Paddlers pass some islands on Moxie Pond. Ron Chase photos
Each year, the Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society celebrates summer with a weekend of paddling adventures collectively called the Summer Picnic. For many years, the event has been held at West Forks in western Maine.
The base camp for club activities is Webb’s Campground located on the Dead River at West Forks just before it merges with the Kennebec River. Both rivers provide whitewater paddling opportunities that vary from Class I to Class IV. Again this year, the most popular scheduled trip on the first day was a Class 3 excursion on the Dead, while a few members paddled the Class 4 Kennebec Gorge.
Mosquito Mountain can be seen in the distance as canoeists begin a traverse of Moxie Pond.
My wife, Nancy, and I decided to offer club members a flatwater option: a traverse of nearby Moxie Pond. Although Nancy had kayaked a portion of it, neither of us had paddled the entire length. Since we had hiked Moxie Bald and Mosquito Mountains, which border the pond on the east and west, we knew it was a very scenic body of water. Viewed from the mountain summits, my impression was that it had the character of an inland fjord. That’s how I promoted the trip.
Three additional Chowderheads signed on for the excursion. We were a diverse paddling group. Gail and Devon Carter navigated a tandem canoe and Jonathan Ludlow a solo canoe. Nancy and I paddled solo flatwater kayaks.
The direction of narrow Moxie Pond is north-south. Moxie Pond Road follows along the west shore. We needed to decide which way to travel. The forecast called for winds from the southwest for the entire day, so our choice was south to north. Unsure of where we could launch on the southern end, Nancy and I explored the Moxie Pond Road in advance of meeting the group. We found a suitable location where vehicles could be parked next to the shore near the southern-most navigable sector of the pond.
The group met at Moxie Pond Boat Landing adjacent to the outlet dam near the northern terminus. From the dam, Moxie Stream flows west for about 5 miles before entering the Kennebec River. Just before joining the Kennebec, spectacular Moxie Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Maine, tumbles vertically for almost 100 feet.
The winds pick up as kayakers navigate Moxie Pond.
The weather was beautiful with sunny skies. As predicted, there was a gentle southwest breeze. Participants transported their boats south after leaving two vehicles at the landing to facilitate a post-trip shuttle.
Paddling was superb as we began our 8-mile journey north. Proceeding through a narrow channel on the right, we entered a wider body of water where Moxie Bald Mountain was visible in the east and Mosquito Mountain west. That’s when I realized my observation that the pond resembled an inland fjord was an unintentional embellishment. However, if you let your imagination soar, navigating through the pond between Mosquito and Moxie Bald Mountains looks something like an inland fjord.
Everything went effortlessly while enjoying a gentle tailwind and sunny weather until we started looking for a location to stop for lunch. After exploring several possibilities that were unacceptable, we found a small uninhabited island where landing was doable but challenging. A team effort was required to ascend the steep embankment before partaking of our delayed luncheon.
Paddlers enjoy an island lunch spot over the weekend. Ron Chase photo
Easy paddling continued as we entered the northern sector of the pond that was cluttered with small islands and ragged peninsulas. In an open area about a mile from the landing, the wind gods betrayed us. Nasty broadsides rocked our boats until we gained shelter in lee of a lofty peninsula. Turning the bend towards the landing, we were confronted with a powerful headwind that persisted until we reached the western shore. By the time we arrived at the takeout, everyone had experienced an invigorating aerobic workout.
Only day one of our exciting weekend of adventures; more exhilarating exploits were anticipated. Nancy and I were scheduled to lead a Class 3 whitewater trip on the Kennebec from Carry Brook to West Forks the following morning. The day ended with a short club business meeting and a delicious potluck picnic dinner at Webb’s Campground.
Read about more Maine lake and pond expeditions and exciting whitewater trips on the Dead and Kennebec Rivers in my book, “Maine Al Fresco: The Fifty Finest Outdoor Adventures in Maine.”
Ron Chase resides in Topsham. His latest book, “Maine Al Fresco: The 50 Finest Outdoor Adventures in Maine” is available at northcountrypress.com/maine-al-frersco.html or in bookstores and through online distributors. His previous books are “The Great Mars Hill Bank Robbery” and “Mountains for Mortals – New England.” Visit his website at ronchaseoutdoors.com or he can be reached at ronchaseoutdoors@comcast.net.
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