New Side Bar Widget Added: NFCT Shelter and Campsite Reports

Besides repaddling the Connecticut River in 2017, I also checked out the new Yaledale portage and lean-to as well as the Nulhegan portages and enclosed timber frame hut. I thought it might be helpful to see some photos for planning purposes. To this end, a new widget was added to the sidebar of this blog documenting shelters and campsites of which I have images and information. This section will continue to be expanded as time and resources become available.

Start here by exploring the new Nulhegan Hut.

Map 7, Days 24 - 25: The Connecticut River

Year Five: Repaddling the NFCT in Sections

Part 5: The Connecticut River

Map 7: Monday, July 3 - Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Debanville Landing to Guildhall, Vermont (off trail take-out)  

Total mileage this section this trip: 20 miles
Total sectional trail mileage to date: 307 as of July 2017
NFCT Mileage marker at the end of this section: 328
NFCT missed to date: 28.2 total (Map 3/Saranac River–Cadyville to Plattsburg: 15.7 miles, Map 6/Clyde River from Bridge Street to Clyde Pond: 2 miles and Map 6/Nulhegan from Wenlock Crossing to Debanville Landing: 10.5 miles)                                   

Overview

Was able to knock off this river while back east attending a wedding in Vermont the weekend of July 2. This 20- (or 23-) mile trip can easily be completed in one day. We didn’t start until 2 p.m. and divided it over two days so we could camp one night. We were off the water before 10:30 a.m. the following morning. We continuously paddled (vs. floating), but not with any urgency.

This trip is a very pleasant section and would be good for families with young children. Several large sandbars are present between the Maine Trestle campsite to the confluence of the Upper Ammonoosuc River, perfect for playing and swimming breaks, although farms are present throughout this section. I wouldn’t advise drawing any water from the river. We carried two gallons with us.

Great news! The Debanville General Store is back open. New owners began operation in April this year. As of this date (July 4, 2017), they had a decent resupply including a large variety of protein/power/granola/candy bars. The store sells pints of ice-cream and other frozen treats and has a counter serving sandwiches and pizzas. Definitely worth a stop. With prior arrangement, their son was able to shuttle our car to Guildhall, Vermont (an easy drive following VT Route 102).

Another shuttle option is to contact Stacey or Don at 603-237-4544 or cellphone: 802-274-7634. They had a note posted in the sign-in box.

Map 7, Day 24: Monday, July 3, 2017

Debanville Landing to Samuel Benton Campsite 

Miles: 13 (in 3.5 hours with one break)
Portages: 0
Paddling Partner: Sam Vainisi
Boat: Wenonah Minnesota II
Wildlife: Geese, mergansers, osprey, bald eagle
Weather: High 70s, sunny and pleasant
Overnight: Samuel Benton Campsite


We first ate lunch at the General Store and after shuttling the car, put in from the small campsite located beyond the Debanville NFCT kiosk on the Nulhegan. The Belknap campsite might be difficult to locate from the water—it's behind a low island, river left of the main channel. There is a low set of stone steps leading to and from the water to it. This campsite is hidden from the nearby road and has a sign-in box and privy.

NFCT Kiosk at Debanville Landing

Underused Belknap Campsite behind kiosk

After many days of rain, the water level was good for July, although the Nulhegan was still scratchy at its outlet and bumpy when viewed (but not paddled) from the rerouted Moore (lower Nulhegan) portage. Prior to reaching Debanville, we stopped to scout out the new enclosed hut (nice!) and portage route.

New Nulhegan hut along rerouted Moore Portage

The Connecticut had good water levels and the only bit of fast water was just beyond the railroad trestle, after the confluence of the Nulhegan.

Put-in on the Nulhegan
(at Belknap Campsite)

Early section of the Connecticut River
(just after Nulhegan confluence)

 

Took a break visiting the Maine Trestle campsite seven miles downstream after about 1.5 hours of paddling, then headed on to camp at the Samuel Benton campsite at the 13-mile mark.

Maine Central Railroad Trestle Campsite landing

Maine Central Railroad Trestle Campsite

Of the two campsites, Samuel Benton has a larger sandy beach landing area and the tenting is above the river along an open farm field. Both sites have sign-in boxes, picnic tables and a fire ring, and both are buggy. The privy at Samuel Benton is solar-powered.

Samuel Benton Campsite Landing

Samuel Benton Campsite exposed sandbar/beach

Samuel Benton Campsite

Map 7, Day 25: Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Samuel Benton Campsite to Guildhall, Vermont

Miles: 7 NFCT trail miles plus three additional off-trail miles to the take-out (in 2.25 hours with no breaks)
Portages: 0
Paddling Partner: Sam Vainisi
Boat: Wenonah Minnesota II
Wildlife: Geese, mergansers, osprey, bald eagle, great blue heron, beaver and heard coyotes and owls at night, plus two trains.
Weather: High 70s, sunny and pleasant


Once the sun went down, the mosquitos really came out. No rain was predicted in the forecast, so we didn’t put on the rain fly. At one point, the mosquitos would pretty thickly covering the netting. By my head. They were present at breakfast as well and we packed up quickly. Probably would have been better eating breakfast on the sandbar instead of the field.

The railroad is still active. Two trains thundered by across the river during the night. I swear the ground was shaking under the tent.

The morning paddle was a bit more leisurely. Saw what we think was a beaver—too large to be a muskrat, yet we weren’t seeing any real beaver activity around that particular oxbow. Saw a second eagle not being bothered in the least by several crows. It finally took off while we floated under its tree.

Sitting eagle

Flying eagle

The marked take-out, river right, at Guildhall was just above the bridge before a set of rapids. Would have been nice to have scouted that out prior to arrival, but we ferried over from river left without a problem. The only issue here is that the take-out is tight—only a narrow rock stairway along the river bank. Not room for more than one canoe at a time here. And there was a bit of current, so one person needed to hold on to the boat while we unloaded.

End of another short, but fine trip.

< End of Sectional Paddle Trip #5 >