Tag Archives: gary-stellpflug

Rash of Acadia National Park vandalism: Illegal blazes, painted rocks

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As many as 50 illegal spray-painted blazes marred Champlain North Ridge Trail this summer, and a host of similar off-color marks have been found elsewhere in Acadia National Park. Among other recent acts of vandalism taking away from the visitor experience and violating park rules: Painted rocks being hidden for others to find and share on social media; face masks and dog poop bags littering hiking trails; Bates-style cairns knocked over; and rocks randomly stacked.

Acadia hiking boosted by new historic rock steps, innovation and lights

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The Valley Cove Trail is set to soon reopen for a summer Acadia hiking season for the first time in five years, following an extensive rehabilitation that gives new life to the historically important trail along Somes Sound. The Acadia trails crew also did major work on Kurt Diederich’s Climb, Beachcroft Path, Seaside Path and around Bass Harbor Head Light, keeping the more than 155 miles of historic Acadia hiking trails in shape for the millions of visitors in coming years. Find out how your favorite trail has been improved, or learn about a new one you’ve yet to explore.

Gary Stellpflug leads highly skilled Acadia hiking trails crew

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If you’ve ever marveled at Acadia National Park’s hiking trails, here’s a chief reason they look so good: Gary Stellpflug, the Acadia trails foreman. In this Q&A with Stellpflug, find out what he revealed during a National Trails Day hike on the Valley Trail, and his updates of trail work throughout the park. There’s no better way to celebrate Acadia’s 103rd anniversary of being founded as a national monument on July 8, 1916, than to appreciate the work of the Acadia trails crew and volunteers.

Valley Cove tops backlog of work on Acadia trails

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Planning on hitting Acadia’s hiking trails this summer? Then you’ll want to find out which trails are being affected by the park’s more than $9 million in deferred trail maintenance. One trail has been closed for two years, and others are in line for gravel resurfacing or log bridge replacements.The needed work is part of Acadia’s nearly $60 million in overall deferred maintenance, and the national park system’s nearly $12 billion backlog, affecting everything from facilities to infrastructure.

Acadia trail, once scary in ‘Pet Sematary’ movie, gets a new lease on life

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The bulging tree roots that used to dominate a section of the Deer Brook Trail in Acadia National Park appeared so scary that they were featured in a scene in the Stephen King horror film, “Pet Sematary.” An elegant rehabilitation, led by the park’s trails crew, gave the Deer Brook Trail a major facelift, but […]

Acadia National Park trails work takes a crew with special skills

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When the National Park Service needed people with special masonry skills to replace the steps on the acclaimed North Portico of the White House, the agency picked two top trail builders from Maine’s national park and sent them to Washington to do the work. After all, who better to replace the famed staircase at the White House than two people experienced at building stone steps and repairing historic masonry on the Acadia National Park trails?
With about 155 miles of hiking trails, the Acadia trails crew’s work is never done. From masonry to operating heavy machinery, the job has many facets.