TNC NL Winter25-final - Flipbook - Page 3
High-Tech Hiking
Driving Data for a More Inclusive Outdoors
If you’ve visited one of our preserves this
year, you might have seen Julia Bates
walking the trails with what looks like a
futuristic, high-tech stroller. Julia, an
AmeriCorps member hosted at The Nature
Conservancy in Maine via the Maine
Conservation Corps, is using a device called
a “HETAP” to collect detailed trail data.
The HETAP (High-E昀케ciency Trail
Assessment Process) helps us assess things
like slope, elevation and trail width—all
crucial pieces of information to support
people in decision making related to trail use.
As Julia pushes it along, the HETAP measures
information like elevation cross slope and grade while she manually
records things like tread width. This data helps us understand the
physical characteristics of each trail in detail, so we can provide
accurate, objective information to all visitors.
The HETAP gathers raw data, but this isn’t just about numbers: it’s
about helping people of all abilities enjoy Maine’s natural beauty with
con昀椀dence. Thanks to Julia’s work service, we’ll soon be able to share
more accurate trail descriptions, helping visitors choose routes that
match their experience and mobility levels. Whether someone uses a
mobility aid or simply prefers gentler terrain, this
data helps make the outdoors more inclusive.
Julia Bates operates
We’re excited to be part of a broader effort to make
outdoor spaces more welcoming. Stay tuned for
updates as we continue this important work!
a High-E昀케ciency Trail
Assessment Process
machine to collect
detailed trail data
© Nichole Whitney/TNC
The Magalloway Collaborative
Four Organizations, One Bold Goal
Deep in Maine’s western mountains lies the Magalloway region—a
vast, wild expanse of forests, rivers and lakes that ranks among the
most climate-resilient landscapes in North America. Here, brook trout
still thrive in cold, clear streams, and moose roam through unbroken
forests. This is one of the last intact mixed-temperate forests in
the world—and one of The Nature Conservancy’s global priorities.
The Magalloway Project will conserve 78,000 acres and connect
more than a half-million total acres of protected lands,
safeguarding wildlife habitat, clean water and public access for
generations to come. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
protect a corridor that supports biodiversity and helps species
adapt to climate change.
Help us bring this
project over the
昀椀nish line by visiting
magalloway.org
One of the hallmarks of this project,
and a true highlight for all involved, has
been the teamwork and collaborative
model. The project is being led by The
Magalloway Collaborative, a partnership of four organizations:
The Nature Conservancy in Maine, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust,
Forest Society of Maine and Northeast Wilderness Trust. Together,
these groups are combining expertise and resources to achieve
something no single organization could accomplish alone.
This effort isn’t 昀椀nished yet—and you can help make it happen! Every
gift brings us closer to securing this extraordinary landscape forever.
Maine Roots | Winter 2025 | 3
