The Playlist for the trip is: th-cam.com/play/PLpR9UR-7r5PKFT2ecKzFkSZ_gO6wnuQyG.html&si=QwhSpeGPtmtpT-BK I also have gear reviews of my trip here: th-cam.com/play/PLpR9UR-7r5PJ7NR1G7vNcaFebznMkO9t4.html&si=CU5JZO6wamUe5lEv
There was one couple ahead of me. They started a week before I did. I was following them and noticed in the sign in kiosks that I was gaining on them. I bumped into them during the upstream part of Little Spencer Stream. They took the site next to me on Spencer Lake and I chatted with them for a bit that evening. I ended up needing to slow down to finish on my predetermined pick up date and took a few days off near Atean Pond near Jackman. In the end, they finished a day before I did.
There weren't any at all for the first 2 weeks! It helped make up for the near freezing nights and nearly all of the campgrounds/stores being closed still.
I was able to single carry almost every portage. The entire weight of everything including my canoe was just over 100lbs. The only true double carry was the Mud Pond carry. I didn't even try to single carry that. Many of the nonwheelable portages have parts that you can wheel the boat so I portaged with the portage wheels on my canoe and was able to put it down for at least part of almost every nonwheelable portage. I had 2 sub-5 mile days and 3 zero mile days. Almost all of my low travel days were just before my last resupply in Jackman ME. I had a set pick up date and it made more sense to take my time before resupply became a significant challenge. I also had 1 zero mile day just before the VT section as the post office I had a resupply at isn't open on Sundays so I had to wait nearby until Monday.
@@LynxOutdoors686 What a great idea with the portage cart. I'll have to try that with mine. I would just be concerned with low lying branches getting caught up in the wheels. Any issues there?
Nice video. You are welcome! I volunteer a lit for the NFCT and the stones steps at the site you stayed at on south end of Long Lake are curtesy of a weekend work trip. If you are interested in getting involved on a work weekend (more fun than real work) check out the NFCT website and click on volunteer/get involved. There are usually 4-5 a year, food provided and work is simple and fun. See you out there.
Awesome, I'll have to check into that. I greatly appreciate all the hard work you and the others put into making this amazing canoe trail even more amazing.
I noticed that you had only one pack and had it in the front. Was this always the case throughout your trip or did you switch it up depending on the paddling situation.
I just had the single huge 120L dry bag and it lived in that spot the entire trip. The portage wheels didn't fit well in that narrow section of the canoe and the extra weight did help with tracking. The canoe certainly would have handled better if I had been able to split the weight evenly in front and behind me but I was trying pretty hard to make the portages as simple as possible. The 120L drybag was too big for how I packed in hindsight. I have a 90L that I'd bring next time. My long distance backpacking background involves a lot of small, light equipment that doesn't take up much room. I certainly didn't bring much in the way of luxuries. I was able to easily fit everything I had including the thwart bag, pfd, etc in that dry bag for portaging. The only things that didn't go in it were the paddles and portage cart. My portage cart worked so well and so many of the portages I was able to keep all my gear in the boat while wheeling that if I did the trip again I'd certainly play around with two smaller dry bags instead of the one.
Sadly yes. This was my first try at recording a trip and it wasn't until I sat down to learn how to edit video afterwards that I realized the mistake. Oh well, live and learn. I won't be making the same mistake again and have upgraded some simple camera equipment to make it easier to take better videos in the future.
Where are the other parts?!?! Im planning on doing the trip next year and your videos made a great introduction on what to expect!
The Playlist for the trip is: th-cam.com/play/PLpR9UR-7r5PKFT2ecKzFkSZ_gO6wnuQyG.html&si=QwhSpeGPtmtpT-BK
I also have gear reviews of my trip here: th-cam.com/play/PLpR9UR-7r5PJ7NR1G7vNcaFebznMkO9t4.html&si=CU5JZO6wamUe5lEv
This was really cool to see! I did Section 1 and 2 last year as fishing trips just a few weeks after you set out.
Awesome! I hope you had a great time. The sections of the trail near Jackman and the West Branch of the Penobscot have incredible fishing as well!
Good thing that water wasn’t much deeper to get your boat back! Great first video!
Yeah, seriously. I don't know for sure how cold the water actually was but that lake was still ice just a few weeks beforehand.
May 1st launch! Any others prior to you? And would you meet any other thru paddlers on your trip?
There was one couple ahead of me. They started a week before I did. I was following them and noticed in the sign in kiosks that I was gaining on them. I bumped into them during the upstream part of Little Spencer Stream. They took the site next to me on Spencer Lake and I chatted with them for a bit that evening. I ended up needing to slow down to finish on my predetermined pick up date and took a few days off near Atean Pond near Jackman. In the end, they finished a day before I did.
How are the black files in early may?
There weren't any at all for the first 2 weeks! It helped make up for the near freezing nights and nearly all of the campgrounds/stores being closed still.
A great start. Did you single or double portage? 33 days seems like a pretty good clip. Did you take a down days?
I was able to single carry almost every portage. The entire weight of everything including my canoe was just over 100lbs. The only true double carry was the Mud Pond carry. I didn't even try to single carry that. Many of the nonwheelable portages have parts that you can wheel the boat so I portaged with the portage wheels on my canoe and was able to put it down for at least part of almost every nonwheelable portage. I had 2 sub-5 mile days and 3 zero mile days. Almost all of my low travel days were just before my last resupply in Jackman ME. I had a set pick up date and it made more sense to take my time before resupply became a significant challenge. I also had 1 zero mile day just before the VT section as the post office I had a resupply at isn't open on Sundays so I had to wait nearby until Monday.
@@LynxOutdoors686 What a great idea with the portage cart. I'll have to try that with mine. I would just be concerned with low lying branches getting caught up in the wheels. Any issues there?
It wasn't bad for the most part. I'm sure I snagged a few here and there. I never got stuck at least.
Nice video. You are welcome! I volunteer a lit for the NFCT and the stones steps at the site you stayed at on south end of Long Lake are curtesy of a weekend work trip. If you are interested in getting involved on a work weekend (more fun than real work) check out the NFCT website and click on volunteer/get involved. There are usually 4-5 a year, food provided and work is simple and fun. See you out there.
Awesome, I'll have to check into that. I greatly appreciate all the hard work you and the others put into making this amazing canoe trail even more amazing.
I noticed that you had only one pack and had it in the front. Was this always the case throughout your trip or did you switch it up depending on the paddling situation.
I just had the single huge 120L dry bag and it lived in that spot the entire trip. The portage wheels didn't fit well in that narrow section of the canoe and the extra weight did help with tracking. The canoe certainly would have handled better if I had been able to split the weight evenly in front and behind me but I was trying pretty hard to make the portages as simple as possible. The 120L drybag was too big for how I packed in hindsight. I have a 90L that I'd bring next time. My long distance backpacking background involves a lot of small, light equipment that doesn't take up much room. I certainly didn't bring much in the way of luxuries. I was able to easily fit everything I had including the thwart bag, pfd, etc in that dry bag for portaging. The only things that didn't go in it were the paddles and portage cart. My portage cart worked so well and so many of the portages I was able to keep all my gear in the boat while wheeling that if I did the trip again I'd certainly play around with two smaller dry bags instead of the one.
What kind of canoe?
The canoe is a North Star Northwind Solo in their Blacklite material. Its a 15.5' carbon/kevlar blend.
@@LynxOutdoors686 Would you recommend this canoe? I was looking at a Swift Osprey but that's based off old NFCT videos.
Filmed the entire damned thing in Portrait View....
Sadly yes. This was my first try at recording a trip and it wasn't until I sat down to learn how to edit video afterwards that I realized the mistake. Oh well, live and learn. I won't be making the same mistake again and have upgraded some simple camera equipment to make it easier to take better videos in the future.