After months of preparation and nearly two weeks in the wilderness of northern Maine, members of the Venture Crew 746 scouting group have returned home.
The crew’s summer adventure included an attempted ascent of Mount Katahdin, Maine’s highest peak, and a 100-mile canoe journey through the historic Allagash Wilderness Waterway, one of the Northeast’s premier backcountry paddling destinations.
For many of the participants, the trip represented the culmination of a year of training. Crew members spent months developing camping, paddling, navigation and outdoor cooking skills through outings on the Potomac River and training weekends closer to home (see the May 21 and June 25 issues).
This wasn’t a trip where one can simply show up and go. The scouts spent months planning, preparing and building the skills needed to safely travel through a remote wilderness environment.
Katahdin Beckons
The adventure began with a two-day drive north, first camping at Salisbury Beach, Mass., before continuing to Baxter State Park in northern Maine, home of Mount Katahdin and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. After severe weather delayed the climb, the group seized a window of favorable conditions to begin the challenging Hunt Trail.
The climb brought the crew above the tree line and into rugged terrain featuring steep rock where anchors and hand holds were bolted into the rock. However, after monitoring changing weather conditions and adhering to a predetermined turnaround time, the group decided to turn back before reaching the summit. As if on cue, the winds started gusting and the skies darkened. It was time to descend.
The choice proved to be an important lesson in wilderness leadership. Adult leader Kevin d’Eustachio was heard to say that when the weather hits, “It is better to be down there wishing you were up here, rather than up here wishing you were down there.”
On to the Allagash
Following their time in Baxter State Park, youth leaders Hannah Baker and Mark Coppock led their crew onto the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, beginning a 100-mile, 10-day journey through some of the most remote landscapes in the East.
The paddlers quickly discovered that nature had plans of its own. Less than a mile into the first day, rounding the point into Chamberlain Lake, the crew were forced to stop and camp due to wind-whipped, white-capped waves. These same conditions occurred repeatedly, forcing the crew to adjust daily objectives. Many days began before sunrise as the group sought to take advantage of calmer morning conditions and the long summer days in the far north. In fact, the crew had built in multiple weather days as a contingency and every single extra day was used ― it almost was not enough.
Despite the challenges, the crew continued north through a landscape of dense forests, pristine lakes and winding rivers. Wildlife sightings became a regular occurrence. Loons provided a soundtrack to nearly every morning and evening, while bald eagles and multiple moose sightings highlighted the trip. One particularly memorable moose encounter occurred when the scouts quietly drifted toward an animal feeding along the shoreline, before an accidental bang of a paddle on a canoe hull sent the moose running back into the forest.
The expedition also included visits to several historical sites deep in the wilderness, including the famous “Ghost Trains” of the Allagash region, abandoned locomotives that remain as reminders of Maine’s logging heritage.
While the daily paddling was demanding, the crew also found time to enjoy some unexpected comforts.
Backcountry Cooking
Backcountry cooking became a major highlight of the trip. Scouts prepared an impressive variety of meals using dehydrated and shelf-stable ingredients, demonstrating skills they had practiced throughout the year.
Among the culinary successes was a bacon, pepper, onion and cheddar frittata prepared using OvaEasy eggs, which taste and cook like fresh eggs. Most expected it to be good enough for camp food, but it turned out to be one of the best breakfasts of the entire trip.
The crew also developed a wilderness shower system using tarps for privacy and repurposing the water filter bags for gravity-fed showers. During one weather-
related layover, campers even heated water over a fire, transforming a simple rinse into a luxury experience.
Another discovery came along the shoreline when scouts encountered freshwater mussels, one of which attached itself to a scout’s paddle. After discovering a large number on the lakeshore, a small sample were cooked over a campfire with garlic and butter, creating one of the most unusual meals of the expedition.
Teamwork, Adaptability
Teamwork and adaptability became recurring themes throughout the journey. From battling headwinds to navigating shallow river channels, every day required problem-solving and cooperation.
Perhaps the most memorable moment came when the crew transformed a 10′ x 10′ rain tarp into a makeshift sail. The six canoes arranged together in a flotilla with the homemade sail carried the crew a solid 10 miles, the length of Long Lake. During that time, the group traded hard paddling for laughter, sea shanties and smooth sailing.
A Celebration
The journey also included special milestones, including the celebration of Crew President Lucy Murray’s 16th birthday. “I thought it was crazy,” Murray said, “that here I am in the middle of nowhere, where few people had ever been, on my birthday.” Fellow scouts baked a cake, while neighboring paddlers (with a random Greenbelt connection) helped provide ingredients to put the icing on the cake, literally providing chocolate and butter for a fresh ganache.
Expedition End
After nearly two weeks in the woods, the expedition concluded in the town of Allagash, near the Canadian border. Returning to roads, vehicles and cell service proved to be an adjustment after so many days immersed in nature.
By the time the crew arrived back home in Maryland, participants had gained far more than miles traveled, because the lessons in leadership, decision-making, resilience and teamwork will stay with them long after the memories of paddling and campfires fade.
Interested in Adventure?
If trips like this sound exciting, Venture Crew 746 would love to meet you. Our program is open to all youths aged 14 to 21. No experience necessary except a willingness to try new things.
Join us at our Open House on Sunday, August 30 at Mowatt Memorial United Methodist Church or attend our Rotary Club presentation on October 8, where crew members will share photographs and stories from the expedition.
For more information, email VentureCrew746@gmail.com.
