Grafton Loop - any news?

[TJ aka Teej]

Any updates? I'm plotting by hiking escapes for this year and have really wanted to do this hike for quite some time now. Last I heard there had been a relo on the eastern end and an ongoing hold up on opening the western end.
http://www.matc.org/glt1.htm
I emailed Langdon Fake (see link above) about a month ago with no response.

 

[michael]

I maintain a small section of the GNLT near the Lane Campsite. According to Milt Wright, Baldpate section Overseer, what you know is the latest. There is no update. Politics seems to be at the root of the delay - heck has anyone noticed the festering piles of privies-in-waiting rotting on the side of the trail near the Lane Campsite? anyone? MATC still trying to get approval for those as well.

 

[slowmo68]

I also have been watching for this trail to open for a few years now. Is there any way any of us can help by contacting state reps etc. If it is indeed a political problem than who can we start to pressure to get this thing going. I had heard it was a land owner issue and that the land had changed hands after the trail was nearly completed. My fear is that this is due to continuing developement in the area. They allready had to relocate the lower section of the trail head going up Puzzle mountain due to a developement. Again it would be nice if some news were to be released or let us know how we could help.
Chris

 

[vegematic]

I bumped into a fellow today who is part of the Mahoosuc Land Trust. His understanding is that a new parcel being purchased will take care of the problem. It is not an individual homeowner but rather a timber company (Hancock?). Anyway, it sounds like the situation is on its way to resolution. I'll call around and see if I can get some more definitive information.
-vegematic

 

[slowmo68]

If it is a lumber company? Why would they deny access for hikers to pass through the parcel in question? Is this parcel being aquired by the Mahoosuc land trust? I hope this is resolved by summer, the trail crew finsished this trail seems like an eternity ago, and I imagine it must be needing a clean up by now. Thanks for the info though, it does give hope that we will be hiking this trail in the near future.
Chris

 

[TJ aka Teej]

Thanks!

Thanks for the updates, everyone.

 

[el-bagr]

There was some movement on the issue recently. Through grantwriting by the Trust for Public Land, the Forest Service's Forest Legacy program just allocated about $2 million to protect 3,688 acres of forest and recreation land in the Mahoosucs between Grafton Notch and Maine state public reserved lands.

This is a good thing.

 

[slowmo68]

Thanks for the link el-bagr. I found the article here

http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=21243&folder_id=259

So if this is so than how long before this loop may open? I have been wanting to bring my dad on this hike for a few years now, and his knees are starting to give out on him. I was hoping that this could happen for this summer. We can see Sunday River White Cap and Old Speck from our camp and can't think of a better memory to give the old guy for when he is sitting at camp looking up to these mountains in the future. This was great news to see this article.