FAQ about the Allagash Trip – July 17 through July 23,
2011
What’s the
itinerary?
We will be on
the Allagash waterway from July 17 through July 23, roughly Sunday noon to
Saturday noon. We’ll need to depart
southern Maine early – meaning, twilight before dawn – on July 17 in order to
reach our put-in around noon. We’ll take out around Saturday noon, July
23, in order to arrive back in southern Maine in the evening of the same day.
We’ll spend six
nights and seven days on the river. The
trip is about 80 miles, so each day we’ll paddle an average of 12 miles.
This is about five hours of paddling time per day, but it’s a rough
estimate. Wind conditions and extended
rest stops can consume large blocks of time.
We’ll get up early, break camp, paddle to the next day’s intended
campsite, and – if we’re lucky - stop in mid-afternoon to fish, swim, hike,
nap, and prepare a sumptuous evening feast.
By the way, it’s
important to get up and get moving early for two reasons. One, a breeze usually kicks up in mid- to
late-morning. Since we’re generally
headed north, the breeze is almost always a headwind. Second, since July is a busy month on the Allagash, starting and
stopping early provides a good choice (hopefully, first choice) of
campsites.
What’s the
camp routine?
We’ll share the
camp chores according to ability and preference. Chores include gathering firewood, setting up tents, setting up a
tarp over the common picnic table (a fixture of each Allagash campsite),
cooking meals, washing dishes, keeping the supplies and gear organized, finding
and maintaining a supply of drinking water, and generally doing what needs to
get done. Cooking will be done on open
fires. We’ll have at least two hot
meals every day.
How about
bugs and weather?
1. It probably will rain.
2. It might be cold and windy sometimes. Even a windy, fifty-five-degree day can feel
uncomfortably chily.
3. The sun will shine. Some days, the sun will shine all day and
create a sunburn hazard.
4. Biting insects, especially mosquitoes, will
be more or less abundant at some times and at some places.
What do I
need to bring?
Each camper
should bring a waterproof bag containing a sleeping bag and some dry clothes,
plus a bag or pack with accessories such as sunglasses, fishing tackle, camera,
or whatever. The waterproof bag is
important; you can cheap it out in this
department at your risk. Although it’s
possible to skimp with a system of garbage bags inside a cloth pack, I strongly
recommend bringing a sturdy waterproof sack for clothes and sleeping bag. Water is insidious -- even a pinhole can
draw a cold and clammy quart of damp into your sleeping bag from the bilge of a
canoe.
When packing, weight isn’t a major constraint, but volume is. Aim for fitting all your personal gear into one waterproof sack and one daypack or smaller packbasket. If you're a backpacker, this will seem like great luxury. If you’re accustomed to traveling with a steamer trunk, you’ll feel deprived. Anyhow, try to keep it simple and compact. Even though canoes carry a lot of weight, they don’t easily accommodate extras like folding chairs, canned drinks, and umbrellas. Loose items tend to get wet, lost, or broken.
Clothing –
suggested checklist:
Hat. The most important item. Shade from intense sunlight. Shelter from hard rain. Warmth from northwind. If you need to buy a new hat for this trip,
a felt crusher – the old-fashioned floppy-brimmed wool hat - is the best value. Your hat is your chief means of self-expression -- a sign of your
competence and savoir-faire as a woodsman.
Bandanna. All-purpose neckerchief, towel, pot-holder,
and washcloth. Blow nose, wash dishes.
One sturdy pair
of pants suitable for one week's wear.
Levis or chinos are fine.
One sturdy
long-sleeved loose-fitting shirt. Wool
is best but chamois or canvas is more comfortable for most folks. Regardless of material, a dense weave for
defense against wind and biting insects (snug cuffs and collar are nice
features), plus loose fit for paddling, are desirable features in a canoeing
shirt.
Wool or polypro
socks. A dry pair for each day is
ideal. Again, cotton just doesn’t work
unless you enjoy cold feet. Canoe
travel requires frequent wading.
Footwear
suitable for frequent wading. (Avoid
shoes that remain soggy.) Keep in mind
that your feet will often be damp.
A wool
overshirt, large sweater, or polarpile jacket.
Something lightweight but warm enough to serve as an outer garment for
cool days, whether dry or damp.
Raincoat/Windbreaker. Ideally, one garment will serve as both.
Accessories –
essential items:
Sunglasses and
sunscreen. The July sun reflecting off the
water is INTENSE and, in a canoe, there's no escape from the sun. Once you’re burnt, each subsequent day gets
worse.
So, you'll need
one pair of stout pants, maybe a couple of
long-sleeve shirts, a few pairs
of dry socks, wool shirt (or pile jacket), hat, and shoes suitable for
wading. It’s not necessary to bring a
complete change of clothes. I generally
bring extra socks and a couple of T-shirts.
And bring a couple of bandannas to use as towels, kerchiefs, pot
holders, or whatever.
Click here to see a map of
our route.
Click here for a
sample of Allagash websites