New Androscoggin map and guide boon to paddlers
Increasing public usage of the river and promoting paddling on it are among the goals of the map and guide.
Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
From trout streams to tidewater, the Androscoggin River has a remarkable story to tell. And the Appalachian Mountain Club's just-published "Androscoggin River Map and Guide" does a remarkably good job in telling it.
Sea kayakers, whitewater enthusiasts and paddlers of all persuasions will welcome this handsome color publication, which portrays this significant waterway from its origins in Maine's Western Mountains and New Hampshire's White Mountains to its confluence with the Kennebec and saltwater in Merrymeeting Bay.
Although its sources are in the Rangeley region, the Androscoggin as a named river begins at Lake Umbagog, which is formed at the confluence of the Rapid River and Magalloway River on the Maine-New Hampshire border. It flows 177 miles to The Chops, where Merrymeeting Bay empties to the sea.
For most of the 20th century, the Androscoggin was cited among America's 10 most polluted rivers. But in the past three decades, it's experienced a remarkable cleanup and now ranks among this region's recreational treasures. But it's been a largely undiscovered and underutilized resource because the public — mindful of its long history of abuse — has been slow to accept the river's newfound character. Increasing public usage and promoting paddling are among the goals of the map and guide, written by Marcel Polak of the AMC and Sue Lincoln, an outdoorswoman from Bethel.
Changing people's minds isn't easy, Lincoln acknowledges, especially among the longtime residents of the Androscoggin Valley who remember when four paper mills and hundreds of raw septic discharges from municipalities and private homes turned the river into an open industrial sewer.
"Not long ago it was a dirty, stinky, nasty place," Lincoln explains. "Now it's a place where people can go to canoe and fish and picnic. We've got to re-introduce people to the river both recreationally and aesthetically -- as a positive part of their community."
As one who had paddled nearly every mile of the Androscoggin, I can assure that the AMC's new guide goes a long way toward that admirable goal. For kayakers and canoeists, it provides a comprehensive look at the river, its access points, obstacles and surrounding lands. A total of 42 put-ins — each an official public access with parking — are mapped. Marking the 21 dams that control the Androscoggin between Umbagog and the sea is nearly as important.
About 95 percent of the Androscoggin offers pleasant flatwater paddling, suitable for novices. Sections with rapids are noted, plus there's a text guide that summarizes the experience to be expected along each portion of the river. The description of this stretch in the Bethel area is typical:
"Beautiful paddling amongst silver maples and around many islands. Below Bethel, Bear River Rips can tip boats, but this section is not difficult at most water levels."
Public and conservation lands of all types are printed in green. At its source, the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge is the newest addition to the national network of sanctuaries, while extensive New Hampshire state lands at Thirteen Mile Woods and Pontook Reservoir are next downriver. In Maine, the state-owned Turner Riverlands, on both sides of the Androscoggin in Turner and Leeds are the most important conservation properties.
Short sidebars of text focus on important issues in the river's geologic, natural and social history. These include sections on glaciers, Native Americans settlements, log drives, paper mills and pollution abatement. There are other interesting mini-features on the Ellis River, a fine day of paddling in its own right, and the Brunswick Bike Path, another superb way to appreciate the lower Androscoggin.
The AMC's map has some faults. First is the total lack of information on the carries — or lack of suitable portage routes — around the many dams. Some dams are comparatively easy to get around, while others are truly forbidding, but this map doesn't tell which is which.
Second, the mileages at each of the dams, accesses and scenic points of interest should have been marked, but weren't. There's also an unfortunate lack of information on canoe and kayak rentals.
Let's hope that these nits are remedied with a second edition. For more information about the "Androscoggin River Map and Guide," call the AMC's Gorham, N.H., field office at 603-466-2524.
Scott Andrews, a free-lance writer from Portland, is an avid canoeist and kayaker.