Annual Gentlemen's Trip

[dave0]

Since 2002 a group of us have been going to one of the lakes up north, usually Lake Umbagog. For the last few years we've been staying on the Rapid River at Cedar Stump campsite. Not bad considering it's cheaper then going on Umbagog and we don't have to move every couple of days or get harassed by the Umbogog Campground police daily. Not real cops just the owners doing head/tent counts daily despite having all the paperwork and fees taken care of.

This year it was just five of us and we hit almost perfect weather albeit no wind for my sail but that is par to course. I bring a sail...no wind, I leave the sail home...plenty of wind! Three of the group paddled out to site #29 on the NH side of the lake early on while two of us put in late and paddle in in the dark which is pleasant as hell, I do love paddling in the dark. The site was a little small for all of us but we managed for the night.

Next day the lake was like glass and it was an easy paddle over to and up the Rapid to our home for the next four days. We did a lot of day paddles, a lot of naps (hmm, maybe that was me!), burned logs that took three of us to move to the fire pit, hiked this section of the NFCT up the Rapid, ate till we couldn't anymore. The Gentlemen's Trip is nothing more than a wind down R&R trip, no big miles, no epic whitewater, no expectations. A link to pics:


http://picasaweb.google.com/115656493558573181332/Sept2015CedarStumpUmbagog?hl=en

dougd

 

[yellowcanoe]

I thought about Umbagog, but were unsure if the State Park was still collecting fees. Thought about you guys but it was a "gentlemen's party" of old friends..
Im rather partial to do nothing Fall trips myself!

 

[sweeper]

Great looking trip, my son goes canoe camping up there and likes it a lot, I see why. Thanks for the pics.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Although its only an hour and a half from my house I have no idea if you can ever just stealth camp there off season.

 

[Abenakiregion]

It used to be possible, but as of a couple of years ago, very sternly worded signs have appeared indicating no camping allowed after the state park closes. It is a beautiful area but has become a bit "over protected" in my opinion. The Cedar Stump site is not managed by the state park however and ,I believe, can still be used off season.