Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Other Canoe Camping Locations :: Northern Forest Canoe Trail
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Exo |
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billconner |
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Frederic |
Wind conditions will dictate how much time is required to safely cross Lac Champlain. Factor in that you can be wind bound for several days. |
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RAFA Ranger |
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yellowcanoe |
Because of upstream travel and lining and sometimes poling, Royalex canoes predominate though its possible to use Kevlar for sure at good river levels. I would take a Wee Lassie type of canoe on part of the NFCT. I live near the Maine segment and I have a Rapid Fire. I live close enough to watch Allagash water levels. If they are too low I would not take RF. There are pictures of Rapid Fires on Lake Champlain at the Placid Boatworks home page. A few years ago a gal did the NFCT in a Swifty rec kayak..that is until she got to the Allagash. She had to use another boat as the Swifty did not meet AWW length to width requirements ( some regulation that does not make sense to me) |
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Frederic |
I once visited Goram, New Hampshire, and was amazed to see a glass jug full of money from tips left unattended by the side walk at the entrance of a cosy inn... |
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RAFA Ranger |
quote billconner: "Anyone with experience on NFCT ? Is this a place for a Wee Lassie style canoe? Just thinking - dreaming - ahead several years." I think/dream about it too. The Wee Lassie would be tempting for the long portages. There's a combination of lakes, rivers (up and downstream) and long portages. The portion that I would be most concerned about would be Lake Champlain. I would want a canoe that would make me the least uncomfortable there. I thought I saw that the MN II is a popular boat for the trip (for 2 paddlers). Not great for the river sections but efficient for the long distances. |
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Frederic |
Let me know if you do it. I would be glad to meet and Lac Champlain is only 1 hours from where I live. My parents used to have a cottage on the Baie Missisquoi and I have found memories of the mouth of the Missiquoi river, the Hog Island. |
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billconner |
I saw Champlain as a special challenge as well - and figured you just campout in Plattsburg until you have confidence of a couple of calm days. Plattsburg to Swanson is in the 30-35 mile range - so two longish days? Several options for camping - Knights Island looks especially interesting. This is a couple of years away for me. |
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billconner |
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Frederic |
Now is it suitable for a wooden canoe? Why not! If you plan on travelling this way... Just take a look north of the border: supersized canoe country. |
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billconner |
740 miles - that would b e 60-70 days for me in the Q or BWCA. How different would the NFCT be? |
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Frederic |
Besides, the trail crosses several communities and the trip style can be lighter on the hardship side compared to "regular" park canoeing. In some sections you can even find inns... If you are looking for a remote wilderness experience then consider that civilisation quickly fades into not much just a few hundred miles up north. |
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billconner |
Looks like an interesting route. |
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billconner |
quote RAFA Ranger: "It appears that most people use portage wheels on the NFCT, so I wouldn't get too hung up on the weight." I wondered about that. So the sight of someone with a solo Kevlar over their heads would be uncommon? |
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jcavenagh |
I can't find it, but here is a thru paddle video |
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yellowcanoe |
So lets ignore Chase which is water release dependent. Churchill stops releasing at noon. After that you walk or get the shuttle. river levels. Below 1500 sketchy for Kevlar Its not so much rock gardens but gravel and small rocks that pop up. Not above class 2 white water. I live near Umbagog-Allagash but know the Dead River the least. That is a whitewater run. Look to blogs on the NFCT website. Laurie Chandler did it all in a Kevlar Canoe I met her two weeks ago , what an unassuming persona.. you'd never know. paddler blog a tale |
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billconner |
It is why it makes me think of the Savage River Wee Lassie at 12-13 pounds. |
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The Lorax |
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Longpaddler |
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yellowcanoe |
The Mud Pond Carry at two miles is in Maine. So far I have avoided it :). For most double carrying it takes the whole day. One of the problems is resupply in some areas. Now the raison d'etre for the NFCT is to promote not only paddling but tourism in towns the "trail" passes through. |