Bucket List - Northern Forest Canoe Trail

[norm]

Here's a story about a man who completed the Northern Forest Canoe Trail in a kayak: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/b ... ric-paddle

Here's a link to the blog mentioned in the story: http://gilstrip.blogspot.com/

There seem to be a lot of copies of this story online today, so you may find better ones with more info. My wife sent me a link to the version in the Boston Globe and it had less info than the one I listed the link for above. I don't have time to read the blog or find the best version of the story...gotta get back to work....

[nightrick]

Hey Norm,

I have spent most of my paddling days as a coastal kayaker. Some how this NFCT holds some appeal for me especially if done in the Fall. It is over 740 miles across 5 states and 2 countries so I don't figure it could be done in one trip if you have a job. Is this of any interest to you ?

[norm]

Nightrick - I don't think I'm enough of an outdoorsman to tackle the rigors of the NFCT, even in smaller doses. I might like to try a night or two of kayak camping someday, but right now my concept of camping is using our 30 foot travel trailer with all the comforts of home.

I thought about trying a section of the Androscoggin River "Source to the Sea Trek" this year but couldn't even pull that together. The Androscoggin Trek is just day trip paddles of 10-15 miles. Much more my speed. Glad I didn't plan to join them last week when I was on vacation because they ended up cancelling the days I could have been there due to high water. The URL for the Androscoggin Trek is: http://www.avcnet.org/arwc/trek.html

[pic]

I have paddled the Androscoggin many times. We camp in Erroll right on the river by the rapids. Beautiful area with lots of wildlife.

Pic

[norm]

Hey Nightrick,

I might actually get to do a piece of the NFCT next month. I'll be staying in a cabin on Wood Pond near Moose River and I just realized the NFCT goes right through there. Should get to tackle a 10 mile section of it some morning...then I'll just have 460 miles left to tackle in the future.

[nightrick]

Hi Norm,

When are you planning on being in the Moose River section ? I think that is in the first part of the trail. Thanks for the info on the Androscroggin.

[norm]

Not sure when yet.

There's a series of 13 maps you can buy ($9.95 ea.) for the NFCT and I need map 10, so it's not near the beginning of the trail. There's a website with online info and a store at: http://northernforestcanoetrail.org

[getnoutside]

Last year a friend and I paddled/camped on Lobster Lake for a long weekend. Lobster Lake is technically not part of the NFCT, but is easily accessible from the West Branch of the Penobscot (just after the Northeast Carry from Moosehead Lake) via Lobster Stream (see Section 11 of the NFCT). Lobster Lake is beautifully pristine with some great camp sites. We hit it during the buggy season and experienced some weather, but still had a great time.

http://www.get-outside.com/lobster.htm