NFCT Flagstaff to Chesuncook

[Paddlinhal]

OK it's official. The next Nor'easter will commence June 3 and continue for a week. This is certain because I am putting my canoe in the water that day for a weeklong camping trip, heading generally in a north east direction. Crossing Moosehead Lake will most certainly require a 20 mph headwind. Sounds like I'll miss the action at Mosquito Rips since we'll be putting into the Moose River a bit downstream of that. I always thought the most dangerous part of that drop was walking across those flat rocks when wet. Last time we actually used creepers.

Any words of wisdom about this stretch of the NFCT?

 

[latremorej]

I have nothing to offer but good luck and enjoy your trip!

Jason

 

[riverstrider]

1. Beware the dri-ki trap on Flagstaff Lake...easily visible on aerials, but the NFCT map shows it as water.
2. At the end of Flagstaff, once the portage trail intersects a cart path you can wheel the rest by going left out to the main road, and then right. At the next fork, go left (although a brief walk down the hill to the right will bring you to an overlook for Long Falls which is nice).
3. If flow isn't too crazy, you can go through the rapids above Grand Falls and beach on the left on a big beach on the pool above the falls. We started our portage here.
4. You're going to absolutely love poling up Spencer and Little Spencer! Getting up into Spencer Lake was a bit of a trick, tho. I hear they've improved it, but we had to paddle up to the face of the dam to a small path that went along the ledge to the left (river-right) and then lift over the ledge to get over the dam into the pond.
5. On my version of the NFCT maps, Fish Pond shows way more water than is there. Half of it was marsh, which made finding the outlet to the river a bit tricky.
6. Say "hi" to the deerflies for me.
7. I'd love to hear a report on the rapids below Demo Road if you run them, including the gauge level.
8. The wind never stops on Moosehead. Seboomook Pont campsite is beautiful, but pretty rocky and rooty.
9. There is no more trail between Boom House and Chesuncook Village. "The Store" is also no more.
10. Have fun! It sounds like a hell of a trip!

 

[Paddlinhal]

4. Poling was a good reintroduction on how sitting at a desk does not build muscle.
For the portage, we scouted for while on river left, decided that the lift over the rocks on river right was preferable to the 1/2 mile slog through the canal-like ATV trail.
7. The rapids below Demo Road were a hoot! The gauge on the rock was below a foot. Plenty of water to fill my boat to sloshing 3 times in the wave trains.
8. We paddled out of Moose River in the afternoon under a light breeze to Hardscrabble Point. Hiked to the top of Mt. Kineo in the morning then did the 12 miles to Northeast Carry on glassy smooth, windless waters. Had a Klondike Bar with Raymond. Then camped on Lobster Lake. Long day.
10. Yes we did and yes it was!

 

[riverstrider]

Excellent! I'm glad you had a good trip! The Demo Road to Moosehead Lake stretch is one of 2 or 3 segments I need to finish the NFCT. You lucked out on Moosehead. I've never seen that lake glassy.

 

[Chip]

How was the road from NE Carry to Penobscot Farm? Did you get portage help from Raymond or hoof it?

I hope you took a little side trip from Hardscrabble around to the cliffs of Kineo.