Northwoods Maine Canoeing & Backpacking

This two or three week course is a multi-expedition featuring a backpacking portion on or around the northern section of the Appalachian Trail and a canoeing portion in the Rangeley lakes. This course is ideal for rising junior and seniors that are looking for challenge and skills that will offer the lifelong benefits and perspective that only wilderness travel with Outward Bound can offer.

The course begins near Newry, Maine, and travels mostly in the Androscoggin watershed, the Mahoosuc Mountains and the White Mountain National Forest. The Androscoggin is fed by Aziscohos Lake, the Magalloway River, and the Rangeley Lakes—Cupsuptic, Mooselookmeguntic, and Upper and Lower Richardsons. Native Abenaki tribes used the Androscoggin as transportation between winter habitats inland and summer living on the coast and as a source of food. Later the flow of the Androscoggin River was used to move logs to mills downstate during the logging boom of the nineteenth century. These days recreationists, fishermen and scientists primarily use this beautiful region.

The Outward Bound Difference
How does learning to paddle or read a map help you in life? It is the process of learning, the accomplishment of going further, the simplicity of living in the wilderness for a week or a month that offers the building blocks of success. Gaining competence by learning two distinct wilderness skill sets means you will head home empowered and inspired. Let the lakes and the mountains teach you about your strengths and gain perspective on life living and the outdoors. Successful completion of your course demands mastery of skills, trust, fitness, confidence, tenacity, leadership, initiative and compassion. The promotion of these qualities, and the discovery of what’s in you, is the purpose of Outward Bound.

This course may be the hardest thing you have ever done. Outward Bound philosophy maintains that by facing the challenges the course will offer you, you will emerge physically and mentally stronger, with an increased mastery of expedition skills as well as a better understanding of your own capabilities. We think that the payoff is well worth the work, but you should be aware of what you’re getting into and excited about tackling the challenges.

Course Description
You don’t need to have previous canoeing or backpacking experience. We will teach you everything you need to know to travel comfortably — how to pack appropriately, set up tents, paddle whitewater, and navigate using a map and compass. Your course will begin at Outward Bound’s Greenville base camp, where you will get a basic introduction to backcountry travel, then you will soon journey out into the wilderness, where the real magic takes place. Canoe along the vast network of lakes, rivers and streams that connect the Northeast's last wild and scenic undeveloped wilderness. Backpack along the 100-Mile Wilderness section of the Appalachian Trail. Paddle, pole, line and portage and perhaps rig for whitewater and battle Class II+ whitewater. Rock climb backcountry granite and rhyolite cliffs.

During your course, you will be traveling expedition-style in tandem (two-person) canoes or with a pack on your back. “Expedition-style” means that you will leave base camp on the first or second day of your course and not return to it until the end of the course. You will travel with all the food and equipment you need to conduct your expedition: stoves, tents, food, etc. Your group might occasionally sleep at the same campsite twice but you will generally move to a new campsite every night as you paddle along your expedition route. This means no showers, no telephones, no television or any other modern luxuries that you may be accustomed to. You should come to your course emotionally prepared for and excited about devoting all of your time and energy to your expedition, your group, and your Outward Bound experience.

At some point on your expedition, you will spend a day rock climbing on one of the granite cliffs that can be found in the woods of Maine. Some of their local names are “Kineo,” “Half Dome,” “Fat Man’s Woe,” and “Papoose.” After a site introduction, you will learn how to use a climbing harness and helmet, how to belay, how to climb, and how to rappel or lower off a climb. Students will all belay each other, while instructors provide overall supervision of the site. A climbing day offers a chance to practice your balance, coordination, flexibility, and grace on the rock as well as a break from the expedition.

If conditions and your expedition allow, you and your group will learn more technical paddling on the whitewater at Seboomook, the East Outlet or the Moose River. Paddling whitewater in a tandem canoe involves learning to communicate effectively with your paddling partner, as well as perfecting several steering strokes. After practicing swimming in whitewater, you will learn to scout and run rapids, and rescue yourself and your canoe should you tip over. The instructors’ goal is to teach you the skills you need to become self-sufficient on the water and in the mountains. The instructors will spend the early days of the course coaching you in wilderness expedition skills. As you grow more competent and confident with your skills, the instructors will ask that you take more responsibility for the leadership of the expedition. Neither guides nor counselors, the instructors are teachers and mentors whose goal it is to train you to travel independently in the backcountry.

To enroll in this course click the enroll button next to the course dates that work for you. To shop comparatively on line visit our Advanced Course Finder or better yet call one of our expert Admission Advisers at 866-467-7651. Course tuitions listed below do not include our Application Fee or Transportation Fee.

Region: Maine

Activities: Backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, service solo and final expedition

Additional Information:
Application Fee
Transportation Fee

scholarship program pick
Dates	Days	Age	Location	Tuition	Course	Enroll
06/22/08 to 07/05/08	14	16-18	Maine	$2695.00	GDN841
06/25/08 to 07/16/08	22	16-18	Maine	$3595.00	GDN851
07/12/08 to 07/25/08	14	16-18	Maine	$2695.00	GDN842
07/29/08 to 08/19/08	22	16-18	Maine	$3595.00	GDN852
08/02/08 to 08/15/08	14	16-18	Maine	$2695.00	GDN843