Androscoggin River-SUP source to sea: Trip post 1

Rivers for Change board members Danielle Katz and Matt Palmariello are currently SUPing 190 miles Source to Sea down the Androscoggin River. Follow the journey on social media Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Androscoggin River starts near Errol, New Hampshire at Lake Umbagog and ends at the confluence with the Kennebec River in Merrymeeting Bay near Brunswick, Maine-flowing into the Atlantic ocean at Popham beach.

The Androscoggin was once one among the twentiest most polluted rivers in the country and was the catalyst for the Clean Water Act of 1972.  The river has been cleaned up substantially in terms of water quality, although it still has room for improvement especially surrounding some of the mills, dams, and towns.

Thanks to organizations like the Androscoggin River Watershed Council  working to reconnect communities to the river, the increase of recreational access and use of the Androscoggin is on the rise. With over 50 access sites, this river is prime for paddlers of all craft.

Matt and Danielle at the start of their journey.

Carrying about 80 lbs of gear with food, water, and warm clothes. We’re restocking food and water twice along the trip but otherwise completely self-supported.

Portage 1 of many around 18 dams.

Along the 6 mile portage through the towns of Berlin and Gorham around 6 dams in the pouring rain.

Much of the river disappears into this pipeline at one point along the portage route.

Dam #10-Over half way done with our portages in less than 1/3 of the trip!

There are over 100 Boom Piers from Milan to Berlin New Hampshire.

Danielle paddles in front of a typical boom pier-many have trees growing on them.

Rest Day means drying out garage sale!

With the fall foliage peaking, it’s like paddling through an impressionist painting.