By Cliff White 

Staff Writer

The Appalachian Trail (AT), in its entirety, runs 2,176 miles from Georgia to Maine along the crest of the Appalachian Mountain Range. 

Buxton resident Sylvia Young, 75, has hiked it twice.

Her first visit to Springer Mountain, Ga. – the starting point of the trail – occurred in 1984. There, she initiated an attempt to hike the entire trail end-to-end in one season, an accomplishment called a “thru-hike.” However, Young had to abandon the effort because she fractured her ankle in Tennessee, about 300 miles into the journey. 

Young refused to give up her dream of hiking every step of the trail, and proceeded to knock out various sections of the trail every summer when she found the time. She finished the trail in 1989, after spending portions of six years on the effort.

 In 1997, the then-64-year-old Young once again found herself on top of Springer Mountain looking north. There she became known by the trail-name “Not Too Old.” The name proved prophetic, as she achieved her dream of through-hiking the entire AT in one season. She finished her hike on top of Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park on Sept. 24, six months and one day -– and about five million steps – later.

Young says she isn’t contemplating another long hike anytime soon. That isn’t to say she’s given up searching for adventure in the outdoors. Nowadays, she says, her ideal hike lasts a day, not six months, and is done at a more casual pace, with as many friends as are interested in coming along. According to her friend Terri Morin, that makes her a perfect Trail Finder.

The Trail Finders were founded last June by Morin, a fellow outdoors enthusiast from Buxton. Morin’s regular hiking partner, Lynn, had recently died of cancer, and the 57-year-old Morin was looking for more people her age to hike with on weekends.

“I’ve always loved hiking, and when I retired three years ago I found I had more time on my hands to get outdoors,” Morin says. “But after Lynn passed away, I couldn’t find anybody who liked it as much as I did. I heard about Sylvia (Young) through the grapevine, and we planned our first hike together. But in the mean-time, I put out some ads for a 55 and older hiking group, and got a lot of response.”

When the group met up to carpool for their first hike – Ossipee Hill in Waterboro – 13 people showed up. 

“That was the beginning,” Morin says. “On the hike, we decided to call ourselves the Buxton Trail Finders.”

Morin says while the group was and remains open to everyone, its adventures might not be thought of as much of a challenge by a younger generation.

“We’re not fast, and we chat all the way,” Morin says. “We just enjoy getting outside, at our own pace.”

Over the summer, the group hiked almost every weekend. Destinations included Perry Mountain near Rangeley, Burnt Meadow Mountain in Brownfield, Jockey Cap Mountain in Fryeburg and Sawyer Mountain in Limington – none particularly feared for their elevation or steepness. Morin described the group’s conquests as modest in stature but manageable for anyone capable of walking for an hour.

“We’re not out there to conquer Everest. It’s not our objective to try to kill ourselves every weekend getting up the steepest and meanest mountains around,” Morin says. “We’re out there to appreciate nature and each other’s company.”

Morin says the group has a vote during their hike as to what mountain they choose as their next objective.

“It’s not that we wouldn’t or won’t try more difficult mountains, but rather more like we’re building up to them,” Morin says.

Morin says it is a delight to have plenty of people to talk to when tackling the weekend’s summit. Hearing Young’s stories about her experiences on the AT are particularly entertaining, Morin says.

“I learn something new from her every time we talk,” Morin says.

This winter, the group has continued to meet and explore nature with snowshoeing and cross-country skiing excursions. Morin says the Trail Finders now have 23 members, and the group has continued to grow, even through the winter. They are already planning trips for the spring, Morin says.

“This group is really for everyone,” Morin says. “Anyone interested in going for a nice leisurely hike and enjoying the beauty of nature – that we are fortunate to have so close in Maine – is welcome,” Morin says. “The only thing I emphasize to people who are interested is that most of us are in our 40s and 50s. We don’t mind if younger people want to join us, but we want them to know we’re not running up the mountain. We take our time, and we enjoy every step.”

For more information on the Buxton Trail Finders or to join, call Terri Morin at 929-3113 or email logcabin2@securespeed.us.