITA for details or call Block Island Maritime Funding directly at (401) 842-0752.
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Lobstermen-Led Cleanup Clears Tons of Storm Trash from Islands By Hannah Perry, MITA Intern
unique challenge for MITA cleanups the Cape Porpoise Lobstermen’s because it is illegal to remove traps Association was happy to agree. from the water unless they are your Member Ed Hutchins explained, “We own. Before metal traps replaced realized we could get a lot more done in one day than if we’d been working wooden ones, lobstermen generally as separate entities. And it means left the traps to decompose on their a lot to us, on a own, but a growing certain level, that awareness of the someone is taking environmental impact By late afternoon, care of the islands. of doing so, plus Most of us grew up the advent of metal the total catch stood at in Cape Porpoise traps, pushed the about three dumpsters and had some men to organize their full of traps, numerous good experiences own methods of trap out there. It’s nice bags of garbage, one toilet disposal. Teaming up with to look out from seat and one carved the boat and see conservationists coconut head. nothing but trees.” proved to be an Defunct effective new method fishing gear is for getting the job unusual litter. done. The lobstermen It is hazardous and expensive to received extra volunteers and remove from the islands because additional workboat hauling power traps are large and unwieldy, and from MITA, while KCT provided the wire frames often become nasty overall volunteer coordination, spikes when mangled. Washed up funding for the dumpsters, and food and useless, the traps represent a for the famished crews. MITA and significant loss of income—each KCT also benefited nicely from the costs between $60 and $70 to replace. arrangement, as it allowed us to Picking up broken gear also poses a clean the traps legally and with the expertise of the men who know Cape Porpoise Harbor best. As Stewardship Manager Brian Marcaurelle noted, “This cleanup occurred between two big spring storms that left only a small window for the lobstermen to tend to their gear. Their willingness to help clean the islands on a day that was probably less than ideal for them was much appreciated.” By late afternoon, the total catch stood at about three dumpsters full of traps, numerous bags of garbage, one toilet seat and one carved coconut head. After riffing on the head’s resemblance to certain of their comrades, the lobstermen reclaimed it as a pier mascot. And as hungry workers refueled on barbecue and chatted, the backhoe in the parking lot behind them continued loading the dumpster with the tangible results of As part of an unprecedented partnership, a Cape Porpoise lobsterman hauls traps that a long-overdue partnership. volunteers collected from island shorelines. After the massive storm on Patriots Day, thousands of mangled lobster traps, buoys and other detritus clogged the islands in Cape Porpoise Harbor. On a gray morning in mid-May, a team of Cape Porpoise lobstermen, members of the Kennebunk Conservation Trust, and MITA staff gathered to begin a long day of piling, hauling and dumping what would eventually amount to three full truckloads of traps. While the sheer extent of the garbage and derelict traps collected alone would have made this cleanup impressive by MITA’s usual standards, it also marked an unprecedented collaboration between local lobstermen and environmentalists. Fishermen and conservationists, whether they realize it or not, have always shared similar concerns about keeping Maine’s waterways unspoiled. The coast is, of course, the men’s workplace and source of livelihood. In the past, lobstermen have preferred to gather and dispose of washed-up traps on their own. But when KCT proposed coordinating a day for everyone to work together,
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Wish List
MITA is always willing to consider donations of anything from boats and vehicles to office equipment. Please call us at 207761-8225 or email info@mita.org if you would like to donate these or other items. STEWARDSHIP SUPPLIES • Gas-powered chainsaws and accessories • Tent-safe lantern • High strength cordage • Working handheld VHF radios • Walkie talkies • Throwable buoyant boat cushions • Danforth anchors (8 lb or smaller) • Adult-sized raingear (to be used as spare foul weather gear) • 30” bow saw • Dry bags • Fishing/landing nets for workboats (to retrieve floating trash) • Tarps (all sizes) • Field guides to ecology of the Northeast • Come-along strap winch • Tow chains / straps BOATS & MOTORS • Boats (sailboats, powerboats, dinghies, kayaks, etc.) of any size in seaworthy condition • 25-40 HP 4-stroke motor for caretaker boat • 5 HP long-shaft outboard motors (kickers for MITA workboats) OFFICE SUPPLIES & TECHNOLOGY • Electric letter folder • Small refrigerator SERVICES • Sponsorship of Annual Meeting/Stewardship Party • Volunteer office help • Volunteers for outreach booth staffing
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MITA CALENDAR Summer 2007 Check our website, www.mita.org, for new events and updates. WOODENBOAT SHOW. Friday – Sunday, June 29-July 1. Mystic, CT. MITA again will have a booth at this premier boat show where we will solicit new members, greet existing members, and maybe land a boat donation or two. www. thewoodenboatshow.com. MUSCONGUS BAY BIRD TRIP. Saturday, June 30. Bremen, ME. This morning boat trip on board Hog Island Audubon camp’s MV Puffin-V will tour beautiful Muscongus Bay. Naturalists will be on board to help identify birds, flora and fauna. MITA staff will also be available to describe the efforts being taken to manage recreational use and help keep wild islands available for exploration. Registration is required, please call or e-mail Maine Audubon – 207-7812330 or trips@maineaudubon.org. HOG ISLAND CAMP AND KAYAK WEEKEND. Friday & Saturday, July 21-22. Hog Island, Muscongus Bay. Explore by kayak some of the special places that make Muscongus bay such a wonderful and diverse eco-system. This trip will be led by Maine Guides and naturalists who will share information about birds and the natural history of the region as well as talk about MITA conservation efforts in the area. Fee includes meals and camping equipment. Registration required, please contact Maine Audubon – 207-781-2330 or e-mail trips@maineaudubon.org. CAMP AND KAYAK IN DOWNEAST MAINE. Friday & Saturday, August 4-5. This trip will explore the bold coast and offshore ledges around the Great Wass archipelago. Led by a Master Maine Guide and naturalists from ArdeaEcoExpeditions.com, we will paddle kayaks out of South Addison and camp on a wild Maine island. This trip is timed to catch migrating shorebirds and possibly recently fledged pelagics like puffins, terns, and razorbills while minimizing disturbance to the abundant seal 16
haul-outs in the area. Fee includes meals and camping equipment. Registration required, please contact Maine Audubon – 207-781-2330 or email trips@maineaudubon.org. MAINE BOATS, HOMES, & HARBORS SHOW. Friday – Sunday, August 10-12, Rockland, ME. MITA will have an outreach booth at this charming summer show on the Rockland waterfront. www. maineboats.com. MITA ANNUAL MEMBER CAMPOUT. Saturday & Sunday, September 15-16, Warren Island, Penobscot Bay. This will be a low-key, do-it-yourself gathering on one of Maine’s most picturesque offshore campgrounds. See the description on page 5 for more information. Please RSVP by August 31 to info@mita.org or 761-8225.
The
MAINE ISLAND TRAIL
Association 58 Fore Street, Bldg. 30, 3rd Floor PORTLAND, ME 04101
Show Your Support with MITA Apparel Looking for another great way to support MITA? Why not choose one that makes you look great in return? Our new line of MITA apparel is made of top-quality material and locally embroidered on the Maine coast. Choose from a variety of items in a range of styles and colors, including: • Baseball caps • Fleece vests and jackets • Denim long sleeve shirts • Polo shirts • T-shirts Check out our website for product and ordering information, www.mita.org.
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MAINE ISLAND TRAIL ASSOCIATION