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Thank you all for the fine comments and suggestions. Nate, I do agree a thermos full of a hot beverage is a valuable piece of safety equipment when paddling in cold weather. This past weekend a few of us were fine tuning our cold weather paddling and camping skills and saw first hand the value of the hot beverage. I believe it is safe to say, none of us will venture out on the water in December without a hot beverage in our day hatch. I also agree that a JetBoil or equivalent stove does not take up too much space in the hatch and can provide you with a hot breakfast and hot dinner. In fact the past weekend was full of “Ah Ha” moments when you encounter a valuable skill that is not easily internalized until you live the experience. As a case in point, when cold weather camping I will now seek out an east facing rock ledge for breakfast to enjoy the warming rays of the rising sun. A simple enough concept, but a real treasure to be remembered when you live it! Warren

I am seeking knowledge from the cold weather paddlers regarding sea ice. I am a member of a small but hardy clan of cold weather sea kayak campers who are planning two or three camping trips in December on MITA islands in Casco, Muscongus and/or Knubble Bay. We are concerned with the presence of sea ice at the MITA island camp sites. Clearly the ice would hinder our efforts and may be a trip limiting factor. Since safety is of high concern to the clan, we seek any recommendations on safe actions we should consider for both landing and launching when sea ice is present. Warren

Rob, Great report! The knowledge of your gift at writing trip reports is spredding. I did notice that Mother Nature looked down fondly at the team of paddlers. Did she notice you were there? Could be I am the one she is hoping to tease. It is sad to think some of the paddlers will not continue to paddle into December. I hear it is the best month for kayak camping! Warren

Kate, I agree, the tent is for me, but I know Rob likes his bivy. I just do not know if the tarp will carry a snow load. We shall find out! You touched upon one of the most important decisions during our trip. We wanted to camp on a different island for the second night; however, we knew nothing about the camp site on the next island. I raised the question as to whether or not we should paddle to the island and if we liked it then return to get our gear. It was at that moment I truly witnessed team work and the value of another perspective. Rob remembered a comment made by Scott Camlin during a previous training session. Scott pointed out that it is far better to take along all your gear since you may not be able to return. And if you can not return then you will have a most unpleasant night ahead. We agreed to follow Scott’s guidance and incorporate that perspective into our camping approach for all future trips. By the way, we did not care much for the chosen site (we are getting picky with our camp sites) so we moved on to another site. The nice thing is that region has several options. Warren

Rob, Excellent report and excellent pictures! I would say we are now in Mother Nature's good graces. She realizes we know how to negotiate. The past weekend was superb. She dealt us the Royal Flush of Sea Kayaking; Wind, Waves, Swell, Current and Fog. In doing so, she knew we would play with her handiwork on our terms within our framework of safety, comfort and fun. Rob, you are correct I do enjoy seeing a bald eagle. I spent most of my life growing up under a mushroom, but now I have the privilege to play with eagles and I see infinite possibilities. Now, on to our next great adventure! Warren

Lorrie, I was very pleased to hear of your BCU 4 Star award. It reminded me of your recent trip to Newfoundland. In the trip report, Kate described how you were able to paddle with easy the challenging conditions you encountered. Perhaps the greatest reward from your efforts is how you have the skills to not only be a resource to any paddling team, but you can continue to explore your world will style and grace. Congratulations! Warren

Attached is a superb photograph taken by Pru at approximately 4:30PM on Friday, October 5, 2012 in the Sheepscot River. Although the photograph appears to be a black and white image, it is not. If you look carefully in the foreground, you will see intact bubbles. At that moment in time there was a complete absence of wind. You may also notice the arrival of fog as it moves slowly up the Sheepscot. I remember that moment as the first time I noticed the fog and thinking how the morning forecast made no mention of fog that evening. At the time I thought I must have missed something or perhaps the forecast had changed. Warren

Pru, Thank you for your kind words and for permitting me the time and space to plan and execute these journeys. I do tend to get caught up in the trip execution and can loose sight of the beauty in our surroundings. You capture those images more clearly and they come back to me as I read your reports. In reading your observations I would like to add one more. I was surprised by how many boats we saw on the Sheepscot. I guess I had hoped it would be quieter like Muscongus Bay was last May. Perhaps I am beginning to crave trips that are a little more removed from civilization? Kate, Your words of encouragement meant a lot to me. Thank you! By the way the nautical charts for the West Isles in the Bay of Fundy have arrived and my planning has begun. As I reread your trip report from Sept. 2010, I felt the need to paddle those waters. Also, the nautical charts for the Bay of Exploits, Newfoundland will arrive later this week. It will be a great winter for this trip planner! Warren

This past weekend I had the privilege of joining Pru on a camping trip to explore the Sheepscot River. As the designated trip planner, work began two weeks earlier. Here is where my conversation is aimed toward those of us who derive great joy in the planning and execution of kayak camping trips. Being new to this passion, I am always questioning whether or not the plan could be better. It is the concept of not knowing what I do not know. In spite of my lack of formal training, I proceeded on planning my ninth camping trip of the 2012 season. For me a well planned and executed camping trip must have three components. All members of the paddling team must have a safe and enjoyable journey.The trip should involve some new places to explore.There needs to be some complexity to the plan involving considerations for wind speed and direction, knowledge of tides and currents, wave and swell height and period, time and distance for the journey, etc.I use four guide books for planning each trip, but find “Kayaking the Maine Coast” by Dorcas Miller and the MITA Guide book to be my favorites. Once underway, I use three apps for my iPhone, but find Marine Weather Plus by Bluefin Engineering to be my favorite. Now back to the story. Friday morning Pru and I met at 7:45AM at the Robinhood Marine Center in Georgetown, Maine. This was a new launch site for both of us and we met the Director of the Center to determine the best place for launching. He was a large pleasant man with a knowing smile who directed us to the site and cautioned us regarding the mud. It was almost low tide and we could see a large expanse of mud. After gracefully loading our kayaks we accomplish a successful launch but I made a mental note that this was a tide dependant launch site and it would help to have a love for mud. Our successful launch had placed us in Goose Rock Passage at slack tide as planned, so we paddle with no effort and crossed the Sheepscot. Here we began exploring three, new to us, MITA islands in an effort to find our camp site. We found a gem of an island which had all our required characteristics. Those characteristics include an easy landing and launching beach in all tides with no mud and an easy place to store away the kayaks over night. Multiple tent sites with protection from the wind and separated enough to allow a quiet night sleep. Also no mosquitoes! With our camp site identified, we set out on our day paddle to circumnavigate Barter’s Island. The weather and paddling conditions were next to perfect and I could sense Mother Nature looking down fondly upon us. What I did not realize at the time was that she was looking down fondly at Pru. It was not until late afternoon that she realized who Pru was paddling with. She remembered me as the guy on the Sebascodegan Island trip and how I was on her S**t List. At approximately 4:30PM, fog entered the Sheepscot and continued to thicken as the evening hours passed. Although we had a most enjoyable dinner, I had a feeling that Mother Nature had a treat in store for us tomorrow. At several points during the night and early morning hours, I began collecting weather information. The NOAA weather forecast for Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night which had been posted that morning had changed dramatically. As of Friday night at 9:00PM, we had a forecast for thick fog until 9:00AM Saturday morning. As of 6:00AM Saturday morning the fog was gone and the forecast was changed to a small craft advisory with a S to SW wind to increase dramatically during the morning hours with wind gusts to 30 kts. This was a technique used by Mother Nature that was all too familiar to me. From 6:00AM until 7:30AM I watched the Sheepscot and the increasing wind. The effect was quite dramatic. I could sense Mother Nature saying “Game On” but I was in no mood for a Tough Mudder course that day. Now before the trip had begun, we had a “drop dead” time to be on the road heading home of 9:30AM Sunday morning. Anytime I am planning a sea kayaking trip I try to avoid firm timetables since they send up cautionary warning signals in my mind and remind me that the term “drop dead” was crafted for a reason. For a trip planner I believe you need a passion for analyzing weather data and the effect on the sea state as well as an ability to alter the plan and adapt it to a rapidly changing weather pattern. So as soon as we finished breakfast we launch from our camp site and set course for Knubble Bay. The decision to launch right after breakfast at 9:00AM was crafted to take advantage of slack tide through Goose Rock Passage. Now Mother Nature knew we could not completely escape her 15 knot winds from the south as we paddled to Knubble Bay, but we did locate some protection. Once arriving in Knubble Bay we explored two areas that were new to Pru and had a grand time in spite of the weather. We did decide to end our trip on Saturday afternoon rather than spend another night and leave early Sunday morning. On the drive home, I could see myself adding a note to my trip journal stating “Warren- 2, Mother Nature-0”! But I also heard Mother Nature chuckle and whisper “ Warren, find yourself a trip planning mentor and continue your learning for I will be back when you least expect me, you have been warned.” Warren

I plan on being there as well.

Pru, Thank you for a great trip report and for capturing the beauty of those waters. It had been over a year since I paddled that section of the Maine coast and it truly is a wonderful location. Now Pru, that was simply a "fresh breeze", hardly worthy of an effort! Warren

Lorrie, Yes, we did have an opportunity to test our skills in conditions and yes it was a boost to our confidence. But the weekend also helped me answer questions circulating around in my mind regarding the interaction of body, boat and mind. You see Rob and I try to be avid kayak campers and perhaps we see ourselves as multiday expedition wannabes. We know that during a multiday expedition we might encounter particularly nasty weather and how would we do, how would the boats do and how would the teamwork and decision making flow in a less than ideal situation. So on Saturday we wanted to see how it would feel to have a fully loaded boat with the need to paddle over one mile in sustained winds of 20+ kts, gusts of 25+ kts and do all this after paddling 12+ miles. We believe this was not an extreme situation, but a very real life encounter on an expedition. Numerous other situations like that were tested. The locale was ideal, sort of like a very safe water based tough mudder course. So in many ways I believe it was the decision making, teamwork and endurance which were also tested. Warren

Hey Pru, Rob and I are hoping you could dial up Mother Nature on the direct line you have. Based on this past weekend, we think we are on her S**t List and need you to put in a good word for us. Cathy and Pru, with 3 and a half good camping months left in 2012, we should be able to schedule 5 or 6 more trips. Especially when we count in December. Oops........did we forget to mention how great it would be to go camping in December??? Warren

They say if a sea kayaker is very lucky they may, at least once in their lifetime, experience the transition of an ordinary trip to an extraordinary one. Those trips always create lasting memories. This past weekend I had the privilege to participate in an extraordinary trip. I will admit that Mother Nature played an important role by delivering up a small craft advisory for Casco Bay. But the weather simply played a supporting role in the process that would unfold. Now there are already many excellent trip reports which capture the beauty of a Sebascodegan Island circumnavigation. One such report was authored by Gary York on May 29, 2012 and it served as the basis for our planning. This trip report will not attempt to duplicate the efforts of previous authors, but will instead focus on the key factors which I believe were the catalyst for the transition to extraordinary. The plan, which began one week prior, was for Robert Folster and I to launch on Saturday, September 10 from Bethel Point Road. We would circumnavigate Sebascodegan Island in a clockwise fashion, camping overnight on a MITA island in the northeast corner, then complete the trip down the eastern side on Sunday morning with a return to the launch site around 12:00N. The weather had been nasty with a small craft advisory being issued during the week. We decided a "go, no-go" would be made on the morning of Friday, September 9. The small craft advisory was lifted and the trip was on. On Saturday morning we arrived at the launch site around 9:30AM. Overnight the small craft advisory was reissued, so a careful beach briefing was begun. We clearly had three goals for the weekend. 1. Improve our paddling and camping skills in inclement weather. 2. Conduct our activities in a safe and responsible manner. 3. Have fun! Now during the briefing, we acknowledged the fact the neither of us had ever before paddled these waters. So we were not certain how the weather would manifest itself in the sea state. We believed we each possessed intermediate level skills but the conditions may push our skills to their limits. To adjust for this we would stop at key points along the way, make careful observation, decide on a plan forward, and then execute on the plan. Rob understood that this methodology had a flaw with only two paddlers. So he volunteered a solution, which would give me the final say when we could not agree on the best plan forward. Perhaps Rob had sensed the burden of responsibility which is felt by any trip initiator and crafted the plan accordingly. We launch at 10:30AM and arrived at a MITA island which had some exposure to what was forecast to be 3 to 5 foot seas. We were pleasantly surprised to see 1 to 2 foot seas and winds of approximately 10 kts. However, the fog which was forecast to lift at 9:00AM was still very thick. The fog made me hesitant to advance to our next decision point at Long Point Island, but we had agreed to sit tight, eat a sandwich and make careful observations. Within 15 minutes, the fog had lifted and the course ahead looked promising. We headed off to Long Point Island to continue our observations and make a "go, no-go" decision to round Gun Point and head into Gun Point Cove. This decision would affect whether or not we initiate the circumnavigation or head back to Quahog Bay and camp in the bay. Once again we were pleasantly surprised to discover 2 foot waves and wind of 10 knots so the circumnavigation was initiated. Now the plan to launch around 10:30AM and follow a clock wise route was crafted to take advantage of a flood tide which would begin at approximately 11:00AM as well as the south winds. As we paddled along Gun Point Cove, and into Ewin Narrows, the wind had increased to what felt like 20 kts and we were feeling the benefit of the inflowing tide. We were traveling at 5.0 to 5.8kts as recorded on my GPS. It felt like being on a log flume ride. The wind was constant and unrelenting. We looked forward to what we hoped would be some relief on the lee side of Sebascodegan. Little did we realize what Mother Nature had in store for us? We entered Prince Gurnet and were ready to round Doughty Point when I was stopped cold. I immediately voiced "Oh s**t, do you see what I see?" The water ahead looked like a broad expanse of white water rapids. Rob suggested we stop at a small cove, climb the rocks to the top of Doughty Point and observe. By our calculations we were at max flood moving at 3 to 4 kts and an opposing wind which funneled up Long Reach pushing the water back at 20 to 25 kts. The effect was "stunning". Now Rob had recently completed specialized training with Greg Paguin on moving water, so he could see past the challenge. He observed the effect, and then crafted a plan which we discussed. Rob would lead with me on his tail, playing a "catch me if you can" game. As we left the quiet cove in a wide arc, the current grabbed hold and swung us into position. After a brief paddle through the wind wave section, we executed a sharp left turn and arrived in Long Reach. Through the sound of the wind I could hear Greg say to Rob, "could use a little improvement, but not bad." Luckily paddling with the current and the wind to our backs had helped us conserve energy levels and we were feeling fine. Throughout the trip we found ourselves checking in with each other as to whether we were drinking water, feeling cold, in need of a break, etc. By this time we did not know what to expect as we entered Gurnet Strait. Luckily our passage was uneventful and we enjoyed a break from the wind. As we arrived at the northern tip of Bombazine Island, I could sense Mother Nature saying, "Not so fast, I have a treat for you!" We actually translated that message to "I am going to kick your butts' big time!" We began a slog of approximately one mile to get to our camp site. The wind was funneling up the New Meadows River at what seemed like 20 to 25 kts and wind gusts of 25 to 30 kts hitting us on beam. I had received training from John Carmody for paddling in strong winds which included, deploy the skeg, shift your weight in the seat, use edging, maintain a rhythmic cadence, etc. As we completed our passage I could hear John say to me, "Could have used more torso rotation in that forward stroke, but not bad." Now I could tell you the rest of the trip was uneventful, but that would leave out the tree crashing to the ground at our camp site as we hunkered down in our tents listening to the howling wind and the torrential downpour. But I believe my examples above may have communicate my message. This trip went from the ordinary to the extraordinary due to the complementary nature of our skills and the methodology which brought structure to our decision making. With good structured training, an honest appraisal of our skills and teamwork we saw opportunity at each point along the way. Oh, and by the way, we had two bald eagle sightings! Warren

Pru, Congratulation Paddling Buddy Number One! I know how much effort and time went into preparing for your award and we both know John's high standards. You have reason to be proud. Now, with new skills and a new boat coming later this year, you are looking good girl!! Warren

Rob, I have participated in several NSPN day trips and I have seen examples of the concerns you raise. I do not see any easy answer to the problem. I have tried solo trips and you quickly discover that the ones we leave behind worry a great deal about our safety. So for me that is not a good option. My discovery of kayak camping seems to select a subset of the sea kayaking community that sees more risk, both on land and on the water. I have been very fortunate to paddle with individuals who value their safety and the safety of others. Clearly separating from a group can increase the risk to the group and we all understand that issue. For me, a good trip is a safe trip where we all have fun and good food. And of course, see an eagle!! Warren

Rob, Great thread! One statement that speaks clearly to me is the comment by Ed that it is important to try and be an "active" paddler in a group. One who is vested in the success of the team and will try their best to help analyze the risks and contribute to the decision making. Sometimes you might need to do a solo trip or try and lead a small group on your own. You quickly learn how hard it can be to lead or be an active paddler. But no one said sea kayaking would be easy. Warren

Cathy, I have had the privilege of receiving instruction that is based on both programs. Both program do a fine job helping educate sea kayakers. But like any athlete, the select of the coach or instructor is a key decision point. You know best what type of coach works best for you. If you are careful in selecting the person, the knowledge transfer will flow effortlessly. I complement you on understanding the value of structured learning. May you have a safe journey ahead. Warren

Kevin, I am glad to hear you enjoy your Explorer as well. When I am in my fully loaded Explorer heading to an island to camp it is a dream come true. Without the help of good people like Tom, I might have been forced to explore my world from the inside of a tour bus. What a horrible thought! Living the Dream! Warren

Kevin, As you know, I purchased a 2011 Romany and a 2012 Explorer both from Tom and I have been very pleased with both boats as well as the purchasing process. Last year was my first year kayaking and the Romany was a perfect choice for me and continues to be a great boat as my skills have improved. This being year two in my journey, I chose to focus on kayak expeditions and now find the Explorer is perfect for those trips. I have completed six kayak camping trips this season and the Explorer has served me well. I do not believe I would have felt as confident exploring the outside of the outer islands if I were in another boat. I might also mention that each of my boats were ordered with the 50/50 layup (full fiberglass hull with a carbon/kevlar deck, bulkheads and seat) which lightens the boat significantly while allowing me to run it up on the rocky coast of Maine without fear of hull damage. One final comment concerns the fitting of the paddler to the cockpit performed by Tom. Tom performed a lengthy fitting process for me on each boat, which has resulted in a most enjoyable journey in both comfort and function. Feel free to PM me if questions arise. Warren

Gary, There are two current prediction stations in the Jonesport area. One at each end of Moosebec Reach. The max current typically runs between 1.0 to 1.2 knots. It was just enough to give us a nice ride. Yes, we did consider continuing around Great Wass, but we also wanted to see a MITA island in the Mud Hole Channel vacinity. It was worth the stop since the views were spectacular. We also very much enjoyed the ride thru Moosebec Reach and I for one looked forward to the return ride which did not disappoint. There is so much to see in that area, I like that I still have more to see and will be eager to return. Warren

Peter, Thank you for a wonderful trip report and an amazing adventure. And thank you to Judy, Katherine, Glenn and Robert for beng a most enjoyable group. Seems to me the environment provides 30% of the fun and the paddling group provides 70%. Boy, did we have a great time with hopefully many more trips in our future. Warren

Ed, Oops! My mistake. The current prediction stations for the Jonesport area on this app are only the two at either end of Moosabec Reach. You are correct, the station on the west side of Steele Harbor Island is the only tide prediction station for the Jonesport area on this app. I do find the app interesting and at only $2.99 via iTunes it seems like a good deal. Warren

Ed, The only current prediction station for the Jonesport area on the Marine Weather Plus app in one on the western side of Steele Harbor Island. Do you know of any other tools (apps or other media) which give more info on current flow and direction for the Jonesport waters? Warren

Dustin, I do have the app loaded on my iPhone, but I do not use it as often as an app entitled "Marine Weather Plus by Bluefin Engineering." I like their "layer" approach and have been using it to locate current prediction stations to track current speed and direction in advance of a trip to Jonesport. I also use the weather forcast layer to compare with the marine forcast on Maine Harbors. Give it a shot and tell me what you think. Warren