Isla au Haut, Maine

“http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/national_parks/acad_haut95.jpg">map

I don’t know if that link will work, but it’s a map of the island and the trails.

I thought I’d start a thread to start chattin’ about this trip. I know it’s not until September, but you guessed it, if we decide to go with the itinerary on the trip planning page I gotta send in for reservations months in advance. But not until April 1st. :)
(plus I mailed my BSP reservations today, so I need a trip to plan, lol)

When jerbear was here, we went from BSP to Isle au Haut. What a contrast! He can attest to the fact that being on the ocean turns me into a complete slug. My plan on that trip was to hit the island, hike all 18 miles of trails, cross it off my “to do” list. Not!

I mentioned toys, thinking mountain bikes and kayaks. Mountain bikes are only allowed on the road, of which 5 miles is paved and 7 miles is dirt. Kayaking – there are about 40 islands in the archipelago, great exploring, probably easy to get lost.

The campground has five lean-tos, each holds six people, and each has a large critter proof box on the back. There are three state of the art composting outhouses. There is a water pump, but the water is pretty yucky – ok to drink, just full of minerals.

We’d be going in the off season, so we may be the only ones there. Some of what we do depends on if we go across with Captain Bill or the mail boat. Captain Bill drops us at the campground, the mail boat drops us at the town landing, four miles from the campground.

wahoo! HIKE MAINE!”

“crap! try this one:

map

it's the fifth one down...”

“Mmmmmmmm, ... lobster.”

“Twigeater, how practical would it be to just do the Isle au Haut portion of the trip? ... uh we really like BSP also, so we may do both...”

“yeah and it's Isle not Isla, geez...”

“Mmmmmmmm, ... lobster.”

“Very doable Klimber.
I tacked on BSP because the talk went kinda like this, "next time we do Knife Edge" before we even left BSP in October, lol!”

“Wow, kayaking around islands off the coast of Maine! Do I want to come? Is a frog's ass watertight?”

“LOL Artex, you do have a way with words man!

This trip is getting more and more enticing. Twigeater is twisting my arm big time.”

“kayaking on the ocean, not me...

kayaking”

“Isle au Haut is awesome! I was there a few years ago the last week in September - first week in October. Mail boat stopped going to the campground on 15 september, so we hoofed it from town. Town is a library, a store that's open about 4 hours a day, and little else. There's not a car on the island that has a license plate or inspection sticker newer than ten years old. At that time of year, we did not need reservations - called the day before and we were on. Even in peak season, the NPS allows only 50 dayhikers and 36 overnighters at one time. Of the 7 days we camped there, we had the entire park to ourselves for 4 days. Water was a distance aways from the shelters, but I think they were working on that. Trails go along the coast and up into the hills, all quite beautiful and much more rugged than you'd think for a puny island. A word of warning, the red squirrels that hang out at the shelters are clever and tenacious. Worse than any bear or coon I've ever run across. There is not a hanging and bagging method that they haven't figured out how to circumvent, and they spend their spare time sitting on the roofs laughing and tossing sticks at you. Next time I get back there, it'll be with a bear canister or metal bread box. Y'all are gonna have a great time if you can hang onto your food.”

“I remember you saying that when I went before steiny, and we never saw even one red squirrel! But now they have the metal critter boxes anyway. Water is still a short walk. :)”

“Red squirrels are wanton. One used my tent for a slide in the Daks one year. Perverted rodent!”

“*Maybe* (big maybe there) I could be talked into kayaking, but you guys certainly can!

I was just reading on the website that we could do one of those half day guided trips. $50 each, $85 for tandems.

We could always bag Baxter, start the trip the Saturday or Sunday before, and go waayyy down east, to the land of 25 foot tides. I vacation there most every year and I love it! No backpacking though, but this doesn't really look like a backpacking trip anyway, does it? ;)”

“Eeeeeat lobster, Mmmmmmmmmmm.”

“Wow, gotta check my speeling!!!

Kayaking!!!! Ya baby!!! Did I ever tell you about my very first day as an employee for EMS?? Oh yeah, here it comes....

I get hired by them and they inform me that there is a training day for kayaks in Portsmouth New Hampshire, and I need to know about kayaks, so I have to get myself there on Saturday by 10 AM. They pay me for my time driving, and my mileage, both ways. I get there and it takes a while to find them, but I am not late. It's cool out and were are learning all the terminology and add on sales and you name it. Very class room like hour or so.

Then the instructor says "Since you will be selling these kayaks, we feel it would be a very good idea if you knew about these kayaks, how they handle, how to get in, get out, how stable they are etc... We have, over there all 23 models we sell. And there are the lifevests and paddles, including some lightweight $300.00 paddles. So try em all out".

Can you believe it!!!! I am getting paid to paddle kayaks around the bay, in the surf. SUCKERS!!!!! I am having the time of my life trying every single one of them out, across the bay and back!! Come about kayak # 19, my arms are ready to drop off. That paddle is getting pretty heavy. So I grab one of the afore mentioned $300.00 paddles. Previously, I couldn't see much difference between it and the 45.00 paddle. Now, however, I can paddle again, and I manage to take every kayak for a spin.

One of these days, really, we will own 2 kayaks, with super lightweight paddles. Really we will.

What was really surprising to me was just how stable those kayaks were. Uh, that is once you got into them. You sit on the bottom of them and they become very bottom heavy. I prefer them over my canoe. And they go like a shot off a very lazy push. I like em long and narrow (read that faster). The few wide kayaks they had were easier to get in, but you had to lean to stick the paddles in the water. The narrow ones were so much less work to paddle, no leaning. The one sit on top they had was so wide, it would never roll over, but I felt like I had to walk to one side and paddle there, then walk to the other side and paddle there... LOL

I've had my eye on the Perception Carolina for some time now. I know christmas is over, but if any of you couldn't think of what I wanted for Christmas, I wouldn't mind if you got me my gift late!!!! ( I'd like a green one!!!)”

“(I was bashing my spelling in the thread title Klimber, not you)

As usual, the breadth and depth of your knowledge has me dumbfounded, lol! Sounds like you had a great time at EMS - how long were you there and why'd ya leave, anyway?

I have two kayaks, one's a tandem. You are correct, they are very stable and I also prefer them over a canoe any day. Much more comfortable and I can easily load and unload them myself. They are a blast and the kids absolutely love them!”

“I'm interested, Twigeater, I just don't know if I can get away. I would really love to go to the Ilse de Haut. It sounds close to perfect.”

“I worked at EMS from April til October one year as a part time job. I wanted to try out an outfitter, see if I could earn a decent living working in an area I call play. Also wanted to see if it would ruin my fun to work in it (it didn't). It helped to buy gear at company discount, and killer deals on returned merchandise. They don't pay much.

Enter new management, no more killer deals, less fun, more shelf stocking, less comraderie, personal problems (divorce), I resigned. I could go back, but Skeetah Bait and I are having way too much fun on our time off.”

“Lyndy, it would be great to see you again! I think you'd really love Isle au Haut. And it will be easy for you to jump in for just that portion of the trip if you want. This trip is the last part of my two week vacation.

Too bad Klimber, sounds like a great job! Once when hiking with the ranger at Russell Pond, he told me that hiking's a job for him - however he's gotta enjoy it, otherwise he wouldn't go out bushwacking while at work.”

“I think you are right. Russell Pond Ranger was bushwacking when we were there with you. You don't do that unless you love it!”

“for me knife edge/katadhin will be a must but I will have some extra time before and after the trip so if it gets axed I can go separately.

(This is assuming I can get this time slot during vaction pics. I should know within a few days.)”

“NICE place!”

“I have to remove myself as a "maybe". Just got my work schedule for the trip dates and I will be needed at work.
Working for a living REALLY sucks.”

“Oh no Stomper, and I was looking forward to meeting you! I was gonna bring my Helix watch so we could go over it's "finer" points together, lol! ;) Another trip, another time, maybe.

No #&%!$, work is nasty that way.
:( But we just found out that we get comp time for all that unpaid OT I've been crabbing about - six more days vacation time for me, wahoo!”

“The real pisser is that I'll earn about a weeks worth of comp time (from all the overtime) during Sept. that I'll HAVE to use before Xmas.
I was looking forward to meeting you myself. I like your sense of humor. Oh well, maybe next time.....”

“This sounds like an awesome trip.I've never been to Maine before but I hear it's beautiful.I have been considering this trip.I would love to go just don't want to get in over my head.Could you tell me more of what's involved?”

“Great! details on the trip page trekkngirl, here:

Isle au Haut”

“Thanks twigeater.I saw all of that but somehow I got the impression you might be canoeing,etc.That I haven't done yet.”

“Oh - there's talk of sea kayaking, but that would be a day thing - a three hour tour, so to speak, and that's optional.

The BSP part is a Katahdin/Knife Edge climb (optional, there's plenty of other hiking to do) and the Isle au Haut portion is basecamp with dayhiking.

When I get back from this weekend's trip we'll need to start discussing the trip, and I have some alternative plans, depending on what people really want to do.
I feel bad that some paid months in advance for reservations and then can't go, like on this weekend's trip - they're out the $$. It's worse that they can't come, but I feel bad about the money. :(”

“I'm cool with all that.Don't worry about lose of money for people,we risk that on nearly any trip that's worth taking.I'm going for this one,sounds like a blast!!My e-mail address on information page if you need it.Coolness.”

“i may very well down with this trip. i want to come to baxter very badly this year, and i dont like the 16 dollar minimum they charge at the sites, so i would be happier to go with a group.”

“at baxter, could we do something like katahdin stream to chimney pond to roaring brook as a shuttle? that would kick total heiny = )”

“Hey, we are looking into making this an official part of our schedule.

I just noticed the clamming possibilities. I used to dig clams and can bring my clam hoe. If I can find it.

Is biking a realistic possibility on th island?

We are looking forward to another trip to BSP, especially with the gang.”

“Clam Hoe???

Is that anything like a gear slut?”

“There was a sandy beach nearby, but I didn't see any clam holes. However, we weren't looking that hard cause we didn't have a rake (or a hoe, whatever yacallit), plus you'd probably be better at locating them than me. We did have a lot of fun picking (and eating) mussels and jerbear found four crabs.

You can bike but only on the roads, of which 4-5 miles is paved, and 7 is not paved. Capt Bill rents them or you can bring your own. Not worth it for me, but anyone else can do what they want.

Suggested trip arrival day is Saturday, September 13 and ends...not sure yet. Do we want two or three nights in BSP - Katahdin only, or an additional day for other hiking? Then three nights at Isle au Haut anyway.

more to follow...”

“I've always had a fascination for hardware. Why, I don't know. I guess I'm having a 'Red Green Moment'.

So, is it a...

Clam Hoe?
Clam Rake?
Trowel?
Spade, hand fork, grubber, crumbler or even swoe?

Recreational Basket Rake?

Perhaps even a... Clam Weasel <G>?


Tom, I thought you'd want to see a photo of the Dutch Hoe...



But seriously folks, <VBG>...


The Actual Tools and
TARGET="_blank">Maine Shellfish Laws and Regulations

Sounds like it could be somewhat 'involved,' <G>


O well, Back to Reality....”

“Hmmm... the link still works, but it looks kinda strange and doesn't open a new browser. Close enough for folk music I s'pose.”

“It's the soft shell clam hoe.

We can dig without a license in the state parks and the ranger said we could at Isle au Haut.”

“That would be under the Personal Use Exceptions, I guess, <GRIN>”

“could be, I didn't read that whole big long thang! :)”

“Aren't you guys going to lease a trawler while you're there? LOL”

“A typical Maine clam hoe is built thusly (Notice the sophistication):

You buy a 4 tine pitchfork, the kind with the big wide tines, not the wire type. You promptly remove the wooden handle. You have a choice here, depending on your tools of choice. You cna yank it off and bend the metal thingy (once again, notice the sophistication) at a 90 degree angle and put another 12" handle on it, or cut it off and weld a carriage bolt at a 90 degree angle, and screw a new 12" handle onto it. It is a big help to jam a ring of PVC pipe around the end of the handle near the forks to keep it from splitting when building or using in the mud.”

“Dang, monkeyboy, you're one handy dude! :-)”

“I hereby appoint monkeyboy official clam digger of the HIKE MAINE fall trip!”

“As I Suspected, LOL! None of that trendoid, pre-fab, $79.95 on the Internet stuff, <grin>

That was a Red Green Moment for Sure!

I was thinking... They really need 'Red' to do Public Service Announcements, like... for Seatbelts, Homeland Defense or Chainsaw Safety. The possibilities are truly endless.”

“We need to have an official photographer also..... oh yeah, we already have Pennsy!”

“I know this seems early, but reservations for Isle au Haut begin April 1st and I feel more comfortable sending in right off – then we can work from there if we can’t get what we want. I’ll reserve Isle au Haut first, Capt Bill second, and BSP third, and hope it all falls into place, lol.

Suggested itinerary:

Saturday, September 13, Avalanche Field
arrive Avalanche Field, BSP to HIKE MAINE!
*BSP gate closes at 10pm, so you must arrive before then.

Sunday, September 14, Avalanche Field
Katahdin climb, weather permitting

Monday, September 15, Campground near Stonington
Without driving the perimeter road to the other side, there’s South Turner mountain to hike from there, which has great views. There’s also the nature trail and moose watching opportunities in Sandy Stream and Whidden Ponds. And the hike into Katahdin Lake.
Drive to Stonington to camp

Tuesday, September 16, Isle au Haut
Sea kayaking tour before we go out to the island. We’d have to be there by 8:30am for the half day guided tour. $50 for a single kayak, $85 for a tandem.
This is Captain Bill’s website, so if you see anything here that interests you, let me know. http://www.oldquarry.com/
Pick up lobster and fixin’s for a lobster feed and go to the island!

Wednesday-Thursday, September 17-18, Isle au Haut
whatever

If no one is interested in kayaking, then we can take out the overnight at the campground in Stonington. Also – three or four nights at Isle au Haut?”

“I didn't mean to e-mail everyone twice, I don't know how that happened!

and clickable link:
capt bill”

“Hey there, this is Monkeyboy. We are very interested in the kayak trip, but that won't make or break it for us. We could also do 4 days on Isla au Haut, but then again, we live in Maine. All those "flatlanders" may want to leave earlier to get back to their homes, so we can go either way. As long as we are headed back by mid morning Sunday, it will work for us.”