I've got just the thing.

It doesn't pay much $$$ (actually none at all), but it is oh so rewarding.

What is it, you ask?

Why trail maintenance, of course!

Brush clipping and weed whacking, water bar cleaning, blowdown removal, bog bridge building, rock step construction, paint blazing... cool stuff like that.

In the great Maine outdoors, along with a whole team of fun, happy, friendly folks from the Maine Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

What could be better?

My good friend Laura, Maine AMC Vice Chair and Trails Committee member, just sent along a very impressive and ambitious schedule of spring, summer and fall trail maintenance trips.

AMCer Laura works on a trailside "springpole."
All photos by Carey Kish

If you are looking for a way to give back to Mother Nature and our precious trails (and I hope you are!), then this may be just the ticket. And with 15 planned outings between now and late October, you might just want to go a couple of rounds or more.

So, here's the deal, simple and easy, according to Laura:

"There is NO experience required to do trail maintenance and there is a job for everyone! Although some trail work requires heavy lifting and digging, there are many important but less labor intensive jobs that need doing, such as lopping brush and painting trail blazes... Thanks to those of you who have helped in the past. We look forward to working with many of you in the future."

A smiley, happy MOAC trail crew.

How to get on board to help out?

That's easy too: Go to the Maine AMC website and check the calendar for a day or weekend "trail work" trip that fits your schedule. Then e-mail or call the trip leader. And voila! You're in!

Check out some of the wonderful outdoor settings:

* On April 28th you can work in the outstanding Kennebec Highlands along with the Belgrade Regional Conservation Association.
* Over the Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28, head into the wilderness of Little Lyford Pond Camps, check into a rustic log cabin and work from there.
* On June 23rd help relocate the summit trail up Bald Mountain in Weld.
* On July 21st you could be on the Bald Peak Trail on Pleasant Mountain and maybe pick a quart of blueberries while you work.
* On September 15th enjoy the early fall colors from the alpine environs of the Firewarden's Trail on Mount Abraham near Kingfield.
* Finish up the season on October 27th clearing trail on Black Mountain in Sumner.

Whew! There you have it. Sign up for the good fun with good people today!

A properly protected sawyer (eh, Phil Pepin?) clearing blowdowns on the AT.

And, as if the above wasn't enough, let's not forget that the Maine Appalachian Trail Club needs plenty of maintenance help along the 280-some mile trail corridor from Grafton Notch to Abol Bridge.

Check out any of the 33 MATC Maine Trail Crew maintenance trips for '07 and see if any of 'em trip your trigger, so to speak.

Have fun!