Last Monday(10/7/2020) I headed north from my new home in central costal Maine to spend 5 days in the North Maine Woods driving the logging roads and checking out some ponds and potential new canoe camping destinations.
Like Alsg, I stopped at the Telos Checkpoint, got my permit and headed north. My permit mentioned Pillsbury Deadwater campsite as my destination but in reality I was free to go where I wanted. On my way north I encountered a cow moose using the gravel road as an easy way to move from point A to B. The winds where up and any of the larger lakes where too rough to paddle.I don’t know if its me but I have had some bad luck with the wind in Maine, so my plan was to find some quiet ponds not effected by winds.
I spent my first night at a small pond called Island Pond. It was a drive in campsite with enough room for 2/3 groups. Like all the drive in sites I visited the first 3 days of this trip, it had a couple of picnic tables with raised coverings, and a clean first class privy.
I had the place to myself, and while the campsite was pristine, the thought of sharing a campsite with others was not my cup of tea.
I left early the following morning without paddling the pond.
I visited a few other ponds on the map and soon realized that group campsites where the norm here in the NMW. While heading into one pond my truck’s front right tire feel thru the wood base of a bridge up to the frame. As luck would have it a short time later a nice guy showed up and pulled me out.
That night I stayed at Mooseleux Dam campsite, another group campsite. I had the place to myself and was able to get out on the lake and a stream the next day.
I spent wed driving around and ended up at a place called Straggly
Lake, another group campground but I found a nice secluded campsite. Straggly Lake is beautiful, I spent The day paddling it while trolling a streamer trying to catch a trout or salmon.
I have plans to return to the NMW in the next few weeks to continue my exploration.
Like Alsg, I stopped at the Telos Checkpoint, got my permit and headed north. My permit mentioned Pillsbury Deadwater campsite as my destination but in reality I was free to go where I wanted. On my way north I encountered a cow moose using the gravel road as an easy way to move from point A to B. The winds where up and any of the larger lakes where too rough to paddle.I don’t know if its me but I have had some bad luck with the wind in Maine, so my plan was to find some quiet ponds not effected by winds.
I spent my first night at a small pond called Island Pond. It was a drive in campsite with enough room for 2/3 groups. Like all the drive in sites I visited the first 3 days of this trip, it had a couple of picnic tables with raised coverings, and a clean first class privy.
I had the place to myself, and while the campsite was pristine, the thought of sharing a campsite with others was not my cup of tea.
I left early the following morning without paddling the pond.
I visited a few other ponds on the map and soon realized that group campsites where the norm here in the NMW. While heading into one pond my truck’s front right tire feel thru the wood base of a bridge up to the frame. As luck would have it a short time later a nice guy showed up and pulled me out.
That night I stayed at Mooseleux Dam campsite, another group campsite. I had the place to myself and was able to get out on the lake and a stream the next day.
I spent wed driving around and ended up at a place called Straggly
Lake, another group campground but I found a nice secluded campsite. Straggly Lake is beautiful, I spent The day paddling it while trolling a streamer trying to catch a trout or salmon.
I have plans to return to the NMW in the next few weeks to continue my exploration.
