Annual Gentleman's Trip

[dave0]

Since 2002 a bunch of us have taken off for a spin off of the Maryland Gentleman's Trip. Thanks Mr. McCrea. This year we headed out to Aziscohos Lake in Rangeley, Maine. Six players, six boats of various types and vintages and we had an excellent time. Here's a link to my write up if you care to look at it.

http://scooter-bangortoportland.blogspot.com/

A link to pictures:

http://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...?key=QlF6VU56Tkgwd01aQTZUc3ZLclZyeWlxUmh5ZjNn

It is a beautiful lake but can be a tad fickle with you!

dougd

 

[Abenakiregion]

Aziscohos,Richardson, and Umbagog all can be treacherous when the wind kicks up. They're all long, narrow, and oriented to allow the most prevalent winds to sweep their entire length. I usually put in due east of Bosebuck Camp on the NE corner of the lake. The extreme north end is much more interesting to explore than the lower section and usually much more sheltered from northerly winds. Was your camp at Lincoln or Twin Brook?
Dave

 

[dave0]

We came up from the south, Black Brook Cove and stayed at Lincoln Brook. Been on Richardson, sucks, as well as Umbagog a lot for various reasons sucks as well. We typically go to Rapid River for Umbagog so as not to deal with Umbagog idiots who come up to the campsite and question us when I got all the paperwork flying in their faces. Never had a problem at the Rapid campsite. BTW BoseBucks was a bust for a warm meal. Not sure I'd make the paddle up there again.

 

[yellowcanoe]

No doubt coming in from the south is easier with folks from Southern NE.. I too come in from the north and find the northern end less cluttered. Twin Brook is a nice campsite.But not free.
Most lakes in Maine of any size seem to be oriented north and south. The glacier effect I suppose. They all catch wind
There are some exceptions Flagstaff which is free east west oriented and a flooded impoundment of the Dead RIver. The paddle to Grand Falls is wonderful and sheltered from Long Falls Dam.

I am not a fan of Richardson either nor Umbagog.. The latter however is OK for a day paddle. The regulations baffle me.. Is it open to camping after the park closes?

 

[Guest]

Aziscohos,Richardson, and Umbagog all can be treacherous when the wind kicks up. They're all long, narrow, and oriented to allow the most prevalent winds to sweep their entire length.

The one time I tripped on Aziscohos the wind blew so hard for three straight days it got comical. It was an August trip and the first time I’d been to Maine in the summer with zero bugs; I think they all ended up blown into southern New Hampshire.

I saw a single boat attempt the lake, a motor boat that went a mile or so past my site, bow pounding in the waves and motor screaming when the prop came out of the water before they turned back.

On the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] day the wind finally calmed and a daylong parade of canoes came downlake, all the folks who had been held windbound.

Good to hear that Gentleman’s Trips endure.

 

[yellowcanoe]

And my Sept trip two years ago on Aziscohos was a thing of serenity and color and low water. Have no idea what you are talking about. But I suspect its cause all you started from the southern end and I didn't.

 

[Abenakiregion]

Back when the Umbagaog sites were managed by a private campground, it was OK to camp after the season was over as long as a fire permit was obtained. When NH took over, that changed. Now there are notices warning potential campers that there is NO camping allowed after the state campground closes, usually on Columbus Day. That eliminates some wonderful camping weather. I have spent many beautiful fall days with a hot tent in Sunday cove while bird hunting the old trail to lower dam.
Dave

 

[Guest]

Doug, the repurposed Rudder on the Optima is only 11 inches long (though 8 ½ inches wide). If you could find a piece of aluminum the same 1/8[SUP]th[/SUP] inch thickness you could cut a longer rudder with that same retractable top shape and have more rudder still in the water when riding waves.

If you find the 1/8[SUP]th[/SUP] inch aluminum cut me one too.

 

[Andy Sz]

As one of the attendees, I have to put this out there! I thoroughly enjoyed the high winds we experienced. Head winds are a challenge, but with the right boat and paddler, doable! The downwind runs were great, hit speeds beyond 8 mph many times. Foundered a few times due to a loaded boat, but manhandled the boat around! 7 miles of a fun downwind run!

 

[Guest]

As one of the attendees, I have to put this out there! I thoroughly enjoyed the high winds we experienced. Head winds are a challenge, but with the right boat and paddler, doable! The downwind runs were great, hit speeds beyond 8 mph many times. Foundered a few times due to a loaded boat, but manhandled the boat around! 7 miles of a fun downwind run!

The hull speed alone in a fast sea kayak is undoubtedly advantageous in heavy following wind and sea. Even the Monarch, which I think handles wind and wave admirably, can be a handful to keep on line in steep, closely spaced tail waves.

I know Doug had a helluva load in the Optima. He shared a photo that Scott took of his boat on the way out and there is a wave cresting 2 inches from his spray covered cockpit coming. Doug only weighs like a buck and a half soaking wet, so even after drinking all the beer he still had a load of gear to haul back.

As much as I can appreciate the at-times advantage of a sea kayak I don’t like the small cockpit, restricted entry/exit (especially at steep or awkward landings) and tiny dry bag hatch loading. No room for a thirty-pack.

 

[Andy Sz]

Mike, 18 pack fits between my foot pegs! My boat was loaded as well, and several times coming off the wave the boat broached and the waves slapped against me from the side. Took a great deal of effort to turn down wind again. Had the boat been empty, I could've easily turned her.

 

[dave0]

Well, it was an interesting run out. My boat is doable in the conditions we had but not as good as either yours, Scott's or John's boats and although I'm not the fastest paddler I am steady and strong enough to hold my own. What ya bring and how ya pack dictates the amount of beverages you can bring, this said after being the beer barge for yakkers on previous trips with my canoes! Laughed like heck when all you yakkers took off on Umbagog a few years back only to get to the campsite beerless while us two canoers with all the beer were laughing about it and having a nice cold one while lilydipping to the site! Still brings a grin to my face!

My main goal about half way down was the safety of the others so we waited so we could keep together although I doubt in the event of a dump there would have been much hope of turning to help due to the waves being so short and tall in spacing . Kudo's to Scott for sticking with Ken in his canoe, I know he was struggling as was I. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!