Appalachian Mountain Club conservation land features remote ponds and native brook trout fishery

The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) has recently protected a 66,500-acre natural landscape in the Maine Woods that features unique opportunities for paddling remote ponds and fly fishing for native brook trout. To showcase these recreational experiences and encourage exploration of this wilderness area, the AMC is expanding its guided trips and workshops this summer to offer new paddling and week-long AMC Adventure Camp itineraries.

All guided programs are based at the AMC’s Maine Wilderness Lodges, Medawisla Wilderness Lodge and Cabins and Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins, where guests enjoy private cabin accommodations, freshly prepared meals, and traditional sporting camp hospitality.

Among the natural features permanently protected on the AMC’s property are Fourth Roach Pond, which is the third largest undeveloped remote pond in Maine, and the West Branch of the Pleasant River, an important fishery for wild, native brook trout. Landlocked salmon and lake trout are also plentiful in local waters.

The AMC’s guided fly-fishing, paddling, and Adventure Camp experiences this summer include:

Fly Fishing

• Fly-fishing Workshops, June 11-13 at Little Lyford and June 25-27 at Medawisla
  Cast flies with a Registered Maine Guide on two significant rivers on the AMC’s property, the West Branch of the Pleasant River and the Roach River. Geared toward beginners or as a refresher, both workshops focus on fly-fishing basics such as flies, rods, and knots and handling and casting skills, followed by an afternoon of angling. Package rates are $372 for non-member adults and $246 for children. www.outdoors.org/flyfishing.
  

Canoeing and Kayaking

• Guided Roach Ponds Paddling Tour, June 11-13 at Medawisla
  New this summer – explore the remote Roach Ponds network on the AMC’s property while wildlife watching for eagles, beaver, moose, and native birds on this moderately easy, two-day canoe tour. Spend the first night at Medawisla, and on the second night relax with a hearty campfire dinner at a shore-side campsite on Third Roach Pond. Package rates are $244 for non-members.
  
  
• Roach River Canoe Trip, September 10-12 at Medawisla
  New this summer – experience a challenging, six-mile expert run with Class II whitewater while canoeing a stretch of the Roach River downstream from the AMC’s property, and then return to Medawisla for another overnight and relaxing paddle on Second Roach Pond. Package rates are $432 for non-members.
  

AMC Adventure Camps

• Family Adventure Camps, July 18-23 at Little Lyford and July 25-30 at Medawisla
  Hike to spectacular views of Mt. Katahdin or to Gulf Hagas, the “Grand Canyon of Maine,” while discovering the AMC’s property as a family. The AMC’s expert staff guides a full week of activities that include group games, outdoor skills sessions, hiking adventures, canoeing and kayaking, wildlife watching, forest ecology, fly fishing, and pond exploration. AMC Family Camps are geared towards families with kids ages 5-12. Five-night package rates are $590 for adult non-members and $385 for children. www.outdoors.org/adventure_camps.
  
  
• 50+ Adventure Camp, July 4-9 at Medawisla
  New this summer – experience a mix of the best paddling and hiking in the Maine Woods, including the Fourth and Third Roach Ponds on the AMC’s property, during the AMC’s new 50+ Explore Maine Adventure Camp. Other highlights include climbing Mt. Katahdin, the highest mountain in Maine, and hiking to the summit of Nesuntabunt Mountain for some of the best views of the Katahdin Range. Five-night, all-inclusive package rates are $715 for non-members. www.outdoors.org/50-plus-camps.
  

Rates and reservations
Starting at rates for all-inclusive guided Maine Wilderness Lodges packages include private cabin accommodations, all meals (including home-cooked dinner with fresh salad, homemade breads, entree, and dessert), guide, instruction, evening programs, and canoes and kayaks. L.L. Bean fly rod rentals are available. All rates are plus taxes. Individuals may be assigned to a double occupancy cabin on a same-sex basis.

For reservations, call (603) 466-2727. Full details about lodge accommodations and amenities are available on the AMC’s website at www.outdoors.org/mainelodges.

Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is America’s oldest conservation and recreation organization. With more than 100,000 members, advocates, and supporters in the Northeast and beyond, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region. The AMC supports natural resource conservation while encouraging responsible recreation, based on the philosophy that successful, long-term conservation depends upon first-hand enjoyment of the natural environment.