After a four day trip with the young Aussies, I planned a few days off and then repeated the trip with 2 old paddling friends. So May 17 found me driving north once more. Breakfast at Dysarts, then the long drive to Fort Kent and then Allagash. We pulled in to Allagash wildlife sporting camps, where Bobby Hafford was going to take us back in to Churchill Dam.
Compared to just 7 days earlier, the water levels were “normal paddling level” according to the rangers. The water was a good 18” lower! My companions were longtime paddlers but the Allagash had eluded them. They were anxious to get this river under their belts. We launched at 8:30 and enjoyed a bouncy ride down to our gear at Bissonette bridge. (The ranger will transport your gear for $10, allowing canoes to paddle without a load.)
Umsaskis was glass calm, no wind at all. We had a stretch break at Ledges campsite, then continued to Long lake. At the remains of the dam we again paddled a chute on river right without difficulties. Our plan was to camp again at Cunliffe Island but another party was setting up as we came by. We continued a mile further and camped at Sawyer Brook. This was a long day and I was tired. I paddled my solo boat, a Penobscot 16 with a center seat, lightly loaded. The other boat (an Old Town 17’ Tripper) carried more gear but Phil, in the Bow, was recovering from a busted shoulder. We all slept very well that night.
Day two found us paddling to round pond in a few hours. We recognized that all of us like to be in the boat on the river, so we disregarded common sense and instead of camping we paddled on, camping at Allagash falls. Those were two long days! Fortunately there was little wind and adequate water levels, so it was a fun day.
There were some significant blowdowns on the portage trail, but we managed to wheel our boats all the way to the end. It was another mild night, so much warmer than the week earlier. The next morning we were packed and on the river by 7:30. We arrived in Allagash at 11. The only significant wind was during the last mile into town. We saw 4 bear on the drive in but none on the river. We did see 2 moose, several deer, loons, ducks, geese, osprey and eagles.
This was my 9th Allagash trip. It never gets old, not even twice in a row! The North Maine Woods are a special place, we are lucky to have them within a days drive.
Compared to just 7 days earlier, the water levels were “normal paddling level” according to the rangers. The water was a good 18” lower! My companions were longtime paddlers but the Allagash had eluded them. They were anxious to get this river under their belts. We launched at 8:30 and enjoyed a bouncy ride down to our gear at Bissonette bridge. (The ranger will transport your gear for $10, allowing canoes to paddle without a load.)
Umsaskis was glass calm, no wind at all. We had a stretch break at Ledges campsite, then continued to Long lake. At the remains of the dam we again paddled a chute on river right without difficulties. Our plan was to camp again at Cunliffe Island but another party was setting up as we came by. We continued a mile further and camped at Sawyer Brook. This was a long day and I was tired. I paddled my solo boat, a Penobscot 16 with a center seat, lightly loaded. The other boat (an Old Town 17’ Tripper) carried more gear but Phil, in the Bow, was recovering from a busted shoulder. We all slept very well that night.
Day two found us paddling to round pond in a few hours. We recognized that all of us like to be in the boat on the river, so we disregarded common sense and instead of camping we paddled on, camping at Allagash falls. Those were two long days! Fortunately there was little wind and adequate water levels, so it was a fun day.
There were some significant blowdowns on the portage trail, but we managed to wheel our boats all the way to the end. It was another mild night, so much warmer than the week earlier. The next morning we were packed and on the river by 7:30. We arrived in Allagash at 11. The only significant wind was during the last mile into town. We saw 4 bear on the drive in but none on the river. We did see 2 moose, several deer, loons, ducks, geese, osprey and eagles.
This was my 9th Allagash trip. It never gets old, not even twice in a row! The North Maine Woods are a special place, we are lucky to have them within a days drive.
