Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-07-13
Improving Maine
Wilderness Trails

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missioner Of inland fisheries and
game, in his annual report for the
year 1919 urged upon the wardens
and guides the importance in doing
everything in their power toward
improving the wilderness trails and
locating new ones. for the convenience
Of not only our own people but for
the thousands Of out-of- the-State
visitors who frequent the big woods
every year. He told them that the
trails should be kept clear and dis
tinct from one season to another,
fallen trees cut out and, when neces-
sary, brush cleared away. so there
may be no serious difficulty in fol-
lowing them. Wardens while patrol
ling the forest can do much to make
their territory more accessible and
thus assist the guides, who are often
too busy in looking after canoes and
baggage to cut out or renew old
paths. The wardens received instruc-
tions to the above effect.
The first report Of warden on
this line Of work comes from Howard
Wood Of Patten, chief warden for the
Northern Penobsoot district, from
which the following extracts are
taken:
had occasion to go over the APP
palachian trail to Mt. Katahdin from
port conditions as follows:
The wagon road from Stacyville to
the Hunt farm on the East Branch is
in very good condition, kept in repair
by the E. B. Draper Co., who have
headquarters at the Hunt farm. They
also keep man at the Lunksoo
ferry who will ferry parties across
the river who desire to go up Wessa-
taquick or the East Branch.
Deputy Bickford and myself crossed
at the Hunt farm and went up an old
tote road on the south side of Wessa-
a4uick to the Elbow camp: from
hence we followed the drivers trail
10 Daisy dam and from there the
Cushman trail. crossing Katahdin
brook less than mile from it's mouth.
Both the later named trails are good
walking but would not do for horses.
We, however. spotted them out new
where there were any trails branch
ing off. We then followed the old
tote road on the north side of Katah
din brook to the lake and along this
road we cut out all small trees that
had been bent across by the heavy
SHOWS last winter. From Katahdin
Lake dam we followed the Cushman
road around by his camps. cutting
out Instructions and blazing new
where it appeared TO be somewhat
blind, by Sandy Stream pond.
At Sandy Stream pond we found
the first snow June ~ and from
there on we found more or less
snow. From here ON we didn't do
much clearing out, but continued to
put on fresh spots along.
From Dry pond we took a spotted
trail around the south side. We
crossed the stream on the boulders,
where we camped last summer and
continued on the main trail to CHM
ney pond. The trail from Chimney
pond to the tree line, except in the
stream, is pretty badly filled with
fallen trees in places. but with the
exception of this, the whole trail the
way we went, is in pretty good shape.
There was no snow on the table,
land and the Hunt trail on the other
side is free from distractions. with a
little snow in few places when we
got to the tree line on this side.
We saw several moose and deer and
few patridges on this trip. one par
fridge almost to Chimney pond and
fresh moose tracks on the snow up to
the very tree line above Chimney
pond. This surprised me somewhat
to find moose up to the foot Of the
main slide at that season of the year.
We found a party of fishermen at
Katahdin lake. l find that most
sportsmen will not take more trout
than they need. which is certainly as
it should be. We found many song
birds on the trip. many more than you
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