Discovering the Allagash
A Canoeing Guide to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, North Maine Woods
by
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“Then we bumped into a couple of the Scouts I had met on Friday at the Tramway. Their group had run the Chase Rapids the day before. However, by the look on their faces and there being here on Monday morning, I assumed something had gone very wrong. They sadly told us that two of the group’s canoes had not survived the rapids. No one was hurt, but they appeared crushed (along with their canoes).... I felt for these Boy Scouts and felt my own terror grow. My brain must have simultaneously disengaged, because I don’t recall hearing what happened to the rest of the group.... On schedule, at 8:00 A.M., the dam’s valves were opened to allow more water to enter the river, which made navigating somewhat easier. By 10:00 A.M. we untied our canoe and warily floated along with the fast current. From here on out we were in fast water and unfamiliar territory. As we reached the end of the channel and entered the main flow of the river, we were instantaneously propelled into chaos. There was barely time to gasp as white water angrily boiled around us and in front of us. We looked for the center of the gauntlet, but realistically, all we could do is attempt to keep the canoe headed downriver. Suddenly, we were cast from the fray and I saw calmer water off to our right. There too, were scattered large rocks, but it looked navigable, so I yelled to Bruce that we should head more to the right to catch our breath. It turned out to be a bad idea; we should have charged forward without hesitation. We hit a large rock head on, and the canoe quickly spun around so that we were now headed downriver backward!”
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About the Book
This book is the ultimate guide to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW) because it covers every aspect of the canoeing/camping experience from the skilled eyes of a seasoned camper, accomplished canoeist and dedicated Eagle Scout. It includes maps based on the map/brochure issued by Maine’s Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry with permission from the AWW Superintendent. There are over 100 stunning color photos, suggestions of what to bring, where to park, where to put-in and take-out, as well as brief summaries of what to expect at different campsites. It is also a study of contrasts, as the author describes: quiet serene lakes; charging bull moose; terrifying intense winds creating three-foot waves; rainbows over calm water; embedded history of lumbering; spelunking in the Ice Caves; hiking nature trails with beautiful vistas; starring up at the Northern Lights; surviving the white water of Chase Rapids; falling asleep exhausted to the call of a loon, the babbling of a brook or the roar of a waterfall, and so much more. The AWW is an extremely remote, nature sanctuary that has won the author’s heart. He hopes the guidance and advice in his book will allow others to canoe this wilderness paradise with confidence and insight, as they are reminded of Henry David Thoreau’s quote: “...in wildness is the preservation of the world.”
About the Author
Jeff Sims is a naturalist who grew up in a rural, wooded setting in New York. He was an enthusiastic Boy Scout, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He holds a B.S. degree in Biology and a M.S. in Environmental Science. Jeff is now retired and lives in Connecticut with his wife, Yvonne. He first discovered the Allagash Wilderness Waterway at age 40 when supervising a Scout canoeing trip. He found it to be the most amazingly beautiful, nature sanctuary he had ever experienced. Furthermore, it provided a sense of remoteness and the feeling of being truly “off-the-grid”. Almost every summer through to today, Jeff has returned to the Allagash to canoe, camp, explore and photograph. Astonishingly, very little ever changes at the AWW. It’s as if this paradise is in a time capsule; sites are as pristine now as they were on his first trip. This book is the culmination of all those adventures as well as a helpful guide to future Allagash paddlers.