Start of the race at Rangeley’s Town Park.

The Maine High Peaks Paddlefest, a weekend of events on June 28-30th, with the Rangeley Oquossoc Adventure Rendezvous (ROAR) as the main event, was a collaborative event between the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) and the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust (RLHT), with support from many area businesses and organizations.

Karrie Thomas, Executive Director of Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT). Stephanie Dellavalle

When I first spoke to Karrie Thomas, Executive Director of the Norther Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) on Saturday morning, shortly after the race began, the sun was shining, and the temperature seemed perfect for the 74 racers who set out on 47 boats from Rangeley Lake’s Town Park Boat Launch.

Thomas patiently explained what I had seen and what to expect.

“There were two waves that went out. The first wave was the C-1’s and SUP’s (Stand-Up Paddlers) and all of the two person kayaks, and then the second wave was all the solo kayaks, and we had one C-4.”

First paddlers arrive at Oquossoc Boat Landing. Stephanie Dellavalle

Among this second wave were locals Dano Archibee and husband Danny Duchesne. I was happy to see some folks I knew in the race that I could cheer on. Friends from the community (cheering signs in hand), showed up to root for them as well.

Harrison Vogt, Stephanie Chee Barea and Iris Ramirez come out to cheer on Dano Archibee and Danny Duchesne Stephanie Dellavalle

First stop on the intended 40-mile, two-day race was the Oquossoc Boat Landing. Greeted with cheers by friends, family, and spectators, the experienced racers showed up sooner than I had expected. Ever so quickly they picked up their kayaks/canoes and trotted down the old railroad bed, past the fish hatchery, (where many a snowmobiler and hiker have traveled) towards the Rangeley River. I couldn’t believe how quickly they set out but off they went, and me to follow.

Supporters show up to cheer the paddlers at Oquossoc Boat Landing. Stephanie Dellavalle

Stephanie Dellavalle

I drove to meet them there, but not before the first ones had already set out for the next part of the paddle on Mooselookmeguntic Lake, Cupsuptic, and then to the dam at Upper Richardson, towards the final destination of the day (and a favorite spot for many), Mill Brook.

Stephanie Dellavalle

It was at Mill Brook that I had a chance to talk to Chris Morris, Communications Director for the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

“This is actually my first time in this part of Maine, in the Rangeley area. So, it’s been really fun just to check it out and explore and I got out to paddle yesterday (on the Kennebago), a little bit. I’m glad I came up earlier to get that in.

Paddlers set off on the Rangeley River. Stephanie Dellavalle

I’ve been all around northern Maine, like Presque Isle and Fort Kent, and I’ve been all along the coast and I’ve paddled white water on the Penobscot, but this chunk of Maine is new to me, which is really fun.”

He said that compared to the other parts of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail he’s been along, it reminded him most of the Adirondacks, which is where he’s based, but more remote, with a smaller community.

The NFCT usually holds races in New York and the Adirondacks, and they also hold one event in Vermont.

One of the hopes of this event was to bring paddling enthusiasts that have never been to the area. The race aspect of it was, at least from his perspective, not the point.

Morris, “It’s just really fun to be in Maine, bringing this race atmosphere to Rangeley and I hope that folks in Rangeley see too that we use the term race, but it’s really just an excuse to get a bunch of people who love paddling together on the water and have that experience together.

Eventually we started talking about the weather. A topic I don’t usually choose to discuss, but this time it was actually relevant. I had thought it was nice that it wasn’t raining, it wasn’t too sunny, and well, the nice breeze was probably refreshing to the athletes. Um, wrong.

Morris, “With this tailwind pushing you to the to the finish, it’s probably wonderful but overall, I would say for racing conditions, you don’t like it to be this choppy. The temperature and the overcast skies are really nice. You don’t overheat and you don’t get blasted by the sun all day. But the wind is certainly challenging. I think any paddler of any experience would prefer the water to be like glass right now.

Mark McAndrew , Scott Edwards and Clyde Yarnell of Vermont and Paula Lunts of Tenants Harbor, the four person team, were the first to reach the shore at Mill Brook. Stephanie Dellavalle

Shortly after this chat, Mark McAndrew , Scott Edwards and Clyde Yarnell of Vermont and Paula Lunts of Tenants Harbor, the four-person team, were the first to reach the shore.

Mark McAndrew, “It was quite windy. We were rocking and rolling out there all day. We actually went ashore once just to empty water out. We couldn’t bail it quick enough. We really filled up at one point.”

So when I spoke to Karrie Thomas again, it was no surprise that the Sunday event had been cancelled.

Thomas, “As the day progressed it (the wind) kicked up. Everybody got off the water safely, but I was standing with Chief Bacon (of Rangeley Fire & Rescue), looking at the emergency weather forecast on his phone, and we agreed that it was a great idea to cancel tomorrow because it looked like the wind was going to be just as strong and there was a possibility for thundershowers to boot. You have to make these decisions for the safety of everybody involved.”

Around a dozen racers were wind bound and had to be assisted back to the landing area by way of the safety boats.

Thomas was grateful for the support of the community.

“We had a lot of volunteers, and they were incredibly awesome. The volunteers really carried the day on Mooselookmeguntic. The folks that were out there and safety boats did an incredible job. But it was just really windy, and you know, you can never have enough safety boats when it’s windy like that.”