Vibe-Fall-2024 - Flipbook - Page 53
the bank to where we would camp for the night.
Day two began with an early wakeup, for we knew we
had many miles ahead of us. We ate a hearty, quick breakfast,
and applied our water-themed temporary tattoos—with
most of the students electing sharks and waves—hoping to
see neither on the journey. We paddled for several easy miles
before finding a lovely sandy beach for our first snack break.
The weather continued to be unseasonably warm, with many
students choosing to cool off in the river. After this break, we
noticed the shoreline became denser with less sand. We also
noticed the students’ energy shifting as we began discussing
Walker’s Rips, which was to be our first major rapid of the
trip. We knew we would have the ability to portage this rapid
via an old AMC campground, if needed; but much to our
surprise, there were no rapids, likely due to the December
flooding that shifted the configuration of the river.
Due to the denser shoreline, we had trouble finding a
lunch spot that could comfortably fit our fleet of canoes, and
with hunger at a high, we elected to pull off on the steep bank
and eat while standing—careful not to step in poison ivy.
With full stomachs and high spirits, we continued on toward
the Brownfield Bog, down river from Lovewell Pond. We
heard that the week prior to our launch, this area was nearly
impassable due to the storm blockage. We were excited to see
this level of debris and enjoyed weaving between blowdowns,
spotting remnants of the storm that were swept downstream
in the flood, such as docks, coolers, and beach chairs.
Day two was a long day, paddling 21 miles. We arrived at
our sandy beach camp for the night, which was on one of our
student’s land. We surprised the class with a game of Jeopardy
that we prepared on the bottom of a canoe, a cooler of soda,
and more mac & cheese than anyone could eat. We tucked the
students all in knowing that day three was going to be our
longest and most challenging day yet.
The Shifting Saco
As we carried on downstream on the third morning, there was
a noticeable shift in the river’s ecology and hydrology. The sandy beaches dissipated, and more tall sandy banks emerged—
along with noticeably deeper water levels. This was perfect,
as about 9 miles in, while paddling through Hiram, we found
a rope swing and a trestle bridge to jump from. Both greatly
appealed to the adventure-seeking students and lifted spirits
as we headed towards our first major portage, Great Falls Dam.
The portage was a challenging 1/2-mile of single-track trail,
and while the wheels (which had been recommended we bring
for the lengthy portages), certainly helped, they had a tough
time maneuvering the single track and a downed tree. One
student opted to shoulder the canoe instead.
This portage was perfectly timed for lunch and a thunderstorm, which required us to implement a lightning drill
for one-and-a-half hours. Once the weather cleared, the group
made the decision to keep pushing on despite the long day.
We had several more eagle sightings with a pair following us
for multiple miles. We reached Steep Falls just after 6 p.m.,
which required another substantial portage. After paddling 25
miles, including the two portages, we surprised the students
with much-deserved ice cream.
Letters from Home to Capsized Canoes
Day four began with a heartfelt morning reading letters from
Fall 2024
See It Here • Buy It Here • Keep Us Here
THE WHITE MOUNTAIN
INDEPENDENTS
• Assets Jean Company
• North Country Fair Jewelers
• The Penguin Gallery
• Atlantic Pool & Spa
• Bavarian Chocolate Haus • Ragged Mountain
Equipment
• Cathedral Ledge Distillery
• RavenWood Curio Shoppe
• The Christmas Loft
• The Root Cellar: an
• Designed Gardens
Aveda Salon & Boutique
Flower Studio
• The Rugged Mill
• Four Your Paws Only
• Sherman Farm Market
• Hudson’s Art, Home & Gifts • Soy昀椀re Candle
Bath & Body
• It’s My Girlfriend’s
•
Spruce
Hurricane
Boutique Consignment
• Jewelry by Tim & Friends • Valley Artisans
& Vintage Market
• League of NH Craftsmen
• Veno’s Specialty
• The Local Grocer
Foods & Meats
• Mystic Sugar Bakery
• White Birch Books
• North Conway Olive Oil Co. • White Mountain Winery
Visit us or shop online!
Gift-giving
made easy!
Gift certi昀椀cates can be
redeemed at any of our
20+ member retailers!
Purchase certi昀椀cates in increments of $25 online!
WHITE MOUNTAIN INDEPENDENTS
WhiteMountainIndependents.com
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