Backpackers and environmentalists roaming the inner depths of Maine’s wilderness will be please with the Appalachian Mountain Club’s most recent purchase of 29,500 acres on the Roach Ponds track land. Although this land will remain under the management of AMC, they have graciously donated the land to the state of Maine and will remain protected for public recreational use.

The 63 miles and close to 650,000 acres of conserved land in Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness Region is now a continuous stretch of conserved land that was deemed as the “missing link” by AMC Deputy Director Walter Graff.

The acquisition of this land will also enhance and protect more than 20 miles of Appalachian Trail that buffers the 100-Mile Wilderness region in addition to protecting the west branch of the Pleasant River and the rich water and timber resources that are priceless to this area.

AMC’s press release stated that the Appalachian Trail Conference applauded the transaction. “Anyone who has been fortunate enough to trek the 100-Mile Wilderness portion of the Appalachian Trail in Maine understands that it is a very special place–a vast, remote landscape of sweeping vistas, lakes and ponds, and mostly forested lands. AMC’s recent acquisition of the nearly 30,000-acre Roach Ponds tract, which abuts the relatively narrow Appalachian Trail corridor acquired earlier by the National Park Service, assures that the special character of that landscape and the extraordinary ecosystem resources it contains, will remain intact and available for public use,” said Dave Startzell, executive director of the Appalachian Trail Conference. “It is a marvelous addition to a growing network of conserved lands in the great Maine woods.”

http://www.examiner.com/x-27239-Backpacking-Examiner~y2009m11d11-Appalachian-Mountain-Club-secures-29500-acres-of-Maines-deep-wilderness