This week has been a busy one!  Resupplies have taken place and many of the groups have checked in.  The weather has been great for wilderness travel this session, and the groups have been thriving out in the field.  First up on the resupply list was Mariners.  Willard Morgan met up with the group in Rockland Harbor.  They had no idea that it was Lobster Fest on Thursday so the harbor was quite busy.   They managed to find a place to dock, and get all the gear needed to make their final push southeast back home.  Willard spoke of how impressed he was with the groups organization, and how at this point the leaders were stepping back allowing the students to take ownership of the trip.  Here are some images of the group in Rockland.

Maine AT was resupplied at the south end of Nahmakanta lake with the help of our Girls Camp staff.   They are heading into the final stretch of the 100 mile wilderness.  Next week we will have their final resupply at Abol Bridge before they head into Baxter State Park for a summit attempt on Katahdin.  The group is hiking very well averaging about 10 miles a day!

North Woods Canoe is now at Churchill Dam.  This Dam is the entrance to Chase rapids, a fun class II-III section of rapids that will thrill the group.  From here they enter the river portion of the Allagash Waterway slowly flowing north.  Many moose have been seen as well as an abundance of eagles.  All is well!

I had the opportunity to resupply the Umbagog group on Friday.  The group is paddling up to class III whitewater right now, and plan to take advantage of the increased water release this weekend to paddle the staircase rapids.

Northeast Rivers called in from the Ottawa river in Canada stating that the river levels are near perfect for the playground of waves that are found on this river.  They are all paddling very well and got to paddle with a few kayakers from the Canadian national freestyle team. Monday they will head east toward the Gatineau river, through Montreal, and then on to the Kennebec river here in Maine.  A few other Chewonki paddling staff plan on meeting them there to celebrate the last river of this five week trip.

Northeast High Peaks are now into the final section of their travels the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  The group is “having the time of their lives” and cant wait to share their stories with the Chewonki community when the return on the 14th.

Greg Shute called in from the Torngat trip in Northern Labrador.  They had finished their hiking portion of the trip and along their journey have spotted over 8 black bear and 3 wolves.  While on the boat transport to the beginning of the hike they spotted 6 polar bears from a safe distance.  The group is now back at the base camp connecting with the local community.  They are assisting in research, partaking in traditional skills workshops, and taking short side trips to archaeological sites.  What an amazing trip!

Please check back soon for more updates.  We will be posting images of these trips on our flicker site found through the website.  The images will be posted after the trips return on the 14th.

All the best,

Ryan Linehan

First off I want to let you all know that the George River Expedition has made it to Kanguiqsuallujjuac.  This small Inuit village is the northern end of their journey.  Today they are touring around the village landscape with local Jean Guy.  Here are some images of the village.  The group will begin their two day travel back to Chewonki tomorrow.

We also had a resupply for Maine AT, and West Branch Explorers

This is what we hear from the trail.  “We have a very strong group on trail. We have had our slips and falls in the wet trail, and have been able to make 2+ MPH when the trail is nice. Atop barren ledges it was undercast. (see photo below)

then sunny on Barren Mountain only to be overcast by the ledges of the third mountain. Around camp everyone helps and jobs get done quick,allowing time for OHO (officialy hanging out)

West Branch Explorers are amazing.  They are currently hiking well, and will be transported to their canoe section tomorrow.  They are excited to trade their packs for paddles as they head north.

We will have more updates from trips coming this week!

Best,

Ryan Linehan

Chewonki #1
Latitude:58.09478
Longitude:-65.70709
GPS location Date/Time:07/29/2011 04:39:41 EDT

Message:Colin and Jason Checking in with our current location from the George River Expedition.

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/5WDoQ/58.09478N/65.70709W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=58.09478,-65.70709&ll=58.09478,-65.70709&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Chewonki #1

ready to go!

We are well into our first week of wilderness travel for second session.  Some of the first resupplies are happening tomorrow for West Branch Explorers and Maine AT.  We spoke to both groups yesterday and they are hiking strong and enjoying perfect weather.  Bethany of Explorers let us know that all are getting stronger in the legs and the group is looking forward to a rest day tomorrow when we deliver their fresh food,  including a watermelon!! Next week (Aug 4th) will bring resupplies for North Woods Canoe and Mariners.  Aug 5th we will bring supplies to Umbagog.  More details from those trips when we check in.  stay tuned….

It is hard to believe that our first five week trips are coming back next week.  George River Expedition and Boatbuilders.  Boatbuilders are currently on Hurricane Island off Vinalhaven in Penobscot Bay, past home of Outward Bound.  Yesterday they took part in a service project with Sam the island caretaker.  This island has been a favorite by many trippers since we started stopping there last year.  The trippers love giving back to the areas in which they are traveling.  George River is down below Helen’s Falls right now and paddling into the tidal influenced section of the river.  With good weather they will reach the village of Kangiqsuallujjuac on Monday, the northern terminus of their journey.

Helen's Falls

I had the pleasure of connecting with Northeast Rivers on Monday.  The group just paddled the Rapid River, camping on our island on Lake Umbagog.  The group is paddling extremely well and now kayaking on the Deerfield river in Massachusetts.  From there they will head west and into upstate New York.  Northeast High Peaks called in last night as they finished the Gaspe section of their hike.  Sandy’s excitement nearly jumped through the phone as he recalled the section.  The group woke up early in the morning to see caribou enjoying a meal of grass around their campsite.  The group is really enjoying this new trip and they are “pumped” to get over to the Adirondacks.   They will be picking up their mail drop after the next section on the 3rd.

All the best!

Ryan Linehan

More Flicker Photos

More photos from Session I are loaded on to our Flicker site at   http://www.flickr.com/photos/chewonki/collections/72157619515494223/

Session II Trips Depart

Today  the first of the Session II trips departed  with Umbagog, Maine AT Backpack, Mariners, Northwoods Canoe departing after an early breakfast.  Tomorrow we say good by to West Branch Explorers.

George River Update

Today we heard from the George River Crew with their regularly scheduled phone call.  Today they paddled  37 miles  from the north end of Indian House Lake to Wedge Hill.   They reported seeing more caribou and 5 black bears including two young cubs.  Jason also said they paddled through a stretch of river that was lined with caribou hair, a good indication that the larger heard is nearby and recently crossed the river. Tonight they are camped on a particularly scenic bend in the river surrounded by  high barren hills with occasional clumps of stunted spruce trees. Large car sized boulders line the shoreline in front of their campsite,  testament  to the power of the river at spring ice out.   It is hard to believe that  in a little over a week the crew will paddle into the Inuit community of Kangiqsulujjuaq on the shores of Ungava Bay.

Chewonki #1
Latitude:57.11826
Longitude:-65.30978
GPS location Date/Time:07/25/2011 16:12:36 EDT

Message:Colin and Jason Checking in with our current location from the George River Expedition.

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/5Tzl8/57.11826N/65.30978W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=57.11826,-65.30978&ll=57.11826,-65.30978&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

This morning we made a quick trip out to Harbor Island in Muscongus Bay to catch up with the Boatbuilders.  Yesterday they passed Pemaquid Point.  They departed Fort Island at 6:30 and rounded Pemaquid Point and by 9:00AM they were taking the first break of the day in New Harbor.  Today they are enjoying a rest day on Harbor before continuing their journey DownEast.

George River Update

We just received an update today  from the George River Crew.  They camped last night at the north end of Indian House Lake at the mouth of the Indian River. Today they plan to cover about 30 miles  down a wonderful  section of the George  that is filled with  Class I, II, III rapids.  The George picks up speed in this stretch and is particularly scenic as the mountains  gain elevation.  They are now past the halfway point with about 180 miles left to paddle.  This stretch of the river  has a strong current  and the miles will fly by.

From the e-mail we received it appears that they are continuing to see wolves and caribou.

We look forward to a scheduled sat phone call tomorrow and I will update with more news then

Chewonki #1
Latitude:56.78992
Longitude:-64.87866
GPS location Date/Time:07/24/2011 07:18:48 EDT

Message:Colin and Jason Checking in from the George River. We have seen wolves and caribou.

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/5S_DW/56.78992N/64.87866W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=56.78992,-64.87866&ll=56.78992,-64.87866&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Monday evening the entire camp community joined the 3-week wilderness trippers in Chapin Hall for video and digital images from the past 3 weeks of wilderness trips.  It was great to have everyone together and to see and feel the enthusiasm  as we welcomed back our 3-week trippers.

We  have had reports in over the past  two days  from all of our 5-week trips.  Northeast Rivers  called in while driving from the West Branch of the Penobscot, where they have spent the past week paddling, to Lake Umbagog.  They are now at our campsite in Sunday Cove on Lake Umbagog on the Maine, New Hampshire border.  They will spend the next  few days  paddling the Rapid River.

The George River Expedition checked in from their most recent location on Indian House Lake.  They are  a bit more than halfway through their trip and on Monday a float plane from Air Saguenay flew in their  resupply for the second half of the trip.  The crew reported seeing their first  group of caribou which is very exciting,  particularly combined with their sighting of a wolf earlier in the week.  The group has a SPOT Tracker and this is their location as of yesterday.

Chewonki #1
Latitude:56.32405
Longitude:-64.72873
GPS location Date/Time:07/20/2011 09:52:40 EDT

Message:Colin and Jason Checking in from the George River. We have seen wolves and caribou.

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/5QMFB/56.32405N/64.72873W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=56.32405,-64.72873&ll=56.32405,-64.72873&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

This morning we received a text message from our new North East High Peaks backpacking  trip. They have completed  their hike through the Bigelows, Sugarloaf and Saddleback and today is a day of driving to the Parc de la Gaspesie  in Quebec followed by a week of hiking in the Chi Chic Mountains where they hope to see caribou.  Sandy’s and Dom’s text this morning said, “Thus far the perfect trip”

The Boat Builders  where up before the crack of dawn to catch  the outgoing tide yesterday morning.  They spent last night on Spectacle Island and today they are headed to Fort Island in the mouth of the Damariscotta River.

With a fresh appreciation for whitewater canoeing and a trove of buoyant memories, Chewonki’s Wilderness Leadership Expedition has just returned from their trip to the Ashuapmushuan River (about five hours northwest of Quebec city).  Steel blue waters, verdant vistas of jack pine and white birch, and prominent ledges of pink granite dominated the riparian landscape of the Rivièr Ashuapmushuan.  White throated sparrows serenaded the group’s daily down river voyage, as theethereal, flute-like call of the Hermit Thrush marked the evening crepuscular transition.

While mornings often began with a silent paddle, the days were largely governed by singing and laughter.  Whether Corbin was regaling the group with his deadpan Arnold impression, Kate and Katie were adding lyrics to their smash hit “I’ve got a Grammy,” or Erica way laying down a beat, large smiles typically adorned the faces of the team of paddlers.  That is, until they approached a new section of whitewater and their smiles transformed into expressions of focused concentration, the pressing matter at hand: What are the obstacles?  Should we portage?  Line the boats?  Can we slow our momentum and ride the left-of-center line down the wave train?  Yes.    “That’s the perfect downstream V,” offered Clint.    “Okay, let’s set a river left angle and ease our way down the left side,” suggested Corbin.    “Right, just next to the troughs of the waves,” directed Leah.    A typical scouting conversation heard toward the end of the expedition.

The team of leaders-in-training developed a strong foundation for reading and running whitewater during the expedition, as well as a good number of additional skill sets – map and compass navigation, knot tying, fire building, paddle strokes, lining and portaging techniques, risk assessment and management, camp set-up, conflict resolution, decision making strategies, leadership styles, wilderness first aid, and even a bit of conversational French.

As they traced their way down the former Innu fur trapping route and later logging industry water highway, Clint, Corbin, Kate, Erica, Leah, and Katie chartered Chewonki’s return to the Ashuapmushuan Reserve and Chewonki’s first-ever wilderness leadership course.  Amongst fond memories of lynx, fox, and moose sightings in the eastern Canadian wilderness, the Leadership Expedition concludes its five weeks of instruction, experiential learning, and exploration.

By Katie Hyman

West Branch Explorers is currently heading down the West Branch of the Penobscot, they are on Thoreau Island, all is well as they head north. They will spend a day in the historical Chesuncook Village,  tasting some of the local fudge and home made root beer.  This is always a favorite stop for trippers passing by.   Mariners just had a resupply last night at Wooden Boat outside of Brooklyn.  They plan to sail to Cranberry Island today and then close to Mount Dessert Island.  Maine Coast Kayak was also resupplied yesterday in Stonington. They plan to be out on Isle Au Haut tonight.  All the trips are doing well and enjoying some of the finest summer weather we have experienced for many years!

Be sure to visit Flickr photos for the latest trip images.

We just received a call from Jason Chandler one of the leaders of the George River Expedition.

I could tell by the excitement in his voice that they were having a great time.  This was confirmed when he relayed to us that they are currently in a campsite in between Lac Brunac and Lac Girard.  The group is working well together,  all their camping skills are coming into place on their third day on the water.  They have been practicing their whitewater skills on the rapids in between the lakes they are traveling.  So far for wildlife they have seen beaver, spruce grouse, and 4 bear.  More to come.

Ryan Linehan