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Jun 3-4, 2023: Dead 4000 & 2400

Saturday – June 3 Participants:

K-1:  Brent Elwell, Devon Carter, Paul LeClerc, Charlie Berliant, Greg Winston and Ken Gordon

OC-1:  Kenny DeCoster

Inflatables:  Jeff Swett, Bryan and Alyssa Wolfe,  Ron and  Adam Chase

Sunday – June 4 Participants:

K-1:  Adam Chase, Ron Chase, Paul LeClerc, Ken Gordon

C-1:  Mason Galway

OC-2:  Peter and Iris Hubbard, Ryan Galway and Will

OC-1:  Kenny Decoster, Matt Briere, Dan House

Following two days of summer like weather the paddling weekend arrived wet, cold and windy but it didn’t deter the 19 boaters who showed up at The Forks for Saturday’s 4000 and Sunday’s 2400 releases.  Saturday’s 4000 provided great play opportunities and challenging big water rapids.  Weather conditions were good considering the windy and cool temperatures but the rapid pace of the trip kept everyone paddling and warm.  Other than a few occasional rolls all members had successful runs and thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Sunday’s 2400 started with a scare when the shuttle was cancelled due to a lack of passengers, but paddlers arriving without shuttle reservations filled the quota.  Adam Chase volunteered to drive the van and also secured a driver to bring it back out.  The man of the day for sure.  He even provided a moose sighting on the drive to the put in.  The threat of rain and colder temps convinced us to shorten the trip so we started at the gravel pit instead of going all the way to the top.  The water level was excellent and provided paddlers an opportunity to have a more technical run with very pushy water.  There were a couple swims but paddlers were quickly rescued; Will even got to do some solo OC-1 paddling when he help reunite a boat and paddler. And the rain held off until we arrived at the take out – another great weekend on the Dead.

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Apr 27-29, 2023: Machias River

As usual, the spring Machias River trip came with an assortment of logistical problems.  And, although several people expressed interest, only Ken Gordon and I could connect all of the dots.  Gate closings prevented access to upper portions and bad weather left only a 3-day window of opportunity.  Ken and I persevered and met at Airline Rapids to run a shuttle to complete a trip from 3rd Lake to Holmes Falls.  For the first time in the 45 years I’ve been running the Machias, the Holmes Falls Road was gated.  Undaunted, we pivoted to a 3-day trip from the Airline to Smith Landing.  Our determination paid off as we had an excellent trip.  The weather and water level were outstanding.  We met a great group of six canoeists on day one and camped and navigated rapids with them throughout.  Ken and I used expedition kayaks and everything went well – another wonderful Machias trip.

Participants:  Ken Gordon and Ron Chase, TC

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Apr 15, 2023: Souadabscook Stream

While much of the local paddling world was participating in the Kenduskeag Stream race, a few of us chose a quieter paddling venue for the day.  We had a sunny day and a cheerful group on the Sou, including some new members as well as some very experienced PPCSers.  The water level was low, but we still had plenty of surfing at all the usual spots and even a little excitement at the lip of the Emerson bridge rapid.  One kayaker got hung up in the midstream alders above the rapid and nearly flipped.  In the process of providing help, another kayaker did flip and then hit their combat roll before successfully running the rapid.  Although they were not needed today, it was good to know we had lots of excellent rescue skills at the ready.  We ran the full stretch of river down to the water works station and enjoyed some milling over munchies and beverages at the take out.  We’d parked our vehicles in a little group, including a few that were on the lawn; those cars had notes on their windshields requesting that we not park on the grass in the future. Ooops!  We’ll try not to do that again.

K-1 Tom Rutka, Jeff Bickford, Charlie Berliant, Devon Carter, Ron Chase, Franklin Jacoby, Millie Jacoby, Bud Gilbert, Gary Cole, Suzanne Cole.

IK-1 Erin-Kate Sousa

OC-1 Patti Rutka, Whit Whitney, Sean Kluttz, Kyle Duckworth, Helen Hess (TC)

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Apr 8, 2023: Skip Pendleton Memorial St. George River Trip

The sixth annual Skip Pendleton Memorial St. George River Trip was held on a cool, breezy, but sunny day.  Eighteen paddlers in sixteen boats met at the takeout on Route 105 in North Appleton.  This was one of those rare days when river activities went very smoothly.  Everyone seemed to have an enjoyable experience and it was a swim-free event.  Many in the group retired to Thresher’s Brew Pub after.  We enjoyed a great day of paddling while recognizing an exceptional member from the past. 

Participants:  My count at the put-in was 18 people in 16 boats.  However, only the following 16 people signed the waiver form – Bruce Weik, Mike Eastman, John Lightner, Bud Gilbert, Andrew Kelly, Dave Boyle, Mike Bridges, Glen Widmer, Bob Price, Justin Schlawin, Merlin Schlawin, Helen Hess, Suzanne Cole, Gary Cole, Carolyn Atwood, and Ron Chase HOC (Herder of Cats)

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Apr 2, 2023: Sheepscot River, 650cfs

Participants: Bruce Weik C1, Helen Hess OC1, Paul Plumer OC1, Reid Anderson OC1, Daniel House OC1, Peter Hubbard OC1, TC: Kenny DeCoster OC1, Ron Chase K1, Greg Gerbi K1, Ken Gordon K1, Catherine Kimball K1, Dan Bennis K1

The plan was to hold a weekend paddle festival in Winterport area on the Marsh on Saturday and Sou on Sunday- a repeat of last year’s schedule. But mud season weather can make scheduling trips a nightmare. When Saturday was predicted to be rained out, I forfeited my trip on Sunday, so we all would get a chance to paddle the Marsh again. On Friday, the Sunday outlook deteriorated and Charlie canceled the Marsh trip. I gave up on the weather until Ron called Saturday morning asking where I was going to paddle on Sunday. Within 24 hours, 12 people showed up for a glorious sunny day on the Sheepscot River. Although the temperature was below my threshold of 40 degrees, the full sun and breeze at our backs made up for the pool of water in the bottom of the canoe freezing my toes.

We had great diversity in the participant list: the entire PPCS executive committee plus Reid were present, Paul Plumer made a rare appearance and used his Stearns award fame to delay the meeting time to noon, I recognized Greg this time around, Bruce finally took a day off of work to join us, Catherine, sea kayaker extraordinaire, paddled a much shorter boat, I finally had the pleasure of surfing with Peter, and new members, Dan and Dan, paddled with us for the first time.

The water level was 650 cfs and the rocks dotted the waterscape. There were many attempts at surfing to limber up the dormant paddling muscles, and plenty of time to float down the current and enjoy the sun and everyone’s company.

I’ve only paddled the Sheepscot once in the past decade and struggled to find the take out (no GPS) to meet everyone. 18 years ago as I was learning to solo paddle, I would join Carolyn Welch and Dave Lanman on their class II weekends: Sheepscot, Ossippe, Saco, Sandy and Carrabassett. Today brought back a lot of memories. There are still a couple more class II trips this spring- SYOTW.