Canoe the Wild guided trip with a group of students from Fort Kent and Madawaska sponsored by the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation. Students learned about the logging history of the Allagash and interviewed two park rangers and a game warden. Students also learned how to paddle in class II whitewater, canoe poling, how to start of campfire with a spark, knots and their uses, and cooking and baking over an open fire. Students also learned about career opportunities as guides, rangers, and game wardens. Part of the discussion with students was about ingredients for success including being organized, have good people skills, self motivation, being respectful of others, and giving your best while working and being mentored by others. To take part in an already scheduled canoe trip or to book your private group with Canoe the Wild on the Allagash, contact Dave Conley.
Allagash
5 Day Allagash Trip, July 22-26, 2022
5 days and 4 nights on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, this trip guided by Wayne Daggett. Photos were taken by Eric Sturgon. Check out of scheduled trips here and it’s not too late to join us this August & September on a guided and outfitted trip!
5 Day Allagash Trip, July 1-5, 2022
A recent guided and outfitted canoe trip on the Allagash with Canoe the Wild. Many were new to canoe camping and enjoyed gaining skills such as whitewater canoeing and proper canoe strokes, canoe poling, starting a fire with flint and steel, knots and practical uses of, wilderness baking and how to be comfortable while on a wilderness canoe trip. Canoe the Wild has several openings on 5 & 7 days trips this August & September….why not join us!
o
7 Day Allagash Trip, August 23-29, 2021
A seven day Allagash canoe trip allows for time to see more of the Allagash including paddling Eagle and Churchill Lakes and a visit to the abandoned logging trains on Eagle Lake known as the ghost trains. This trip also includes paddling lively Chase Stream Rapids. See our 2022 summer Canoe the Wild schedule for more info and to sign up for a guided and outfitted canoe trip with Canoe the Wild.
Downeast Magazine Canoe the Wild Photography Workshop
Canoe the Wild canoe trip and Photography workshop with Ben Williamson and Downeast Magazine. Next workshop is in 2022.
Eating Like Royalty on the Allagash
If you are looking for some pictures of the Allagash, they will come. This is not a post to show off amazing scenery, but about nutritional and psychological necessity. When you paddle for a few per day, your body is begging you for something good to eat. It is easy to reach into a backpack and grab a granola bar or a handful of trailmix to get through a rough spot when you’ve bonked, but there is something psychological about watching a homemade meal being prepared over the fire and getting to put warm, delicious, food into your system.
Dave Conley and Wayne Daggett are not only experts on the river and understand the needs for safety, they also understand that when you get done with a few hours of paddling, you are ready for a real meal. River novices will resort to the easiest things to cook and eat, but with Canoe the Wild, you should be prepared to eat like royalty.
Think about the last 5 days and try to reconstruct what you ate, in your head, day by day. It gets a little fuzzy doesn’t it? It is kind of funny. My son, Aaron, and I were able to remember every meal in detail. The meals were firmly pressed into our memories.
Here is the rundown… (Lunches were mainly sandwiches, wraps, and pockets, so I will not go into detail there even though they hit the spot for a hungry paddler).
Monday – Allagash Campsite “Jaws”:
Supper: Grilled sockeye salmon and some sides. Strawberry shortcake for dessert.
Tuesday – Allagash Campsite “The Ledges”:
Breakfast: French toast.
Supper: Spaghetti with homemade sauce… it’s all about the sauce… amazing! Spice cake for dessert.
Wednesday – Allagash Campsite “Back Channel” (on Round Pond… my favorite spot!):
Breakfast: A very fruitful/nutty oatmeal (very filling).
Supper: Ribeye steak with potatoes and corn. Brownies for dessert.
Thursday – Allagash Campsite “Ramsey”
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, sausage, home-fries (with onions optional)
Supper: Chicken and dumplings. Apple crisp for dessert.
Friday
Breakfast: Blueberry pancakes and bacon.
Friday was our day to leave, so we had simple sandwiches and snacks on the road.
In summary, you will not likely eat this good while you are at home, but Wayne and Dave put on a pretty good feed. From what I understand, all the trips led by Canoe the Wild will include meals comparable to the menu above. Dave and his crew take care of their guests and will also accommodate gluten free and vegetarian (though a trip guest might need to bring some of their own substitutes).
We give a big “thank you” to Dave and Wayne for amazing meals! I know Aaron and I will be talking about this trip for years to come.
Note: View our 2022 Canoe the Wild Schedule here.