Kiosk Dedications in Maine

When people ask us what our kiosks are, I’m always a bit at a loss.  At one level, they are informational signs that include map, image, and text information to inform paddlers and others about the NFCT route in a particular area.  But as our two kiosk dedications in Maine this past weekend made so clear, our kiosks are also SO much more than signs:  in addition to imparting information, they are pieces of art, works of regional craft, and thoughtful historical records created through an incredible process of partnership.

The local committee that created the Rockwood, Maine Kiosk at our May 12 Dedication

L to R:  Ivan “Dodie” Turmel, Suzanne AuClair (committee chair), Francis Tomer, Gail Turmel, and John Willard.

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First Annual NFCT Trail Maintainer Jamboree

The first annual NFCT Trail Maintainer Jamboree just took place at the Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC) in Paul Smith’s, New York April 28-29th.  What a great time!  This event is the culmination of years of development and recruitment and the beginning of an exciting new community of stewards.  It was heart warming as so many came together to help us offer a number of good trainings, eat tasty food, and share a paddling experience on the Saranac River.  One main focus of the event was getting resources into the hands of our maintainers, primarily the newly developed NFCT Maintenance Manual produced with funding from REI, as well as getting everyone up and running with the NFCT Trail Maintainer Map Tool and Forum.

Rockney Locey (NY Segment 2) talks about his trail segment while holding the new, water proof, NFCT Trail Maintainer Manual.

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What’s the ice doing?

This is the time of year that I start asking for reports about river ice across the trail to determine the potential for damage.  Working in such a dynamic environment as we do with the NFCT takes a degree of tenacity and routine maintenance.  Our NFCT Trail Maintainers go through great lengths to prepare our campsites and trail infrastructure to survive the winter and the potential for floods mixed with ice chunks.  When we build trail structure in the area where the land meets the water we either build it big, sturdy, and strong with rock and factor in the flow of water and make sure the angle of our retainer wall will allow proper shedding.  When we use lumber, we install it so that we can remove it for the winter so it won’t turn into splinters by freezing into the ice, or being raked over by ice chunks.

So far this year the ice isn’t looking that bad due to the unusual winter we are having.  Just thinking about the ice brings back two memories.  One hot and sunny, the other cold and snowy:

Hot and Sunny

There is a section of dam remains on the Missisquoi River in East Highgate, Vermont that we do not want paddlers to go near because, besides being a big chunk of cement that you could get pinned against if conditions are challenging, there is a hidden hole in its foundation under the water that has sucked paddlers under.  This safety issue caused us to install a portage trail around the remains and a warning sign on the structure to keep paddlers away.

In the winter of 2010 the ice break occurred during a few rain events.  The water was 10 feet above the average summertime height of the river.  The flow was so intense it ripped the warning sign, that we had installed with extra bolts secured directly in the cement, right off the dam remains.  I was once again humbled by the power of water when I saw the sign was missing.  I called up our buddy Drex at Advantage Signs to replace it in such a way that would hopefully guarantee some stay time. Drex came up with a plan and we headed up to East Highgate on a bright June day.

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