Talk to Norman…
when you get up there about water levels.
We ran Chase for the first time last year and wiped out each canoe once. This year we’ll do it with about half our gear for ballast.
We ran the St. John with full loads and had no problems.
Yeah…
He wrote me back and said that I now need to wait on finding out about the road to Allagash Stream, let alone the actual stream…Here I knew about the beaver dams I’d be crossing on the stream but he said that he couldn’t even drive there last year due to beaver dams on the actual road…D’oh! I don’t see how this year will be any different! So now plan b of Indian Stream has moved to plan c as plan b is now some road I heard about and some gate I can park at and have my vehicle picked up there and that’s only a mile long walk in…That we can do! But def cannot do the 3 mile one that would’ve came with that Round Pond/Ciss Stream option. So now I have to find out a bit about this new plan b option.
Beaver Dams break and they do move on.
Get yourselves a Dolly and walk in, that’s where I’m headed into Allagash Lake. There’s a road from Round Pond up.
I’ve been told there’s a Camping area at Caucomgomuc Dam where you can park a car, then find someone to drive it out to Allagash.
suck-it-up
I agree, do it the way others do it. Either portage or get a cart and walk in. The whole appeal of Allagash Lake is that there’re no motors and it’s hard to get to. The only people there are the ones who worked to get there. I’ts only my opinion, and I’m sure others will disagree, but I want to earn my visit to Allagash Lake. For myself, it would cheapen the experience to weasel my way in by some convoluted trickery of back roads.
So now…
Wait a minute…That’s not that 3 mile hike right? This is the other one that the guy was talking about? Or am I confused and missed something and there’s only the one? So if there are two, what are the details on this smaller one? And it’ll be easier, less driving than if I went up to that Allagash Stream put in? And slightly easier driving too…Esp is the way to Allagash Stream has those beaver dams? It’s a different road to it? I can’t find much for details on this new option.
Missed that “suck it up” reply…
as I was replying to the other one…And to that I say, first ouch and second, it’s a friend of mine with a bad knee who cannot do a 3 mile portage, even if it’s easy…I talked him into a mile one but he wants me to make sure it is in fact only a mile and easy! He also doesn’t even care about Allagash Lake and could lose it faster than take it. Not to mention, I don’t think my friends are looking forward to also buying dolly’s…I’m the one who already has one!
As I see it…
There are basically three ways into Allagash Lake
From the Northwest, either Johnson Pond or the upper Allagash stream. Both of which might not be available because of the road being out due to beaver.
From the east with a start at Indian Stream. Easy to get to but the problem there is, it’s about a mile paddle in Martin cove, a possible 0.8 of a mile carry up to Lock Dam,(heard tell it’s under construction and no water in the stream), 4 miles across Chamberlain, (that might stop you in your tracks due to high winds), THEN a 6 mile drag up the Lower Allagash Stream to the lake. Then you turn around and have to back track down to the Tramway carry.
From the South. ‘I’ve been told’ you can drive into the Caucomgomuc Dam campground, paddle 5 miles to the north end of Round Pond and walk 3 miles into Allagash Lake. With that you could spend your 1st night on Allagash Lake. I plan to make the carry into the evening with a headlamp. Problem with this route is getting the car from there to Allagash.
Did I miss anything? I’ve never been there but that’s what my map recon tells me.
There’s another…
Something about a road to a gate and a mile long “easy” walk…I’ll find the e-mail the guy sent me…I’ve been bothering EVERYBODY about this trip! Another guy told me to def do the walk to behind the trains and he sent me a great HUGE and very detailed map…And he writes like I do, long winded, I loved that so it opened my eyes to a bit more…I need to fully find out about this one mile portage from this gate. But the best way in, he says is that Allagash Stream way so hopefully the beaver dams won’t be an issue!
Ok…E-mail…
This is the e-mail from one guy I came across and started to ask about his trip…He’s the one who knows about that road to the 1 mile hike in…
Hi Jill,
The North Maine Woods roads are incredible! Yeah, if you want to paddle Allagash lake and don’t mind the 1 mile hike, this is the easiest way in. Having to park near round pond, 3-4 miles, that would be no fun pulling your boat on a cart! I’ve only driven to the put in at Johnson Pond (car accesable), never have I been on the water there. The roads in are fairly straight forward, Golden road to Ragmuff road to Caucomgomoc Dam Rd to Longley Stream Road to Johnson Pond Road (google earth is a great tool for seeing these) I’ve done limited web research for accessing Allagash Lake from Johnson Pond, it’s do-able, but you’ll be portaging through Beaver Dams and low water, apparently its best done in the spring during higher water run. After hiking into Allagash Lake, I would probably approach from the Carry Trail right to the Ranger Cabin on Allagash. It is 1 mile from the trailhead to the Lake. The road to A Lake is directly across from Round Pond, 2.5 miles to the gate and then a 1 mile hike, which is flat and easy! 4WD is necessary for the last 1/4 mile of the road, other than that it is all accessible by car. When we went last Sept, the Rangers had gone for the season and we were able to get my VW to within 1/4 mile of the gate. We just parked it off the dirt road and hiked the rest. I am not aware of restrictions that would not allow you to park at the gate.
I hope this might help you a bit?
I can recommend a great guide for you, Richard Aspinall http://www.metrails.com
Steve
Unless…
We had already known about that one and it’s not 3 miles like we think but really only 1…Or he’s a damn fast walker and thought 3 were 1…But makes me think this is another as he says nothing about Round Pond.
So pass on the maps
I’m headed over that carry in Aug
Damn…
Too bad it’s not before me, so then I could ask how it went!
Btw, was that a different one he mentioned? Do you know it?