Northeast Wild

  Aug 23, 2023 - RICH LAKE & FISHING BROOK paddling. Most of the shoreline is owned by ESF - obey any "No Trespassing" signs. You can drive down the access road (dirt), drop off your stuff, & drive back to the parking area off Rich Lake Lane. Easy 200' carry to the beach. Paddled W across the lake, saw a loon, & entered the pickerelweed-lined S channel. Took a R thru a narrow channel, slid over a beaver dam, & into the main channel of Fishing Brook. Paddled upstream & was shocked to see that the bridge had been replaced by a dam with several culverts (not sure if this was done before or as a result of the July 10/11 high water event - Phil Brown mentions a bridge in his 2019 edition of the guidebook) - heavy machinery was working in the area, so we turned back. Over 2 small beaver dams & then along the N shore of RL. Lots of cedars line the shore with some white pines, cardinal flower was ubiquitous, and bottle gentian at our lunch stop. The 2 trai...