Trip Details - Fryeburg Maine to Brownfield Maine
Dates - Friday 10/5/10 - Sunday 10/7/10
Crew - Doug D, Scott B and the Sherpa
Put In - Swans Falls
Detour - Up the Old Course
Take Out - Brownfield Bridge
Total Miles - 24 miles
Day 1 - Friday 10/5/10
We left Concord Friday at 7am in a rain to arrive in Fryeburg at 9am to more rain. Dropped gear at Swans Falls then ran shuttle to Walkers Bridge to what we would later find out was the wrong bridge. We stopped at the Jockey Cap (now named after a sport under garment for not packing my $7.00 Tuna Melt) on our way back up Route 302 to pickup the usual Fire Permit and a bagel for Scott. I noticed a pretty good looking Tuna Melt in the display, then got ripped off for One, by not having Fire Permits available as we're required to have them and Two, not packing my $7.00 sandwich that I paid for as I was distracted by the Fire Permit that never showed up. Bagels packed, Sandwich MIA / KIA and $11 bucks later, I'm walking out of the store with two bagels. Doug and I return to the landing to only want a bite of my sandwich, and it aint there. WTF? Regardless, on the water by 10am, and then the real rain came. Had a down pour for most of the day.
8 miles later at 1pm we reached the confluence of the Old Course, river left. At this point, rain was beginning to diminish for our 1-1/2 mile journey upstream to the leantoo we were looking for. The river current was light (if any) as we headed upstream and was in our favor. I poled upstream while Scott lead and Doug followed, arriving at the site around 2pm. Fairly narrow and forested, the Old Course is a pretty paddle.
Shortly into our ascent upstream, the rain had stopped and we were able to unload and hang our gear to dry. An easy bank with plenty of lift off the water unloading was easily manageable. With a fire pit in place (not used recently), Scott did his usual forage for firewood to return with plenty of wood to get a warm fire going in front of the leantoo. Doug had dinner detail for the night with spaghetti and meatballs. PADDLERS NOTE: The AMC River Guide (or former trip reports) post the leantoo as a former AMC parcel, however this is not true. The leantoo has been built and is privately owned by a local land owner, so other paddlers beware. THIS IS PRIVATE PROPERTY. The leantoo is just down stream from a scenic Hemlock Bridge and offers a high bank for pleasant camping with a short 2 minute walk along a well traveled agricultural trail upstream to the bridge.
By 5pm the sun is working its way through the trees. I walk westerly down the trail to the edge of a field to see the Presidential Range due North. Mount Washington an obvious site was clear as the clouds from the days rain move out.
By 8pm no tents are pitched and plans to retreat below the leantoo for the night become an easier decision to make. A welcome decision in fact. Letting the fire dwindle, Doug and I relax by the fire until 9:30 then roll our sleeping bags out below the overhead shelter, which became a very comfortable nights rest. By far one of the best campsites I've rested in.
Total miles for the day. 8 miles to the Old Couse + 1.5 miles up the Old Course = 9.5 miles.
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