Appalachian Mountain Club Purchases 29,500 Acres of Maine Forest Land, Protecting Vital Link in 100-Mile Wilderness Conservation Corridor.

AUGUSTA, Maine -- The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) today announced its recent purchase of the 29,500-acre Roach Ponds tract in an historic transaction that marks the creation of a 63-mile-long corridor of conservation land comprising nearly 650,000 contiguous acres open to public recreational use in the Maine Woods. AMC has donated a conservation easement on the property to the state, ensuring the parcel is protected from development in perpetuity.

The property, in the 100-Mile Wilderness region, buffers more than 20 miles of the Appalachian Trail, protecting its viewshed, and permanently protects the headwaters of the West Branch of the Pleasant River, a native brook trout fishery prized by anglers.

The parcel abuts AMC's 37,000-acre Katahdin Iron Works property, which was conserved in cooperation with Maine's Department of Conservation and the Trust for Public Land, for a total of 66,500 acres in AMC management that will be forever open to the public for backcountry recreation.

Both land conservation projects are major milestones in AMC's Maine Woods Initiative, a plan for land conservation in the 100-Mile Wilderness region that addresses regional ecological and economic needs through outdoor recreation, resource protection, sustainable forestry, and community partnerships.

"Today marks an incredible step forward for land conservation and outdoor recreation in Maine," said AMC Deputy Director Walter Graff. "This parcel has been the missing link in a corridor of protected land stretching from the southern end of AMC's Katahdin Iron Works parcel north to Baxter State Park. AMC is committed to managing this land for long-term conservation, recreation, and public access by the people of Maine and those who come to visit and enjoy the rich natural resources and recreational opportunities offered by the 100-Mile Wilderness region."

Public access for hiking, hunting, fishing, and cross-country skiing on the Roach Ponds tract is ensured in perpetuity, and sustainable forestry can take place there.

AMC offers overnight backcountry accommodations for the public and is creating new hiking and cross-country skiing trails, contributing to the region's growing reputation as an attractive nature-based tourism destination. In addition, numerous paddling and fishing opportunities on the Roach Ponds tract are available that can make excellent day or overnight trips, said Graff.

AMC operates Medawisla Wilderness Lodge and Cabins on the property and plans a cross-country ski trail connection to its two other traditional sporting camps--Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins and Gorman Chairback Lodge and Cabins (to open in 2011).

Additional informational materials, including photos, background on natural resources on the property, and a timeline of AMC's history in Maine, are available in AMC's online news room at www.outdoors.org/about/newsroom/roach-ponds-event.cfm.

Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is America's oldest conservation and recreation organization. More information on AMC's conservation work and Maine wilderness lodges is available at www.outdoors.org/mwi.