Ken Gordon and I have been starting the third day of our five-day outing on the Machias River in Washington County. Paddling expedition kayaks, two seniors not performing their ages had accomplished rather less than half of the 55-mile journey and have been camped on the foot of Little Falls.
We awoke to bluebird skies and light-weight winds. The paddling day started with a stretch of flatwater to Mopang Stream which entered on the best. Across the bend was the 2-mile sector of whitewater known as Wigwam Rapids.
The protracted first Wigwam started with a steep pitch replete with unappealing holes. After scouting, we efficiently navigated left earlier than continuing by means of the rollicking runout. Stimulating rapids launched the second Wigwam, which entailed cautious maneuvering round two ledge drops. A horizon line indicated our strategy to the third Wigwam. After cautious scrutiny, we plunged down the left aspect whereas managing to keep away from breaking waves, boulders and a large highly effective gap on the backside. Our exhilarating go to with the Wigwams completed with a Class II descent by means of massive waves within the ultimate pitch.
The three-mile flatwater paddle to Holmes Falls was delightfully interrupted by a deer swimming within the river. The portage across the hazardous falls started by catching a tiny shifting eddy simply above the onset that required exact execution to soundly land. We broke up the demanding carry by tenting about midway by means of the portage path at a web site overlooking the turbulent cataract.
Day 4 started with sunshine and hotter climate. A brief paddle by means of simple rapids introduced us to Deadman’s Island situated a brief distance above Little Holmes Falls. We stopped on the island to go to a stone monument devoted to the reminiscence of Obadiah Hill, an early Machias River pioneer, and to scout the doorway to the falls. Little Holmes is a fancy speedy that isn’t simply reconnoitered and concludes with a Class IV descent left of an island and a technical Class III to the best. After continuing by means of an strategy speedy, we ferried exhausting proper to an eddy to analyze the best aspect and arrange security. The technical twisting descent was negotiated with out incident.
The joy of Little Holmes behind us, a protracted expanse of flatwater adopted. Close to the confluence with Outdated Stream, we loved an entertaining encounter with a younger bear foraging subsequent to shore. The startled little bruin scurried into the woods after we have been detected.
Following lunch at Getchel Riffles, we battled a powerful headwind whereas persisting to Nice Falls, the longest speedy on the river. From the portage path, it was obvious the waves have been extra substantial than most of my prior visits. The perfect location to view the falls is from the highest of gigantic boulders excessive above the in depth speedy. After cautious inspection, we determined to portage gear and carry kayaks across the high half of the falls. A spirited plummet dodging rocks within the decrease part adopted. We ended our day having fun with sunshine and a heat mild breeze at an idyllic campsite subsequent to the falls.
We have been up early for our ultimate day hoping to keep away from rain forecasted to start mid-morning. Regardless of our hurried efforts, showers began whereas breaking camp. We launched in mild rain.
The precipitation subsided throughout our 6-mile paddle to the previous logging neighborhood of Whitneyville. The ever present open banks of that circuitous part of river are the results of a former lake created by a dam, since eliminated. The view of a church steeple introduced our arrival in Whitneyville, the place a rousing Class II speedy carried us beneath a bridge at Route 1A.
Left to proper, A paddler navigates one of many Wigwam Rapids on the Machias River. A kayaker begins a tough descent of Little Holmes Falls on the Machias River. Credit score: Courtesy of Ron Chase
Shortly after, we handed the location of the previous U.S. Geological Survey river gauge. Inexplicably, it ceased working a number of years in the past. Why the U.S. Geological Survey continues to keep up a gauge for the minor tributary of Outdated Stream however neglects one for the biggest watershed within the space is bewildering.
The remaining 5 miles to Machias consisted of flatwater with sporadic simple rapids to extra substantial whitewater in a gorge starting shortly earlier than coming into city. The lengthy, feisty speedy was the proper strategy to finish our journey on one in all Maine’s best tripping rivers.
Extra tales of journey and misadventure on the Machias River will be present in my ebook, “Maine Al Fresco: The Fifty Most interesting Out of doors Adventures in Maine.”
