Commencing the Dangerous Business...

"[Bilbo] used often to say there was only one Road; that it was like a great river: its springs were at every doorstep, and and every path was its tributary. 'It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,' he used to say. 'You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.'"  --J.R.R. Tolkien

I'm in between school and jobs, feeling restless, and in need of a sizable adventure.  Time to tackle that trip that's been tickling my fancy ever since I first stumbled across it in the midst of a punting session during my senior spring: the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

I'll be using this blog as a brain-dump for the information I find, the gear I explore, and the kit I assemble.  And hopefully later, some progress updates from the trail.  I'll try to be marginally interesting and semi-coherent, on the off-chance that someone besides me makes use of these ramblings.

What's the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT)?  It's a network of rivers, ponds, lakes, streams, and bogs that have been laid out by a dutiful corps of volunteers, who explain it more eloquently than I can:

"The NFCT extends for 740 miles across contiguous rivers, streams, and lakes, following Native American travel routes from Old Forge, New York, through Vermont, Québec, and New Hampshire, to Fort Kent, Maine. In addition to being a paddling route, the Trail celebrates the history of the Northern Forest. Paddlers will be able to explore both the natural beauty of the rivers and lakes as well as the communities through which the trail passes." 

In other words, one of the lengthiest water trails in New England, and a great journey to begin my foray into long-term paddling trips.  My bibles for the last month have been the Official Guidebook and The Through-Paddler's Companion.

Now for some numbers from page 1 of the Companion.  The Trail passes through:

• 22 Rivers and streams
• 58 Lakes and Ponds
• 63 carries or portages, totalling about 53 miles
• 3 National Wildlife Refuges
• 45 Communities
• Both upstream and downstream (and flatwater) bodies
• 1 international border crossing (near Masonville, Quebec)
• About 1700 feet of elevation change
• Lots of great places to hang a hammock
• Lots of rapids where Rosser can pretend to be a Real Paddler
• Lots of carries for Rosser to regret every ounce of her gear and learn ultralight camping the hard way (AKA, the only way)
• Lots of long, dull segments for Rosser to examine her life choices and be glad she's here.

Okay, those last four are mine, but all in all, this is quite the adventure.  It's certainly the longest I've ever planned for myself, and now's the time to do it before my soul gets sold to a 9 to 5 behind a desk somewhere.

Next up: finalizing my packing list and sourcing my important gear!