The Arnold Carry

[Paddlinhal]

I'm planning a loop trip. Start at Caratunk, Maine. Down the Kennebec River to The Great Carrying Place, over which Benedict Arnold and his troops carried their bateaux and gear to the Dead River on their way to assault Quebec. That's about 10 miles. Then north up Flagstaff Lake, down the Dead River, including the whitewater rafting section below Spencer Stream to The Forks, and on down the Kennebec back to Caratunk.

Portions of The Great Carrying Place follow the Appalachian Trail, and the whole thing is about 10 miles. We intend to do half on Day 1 and finish on Day 2. We are timing the run from Spencer Stream down the Dead to coincide with the May 24 dam release of 1400 CFS, considered by the AMC river guide to be upper medium water level. I'm trying to decide whether to do the first 12 miles of it, then camp at the site just above Poplar Hill Falls, then run that when fresh in the morning (risking getting caught up in the Sunday 6,000 CFS release); or work with a shuttle driver to ferry our gear to the Forks and run it with full floatation.

Looking for input, especially if anyone has experience with the carry or the whitewater.

 

[Proud Mary]

I've run the Spencer stream to The Forks run 3 times in an open tripping canoe at 1800 cfs. Very fun, very challenging. The water is very pushy and continues for all 16 miles. At 1400 cfs, maybe a little less pushy, but more rocks exposed to grab you. I recommend flotation with minimal gear, the less weight for maneuvering around the better. The rapids are all class 3, the difference among them is how long they are.
Also, the 1400 cfs is what they are releasing from the dam, significant rain before your run can bring the actual level higher from Spencer and other streams. There is usually a shuttle run from the forks for the release days.
Sounds like a good trip, have fun.