Page 13 - Aug_2014

A soggy portage is a frequent part of any trip.
VENTILATION

His boat survived with minimal injury gans (wooden boxes with leather straps),
German Engineered Since 1898
aside from two interior breaks in the fi- an axe, a saw, individual tents, and wa-
berglass which were repaired with duct terproof duffle bags for a combined
tape, and broken seat rails which re- weight of roughly 220 pounds, which
NEW
quired a stop at a hardware store. The meant that their portages often required
seat broke early on Day 6 but the heavy two trips. They restocked their food
rains of the season came to Macfarlane’s supply fairly often with the last six days
rescue when he grabbed a child’s large on the trail being the longest without a
rubber ball decorated with Disney prin- food stop and spent four nights indoors,
cesses which was floating downstream. two of which were bracketed around

He was able to sit on the ball until re- their sole rest day.
pairs could be.
The high point of the 39-day trip
for Brakeley was Spencer Stream and At- Rather than deal with the weight
tean Pond in Maine. “It was some of the of a tent, Macfarlane brought a ham-
prettiest paddling and at that point we mock and tarp. For cooking he used a
were really in a groove,” he said. A less collapsible wood stove which, due to the

enjoyable day was on the South Branch
wet weather, was occasionally unable FUTURA PRO 42 & 34 SL
of the Dead River in to function. At the half-
Maine after a torrential way point he reluctantly Patitucci Photo
downpour which turned added a gas stove and Visit www.deuter.com
NFCT facts:
the normally twisty river cylinder. Only three of
740 miles (160 upstream)
into a straight line. The his paddling days were
boat flipped rounding a completely rain-free and 4 states
corner and it took over a the almost-constant pre- 1 province
quarter of a mile for the cipitation forced Mac- 22 streams and rivers
canoeists to right them- farlane to supplement
selves. They were able to his camping with five 58 lakes and ponds
63 portages (53 miles)
exit the river and spent nights in private houses
the rest of the afternoon (in one case after being 2000 – Northern Forest
figuring out what need- found nearly hypother-
ed repairs and what had mic in a restaurant by Canoe Trail organization
been lost. They stayed in a pair of “trail angels”), incorporated
a hostel that night and four nights in motels 2006 – Northern Forest

hitchhiked to a store and inns, and three Canoe Trail completed
the next morning to nights in picnic shelters.
get a new tarp and tent
Even with the al-
among other supplies. Hitchhiking back most constant rain, Macfarlane said
to their canoe, they lost roughly a day of he never felt like quitting. “My lowest

paddling time.
point was on Allagash Lake on Day
In contrast to Macfarlane, Brake- 24,” he said. “The forecast said a 30%
ley was an experienced long-distance chance of showers after 1 p.m. but it
paddler when he set out on the trail, started raining at 7 a.m. and got heavier
having paddled as a youngster and guid- and heavier.” Macfarlane became hypo-
ed month-long trips for his old summer thermic for the second time on the trip.

camp, as well as doing some solo long “It was the lowest moment,” he said. “It Run like bandits through downtown St. Albans
distance canoeing. “My through paddle was when my motivation hit rock bot-
was the start of a long involvement with tom.” The next morning it took him SUNDAY
the Northern Forest Canoe Trail,” said over an hour to get out of his sleeping
Brakeley who enjoyed his trek so much bag and back on the trail, even though
that he wrote a book about his experi- he knew he was near the end. Despite

ence. “The following year I worked on his soggy experience, Macfarlane en- Sept21,2014 at 9:00am
a trail crew and I continue to work part joyed his time so much that he has
time for them.”
signed up to maintain the first segment
Macfarlane has one piece of ad- of the trail in Vermont.
Race starts on Main Street
vice for anyone heading out on the trail. Compared to Macfarlane, Sam across from Taylor Park
“Prepare,” he said. “Do a few overnight Brakeley and his friend Andy Rougeot

trips and see how it works before em- paddled the trail in the QE2. In 2009,
barking on something that might end up the two college students decided to go To Register, visit www.active.com
miserable. Prepare for nearly all eventu- “old school,” heading out in a 50-pound Keyword Search: “St. Albans Raid Half Marathon”
alities or as many as possible.”
Old Town Penobscot carrying wannin-
For more information: Call 802-524-2444

AUGUST 2014
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