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2022 Boating Season

We are hoping for a lot of snow this winter to avoid losing so much of our whitewater options in the summer on the dam-controlled rivers: Kennebec, Dead River, Seboomook and the Rapid River like we did last year. The 2022 trip schedule is a work-in-process and will be revised. We will attempt to keep the trip schedule on our Calendar page as up-to-date as possible, but please check with the Trip Coordinator to be sure of the details of any scheduled trip.

The vote at the Cook’s Meeting in January was to basically keep the current COVID-19 protocols in place. With all the variants, no one knows exactly what works and what doesn’t. People have to feel comfortable and the trip leaders will have the guidelines they want to use. Below is the COVID general protocol from Helen:

Hello Paddlers!

The spring season is upon us, and we’ve got a large and diverse set of trips scheduled. There’s something there for everyone. We will continue to take appropriate precautions regarding the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

As always, the TC will have discretion in whether and how to run a given trip. Please check in with the TC several days ahead of time regarding a scheduled trip. And, if you feel at all sick, do not come on a trip.

Participants should wear a well-fitting mask when in close contact to protect themselves and others. N95 or KN95 masks are most effective; double masking with a disposable surgical mask covered with a cloth mask is a good alternative.

Participants should be responsible for their own shuttles, which should be arranged before arriving at the trip site if possible. People have different degrees of vulnerability and different levels of tolerance to risk. Please, respect the choices made by your fellow boaters. 

Have fun and stay safe!

SYOTR

Helen Hess, President

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Jan 16, 2022: Saddleback Mountain

Frigid weather required postponing the scheduled trip for a day.  Since Saddleback Mountain Ski Resort publicizes a hiking/ski trail to the summit of Saddleback Mountain called Uphill Trail that friends had told me was an excellent one, that was my planned trip.  Three of us took the challenge, two on snowshoes and one using skis with skins.  We made it to the top of the ski lift and were then turned back.  The following is a summary of my experience that I’ve shared with others:  I don’t know what to make of what happened.  Not sure if it was ineptitude, disorganization, or bad faith.  What I do know is the Saddleback website advertises the Uphill Trail as a means of climbing to the summit.  Many hikers have used it for that purpose including one two days before our trip.  We bought passes in good faith.  We didn’t just purchase the passes we spent several minutes discussing our plans with a woman at the ticket office who sold the tickets.  She never mentioned that summit access was prohibited or their policy had changed.  We hiked to the top of the ski lift and were astonished to be told by the ski patrol that we couldn’t go a couple hundred feet farther to the top.  Instead, we were informed that if we wanted to hike to the summit, we should have taken the Appalachian Trail; access is about 20 miles away.  When I returned to the ticket office, the gentleman I talked with quickly refunded my money but stated their policy had changed and they would no longer permit anyone to go above the lift because they didn’t want responsibility for rescues.  Why they didn’t tell us that in advance is inexplicable.  We wouldn’t have hiked.  Neither the member of the ski patrol nor the gentleman at the ticket office apologized for the inconvenience caused by the unannounced change.  Some have said it was our fault because we didn’t further investigate before buying the tickets.  I categorically reject that suggestion.  If they advertise a service and charge a fee, I believe they are legally and morally obligated to inform customers in advance of selling the passes if they change the policy, especially when we spent about 10 minutes discussing our plans before purchasing them.  It was a very disappointing experience on what was otherwise an exceptional winter day. Participants:  Brent Elwell, Greg Winston & TC

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Jan 6, 2022: Middle and Peaked Mountains

Ken Gordon responded to my proposed club hike on Middle and Peaked Mountains near North Conway, NH.  Part of the Green Hills, they are two sub-2000 foot scenic summits with excellent views.  Trail conditions were excellent wearing micro spikes while enjoying a partly sunny day with seasonal temperatures.  We had a great half day hike. Participants:  Ken Gordon and TC

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Jan 16, 2022: Bradbury Mountain Fat Tire Biking

It was only 10 degrees in the parking lot at Bradbury Mountain, but the lot was crammed with cars, bikes and people willing to brave the cold for a ride on some of Maine’s best fat tire trails.  I had had the notion that Ryan Galway and I would be some of the few willing to ride in those conditions but I was wrong.  Bradbury has become something of a destination place to ride as the well groomed trails and large amount of terrain draw riders from all over New England.  Today the trails were a mix of well packed sleet (icephalt) and ice.  Studded tires were very helpful and probably necessary.  After a quick warmup ride we decided that it wasn’t all that cold and thoroughly enjoyed riding most of the trails on the west side of the system.  The sun was bright, trails were hard and the riding could not have been any better.  Looking forward to the next ride in February.

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Dec 13, 2021: Puzzle Mountain

My original trip was scheduled for Saturday December 11th but was postponed due to a significant rain/ice storm.  Since Suzanne & Gary Cole had planned a hike on Puzzle Mountain for the following Monday, they graciously agreed to let me post it as my club trip.  It was an icy adventure.  When we arrived at the trailhead parking area, it was covered with a thick layer of hard ice.  Initially, trail conditions were better than the parking lot with some snow and patchy ice.  Snow and ice diminished to dry ground after about a mile.  At around 2,000 feet, while climbing a series of serpentine ledges, the ice became a major obstacle which continued for the remainder of the ascent.  Every turn presented a new challenge.  Sometimes we left the trail thrashing through brush on the side.  A common technique was clinging to trees and pulling ourselves up.  We nicknamed ourselves “tree huggers.”  Careful placement of our micro spikes to ensure a firm grip was essential.  Full crampons would have been preferable.  Despite the obstacles, we made it to the summit, although it took us far longer than normal.  Our careful descent was tediously slow but we made it without any falls.  The memorable 6.4 mile ordeal took over six hours, two more than anticipated.  Did I mention the views were great?   Participants:  Suzanne Cole, Gary Cole, Ken Gordon, Brent Elwell, and TC