On November 7th your intrepid privy building team met at the Blue Moose restaurant in Monticello at 7:30 A M for breakfast. It was pouring rain, but Chief Privy Engineer Dave Rand along with assistants Anderson, Sylvester and Raymond were ready to go.
After a hearty breakfast they headed for the site of the Trestle-Monticello Campsite along the IAT/SIA ,just north of the trestle over the North Branch on the Meduxnekeag(yes I had to look up the spelling). The rain kept falling and the site was a little muddy, but the crew proceeded to get the job done. A prefabricated, handicapped accessible, privy had been delivered to the site a few days earlier and Dave Rand had the plans, and personal advice from the prefabricator, to get work started.
In no time the walls were standing alone and after some serious struggling by your age challenged building crew the roof was put in place. Hardware was added by Torrey and Dick while Dave and Earl shingled the roof. The walls were painted, inside and out by Torrey and Dick (they will need another coat in the spring).
The job was completed at 2:00 PM by a muddy and wet crew. Torrey and Dave headed home, but Earl and Dick couldn't resist the urge to do a little trail route scouting between the Ludlow Road and the beginning of the rail-trail, multi-use trail in Houlton. Earl used his GPS and computer to keep Dick from getting lost. They found a possible way to improve our route, but have asked Torrey to do some research before making any changes.
At dark Dick drank a can of Monster and they drove home. It was a safe and successful day's work by the privy building crew.
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The IAT/SIA Trestle Campsite Monticello is a wonderful example of several trail user groups working together to develop a first class recreational trail facility. The land upon which the campsite is located was purchased by the State as an adjunct parcel to the state owned, multi-use trail that passes just in front of the campsite. IAT/SIA Maine Chapter contributed $2,500 dollars toward the state’s purchase of the site. The remainder of the purchase price came from dedicated funds in the Department of Conservations ORV Division Snowmobile and ATV Trail funds. The state originally purchased the multi-use trail with funds from the Land for Maine’s Future program , Land and Water Conservation Fund, DOC's Snowmobile and ATV Trails Funds, and the Outdoor Heritage Fund. The construction of the first ever handicapped access privy on a multi-use trails was a continuation of that good colabaration. The privy was partly paid for by IAT/SIA Maine and erected by their volunteers and DOC's ORV
Division provided funding for clearing and cleaning up garbage on the site and delivering the privy. The hardened trail down the long grade to the waters edge of the North Branch of the Meduxnekeag River was also touched up at the same time to assure safe and well maintained access to one of the most beautiful spots on the entire river for fishing, swimming, and relaxation.
The site was recently upgraded by the state Department of Conservation with the assistance of the members of the local snowmobile and ATV club. Picnic tables were added and a small area was cleared and grassed to provide a nice gathering site.
Working together, hikers and motorized vehicle users, along with great support from the Maine Department of Conservation have created an exceptional hiking and gathering site that will be shared by all the recreational users of this wonderful trail.
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