Branch River Icebreaker - March 21, 2026

Heading downstream

As a nod to all the years that RICKA ran the Branch River Race, we always try to run the Branch River on the traditional third weekend in March. We call it the "Branch River Icebreaker", but there hasn’t been any ice to break for the past few years.

The Branch River Race, later the Rhode Island Whitewater Championship, was established by RICKA in 1980. It was the first race of the year on calendar of the NECKRA Downriver Series. The race continued for 25 years, but was eventually discontinued due to the high cost of insurance and problems with river access.

Mike running Whipple Drop

RICKA has continued the tradition of running a spring trip on the Branch River race course. This year we had three boats with four paddlers - me, Chuck, Mike and Aaron. The river was at a nice level - 4-feet, 400 cfs. The day was mostly sunny and relatively warm - it felt like spring.

We met at the put-in below the Stillwater Mill at 10:00 to run the shuttle. Since the usual take out along Nasonville Road is now posted “No Trespassing”, we decided to take out at the state boat ramp on the Slatersville Reservoir.

Erik running Glendale

We put in and paddled up to the Harrisville Dam before heading downstream. The first half of this trip is actually on the Clear River. There were a couple of blow downs in this upper section, but nothing that we had to portage around.

We ran Whipple Drop down the center and continued to Oakland, where the Branch River is formed at the confluence of the Clear and Chepachet Rivers.

Weaving through the strainers

After a break for lunch at the Oakland Dam we headed down to Glendale. The Glendale Rapid was flowing well. We all took the line generally left of center. I went a little too far left and had to back paddle off the rocks near the shore.

From there it is a nice quickwater run down to the Atlas Pallet Rapid. There were a lot of strainers in this section including one that we had to portage, and one that we ran but probably should have portaged. Aaron lost his camera into the river twice, but was able to recover it both times.

Chuck and Aaron running Atlas Pallet

I ran the Atlas Pallet Rapid left of center and made it through fine. I sat in the big shore eddy and got some pictures of Chuck, Aaron and Mike running the right of center line. The surf wave at the bottom wasn’t very retentive, so we continued downstream.

We portaged the Nasonville Dam and bounced out way down the rest of the easy rapids to Victory Highway. From there it is mostly flatwater as we paddled into to the Slaterville Reservoir to the take out.

The crew at the Oakland Dam - Chuck, Mike, Erik (kneeling) and Aaron

Links:

My Pictures

Aaron's Video

Branch River Gage

River Description form American Whitewater

Bigelow Brook – March 15, 2026

Heading out from the put in

With the recent rain and snow melt, Mike put a trip on the whitewater message board for Bigelow Brook. It would be rare chance to do a natural flow run on this very pretty Connecticut river. The last time Mike ran it was about 10-year’s ago.

Bigelow Brook arises at the Mashapaug Lake in Union and flows generally south/southeast through Bigelow Hollow State Park, Bigelow Pond and Myers Pond. It then forms the border between Ashford and Eastford before joining the Still River to form the Nachaug River. We would be running the section from Westford Road to the Natchaug State Forest.

Below the Route 44 Bridge

I met Mike and Aaron at the commuter lot at the intersection of Routes 44 and 198 in Eastford to run the shuttle. We put in at Westford Road and headed downstream. The river twists and turns through pretty woodlands lined with Hemlock trees and Mountain Laurel. It is mostly quickwater with some easy class I/II rapids – the largest being under the Route 44 Bridge. Dodging rocks and staying in the deepwater channel was the order of the day.

We continued downstream past the confluence with the Still River and on to the Natchaug River. We took out at the Natchaug State Forest – about a 6-mile trip. The gage on the Natchaug River above Diana’s Pool spiked at about 1,000-cfs last week, and was about 300-cfs today. There is no gage on Bigelow Brook itself.

Taking a break at the confluence

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My Pictures

Aaron's Video
Natchaug River - Marcy Road (Diana’s Pool) Gage

Assabet - Maynard - March 12, 2026

Surfing below the ben Smith Dam

Rain and warm weather brought all the rivers up this week. When Dan told me about a trip on the class II section of the Assabet through Maynard, I decided to take the day-off and join in.

The Assabet River arises in Westborough and flows approximately 34 miles west to converge with the Sudbury River at Egg Rock in Concord to form the Concord River. There’s lots of great flatwater paddling on the Assabet including the section from Gleasondale to the Ben Smith Dam, and from the PowdermIll Dam down to Egg Rock. The section through Maynard is an easy class II with a couple of rapids at the bridges, and some nice surf waves by the Ben Smith Dam and along Walnut Street near the mills.

Center arch of the Mill Street Bridge

In 1847, textile manufacturer Amory Maynard purchased land in what is now Maynard from a farmer named Ben Smith and built a dam to power his textile mills. Originally known as Assabet Village, this became the town of Maynard in 1871. Maynard’s downtown textile mills, now Clock Tower Place, were the home of Digital Equipment Corporation from the 1960’s to the 1990’s. Digital was a major computer company with 140,000 employees in 1987.

I met Dan, Ozy, Rick and Bob on Taft Avenue to run the shuttle. The river was at a nice level – 4-feet, 650 cfs on the Maynard gage. We played in the waves below the Ben Smith Dam before heading downstream. There are six bridges over the Assabet River as it flows through Maynard. The first is the double arch Great Road Bridge. Either side is runnable, but we went to the left. A pipe runs along the downstream end producing a surfwave that can be caught from the left side.

Above the Walnut Street Bridge

The next bridge is the triple arch Mill Street Bridge. We ran the center arch, cutting to the left after the bridge to avoid the rocks in the middle. After some easy riffles comes the Florida Road Bridge. The river then turns right along Walnut Street and the mills. If you can catch the small shore eddies, there are a couple of nice surfwaves before you reach the Main Street Bridge.

Downstream from the Main Street Bridge, the river turns left as it goes under the Walnut Street Bridge. There are a few more riffles and one more substantial rapid as you approach the Waltham Street, which we ran to the left. With my sore knee, I only did one run. The cortisone shot helped, but it still hurt to kneel.

Links
My Pictures
River Description from American Whitewater
Maynard Gage

Noon Hill - March 8, 2026

Foggy as we headed out

Temp’s are warming and the rivers are starting to ice out, but with my sore knee I decided to join Papa Joe for his hike at Noon Hill in Medfield, MA.

Noon Hill is a Trustees of Reservations property with a prominent summit and scenic vista surrounded by 204-acres of open space. It offers 4.5 miles of hiking trails and is part of a larger network of open space that includes the Shattuck Reservation along the Charles River. A system of trails spans the two properties, some of which are part of the Bay Circuit Trail.

Selfie with the crew

It was a foggy morning as we headed out from the parking lot at 158 Noon Hill Road in Medfield. We followed the yellow trial to the red trail to the top of Noon Hill. At 370-feet, Noon Hill rises gently above the surrounding landscape giving great views to the southeast of neighboring Walpole and Norfolk.

From there the followed the red trail back to the yellow trail as we looped back to the parking lot. Distance was only 3-miles, but with the partially frozen snow, the footing wasn't the best.

The crew at the summit of Noon Hill

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Noon Hill Reservation
Shattuck Reservation

Planning for Spring Camping - West Branch of the Penobscot/Lobster Lake

I got an email from Jonathan looking to start planning a spring camping trip. We are thinking about the West Branch of the Penobscot in May. 

The classic trip is to put in below Roll Dam and paddle about 7-miles to Lobster Lake. Spend a night on Lobster Lake. From Lobster Lake, paddle 15-miles to Chesuncook Lake. Check out Chesuncook Village and then paddle 19-miles down the lake enjoying the great views of Mount Katahdin. We are not planning anything that ambitious. Here is our plan - 5 days, 4 nights, very leisurely pace:

• Tuesday, May 19th - assemble in Wiscasset for dinner.
• Wednesday, May 20th - travel to Chesuncook Village to drop cars - shuttle to Lobster Trip. Paddle to Lobster Lake - Ogden Cove camp site (2.7-miles).
• Thursday, May 21st - stay on Lobster Lake and explore.
• Friday, May 22nd - paddle back to the river and then on down to a camp site, maybe Thoreau Island (13-miles).
• Saturday, May 23rd - paddle down river to Pine Stream camp site - very nice, easy day (6-miles).
• Sunday, May 24th - paddle to Chesuncook Village (4-miles). Load vehicles and drive to Wiscasset (185-miles) for showers, dinner.
• Monday, May 25th - Memorial Day - head home to beat the traffic.

For the shuttle we will try Katahdin Outfitters. According to Jonathan, the road to Chesuncook Village was pretty good when it was new back in 2012. It is about 13-miles from the Chesuncook Village to the Golden Road which is itself usually pretty good. Here we go again with logging roads in the North Maine Woods - hope my tires hold out.

Links:
River Description from Katahdin Outfitters

River Description from Canoe the Wild
Old Map of the Penobscot River Corridor

New Map of the Penobscot River Corridor

River Island Park - February 27, 2026

Through the snow drifts

It has been a tough couple of months for paddling. I've had a bad case of bursitis in my knee since December, and haven’t been able to kneel in my canoe. Add to that the brutal cold in January that iced up the rivers and cancelled our winter camping trip, and the 5' of snow in February that buried all the access points, and there hasn’t been much opportunity to paddle. Last month I got out on the Providence River in my sea kayak. Today, I ventured down to River Island Park with my canoe.

The river was at a low but fluid level – around 2’, which is probably around 500 cfs, but the gage was iced up. I dragged my boat through the snow drifts down to the boat ramp near the parking lot. I paddled upstream and played around in the current behind the bandstand. I could kneel for a while, but then my knee got too sore and I had to sit. I have an appointment for a cortisone shot - hopefully that will take care of my knee before the whitewater season starts. It was still nice to get out.

Finally back on the water

Eureka Expedition Sentinel

Eureka Expedition Sentinel
on the Connecticut River

I finally found some information on my father’s old tent. It’s a Eureka Expedition Sentinel 2-person, four-season mountaineering tent. Spec’s are:

Size – 6’ x 8’ (but tapers down to 4’ at the ends)
Height – 3’ 10” in middle
Weight – 7 lbs. 6 oz.
Fold Size – 6’ x 20”

Inside view

It is a symmetrical tent with screened doors at both ends for easy entry/exit and good ventilation. The middle of the tent has a hoop allowing for more head and shoulder room. From this center hoop the body of the tent tapers down to Timberline style A-frames. The aluminum poles are shock-corded and break down to 20”.

The full fly is slightly hooded at both ends. It creates the second layer of the tent’s double wall construction. Air circulates freely in the space between the tent and the fly minimizing condensation and increasing insulation. There are 2 hooks on each side connecting the fly to the tent that pull out the side walls creating additional room inside. 

Under a tarp on the Moose River Bow

The tent is held down with 6 stakes, and the fly is held down with 4 S-hooks at the corners and 6 stakes along the sides. There are also 10 D-rings on the fly to attach guy lines. The tent is pretty bomb-proof in the wind without guy lines, so I've never used them.

With its hybrid hoop/A-frame design, the Sentinel was similar to the three-season Alpine Meadows, but with lower ends and heavier materials. The Alpenlite might be seen as its successor.

Eureka advertisement from the 1980's featuring a Sentinel like mine

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My Pictures

Video from WisconsinEric

Eureka Shuts Down by the OutdoorGearReview

Classic Canoe Routes In Northern Ontario

I don't know if I will ever make it up there, but I saw this article on P-com, and decided to save it.  

French River — Pine Cove to HWY 69

The French is a Canadian classic for good reason: pink rock, wind-twisted pines and an exciting introduction to white water (or portaging). It’s also friendly to a wide range of paddlers.

Put-in / Take-out: Commonly put in at the Lodge at Pine Cove and take out at the French River Supply Post and Marina. Ideally leave a vehicle at the French River Supply post to get back to your other vehicles at Pine Cove.

Trip Length: 3-to-5 days.

Portages: Short carries around ledges and falls depending on water; expect well-used trails at and portages around all major rapids.

Camping Permits: French River Provincial Park backcountry permits are required; reserve or self-issue as directed at access points.

Difficulty: Easy to intermediate. Most rapids are runnable swifts at summer levels, but others require a quick portage if you don’t have whitewater experience.

Why Go: Classic shield scenery, easy logistics, plenty of campsites and route options. If you only have a long weekend, this is your Northern Ontario sampler.

Outfitters: Black Feather Wilderness Adventures have been running French River trips for decades. 

Spanish River — Sinker Creek to Agnew Lake

The Spanish strings together lakes, swifts and honest rapids through deep, empty country. It’s a favorite for first “real” river trips and never feels overbuilt. Plus, you get to use a train as your shuttle vehicle. If you’re doing the West Branch, Sinker Creek is a great place to put in for a week-long adventure.

Put-in / Take-out: Sinker Creek to Agnew Lake. The best way to do this is to leave vehicles at the Agnew Lake Lodge then catch the train in Sudbury.

Trip Length: 4–7 days.

Portages: Frequent but reasonable carries around named drops; expect trails at key sets such as Cliff Rapids, Agnes Rapids and others depending on branch.

Camping Permits: Spanish River Provincial Park backcountry permits are required.

Difficulty: Intermediate. Continuous current, cold water and a handful of rapids that demand proper scouting. Levels rise quickly after rain and drop a lot in mid-summer. Best to check with local outfitters like Spanish River Outfitters.

Why Go: Although the train ride isn’t long, there’s something about being left in the wilderness alongside a train track that is quintessentially Canadian. Plus, the campsites are incredible and the river itself is “just spicy enough” without being a sufferfest.

Outfitters: Spanish River Outfitters.

Moose River — Moose River Crossing to Moosonee

Big skies, big water and a surprisingly approachable northern journey if you’re prepared for weather. This is a current-assisted glide to the edge of the salt.

Put-in / Take-out: Moose River Crossing (rail flag stop) to Moosonee/Moose Factory. Many paddlers use the train to reach the put-in and to return from Moosonee to Cochrane.

Trip Length: 2–4 days, ~95–120 km depending on start and meanders.

Portages: Generally none on this reach. The hazards are water level, wind, tide and sheer volume, not ledge drops.

Camping Permits: Predominantly Crown land. Check current requirements before departure.

Difficulty: Intermediate with caveats. Navigation, tides and weather matter more than technical whitewater. Strong wind can pin you onshore; a rising tide can reverse flow near the end. Plan camps with changing water levels in mind.

Why Go: Experience the feel of the true North without weeks away. It’s a different kind of challenge; this is true wilderness which makes it truly rewarding.

Outfitters: MHO Adventures run regular trips on the Moose. 

Algonquin Park — Canoe Lake to Burnt Island Lake loop

Algonquin is one of the most historic, accessible and time-tested canoe regions in the country. For many paddlers, it’s the gateway to everything that comes after. The classic 3-to-4-day loop from Canoe Lake touches Tom Thomson country and gives a perfect mix of open water, sheltered creeks and short portages.

Put-in / Take-out: Put in and take out at the Canoe Lake access point (Hwy 60 corridor). There’s easy parking, permits and rentals available on-site through Algonquin Outfitters.

Trip length: 3–4 days.

Portages: Several carries under one km. Short, well-travelled and well-signed. Portages into Joe, Littledoe, Baby Joe and Burnt Island are maintained and wide.

Camping Permits: Algonquin requires advance reservations with specific lake-by-lake bookings. Provincial park interior camping fees apply. In some ways booking is the most difficult part of this trip; you’ll need to plan your entire trip from campsite to campsite. If you want to be there on summer weekends, you’ll need to book months ahead.

Difficulty: Novice to intermediate. Watch for big winds on Canoe, Joe and Burnt Island Lakes. They can be serious, but all routes are straightforward. Great for families, first-timers or shoulder-season trips.

Why Go: Algonquin delivers that Canadian Shield immersion with none of the logistical headaches. There are excellent portages, marked campsites and great outfitters in the area. It’s busy in summer, but still magic at dawn when the mist sits low and you realize why people have been paddling this exact route for more than a century.

Outfitters: Algonquin Outfitters, Algonquin Basecamp, Opeongo Outfitters, Algonquin Bound Outfitters.

Wabakimi Wilderness — Canada’s Quietest Canoe Kingdom

If you’re looking for true northern solitude, Wabakimi Provincial Park is the definition of it. Located northwest of Thunder Bay and accessible primarily by floatplane or train, Wabakimi is 13,000 square kilometers of pure, roadless boreal wilderness. It’s larger than Algonquin but with only a fraction of the visitors.

Classic route: Allanwater Bridge to Little Caribou Lake

This is the most iconic Wabakimi route. A remote, rail-to-rail journey through lakes, swifts and winding river systems. You start by boarding VIA Rail and getting dropped off at Allanwater Bridge, then paddle south through the Allanwater River chain and exit at Little Caribou Lake near Armstrong Station.

Put-in / Take-out: Allanwater Bridge (via VIA Rail flag stop), Armstrong Station

Trip Length: 7–10 days

Portages: Regular but short. Classic Canadian Shield terrain

Camping Permits: Ontario Parks interior permit required

Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced. Remote, whitewater experience strongly recommended.

Why Go: Wildlife sightings are common: moose, bald eagles, woodland caribou. And you can realistically be here for a full week without seeing another paddler. This is true solitude, where self-sufficiency matters. Satellite communications, solid weather planning and whitewater judgment are essential.

Outfitters: Wabakimi Canoe Outfitters can provide everything you’ll need for a trip in this massive wilderness. They’ve mapped out tons of routes and between Bruce Hyer and his son Micheal, they’ll be able to get you all set up with shuttles, routes and everything in between.

Trip Logistics and Planning Tips

Maps & Navigation: Carry large-scale topo or adventure-series maps for all routes.

Water & Levels: Snowmelt and rain change everything. Spring brings pushy water and colder swims; late summer can mean exposed ledges and more lining. Check gauges if available and talk to local outfitters.

Bugs & Bears: Expect both. Pack head nets in June/July and follow standard food-storage practices everywhere.

Permits & Rules: Provincial park interior permits and Crown land regulations can change. Confirm current requirements, especially if any party members are non-residents.

Shuttles: The French and Algonquin are straightforward by road. The Moose involves the Polar Bear Express, the Spanish and Wabakimi require Via Rail journeys. It’s good practice to book trains and coordinate pickup windows well in advance.

Experience Level: Be candid about skills. It’s easier to portage a rough section than go for a swim and lose your gear.

Outfitters Are Your Friends: If you don’t know, call the local outfitters. Not only do they know the area, the water levels and the current condition of rivers and lakes, they’re also open to creating custom trips for paying customers. Or join one of their regular trips. There’s no better way to get to know a bunch of people than spending a few days on the river with them.

Links:

Full article on P-com

Snowshoeing at F. Gilbert Hills State Forest - January 31, 2026

Warner Trail

I’ve been nursing a sore knee for a couple of months, so I probably should have skipped this trip. Then again, conditions were just about perfect, and it was only a half-hour from my house, so I made a last-minute decision to join Papa Joe and the crew for a snowshoe hike at the F. Gilbert Hills State Forest.

The F. Gilbert Hills State Forest (previously known as Foxboro State Forest) is a 1,000-acre site with 23-miles of trails in the towns of Foxborough and Wrentham. It is adjacent to the Harold B. Clark Town Forest to the north, and connects to Wrentham State Forest to the west. The park is also part of the 30-mile Warner Trail that stretches from Sharon to Diamond Hill.

Queued up to break the trail

We met near the Southeastern Massachusetts Emergency Communications Center (SEMRECC) at 100 High Rock Rd, Wrentham, MA 02093. The temperature was around 3-degrees when we headed out, but it got up to around 19-degrees by the time we finished. No one was cold – snowshoeing is a good workout.

We we did a 2.3-mile loop down a section of the Warner Trail that includes the Stone Staircase (one of many structures built by the Civil Conservation Corps in the 1930’s), then over to Sunset Ledge, and finally over to the shelter near High Rock before returning to the cars. Conditions were perfect - nice light powdery snow. It was a great trip, even if my knee was a little sore at the end.

The crew near High Rock

Links:

My Pictures

F. Gilbert Hills State Forest

F. Gilbert Hills Trail Map

Warner Trail
Warner Trail Guidebook

Introduction to Canoe Camping - January 18, 2026

I was glad to be one of the presenters at the NH/AMC’s Introduction to Canoe Camping. The session was focused on paddlers interested in moving into wilderness tripping. Presentations included Trip Planning and Organization (Jonathan), Necessary Skills (Bob), Boats and Paddling Gear (me), Camping Gear (Deb), and Food and Cooking (Cathy). In addition, several presenters did presentations on their favorite trips (I did the Connecticut River), and there was a Show and Tell table where folks could see and ask questions about gear. It was a great session, and very well received.

Providence - January 10, 2026

After a long cold spell, the forecast was for warming temperatures this weekend. I decided to take my kayak to the Providence River and paddle from Bold Point up to the Cove at the Providence Place Mall. I was in the boat on the water when I realized that I forgot my camera in the car, so this is the only picture that I got. You'l have to trust me - I really did paddle.

The camping trip that wasn't to be - January 3, 2026

Getting ready to launch

How many days with temps in the teens does it take to freeze a river? Based on this weekend’s experience, the answer is three.

For the past couple of years (2023, 2024), we have been doing a winter overnight trip at the Burlingame Canoe Campsites. It’s been a lot of fun, and this year we had nine joining in, with one coming from as far away as NY.

In past years, the temperatures have mild (days in the 30’s to 40's, nights in the 20’s to 30's), but this year we were having a cold snap. Day time highs were in the 20's, and night time lows were in the teens. Average temperatures had been in the 20’s for a couple of weeks, which is unusual for RI. We did ask JD to check the river for ice on Wednesday, and he reported that the put in was ice-free. It's tough to see much else from the river bank.

The river is iced in

When we arrived at Bradford Landing on Saturday morning the put in was open, but it was solid ice down to the Bradford Dam. There was an open channel upstream so we loaded our boats and headed out. We didn’t get far. We paddled upstream a couple of hundred yards and found the river frozen solid – a good half-inch of ice for as far as you could see. No way we were getting through that.

We paddled back to the put in to try to figure out our options. Was there a different section of the river that wouldn’t be iced-in - nope. Was there a campground or picnic area nearby that wasn’t closed for the season – nope. Unfortunately, we were out of luck. Best we could do was a picture at Alton Landing and lunch at a nearby restaurant – Cornerstone Pub in Exeter.  

The crew at Alton Landing

Getting skunked earned me a new poem from Tom.

From a Burlingame to a curling game,

canoes might glide on ice,

but getting swept away

paddles not brooms in play,

pack-it-in's the hully roller's advice.

(On the rocks at the Cornerstone plays nice)

TW

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