MTC Member Spotlight: Andrew Walton
Meet Andrew Walton, trail volunteer and advocate extraordinaire! Andrew and his family are passionate about their local trails, particularly the Mountain Division Trail. He is dedicated to making his community better through trails, and he and his family take every chance they gets to check out other trails within and outside of Maine. Andrew is an active member of the the Maine Trails Coalition’s Trail-until-Rail Work Group, and helps MTC advocate for connected, long-distance trail corridors in his community and in Augusta. Thank you Andrew!
Read a little more about Andrew’s passion for trails below:
Name: Andrew Walton (he/him)
Where you live: Steep Falls (part of Standish)
Organization/Affiliation: Mountain Division Alliance
What trail project are you currently most involved with? The Mountain Division Rail Trail
Favorite Maine trail memory? My favorite Maine Trail memory has been a recurring one. I love seeing people on trails that are enjoying the same experience as me. Meeting new people and being surprised to see someone you know on the trail is a great community connection. We often talk about benefits of trails and this is one I like to point out. In a car we are isolated and drive past each other. On trails we can connect to each other and meet people from the community to far away places.
What first drew and connected you to trails? I was first drawn to being involved with trail advocacy during the pandemic. I had always been interested in the Mountain Division Rail Trail and curious if it would ever run through Steep Falls. I was pleasantly surprised a renewed effort was just beginning. The Mountain Division Alliance was re-formed. Three years later the Alliance had advocated for two legislative bills (that passed) and gone through the Rail Use Advisory Council (RUAC) with a final vote of 11-1 for an interim trail. This progress in such a short amount of time with all volunteers shows our strength and perseverance to extend the rail trail from Portland to Fryeburg. The towns and public want to see this happen which has made the process that much easier.
Why do you Love Maine Trails? I love Maine trails because they offer so many different experiences. The state is extremely varied when it comes to hiking, biking, motorized, and accessible trails. The places and scenery can be drastic, going from the sea to the mountains and the deep woods in between we are incredibly lucky.
Why are you involved with MTC? I am primarily involved with the active transportation (Trail-until-Rail) work group which encompasses rail trails like the Mountain Division Rail Trail.
Best tip for trail users of the Mt. Division Trail: My tip would be if you are pushing a stroller to park at Shaw Park in Gorham or the Windham Soccer Field off Gambo Road. Both offer quick access to the paved trail and the "Gambo Loop" is a very popular walk for strollers.
Do you have a favorite section? My favorite section is the Fryeburg section, it is a bit wider overall and has great views of the mountains. It also has close access to the amenities of the Town of Fryeburg.
Favorite tip to get out on the trails with kids in tow: Bring snacks and point out what you see like the trees, birds, etc.
Any other closing thoughts, fun facts, or tidbits you’d like to share? I want to thank the Maine Trails Coalition for bringing organizations together for a common purpose of creating and maintaining trails in our state. They have done a tremendous job!
Did you know the Mountain Division Rail Line ran through Vermont? The former rail bed is now a 93 mile trail from St Johnsbury to Swanton Vermont. It's called the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. It's a great example of what the Mountain Division Rail Trail can be for Maine. > Check it out here: Lamoille Valley Rail Trail - Vermont Rail Trails
>> If you’d like to learn more about the Mountain Division Trail, visit their website, sign up for their e-news. Be sure to follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
