The culmination of a summer

The trips are now in the final days of their experiences. This is a very special time of the trips when participants take on leadership roles. I had the opportunity to meet up with the Mariners group yesterday in Muscoungus Bay. We spotted the two vessels traveling together from about a mile away, When we got closer I noticed that the leaders were sitting in the middle of the boats with all the participants running the boat around them. It was quite a sight with the two boats sailing around Pemiquid Point with great wind, and the iconic lighthouse in the background. Our Sea kayaking trip is only 10 miles away from Seal Harbor on Mount Desert Island. They have been right on itinerary all trip, and are in high spirits. The whitewater kayaking trips are now paddling the most challenging rapids of their experience and if you had a chance to look at the Umbagog video that is in the earlier post you will see that they are paddling with grace. Maine AT hike has just entered Baxter State Park at the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Tomorrow they will attempt to summit Mt Katahdin our highest peak in Maine. West Branch Explorers are heading towards Round Pond just south of Allagash Lake, and are enjoying Ciss Stream, one of the most beautiful stretches of water in the state(in my opinion). North Woods Canoe is paddling the Allagash river to Allagash Village where they will be picked up Sunday Morning. They have portaged Allagash falls and are in the quiet waters flowing north. Northeast Rivers is now back in Maine from the high waters of Canada. They are paddling the Dead and Kennebec rivers this weekend, enjoying two of Maine's classic whitewater runs. Thoreau Wilderness Trip is also hiking in Baxter and are camping at chimney pond with their sites set on the summit of Mt. Katahdin. They are in their final week of their seven week experience.
The groups this summer have been traveling very well. These last days of the trips are the most rewarding. The participants have the opportunity to pull from all of the skills learned along the way and become leaders themselves. We look forward to welcoming the trips back in celebration Sunday night, and we look forward to sending them back out into the world with this experience as a part of them.