Mountain Maryland Trails (MMT), formerly known as the Allegheny Highlands Trail Maryland Committee (AHT-MD) was established in January of 1992 to promote and assist in the development of the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) from Cumberland, Maryland to the Mason-Dixon Line.[1] This nonprofit worked to build the GAP from the Mason-Dixon Line through Frostburg, Woodcock Hollow, and eventually Cumberland, Maryland to connect to the C&O Canal Trail from January 2003[2] to December 2006.[3] After construction of Maryland’s 20.5 miles was completed, MMT shifted roles and focused on fundraising and light trail maintenance. MMT’s fundraising events include the 3M Bike Challenge Race in the fall and MMT TrailFest in the summer. MMT volunteers tackle some maintenance challenges such as tree removal and trailside mowing, however around 90% of the maintenance is completed by Allegany County personnel.[4] A recent emphasis on increasing volunteer involvement in maintenance endeavors has been on the rise, however most MMT volunteers act as more trail ambassadors for the GAP, as noted by 2020 MMT president Larry Brock.[5] MMT and its volunteers work diligently to make sure Maryland’s side of the GAP stays operable and an asset to the public.
For more information on Mountain Maryland Trails please visit their website at https://www.mdmountainside.com/mountain-maryland-trails.
Author: Reed Hertzler with contributions from MMT
Endnotes
[1] Paul G.Wiegman, The Great Allegheny Passage: A History, (Allegheny Trail Alliance, 2013), 68.
[2] Ibid, 98.
[3] Ibid, 121.
[4] Larry Brock, (Mountain Maryland Trail volunteer/historian, Personal interview on experience of political scope in relation to the GAP development in Maryland), interviewed by Avigail Oren and Linda M. Boxx, conference call from Latrobe, PA, Transcript: “Larry Brock Oral History_Final“, 12-13.
[5] Ibid.