North Woods Maine Canoeing, Backpacking & Rockclimbing

Baltimore Cheasapeake Bay Outward Bound
Baltimore, MD, United States

Course Format: Classroom | E-learning | Virtual Class | Online | On-site | Blended | Self-paced

Course Description:

'' Canoe the vast network of lakes, rivers and streams that connect the Northeast’s last wild and scenic undeveloped wilderness. Paddle, pole, line and portage then rig for whitewater and battle Class II+ whitewater. Hike above treeline for views so vast it will take your breath away. Rock climb backcountry, granite and rhyolite cliffs. Begins in Greenville, ME.
Course Area
Your wilderness classroom will be Maine¡¯s North Woods or in western Maine. HGA courses begin near Greenville, Maine, and paddle on the Penobscot, Kennebec, or Allagash watersheds in Maine¡¯s North Woods. The Native Penobscot people lived along the banks of these rivers during the winter, planted crops in the spring, then traveled downstream by canoe to coastal summer homes. Your journey through these watersheds will likely involve some portaging (carrying the canoe on your shoulders), as it is the traditional means of moving from one body of water to another.

Backpacking on HGA courses will take you to sections of the Appalachian Trail ¡ª- in the 100-Mile Wilderness area or in the mountain ranges near the Kennebec River ¡ª- or in the Spencer, Boundary, or Moose massifs. Many spectacular North Woods summits do not have trails leading up them, so you may find yourself using a map and compass to ¡°bag a peak.¡± Cross-country travel¡ªsometimes known as ¡°bushwacking¡±¡ª is common on North Woods courses as a means of linking canoeing and hiking routes.

The Expedition

You don¡¯t need to have previous canoeing or backpacking experience. We will teach you everything you need to know to travel comfortably ¡ª- how to pack appropriately, set up tents, carry a backpack, paddle whitewater, 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 quickly journey out into the wilderness, where the real magic takes place.

During your course you will be travelling expedition-style in 2- 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 generally you will be moving to a new campsite every night as you hike and 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 throughout the woods of Maine, known locally as ¡°Little Bear,¡± ¡°Bald,¡± ¡°Table Rock,¡± ¡°Square Ledges,¡± ¡°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. Climbing provides a break from the expedition as well as a chance to practice your balance, coordination, flexibility, and grace on the rock.

If you are on a 22-day course, you will learn to paddle whitewater at Errol, Seboomook, the East Outlet, the Moose River, or the Magalloway 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 how to scout and run rapids, as well as how to rescue yourself and your canoe should you tip over. (Some 14-day courses may paddle whitewater, too, depending on water levels and expedition plans).

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 helping you master wilderness expedition skills, coaching you as you learn. 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.

Student Independence

There will be times on this course when you will not be directly supervised by instructors. This will include time around camp cooking or setting up tarps, sleeping, and solo. Students under 18 will sleep in single-sex tarps or tents (2-4 people per tent), but all other aspects of the expedition will be conducted in co-ed groups. Outward Bound has found that a degree of independence is an effective educational tool and we expect that all students come to this course with a willingness to learn skills and practice them without instructor supervision, either alone or with other group members.

Weather, Remoteness, and Other Challenges

Wilderness travel is demanding. Canoeing includes numerous challenges, such as paddling into headwinds, portaging (carrying the 87lb. canoe on your shoulders), poling (propelling yourself upstream), and lining (guiding your canoe through unrunnable rapids). Moving between watershed involves a considerable amount of portaging and upstream travel, which can often be exhausting. Backpacking can be even more rigorous. Your internal frame pack will weigh between 40 and 60 pounds and you will be hiking up and down steep, rocky trails, through spruce trees so thick you will feel like you¡¯re swimming, or across fields criss-crossed with ¡°blowdowns¡± (dead trees lying on the ground). Past students and instructors agree that arriving physically fit will enhance your experience and ability to do well on the course and ultimately allow you to take full advantage of the expedition.

Weather is quite varied in Maine; the old-timers say ¡°If you don¡¯t like the weather, wait five minutes.¡± Summer days can be mild and pleasant or wet and cold, with fog, wind, and even sleet thrown into the mix. In May, June, and September the average temperatures will range from 40 to 60 during the daytime to as low as 30 in the evening. Snow is not an unusual occurrence in May; neither is hail and sleet. In July and August the temperatures will be between 50 and 90 during the day and as low as 45 at night. The average temperature of the water will range from 40 to 50 in the spring to between 50 and 65 in the summer.

Many students ask ¡°What do we do when it rains?¡± The answer is that we put on our rain jackets and keep moving. Lightning storms are frequent during July and August and are cause for us to stay put until the storm passes, but afterwards we continue to paddle or hike. Sometimes strong winds cause us delays in the canoeing expedition, so we have to make up time paddling in the early morning or into the evening, when the winds have died down. We rarely take layover days due to inclement weather, so be prepared to push on even when it seems nasty outside.

You will be traveling in a remote area. While each course carries a cell phone for emergency communication, coverage in the backcountry is limited and there is no guarantee that the phone will work from any given location. Medical evacuations may take up to a day.

A consistent theme in our instruction is identifying and managing the risks of travel in remote areas. The instructors are trained in first aid, search and rescue, and emergency management, but they cannot guarantee your absolute safety -¡ª you must take a certain amount of responsibility for your own well-being. You should come to your course prepared to work hard, ta ...''

Phone:410-448-1721

School Address:

1900 Eagle Drive - Leakin Park
Baltimore, MD 21207
United States
410-448-1721
baltimore@hurricaneisland.org

Jobs & Resumes: Baltimore
Houses & Roommates: Baltimore

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