Labrador Trip update

Each year Greg Shute and Don Hudson lead a custom trip to the northern regions of Labrador. This year their travel has led them to the village of Nain on the east cost of Labrador(56 32 24.54 N / 61 40 43.33 W). They spent 3 days driving to Goose Bay(1200 km of dirt roads!) at which point they caught a plane to Nain. If by chance you get to travel the Labrador Highway - bring extra spare tires. They had three flats before they got to Goose Bay!! In Nain they joined an Inuit Captain on his converted fishing vessel for a multi day voyage up through the fjords and inner passages. They called in this morning to report that all is well. They've had some tough weather and the visibility hasn't been all that great. What they have been able to see has been nothing short of amazing. "Last night we watched a 150 tall iceberg float around the harbor - what a site!"
They reported seeing, Minke whales, Gyra falcons, Jaegers, and Fulmars. At the time of their call-in they were in Hebron at the site of an old Moravian Mission.(58 12.250N / 62 37.569W).
It sounds like they've had an exciting time up there, full of adventure and beautiful landscapes. They return to Chewonki on August 5.

Maine AT Report

Trekkers of the Maine AT Hike looked tremendously strong, happy and invigorated by their adventure, according to the Chewonki leader who provided them their resupply last Sunday at Gulf Hagas along the Appalachian Trail. "We had one night of very heavy rains but thankfully no lightning," reported trip leader Jay Avis. "And we spent the night under clouds in the Lakes-of-the-Clouds." Leaders, Amanda and Jay and all of the hikers on the trip looked healthy, happy, clean and notably strong. They had all taken the opportunity to go swimming and clean up in stream along the trail on Saturday. The hikers quickly and excitedly opened their mail, packed their fresh food, and ate a hearty lunch before heading up Whitecap Mountain and continuing on their way.

Ranch House on the Moose River

Ranch House had a blast on the Moose River! We were lucky to have excellent, sunny weather (except for a couple thunder showers) and very high water level. We were able to run Camel Rips, Spencer Rips, and Attean Falls. A highlight for everyone was our rest day at Holeb Falls where we spent the day working on canoe skills and running a Class II rapid that runs next to the campsite. The group also enjoyed swimming and an extended bout of canoe wars.

After we arrived at Chewonki's beautiful wilderness camp at Wood Cove, we hiked up Burnt Jacket mountain. The five miles up offered a new challenge to the group, and made the views from the summit that much more rewarding. Endless blueberries provided a tasty dessert.

A Letter from George River

The George River expedition recently received their resupply via air drop. They sent us this letter on the outgoing plane.

We are having a most superb trip.... couldn't ask for more amiable, dedicated trippers or a more gorgeous locale!! We are on Indian House Lake, having already completed the Depas River and looking forward the the whitewater of the George. For now, we're loving the break that a few days' lake paddling is brining from all the river running, scouting, and lining. Here's a brief report of the trip thus far:
*We made the best of our multi-day travel into Quebec's interior, taking the time to settle in to each other and share stories. We met up with our faithful dirver Amanda Morin in Caribou after a burly loop hike in Presque Isle State Park. We rock climbed(indoors) at U. Maine Presqe Isle, ate pizza, and played frisbee in the fields near the Morins house. After a brief bout with motion sickness on a foggy ferry ride to Godbout, Quebec, we walked on the beach, feasted on burritos, and shared our goals for the trip. Wednesday was our errand day in Sept Iles, our final ice cream of July, and dinner out at a fantastic resaraunt where everyone overate italian food! The train ride to schefferville on Thursay was smooth, with gorgeious views of the Moise River Valley and twelve hours to laugh and talk. By this point, paul and I were amazed that everyone was still perfectly happy and engaged in friendly chatter; no road-weary grouches in this group!! Oxana welcomed us at the McGill Research Station for the night(our last in beds).

*Our first four days on the water were mostly lake travel. Day one on Lake Attikamagen was windy, but strong paddlers made for a successful, albeit long, first day. Between lakes we navigated some quickwater, mostly getting out of our boats and frogging over rocks. It was also in these first few days that we encountered the majority of the portages for this trip. We learned that this group is phenomenal at portages, with a work ethicthat rivals any group I've every been a part of. The lakes were lovely; a few of us even took our first dip in these chilly northern waters. We've all been amazed at watching the weather patterns change dramatically from day to day, and even from minute to minute. On one particularly sunny-rainy-sunny-rainy-sunny day, we moved from Dillon lake into Lac Talon and in the span of ten minutes of quickwater saw a black bear on river right, a wolf on river left, and a caribou and river right. Welcome to the wilds of Quebec!!!

* The Depas river was such an incredible experience, our first with major whitewater! We spend long days scouting rapids, running them in our boats, or lining them from the banks. After two rainless days(unheard of up here) we endured a constant cold and spitting rain on July 10, and ended up cutting the day's travel short to camp in a forest that was burned a few years ago. We were all able to warm up with hot drinks and a giant cookie baked over the campfire for dessert. Challenging days like that one make us all the more grateful for the glorious sunny days when the breeze is blowing enough to keep the vicious blackflies away. We had a few campsites on the De Pas that must be mentioned; high bluffs over looking the river with big views of land and even bigger sky. We can't wait to share our photos!

*Now we are at Indian house lake; so far we've had preferrable weather for lake travel, and sandy beaches to camp near/swim from. Yesterday we climbed Sand Pyramid. Sand Pyramid is a huge sand formation that was once a delta in a glacial river when glaciers sat over a mile high in this place. We saw Naskapi gravesites on top and an incredibly varied view in all directions. In two day we'll see our first humans outside our group since the time we left Schefferville. Our resupply will arrive and we will enjoy our first rest day of the trip.

George River Checks in

I received a call from the George River group the other day and as usual they are great. They were on Pyramid Hill on the George and had just completed 3 days of whitewater paddling. They stated that the river is still high and therefore they are picking their way down extra cautiously. It's been a great experience so far and people are gaining a ton of canoeing experience. So far they've seen: 6 bear, multiple caribou, 3 wolves, and many beaver, muskrat, and,porcupine.

For you Google Earth people, here is the lat/lon of their location:
56 49 37.18 N
64 58 01.47W

Northeast Rivers on The Rapid River

We got an update from, of all things, a parent of one of our Northeast Rivers participants. Lionel Herring is a long time Chewonki alumni and staffer, his son Beni is on this years NER trip. Lionel also teaches whitewater kayaking in the summer and was instructing a group on the Rapid at the same time our group was there.

"The group is doing fantastically well. They've been going pretty hard. It seems as though the boys won't let up and just want to paddle, paddle, paddle. I think NH and VT will give them a more relaxed pace and a chance to rest tired muscles.

Lionel also mentioned how well they were all paddling and that they easily out paddled all the other groups on the river. He sent a few photos he was able snap as our group paddled the Staircases, and Smooth Ledge.

2nd Session of to a great start!!!

Our second session started this past Sunday. Unfortunately the weather didn't altogether cooperate, but it didn't seem to phase the students. Everyone I talked to was anxious to get going and get into the field. The reports from all the leaders was that they had "great groups" and everyone just wanted to get into the woods. Hearing stories like that makes me wish we could send groups into the field on the same day they arrive. Alas, it's not realistic.

This session we have 7, 3 week programs: Maine Appalachian Trail Backpack, Maine Coast Kayak, West Branch Explorers, West Branch Whitewater, Umbagog Kayaking, North Woods Canoe, and Mariners Sailing.

A reminder to our blog readers: The blog is a new project here at Chewonki. We are really excited about it and are hoping that it is being enjoyed by many. Our goal is to update the blog weekly. We will attempt to make one entry per group over the course of a session, there just isn't time for more. Five week trips may get a few extra updates, as we tend to hear from them more often.

Thanks and Enjoy
Chris

Northeast Rivers Celebrates 7 years!

The Northeast Rivers program started on the 9th with yet again another fantastic group. It's always a little extra special to watch this group show up at camp. They are most often veterans of our whitewater program and are returning in hopes of truly honing their paddling skills. At the end of the program they will have paddled the best whitewater available in the greater northeast: the Kennebec, Dead, Rapid, Hudson, Ottawa, Penobscot, Black, and Gatineau to name a few.

I just received an email from our campsite manager at the Big Eddy on the Penobscot River. This is where they've been for the past week. Here are the entries:

Penobscot,July,Thursday the 10th

Chewonkis Big Eddy Campground

After a 3 hour long ride, we were really excited at the sight of rapid water. We set up near Big Eddy , which we paddled along with Big Eddy Rapids. We wanted to get in our kayaks so bad that the camp was set up in basically 10 minutes. Nate and Kim ,though, restrained our "kayaking pulsies",emphasizing the need to respect certain rules. Once we FINALLY got in the water,we went through all the basics: wet-exit,T-rescues,rolls-. Then we went through a section of rapids, to get back our old reflexes. Indeed, most of us hadn't kayaked for at least a year. After an afternoon of kayaking, we went through our first dinner,in camp, our first fire, our first "washin the dishes"...Though the rapids we went through today were fine, they were much too short and easy. Can't wait for more !

Quote"No exclusive relationships. If you want to have one, you have to have it with the WHOLE group." Ben Hering

Hadrien Hering

Penobscot July Friday 11th

We woke up late today and began with a late breakfast. We had egg ,potato, sausage and cheese goulash.

After breakfast we went up to the Little Eddy and worked on the 5 basic paddle strokes. To practice we worked on surfing at the end of the Heaters.We then kayaked Little Eddy. We had lunch that consisted of hummus wraps and bricks. After lunch we paddled Troublemaker. Ben Hadrien,Charley and Jed got into Troublemaker and surfed it up. We had pizza dinner. We are ready for some more shredding tomorrow.

Jed

July 12th Penobscot

B-Fast had some Bagels and Oranges. Then hit the river. We had a long day of paddling.Started with Big Eddy Rapid , then downstream through Big Amberjack and had lunch. We ran all 3 drops and everyone nailed it. Hadrien got his hand roll for the first time. Then hit Nesowdahunk Falls to finish off the day.Went back to camp and cooked some chowder and went to the Pot-Luck dinner with the 4 other CHewonki groups.

Quote " We don't read, we're kayakers, the only thing we read is rivers" Kim

Charlie

More paddling photos to come shortly

Another Check-in From George River.

I heard from George River yesterday afternoon and just like their last call, they are doing phenomenally well. They finishing the Depaus River and were on Indian House Lake. They enjoyed high water on the Depaus R. and got to hone their skills both running whitewater, and lining boats down rapids to technical to paddle. They've been graced with abnormally beautiful weather: sunny days, cool breezes, and bright blue skies are the rule! The only thing remotely resembling a complaint was about the ferocity of the bugs. It certainly hadn't dampened their spirits, but they did say that when the breeze abates the bugs waste no time in coming out. They've seen a little wildlife; bears from a distance and porcupines in camp. They are hoping to see more Caribou as they venture north. As I mentioned before we don't have actual photos from them, but here are a few representatives of what they are seeing.

Boat Builders almost done!!

All I can say is WOW!!!! Having lead this program quite a few years ago I have some first hand knowledge of how labor intensive it is to take a pile of wood and turn it into a useable craft. In years past our boats were just that - useable crafts. They were functional, sturdy, and practical. The quantum leap that we have made by using the Willow design by Bill Thomas is beyond words. We've now entered into the realm of teaching students to create functional art. These sea kayaks are truly works of art that have the heart and soul of the entire group in each individual boat. The method of building is such that each person does not focus on one particular boat, rather the whole group works on every boat, every step of the way. In the end each set of hands will have had a critical role in the creation of the finished products. I've been trying to visit the group on a daily basis in hopes to get a better grip on the progression of this new design. They've been working so dilligently and efficiently that a lapse of even an afternoon leaves me scratching my head and wondering how they got from where they were when I saw them last to the current state. They are currently painting and varnishing the boats and will be installing the rigging in the next 24 hours. Stay tuned for a post on the launch of these magnificent boats.

Me. Appalachian Trail Hike

We delivered a resupply to the Maine A.T. hikers the other day. I asked the leaders to write-up a little synopsis of the trip so far. Here is what the had to say:
Our trip began with two easier days in hopes of acclimating our bodies to carrying packs and walking on uneven terrain. After the adjustment period we slowly increased our mileage and headed in the direction of Mt. Washington. We've had lots of great hiking days, as well as a few rainy ones toward the beginning. Our toughest days are put into perspective when we come into contact with thru-hikers; their stories give us great motivation to smile and carry on. The group gets along very well and from conversations about peoples lives at home/school we're finding that even those that have trouble finding acceptance at elsewhere are well-liked out here in the woods. We had a small amount of home-sickness at the beginning of the trip, but its amazing what a guitar and some campfire songs will do to bring people back home without the need to BE back home. "We've got what is turning out to be a great group."

We've also been enjoying an array of wild-edibles along the way. We've dined on wild strawberries, chicken-of-the-woods mushrooms, sorrel, plantain, and wintermint to name a few. The food that we are carrying on our backs has also been well received and the kids have healthy appetites. The other day we watched some "wilderness TV" for over an hour. We got to watch a moose graze about 100 feet away from us. "What a treat to get to safely watch such an amazing animal for that length of time." We've found many swimming holes along the way. The chance to wash off the sweat and grime of the trail is always a welcome thing.

Overall this is turning out to be a fantastic trip. The group has come together wonderfully and we've got our sites firmly set on the heights of Mt. Washington!!!

Umbagog Whitewater Kayaking Thriving!!

I was able to check in with our Umbagog group when I delivered the resupply last week. After a beautiful ride across the lake, I arrived on the island shortly after their breakfast. The group was eagerly awaiting my arrival. They were rather excited for fresh fruits and vegetables and of course, mail. I heard great stories from the group about learning the basic skills of running whitewater, of warm days spent on the river, and of course tales of fending off the infamous mosquitoes. Bug bites and all the group was thriving. A great victory of the group at large was that everybody had learned the eskimo roll and was able to accomplish it in moving water. This is a significant milestone in each paddlers progression and a signal that the group is progressing rapidly with their skills.
The greatest challenge they had faced to date was the high water on the river caused by the daily afternoon rain events. This created a need stay on the lower section of the river and paddle the stretch from what is known as "Gate 4" to the bottom. It is a wonderful stretch of whitewater and perfect at all water levels for learning the basics.
As a side note; there are 8 "gates" on the lower section of the river. Each is not an actual gate, but refers to the location of where the slalom gates placed. During the 1970-80's the river was used as a training ground for competition slalom kayakers. The kayakers would span elevated wires across the river at predetermined locations. Each wire would have a pair of wooden dowels hanging from it. The dowels were standardly striped white/red, or white/green, and spaced about 3 feet apart. The dowels would hang just above the water. Slalom kayakers had to navigate the river in such a way that they passed through each set of gates.

Gordy Hall's Return from the Bigelows

The seven-week Osprey Cabin, Gordy Hall, has returned from their first wilderness trip in high spirits. Hiking over the Bigelow Mountain Range in the Carrabasset Valley Region, the cabin hiked over twenty miles and attained six peaks. Gordy Hall experienced additional highlights on their last night at Little Bigelow Lean-to where they relaxed in the “tubs” (deep pools of mountain water run-off), celebrated the Fourth of July with a banquet sized amount of spaghetti and fried, garlic pitas, and slept out under the stars. While, Gordy Hall has returned to camp, both the campers and the counselors are excited for more adventures to come. This four-day trip was the initial of three, and after such a great success in the Bigelows they are eager to attempt Mahoosuc Notch later this summer.

We've heard from the George River Trip

This morning we got a scheduled phone call from our group on the George River in Quebec. It sounds as if the group is doing extremely well! In the few short days they've been together they've gelled as a unit and are having a fantastic start to their trip. The elation in Megan's(one of the trip leaders) voice was almost palpable. They are currently on Lac Talon. The last thing we heard before she said goodbye was, "in the last fifteen minutes we've seen both caribou and wolves!" We won't be getting any photos from them until they are back, but in hopes of giving you an idea of what they are seeing I've included a few photos from years past.
For those of you who are Google Earth enabled you can see their location by searching these coordinates: 55* 05' 19.11 N 65* 39' 24.36W

Boat Builders Expedition gets a facelift

After 21 successful years our Boatbuilding Expedition has been given a facelift!!! This year we have partnered with Bill Thomas of Bill Thomas Woodworking and Willow Kayaks.
We spoke to Bill last year about the possibility of using his Willow kayak as the platform for our program. He not only agreed to work with us, but offered to teach the first portion of the building process. Bill runs a busy shop building custom furniture as well as teaching courses on boatbuilding throughout the year. His enthusiasm and can-do approach were so overwhelming that we just had to give it a try. The program started on June 29, and on the 30th I walked into the pole barn where they were building the boats and was astounded at the progress. After the first day they had the hulls stitched together, and they "looked like boats!" All passers by were astounded at the difference in hull-shape, the beauty of the design, and the speed of the progress our students were making. It was instantly obvious that the decision to give the program a facelift was well worth it. More updates as the boats progress!!

Summer off to a great start!!!

Welcome to our new Wilderness Programs Blog!!!

The wilderness trip office is taking a huge step toward keeping our parents and friends of trippers abreast of what is going on afield. We will be updating this blog on a regular basis. The summer is busy and our focus will be on our people in the field, but we'll try to update this as often as possible. We'll attempt to give our readers information about how our groups are doing, where they are headed, the challenges and victories they experience, and of course when possible will be providing you with photos from the field.

Summer 2008 is off to a wonderful start! Our first students arrived on campus on June 24 to a beautiful Maine summer day. It was the "opening day" we hope for all year long: warm, with lots of sun and a slight breeze to make things comfortable. The many anxious faces we saw arrive that morning were soon turned to ones of excitement as they learned of the experiences upon which they were about to embark .

The following morning most of our groups loaded into vans and set forth across the state. Whether it was into canoes, kayaks, or with packs on their backs they began their introductions into the wonders of wilderness travel. Each step of the way they'll be learning the finer points of living in a small community, traveling together with a sense of purpose and a sense of place, and leaving no trace at each spot they visit.

Thanks, and keep checking back for updates on individual trips.