The Allagash Wilderness Waterway, in Northern Maine, is a 92-mile ribbon of river, lakes, ponds and streams. 6 Scouts and 3 adult leaders from Troop 513 Stoneham braved this wilderness and paddled for over 50 miles through the southern part of the waterway from July 27th to August 3rd. Scout Kristof said “waking up in the morning on a huge lake highlighted that the scenery was breathtaking and very different from what I usually see.”
A few years ago, the Troop ventured out to the Boundary Waters of Minnesota for a similar trip. The youth leaders of the troop wanted to take advantage of the beautiful wilds of New England and bring a few more people this time since it was in our own backyard. Mark Warren, Assistant Scoutmaster and longtime AMC trek guide had this to say about the Allagash: “it’s as close to undeveloped wilderness as exists in the Northeast. The pristine lakes and shores were a refreshing break from the development of cities and towns. Except for the relics of the area's rich logging history and a few structures used by the rangers, there is nothing besides the untrammeled elements of the wilderness; trees, rocks and water. You are an hour away from the closest town and far outside cell phone coverage, which forces you to be prepared from start to finish.”
Over the course of the week on the river, our trek saw moose, fish, loons, abandoned locomotives, and a torrential storm all while growing in their outdoor skills and self reliance. Ben, a life scout, commented “my week-long trip in Maine was filled with jaw dropping views and growing through facing challenges with my friends.” While staying cheerful and mostly dry, the Scouts were challenged to make every meal home made with even bread cooked in a reflector oven on the fire each night.
Reflecting on the trip, Warren said “I was most impressed by the teamwork that the Scouts displayed when performing the canoe-over-canoe rescue in the middle of a very large lake. For that, and many other reasons, their parents and the whole town of Stoneham should be very proud of them.” So much fun was had that the Troop is already planning to make a return trip in three years. Derek summarized it best: “the Allagash trip was filled with timeless memories I was able to make with my fellow scouts. From funny moments and great laughs to memorable sights like the locomotives and the moose, the expedition was an amazing experience.”
Troop 513 does high adventure trips like this every couple of years matched with monthly local camping trips and annual weeklong summer camp. We focus on developing leaders of character while instilling in our youth a love of the outdoors.
If you are interested in Scouting, we offer programs for boys and girls from ages 6-17. To learn more about Troop 513 and Scouting in Stoneham in general, go to stonehamscouting.org.
Comments