Penobscot River Paddling Trail

The Penobscot River Paddling Trail was initiated to provide campsites for paddlers traveling on the river’s main stem from Medway to Bucksport. Over a distance of 100 miles, the Penobscot offers a combination of flatwater and whitewater, and plenty of access points for day use to long distance trips. When completed, the campsites will provide a link between the East Branch of the Penobscot and the Maine Island Trail, both of which have established paddling trails. 

https://www.penobscotriverpaddlingtrail.org/

Ideas for Spring Camping Trips

I got an email from Jonathan with some suggestions for our spring camping trip. His thoughts were pretty ambitious.

Allagash

Indian Pond Stream or Churchill Dam to Allagash Village. Put in depends on wind forecast. Five or six nights. Lakes and moving water.  Class II at Chase Rapids. Shuttle to/from put in to Allagash Village. Again last week in May – 8-hour drive from Woonsocket.

The Allagash Wilderness Waterway is Maine’s best known canoe trip and has attracted paddler’s for more than a century. Henry David Thoreau ventured into this region more than 150 years ago by traveling into the Allagash via the Mud Pond Carry from the West Penobscot watershed. One of the great appeals of the Allagash River is its combination of large, glimmering lakes with a swift moving river. Sourced by some of the largest lakes in Maine, including Chamberlain Lake, Eagle Lake, and Churchill Lake, the Alligash allows many options of multi-day canoe tripping throughout the 102-mile waterway.

Baskahegan Stream

Undiscovered gem in Northern Washington County. Newly established camp sites on Baskaheagan Stream and Lake. Three or four night trip. Short portage at Danforth (with resupply possible at a general store). Slow water and lakes but very pretty and remote. Self shuttle possible.  Second or third week in May – 6-hour drive from Woonsocket.

Mostly a flat water trip, this remote soft adventure is available from May to mid-June and in the fall when the water level is sufficient. A great 1-4 day canoe trip with several put-in and takeout options. Beginning off route 6 near Topsfield, you’ll paddle 7.75 miles down a remote scenic stream and deadwater on your way to Baskahegan Lake.  After crossing the lake, continue down the stream with some moving water, some flatwater and great wildlife viewing. Popular take out is in Bancroft above the confluence with the Mattawamkeag River.

Debsconeag Loop Paddling Trail

From a post on CanoeTripping.net - 6-hour drive from Woonsocket.

The Debsconeag Loop Paddling Trail is meant to be traveled in a clockwise direction, west from Spencer Cove across Ambajejus and Pemadumcook Lakes and then north across the watershed divide to the Debsconeag Lakes to return southeast on the West Branch of the Penobscot River. From Third Debsconeag Lake there is an optional side-trip to Fourth Debsconeag. This route contains several portages and two major falls along the West Branch of the Penobscot. Videos from Maine Tripper - Part 1 and Part 2.

Machias River

Just below 5th Machias Lake or at exit of 4th Machias Lake to Machias Town. Four or five nights. Several (maybe) optional and one compulsory portages. Mostly moving water. Shuttle from Machias Town. Second week in May (Beware – may overlap with Mother’s Day!) – 6-hour drive from Woonsocket.

With the feel of a northern river, this scenic and wild waterway is downeast whitewater canoeing and camping at its finest. The Machias River is less traveled than the Allagash, Penobscot, and Saint John Rivers, and easier to access. The headwaters offer a series of scenic lakes and marshes, while the river offers numerous class I-II rapids and several technical class III rapids that can be lined or portage.

St. John River

Baker Lake to Dickie (no desire to start at 5th St John Pond!). Six nights. Moving water all the way with a Class III on days 4 and 6. Usually have one day for a layover. Shuttle to/from Baker Lake. Last week in May – 8-hour drive from Woonsocket.

One of Maine’s finest remote canoe trips, the St. John River flows 128 miles from its headwaters at the St. John Ponds to the Allagash River just below the town of Dickey. The trip from Baker Lake to the Town of Dickey is 105 miles and can be done in six or seven days. The river has an even gradient and no portages. Later in the trip is the mile-long Big Black Rapids, and downstream from the Big Black Rapids and near trip’s end, is the Big Rapids, which are 2 miles long. Most groups put in at the outlet of Baker Lake.  Best run mid-May to mid-June.

St. Croix River

Classic Down East trip - could be a three/four/five night trip depending on how much of the lakes are included. The core trip is 2 or 3 days from Vanceboro to Kellyland. Mostly moving water and class I with one class II+ (Little Falls). Plenty of campsites but in theory one is meant to stick to the US or Canadian side for camping. Bring your passport! C&C Canoe for the shuttle. Second or third week in May - 6-hour drive from Woonsocket.

The St. Croix River arises in the small town of Vanceboro from its sources in East Grand and Spednic Lakes, and continues to its outlet with the Atlantic Ocean in Calais. The river meanders through the beautiful forests of eastern Maine. Featuring over 25 distinct rapids, ranging from light rips to Class II+ such as Little Falls and Canoose Ledge and the aptly named Rocky Rips. Trips on the St. Croix River can rage from 2 to 8 days with the most popular being a 4 day trip from Vanceboro to Kellyland.  

West Branch of the Penobscot River

Roll Dam to Chesuncook Village - could work as a 3 or 4 day trip. We probably would not be able to self shuttle - 7-hour drive from Woonsocket.

Best time to go is June through early September. Headwaters begin above Saboomook Lake. Below Saboomook there are 2 miles of class II-III rapids, which makes for an optional full day of whitewater canoeing. Below Roll Dam, the river flattens and widens out. It is 6.75 miles to where Lobster Lake enters on the right. A trip to scenic Lobster Lake (3 miles) can provide for a relaxing trip with its sandy beaches and beautiful setting. From the confluence of Lobster Stream and the Penobscot, the river flows easily for 15 miles to Chesuncook Lake. Chesuncook is a 19 mile paddle offering views of Katahdin to the east and a stop at remote Chesuncook Village to check out the local history and visit ‘The Store’.

East Branch of the Penobscot River

Katahdin Woods and Waters - 7-hour drive from Woonsocket.

Below the Grand Lake Matagamon dam is the scenic and rugged East Branch of the Penobscot River with whitewater rapids and views of the Traveler Mountains to the west in Baxter State Park. It is a 27-mile trip from the Matagamon Wilderness Campground to Whetstone Falls with several mandatory portages around scenic waterfalls including Haskell Rock Pitch, Pond Pitch, Grand Pitch and Hauling Machine Pitch. 

Conrad suggested some trips that are closer and a little less ambitious:

• Magalloway to Lake Umbagog
• Mooselukmeguntic to Lower Richardson
• Saco
• Casco Bay or Beal Island and Maine Island Trail

I decided that I wanted to do all of them, but we seem to be leaning toward the Allagash in May.

We'll see...

Links:
Canoe the Wild Registered Maine Guides

Maine Trails Guide Service

New Year's Day on the West River – Northbridge – January 1, 2020

Forgot my hat, so the helmet had to do!

“Winter is not just about skiing”. That’s what Jo-Ann told a reporter from the Hartford Courant who came to get some pictures of our 2015 New Year’s Day trip on the Tville section of the Farmington, and she was right. New Year’s Day runs are definitely a tradition around here, and some consider it bad luck if you are not out in your boat on January 1^st.

This year I had the usually options for whitewater runs including the Upper and Lower Winni, Tville and Crystal. In the end, I decided to stay close to home and do a section of a river that I had not done before – the West River in Northbridge. Although Bill is not big on cold weather paddling (he has become more of a winter hiker), he agreed to paddle tandem with me. 

The crew at Harrington Pool Picnic Area

The West River is a 13-mile long tributary of the Blackstone River. It originates at Silver Lake in Grafton, and flows though Northbridge and Uxbridge before entering into the Blackstone south of Wheelockville (above Route 122) in Uxbridge. After devastating floods in the 1950’s, the Army Corps of Engineers constructed the West Hill Dam on the West River in 1960. The dam includes a 567-acre reserve upstream in the towns of Uxbridge, Northbridge and Upton.  

We met 717 Mendon Road in Northbridge, and carted out boats down to the put in below the bridge. The river twists and turns through the backwaters of the West Hill Dam. We paddled about a mile down to the Harrington Pool Picnic Area. We talked about portaging over the street and down to the dam, but decided instead to find a sunny spot out of the wind and take a break. Then we headed back up stream to the put in. From there, most of the crew continued upstream of another mile, but Bill, Louise and I decided to call it a day. It was a fun and easy way to start the New Year, and just enough to guarantee good paddling mojo in 2020.

A pretty section of the West River

Links:

My Pictures

West Hill Dam

Put-in at 717 Mendon Road, Northbridge

2019 Year End Review

Running Sweet Tooth in 2005

It's hard to believe that it has been 15 years since I started paddling. In the late 80's/early 90's I did some tandem paddling with my father up on the Androscoggin. It was a blast, but with little kids at home there was no time for paddling. I started up again in 2004 and quickly caught the bug. I took the NHAMC Whitewater School in spring of 2005, and bought a whitewater boat (Impluse) and flatwater boat (Yellowstone Solo) later that year. In 2006 I bought a waterproof camera, and the rest is history.

Due to family obligations and a bad cold I missed the traditional New Year's Day trip this year, so my first paddle of 2019 was the Upper Wood River on January 5^th with Jonathan. The year started off with more hiking than paddling, but it was still a great year.

The "Mighty Quin"

I did 53 paddling trips for the year, which is a little below my ten-year average of 59 trips. I also did 8 hikes, three camping trips and had five swims (Great Swamp, Fife Brook (twice in one day, bad day), the playhole at Tville, and the Mighty Quin). I only  did two trips with the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club – Nipmuc and Slatersville. I did run a Trip Leader Training and trips at Bradford, the Lower Deerfield and Point Judith Pond for the RICKA Flatwater group. I also paddled in all six New England states.

Here are some of my more significant trips:

• January - Upper Wood River, Scantic Cut and Play Day
• February - Quaboag
• March - Branch Rive Icebreaker
• April - Crystal section of the Farmington, Upper Millers, Plummers Landing, The Mighty Quin
• May - Crystal Again, Great Swamp
• June - Flatwater Leader Training, Lower Deerfield
• July - Pawcatuck – Bradford to Potter Hill, Merrimack – Franklin to Boscawen, West Passage Lighthouse Tour, Point Judith Pond
• August - Fife Brook, Dead River – Day 1, Day 2 and Video
• September - Pawcatuck – Lower Shannock Falls to Alton, West
• October - Blackstone Gorge, River Island Park
• November - Tville
• December - The Mighty Quin

Here are some of my favorite trips for the year.

Favorite Trips of 2019 from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

I paddled almost every day of my summer vacation in South County, including a great trip with Tony on the West Passage and a trip with RICKA on Point Judith Pond. 

Scenes from  South County Vacation from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

I did two camping trips on the Connecticut River with Bill, Conrad and Jonathan - Gilman Dam to McIndoe Falls in the spring.

Camping on the Connecticut River from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

And Orford to Wilder Dam in the fall.

Camping on the Connecticut River from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

I also did the RICKA Overnight on the Pawcatuck with Bill and Chuck.

Camping on the Pawcatuck River from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

Quinapoxet River Hike

I got out for quite a few hikes with the Papa Joe hiking group, and even a couple with Michelle.

• Mount Pisgah
• Broadmor
• Blackstone Gorge
• Browning Mill Pond
• Mighty Quin
• Trout Brook
• Goddard Park
• Back to Broadmore

And of course, I bought a new whitewater boat – a Mad River Outrage.

Running the Dumplings

In terms of my resolutions from last year, I didn’t do so well on rolling practice (never do), but I did get to one pool session with my C1. I did get on a couple of more challenging rivers – Quaboag, the Mighty Quin (April, December) and the Dead ( Day 1, Day 2) – but missed some old favorites – Lower Millers, Knightville and Otter Brook.

In terms of resolutions for next year: 

• Take a class III paddling class – especially with my new boat
• Get back to the Dead – always a great trip
• Keep camping - Connecticut River, or maybe up in Maine
• Practice rolling – I’ll keep including it until I do it

Overall it was another great year, and there are still plenty of rivers to paddle, plenty of trails to hike, and plenty of places to go camping. And my year-end post on Pnet got another poem from Tom:

Y-2-K plus two decades on wall nail pound,
whoever would’ve thunk earth still be makin’ rounds?
Cult Kool-Aid sippy trippers twenty years in the ground,
wonder what now they’d all drink if they had chose to stick in town?
(Guess 20-20 in foresight was tad too much for thought’s abound)

May the Flow, and a Happy New Year, be with all. That way, this time next year, one might say, “Hindsight is a finely aged 20-20.”

Oh! And if the flow ain’t with you, attain, my friend! Attain! I use a pole and some occasional tumblehome. (The later being shorthand for, “A Pisces’ Riparian Reunion.”)
TW

Planning for Spring Camping - Connecticut River - Wilder Dam to Bellows Falls

Its time to start thinking about our spring camping trip. If we continue down the Connecticut River, the next section is Wilder Dam to Bellows Falls  - looks like a nice 3-night trip.

Put-in - Wilder Dam – mile 218

First Night - Burnaps Island Campsite – mile 212 - located on NH side about 3 miles below the mouth of the Mascoma River and the I-89 bridge at West Lebanon, and just above the mouth of the Ottauquechee River. Access is from the west side of the island, on the main channel.

Portage - Sumner Falls – mile 206 - take out on river right on rocky ledge (look for sign). Follow trail up to dirt road that leads down to a sandy put-in. Length: 285 yards

Intermediate Campsite - Burnham Meadow Campsite – mile 205 - located on the Vermont side four miles below Sumner Falls, 1 mile below Hart Island, and 3 miles above the Windsor-Cornish covered bridge. On an elevated bench just south of Bashan Brook, where the river bends to the east. Take out is about 50 yards south of Bashan Brook.

Second Night - Wilgus State Park Campground – mile 196 – on the VT side just past the mouth of the Sugar River (NH) Beautiful and popular campsite

Intermediate Campsite - SCA Campsite – mile189 – on the NH side two miles below Hubbard Island. Access to the site is up a short, but somewhat steep trail with box/check steps. The site sits in an area with hemlocks overlooking the river and adjacent to a field. It includes three tent platforms, a composting toilet, and a small network of trails. Fires are not permitted - stoves only.

Third Night - Lower Meadow Campsite – mile 178 – on NH side with two tent platforms and space for another 2-3 tents on the ground. A nice fire-ring, and a composting privy. Easy access from river, and good swimming.

Take out - Bellows Falls – mile 176

Three night trip is 42 miles with one portage and a couple of long days - 16 miles and a portage on day 2, 18 miles on day 3.

Link:

Connecticut River Paddlers Trail

River Island Park - December 27, 2019

Globe Bridge - 7X Zoom

Stayed local today for my last paddle of 2019, and got to try out the new paddle and camera that I got for Christmas. River Island Park was up (3', 950 cfs), so that is where I went. The paddle is fine - same paddle that I always get - 58" Werner Bandit. The camera is great - Olympus Tough TG-6. I also got a telephoto lens that increases the zoom to 7X. I was afraid the the pictures with the telephoto lens would be blurry, but they don't seem to be, and the lens clicks on and off easy. I think I'm going to like this.

At the take-out

Links:
My Pictures

Paddling (or should I say hiking) the Mighty Quin – December 14, 2019

At the put-in

With all the rain over past couple of days my original plan was to run Pork Barrel, but I wasn’t looking forward to the 2-hour drive or the potentially high water. I was determined to go, but wasn’t disappointed when the leader canceled. Instead, Paul and I decided to hook up with Peter and Michael for a run on the Mighty Quin. It's a run I had done several times before, so I didn't expect any problems - silly me!

After dropping my boat at the put-in, I met Paul and Peter at the take-out for the shuttle. Michael was waiting for us back at the put-in. By the time we got on the river the level was around 10.5 feet, 700 cfs. The run starts off with a two-foot drop and large surf wave at an old broken dam. As we headed downstream, the river twists and turns though a pretty hemlock forest. We enjoyed the waves and rock-dodging down to the Springdale Mill.  

One of many drops

I got a bit of a surprise as I pulled into an eddy above the Springdale Dam. I floated back into a strainer, leaned the wrong way, and over I went. I was out of the water quickly, but lost my paddle and couldn’t hold on to my boat as it floated back into the main current. 

I watched as my boat bounced through the old Springdale Dam. It continued downstream through a mile of continuous rapids and the big drop below I-190 before the guys were finally able to push it to shore. Of course, when I caught up with it I was on the wrong side of the river and my spare paddle was gone. Still, I was relieved that my boat didn’t get pinned or float over the dam into the Wachusett Reservoir.  That is swim number 5 for the year. Definitely not my best day, but as Paul also says "Its an adventure!" 

Paul heads back after retreiving my boat

And I earned another poem from Tom on p-net:

OUT you go
in water’s RAGE,
and the Erik Epic turns 'nother page,
or is that hull
that turns Erik,
when that sneaky Eddy
takes a turn with stick?

Glad you didn’t have to follow your prodigal prow for all of its wintry semi-sub ride downstream. And, sorry the riparian riever decided to take a prize in your paddle. Well, Christmas is comin’. Howabout 'nother paddle? Please put a Millbrook Norge in by an old man’s saddle. Hats off (even though riparian riever already possesses several of my own) to the undaunted frother!
TW

Links:

My Pictures

Quinapoxet Gage

River Description from American Whitewater