North Maine Woods - July 25-31

I've been to both the NMW and the Kenai Peninsula. You nailed it, there is no other place quite as beautiful. I loved sitting out at night and seeing all the stars. I don't have anything too powerful, but I'm bringing my spotting scope and the digital adapter that I have for it. Hopefully I can get some good pictures of the night sky and if I'm lucky, some wildlife.

 

@BadDNA Have you been to lost pond campsite?

 

It's not the same type of wonder, but the ozarks and a TON of the desert southwest are awe inspiring.

There's a "little" town called Mountain View. I was in Louisville and heading toward Enid, OK and decided to hit the ozarks instead of St Louis, SO happy I did that. But when I left Louisville I threw a dart in the dark on the map, it directed me using interstates around the mountains so I picked a town smack in the middle I figured it would be 2 houses and a banjo, I had no idea I had picked the folk music capital of the world and this amazing little town in the middle of nowhere. It just showed up along with a ton of other "towns" on Google Maps.

Out west it's just a whole different game though.

Also upper peninsula in Michigan will be similar climate/flora as NMW and Alaska, and was freaking amazing. I went this past fall, I went 2-3 weeks after "typical" peak foliage, but apparently this year was late on the draw so I nailed the timing.

 

No, but I think I saw it on the campsite map. Is it one you're recommending?

 

Yes it is an incredibly secluded site with some wheeling to get in, nothing crazy but enough to keep people out.

May take me a bit to find the coordinates.

 

You have some time - Check this out. Katahdin Ironworks. I didn't hit it last year, it's the one thing I haven't been to. It's on our list for this year.

https://goo.gl/maps/yU849Ge7wUpEkwok9

And I can't find out how to share this because I am not hip with the technology but this too:
Scenic overlook at Debsconeag Ice Caves

 

Count me in.

 

Count me as a maybe with a plus 1, probably wouldnt be able to make the whole trip but could meet up at some point.

Do people run Hams or GRMS's? I have grms.

 

Up there you'll want to have someone with CB if you aren't going on a holiday stretch. Truckers use CB. They "use" MURS as well (it's the open "CB" version of GMRS frequencies).

If I make it, I'll HOPEFULLY Have GMRS and MURS and ham. I'm looking at a dual band VHF UHF setup. VHF will be better up there since you're more likely to be spread apart on the faster roads thanks to the dust.

Reminds me - everyone should get some sort of chase light. 20$ is enough if you don't have something fancy. The dust is brutal. Keep anything you don't want dust covered in your cab or under a cap/tonneau. I had an open bed and that dusty dirt was everywhere.

 

Added you both to the first post.

I've got CB and GMRS. We'll depend on CB to listen for oncoming logging traffic and hopefully we'll have enough GMRS radios that we can all have one to use. I've got a couple of Baofengs and a Garmin Rino that are all GMRS, if anyone needs to borrow one for the trip I'll have 2 to lend.

 

I have also spent time in Alaska and British Columbia/Alberta and just spent the past 13 years living in the Pacific Northwest. I miss the emptiness and solitude of the west. Hoping the NMW can scratch that itch. Super excited for this trip.

 

Assuming that Katahdin Iron Works is the last stop on Saturday 7/30 and we need one more night to bunk up somewhere nearby, does anyone have any ideas/suggestions? I've looked through iOverlander and there's not much in that area. The state parks have a 2 night minimum on weekends so that's kind of out.

 

I mentioned lost pond on Friday. Coordinates are 46.11376, -69.78896.

Also I'm sure you know the mosquitos up there are something else but you should probably put something in the 1st post for any first timers there may be.

 

I checked it out, it's a bit out of the way for the route I've got planned already and would involve major rework or a lot of doubling back. Added to my list of spots to check out, but it won't be on this trip.

Here's an overview map of what I've got planned, the trail ends at the Katahdin Iron Works for now, once I find a decent spot to bunk up Saturday night I'll add it, and the trip will be complete and I'll finish the descriptions in the route post. That gives everyone Sunday to travel home at their own pace on whatever route they'd like.

 

Fair enough, its also probably 2 rigs max too so wouldnt work if there is a decent group.

Also that looks like one hell of a trip, I've never been that far up there.

 

I added the Ice Caves as a stop on Saturday on the way to the Iron Works. This is really shaping up to be an epic trip, I hope you are going to make it. I'm looking forward to this.

 

Maybe the sites on the Kennebec River East Outlet for Saturday night? https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/publications_maps/docs/moosehead-lake-shoreline-guide.pdf

Anybody familiar with these spots?

 

If it's shaping up to be the shorter trip and not a full week there's a chance. I might not meet in St Johnsbury (sp?) But go more direct toward mooselukmiguntick (yeah no chance in hell I'm spelling that right).

 

It looks like Katahdin Iron Works is relatively close to Moosehead Lake. What if we camp there on the last night (Saturday 7/30)?? Would be kind of neat to bookend the trip that way. I was going to suggest Rangely SP for that Saturday as a bookend but that appears to be like 3 hours away. Not sure how much time we would have after Katahdin Iron Works.

 

That looks like an awesome option for sure. Goes along with my thought of bookending the trip at Moosehead Lake. There appear to be a ton of campsites at Moosehead, but I suspect a bunch are paddle in only.