[Allagash Guide Service]

Our Guiding input: This is what we bring on a trip like this, do with this info as you wish. This holds specific items that we personally use on trips to be comfortable! We actually use these items, but that doesn’t mean that you have to. We do river and remote wilderness trips dozens of times throughout the year, so we get what we think is best for us, and what lasts! Items from Walmart or other stores will work just fine. We just wanted to share with you what we use because it works for us and we are happy with it!

Gear for all:

• We bring a small coffee cup, we love our OWALA Cups. We have the ones without handles, but you might find it best to get one with, so you can clip it to your backpack!
• Simple Water Bottle, we use these. They hold up well and the big wide opening is great for filling. You don’t need anything fancy though.
• FILTRATION WATER Bottle – We have been using  GRAYL all summer.. Strongly recommend! Many is it nice to be able to add flavoring into that river/stream water!
• We have a headlamp that goes on our hats, I have this one here. You can use any of the Nebo lights. They are mostly all rechargeable and last for the majority of the trip.
• Battery Power Banks are a must if you want to use your phone for photos or anything while on the trip. We have had these Biolite ones and they have been in our packs for the last several years. Brandon has also found this Milwaukee Power Adapter and he will swear by it!
• A good pocketknife is your best friend. We highly recommend Benchmade knives; they maintain a superior edge and are supported by a lifetime warranty.
• A quick drying towel is great, but if you just have a regular bath towel that’s just fine.
• We have a couple of small drybags to hold our phone, hand sanitizer, hair elastics, deodorant, sunglasses and some toilet paper. Just something to hold all the small things you need during the day. They can also be good to use for camp clothes to have an easy grab when you get to camp.
• We have everything in big drybags to consolidate for less trips for the portage. We use these  143L Dry bags  and have had good luck with them.
• Camping chairs are a must, we use these LL Bean Chairs.
• We use the LL Bean lanterns for around camp after dark, they can be found here
• WATER FILTRATION – it’s a must and this is our go to for large amounts of water needed! GET A SECOND FILTER to have on hand.
• Canoe seats make things much more comfortable while on the river. Unfortunately they do only work well with the webbed seats, but the molded plastic ones will work.. They just don’t fit like a glove.
• Paddling gloves, we don’t use them, BUT if you have soft hands, then get yourself a pair of gloves. Just about anything will do. Honestly – a pair of gardening gloves work well.
• Sleeping pad – We use the LL Bean ones. We love them. The blowing up process does take a little bit to get used to and master but once you do, it’s a pretty easy and fast task.
• Pillow, small dry bags I have the link to above.. They make a great pillow with some clothes in it! I’ve never had much luck with blow up ones, and the normal size pillows you have at home are too big and bulky to bring along. I just have a pair of shorts or sweatpants and a t-shirt to sleep in with a pair of cotton socks. Nothing fancy, just something to be in will do.
• We use Kuiu Tents, they have stood up to the elements and have lasted for quite a long time. They are an INVESTMENT. But through the pouring rain – and I mean 2.5 inches one night all of us woke up DRY!
• We bring along a Saw and Axe, had both of these for years, and they have held up great!
• We do as much cooking as we can over the fire, but we always have our JetBoil basecamp stove. They do have a bundle with pans, but we have others we rather use.
• Instead of carrying around several propane 1lb tanks we have this Big Boy and it lasts us for several trips.
• At all the campsites, there are picnic tables with poles over the top. Strongly recommend a Kelty Tarp to bring with you. You will also want to get a few poles, but its not required, it’s just very helpful at places like the Inlet campsite on Round Pond where there are no trees to hook onto!
• Something that helps gather and store all your random small things is a Bogg Bag, yes, crazy but they are super convenient. I would recommend getting a bright color, they are easier to locate in case of a toss over.

Brandon’s input: Men… whether it’s a 3 or 5 day trip these are the items I bring with me on the river.

• I bring a pair of crocs to wear both in canoe and at camp. Bring yourself a few pairs of wool socks to wear either in the boat or around camp.
• I like the XTRATUFF Boots, They are wonderful, and at higher levels I just wear them in the boat and in camp.
• I like minus33 socks. They hold up well, and they just work. – gross maybe but ive worn the socks for 3 days and they don’t get all crusty.. It’s rather nice.
• The sleeping bag I use is Men’s Nemo Forte Endless Promise Sleeping Bag, 35°F It is amazing. It’s light weight, it’s warm, but not so hot I’m uncomfortable. Kinda pricey, but totally worth it. – my bag will also zip up to Brittany’s..
• Clothing: I bring two pairs of quick dry pants, two quick dry t-shirts, a long sleeve shirt, I like them, no bug shirts/pants. Just a fleece, and a rain jacket to top them off. I have quite a bit of the LL Bean gear for pants and shirts. I love how lightweight and quick drying they are. For the outerwear I have an LL Bean Fleece, I just have a regular old cotton sweatshirt to wear around camp.

Brittany’s input:

• I bring just a pair of crocs for footwear, to me they are the perfect shoe. They work great in the boat and around camp.
• I have XTRATUFF Boots that I wear around camp.
• I bring a couple pairs of wool socks (I wear smartwool ) to wear in them that can help with keeping your feet warm, regardless if they get wet or stay dry. They also hold up pretty good and don’t tend to get that old sock crusty feeling. They can be worn for a few days, but I’d pack a couple pairs regardless.
• I bring two pairs of quick dry pants, two quick dry t-shirts, a long sleeve heavier shirt, sweatshirt and a rain jacket. I have the Columbia Omni-Shield for pants and shirts. I love how they fit and how lightweight and quick drying they are. For the outerwear I have an LLBean Fleece, and Gor-Tex rain jacket, then I just have a regular old cotton sweatshirt to wear around camp. A simple ballcap, because it helps with keeping your hair more tolerable. – ladies, your hair needs to be contained while out there or it will be crazy knotted by the end.
• The sleeping bag I use is the Women’s Nemo Forte Endless Promise Sleeping Bag, 20°F. It is amazing. It’s lightweight, it’s warm, but not so hot I’m uncomfortable. I am 5’ 11” so I get long and it fits great. Kinda pricey, but totally worth it. Also.. it zips into brandon’s but it’s too hot for that in the summer.. haha
• I also Bring a brush and a hat. My long hair is hard to keep from knotting all up.. but I keep it braided and in a hat and I seem to manage.

Other things to know:

• You are going into remote wilderness, be sure to tell others of your plans. Have a way to communicate with friends and family to check in. Most of your smartphones have the satellite texting feature, or bring a sat phone or device.
• Be sure to be safe. The Allagash Wilderness is no place for juggling axes, eating things you found in the wilderness or trying new tricks. Emergency services are aways from you, then when they get there you still have a ways to go to get to a hospital.
• Alcohol: Yes you can bring some but you need to be responsible. You are in a very remote location and emergency services are not easily accessed. Also, don’t bring glass.
• If your riding in with friends, hitching a ride with an outfitter.. coolers go in the vehicle. Don’t put them in the trailers. Anything carbonated, or fragile like eggs will not be in the same condition as they were when you started out.
• Bring Cash with you
• If you are coming down through Churchill Dam, you will need $20 cash to pay the rangers to shuttle your gear (or you to) around Chase Rapids. Help them load up your gear, just be a nice person.
• The gatehouses have hats, tshirts, sweatshirts and stickers for purchase, as do we at the lodge. You never know what you will find to bring home with you!
• Early on the river early off is our motto.. If you want good chances at the better campsites you need to get at it first thing in the morning!

We really hope that this document helps people to be prepared for their trip. This is just a basic guideline and not something that you need to stick to, to a tea. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. We would be more than happy to help you!

-Britt & Brandon Lane

[Andrew Chalnick]

This is such a freakin’ amazing post. It was held up in moderation because of all the external links (some default wordpress behavior to prevent spam) so I am just seeing it.  Thank you so much for this incredibly thorough post!!!  I can’t wait to go through it all carefully.  I am sure many people will appreciate it.

[wlbsvt]

Just ordered a Grayal water bottle. Looks great, Thanks.

 

[Author]

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