Northeast Wild

July 16, 2022 (Sat) - CHUBB RIVER paddling.  Most of the route is in the High Peaks Wilderness.    120-yard carry from Averyville Rd to the put-in.  The log "dock" was under water.  At first, dead trees line the stream - I dubbed this "Death Row".  1.5 miles to the carry - the old camp on private land is now a big fancy house - 2 beaver dams have been breached (humans suspected - it is not very nice to mess with nature).  Very muddy landing at the carry.  The trail is very rough with roots, rocks & mud.  Upstream there were some shallow sections that could use some beaver dams to raise the water level.  Superb views of Street & Nye Mtns to the S, & the Sawtooth Range to the SW.  Stopped for lunch near the end of a straight section, "Rocky Road", that was lined with rocks on its N side - I could not find the campsite that I had stopped at the last time I was here.  Continued further upstream to a beaver dam which d...

Sep 6, 2014 - MOOSEHEAD LAKE & PRONG POND. Showers & storms predicted, am was nice. ML is only slightly longer than NY's Lake George but its surface area of 120 sq. miles is about 3 times that of LG making it New England's largest lake; less developed, too. Paddled the Prospector from Rowell Cove at LBSP N & E past Twomile Island with view of Mt Kineo (on an island!? joined to the E shore by a narrow isthmus) & its 900' cliffs, exploring Tussle Lagoon & the islands? of Mathews Cove, tough finding a way between with low water & rocks. 2 hours. Weather still looked ok so drove to nearby PP - interesting but 30 mph headwind gusts as we returned to the put-in. Sep 1-5 - LOBSTER LAKE in central Maine. From Lily Bay drove 45 miles to LL, 30 miles on dirt roads. The dirt started at Kakadjo, a bit on the rough side but close to 2-lane (30-40mph), no signs telling us we were on the Sias Hill Rd, then L on the smoother & wider Golden Rd (40mph+...

Jun 6, 2010 - GREAT ISLAND, Old Lyme, CT from boat launch at end of Smith Neck Rd. Connecticut River Estuary Canoe/Kayak Trail. Started ~3 hours before low tide. Great Island undeveloped, mainland lightly developed. After exploring the shallow bay behind Griswold Point went around the point & into Long Island Sound, played in moderate 1'+ waves. S wind was picking up so back (small standing waves created by wind opposing the current were interesting) & up a creek into the heart of Great Island. Back out & N up Judges Creek to Watch Rock, landing a bit rough but nice spot for a break. Poked into Duck River before heading back S. Just had to go back & look at Griswold Point at low tide - Sound now white-capped. Up the Black Hall River before calling it a day. Mute swans, lots of osprey, great & snowy egrets, gulls, terns, sandpipers, plovers, willet, crabs. My favorite place to paddle in CT - great variety, wildlife. 4 hours. WS Zephyr 160 Pro. ...

Saranac Lakes Wild Forest. MAP . Sep 20, 2023 (Wed) - Started on Floodwood Pond from Floodwood Rd, lots of heavy vehicles around working on the rail trail to the N. Saw 1 loon while crossing over to Fish Creek. Side-trip halfway into Little Square Pond. Saw a few other paddlers on FC - most coming up from the FC Ponds Campground. Into Copperas Pond passing 2 resting black ducks. Nice clear water, 1 loon. 0.3-mile carry to Whey Pond - make sure you bear L when you get close to WP (a R takes over to LSP). Nice clear water, 2 loons, headwind. Easy short carry thru Rollins Pond Campground (closed for the season) & stopped for lunch. Realized my Nalgene water bottle was missing but soon a couple of guys following us had picked it up on the other side of WP & I got it back with little effort. A pontoon boat approached - there are camps on the N side of the W peninsula & the campground runs all along the E shore. A bit windy, heard loons but did not spot any. At the NW part of...