A federal judge in Bangor killed a legal challenge to a Maine state law that allows access to the Allagash Wliderness Waterway at 11 existing road access points.

"It certainly seems apparent that the Allagash is no longer 'a wild, scenic river, generally inaccessible except by trail,' if it ever was such a river, as it now has eleven motor vehicle access points and six permanent watercourse crossings," wrote Judge Margaret Kravchuk.

Good for you, Judge.

Further, "state officials have the right to set management policies for the waterway because it's owned and operated by the state, not the federal government. "

Whoops from the crowd, Judge. Ditto that!

The Allagash River is OK just the way it is. It's beautiful country and canoeing the river today is still as fine an outdoor experience as any in Maine.

Remote and scenic as the Allagash country is, however, it isn't wilderness, as the judge said. Just beyond the borders of the officially protected strip you'll find logging trucks and timber harvesting going on, among other uses.

But you'd hardly know it from the river corridor. Even passing under the various bridges, one just floats quietly by and then they're gone, with minimal impact on the visitor experience.

So no need for any hubbub over reducing access. Take your legal challenges somewhere else, please and thank you. And leave all those who use and enjoy the Allagash in many diverse (can you say multiple use?) ways alone.

Speaking of rivers...

I'm headed up to The Forks this evening for two days of running the rapids on the Kennebec with friends. Damn if it took this long into the summer to get the raft on the water! How did this happen? Too many toys, too little time to play. Think this problem may require some pondering around the campfire tonight, cold one in hand...

Hope your weekend is wet and wild too!

Heading into Whitewasher in the Kennebec River gorge.
Action Photography photo