MATC has posted this information on the delayed opening of the GLT West. Bottom line: they're still hoping to open it in 2006.
[start quote]WEST SIDE REMAINS CLOSED
Regarding the premature May 2006 Backpacker article about the west side of the Grafton Loop Trail, Landon Fake, of the Grafton Loop Trail Coalition, wrote in a July 3 e-mail:
The western section of the Grafton Loop Trail (west of Route 26) is not yet open. The Grafton Loop Trail Coalition planned to have it open this spring, and, to that extent, the Backpacker article was correct. While the article was going to press, the land ownership/expected land ownership map changed, and one of the main landowners has denied us access to a large parcel that the trail is built on.
We expect this to be resolved (hopefully this summer) by two eventualities: a Congressional appropriations bill that still needs to be worked out between House and Senate; a deal negotiated between the landowner and the Trust for Public land.
Until this happens, we cannot access the trail or complete the final signage and blazing that needs to be accomplished to open the trail. The Coalition and its partners will issue an announcement when the trail is available for public use. We regret our inability to meet user and funder expectations for the trail.
The instability of land ownership in the area has reached a level not imagined when we started the project 10 years ago. The Coalition runs largely on volunteer effort (even our paid consultants and trail manager have had to forgo payment). This sometimes means we are not as nimble and communicative as we would like to be. It is still our expectation that the whole trail will be opened this year.
The eastern section of the Grafton Loop Trail is open for use and may be accessed via the Grafton Loop trailhead on Rt. 26 or the Appalachian Trail Parking Lot in Grafton Notch State Park.
Signs regarding the closed western section are posted at the kiosks at the trailheads.
Landon
Landon Fake
Atlantic Region Program Director
Outward Bound Wilderness
125 Outward Bound Road
Newry ME 04261
207-824-3152 ext. 465
[email protected] [end quote]