Thru-Paddlers

Thru-paddlers and section paddlers have some great stories and inspiring tales to share. See links to their blogs here, and send us your blog as you start logging your journeys on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Email to share your adventure.

Chuck Horbert: Tales of Section-Paddling the NFCT

Mack Truax’s 2017 Northern Forest Canoe Trail Journal

Mack Truax’s 2016 Northern Forest Canoe Trail Journal

Mack Truax’s 2016 NFCT Movie

Mack Truax’s 2015 Northern Forest Canoe Trail Journal

John Connelly’s 1,500 Mile Paddle Ends in Kittery Harbor

Gabrielle Mutel and Bryce Bognet: Northern Forest Canoe Trail – A Family Adventure

Laurie Chandler: Paddle for Hope

Laurie Chandler’s Blogs, Books & More

Geoff and Valerie Welch-Westerman’s Journal of the Floating Dutchman

Eric McIntyre’s 38-Day Thru-Paddle

Tim and Ben Hille’s 2014 Thru-Paddle

No Ordinary Life: Canoeing Adventure on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail

Brian Quarrier and Allie Miller’s Adventures on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail

Peter McFarlane: 1 Man, 1 Canoe, 750 Miles

Mike Messink: Two Weeks on the NFCT

Joe Peterlin’s 2012 Thru-Paddle

Russ and Jeremy Collett’s 2011 Thru-Paddle

Katina Daanen: Paddling Adventures on the NFCT

Moxie’s Great Adventures

Laurie Chandler: Paddle for Hope

Team Black Cat’s Trail Journals Blog

Cathy Mumford: One Woman’s Solo Kayak Adventure

Ryan and Catherine Thompson: NFCT and AT Trail Journals

Ahab and Starbuck’s 2010 Thru-Paddle

Thru-Paddlers

Paddle the entire trail as one expedition, during a single season. Thru-paddlers will be designated into one of the following three categories:

• Self-Propelled Paddlers. Those who complete the entire 740 miles in one direction using their own power to paddle, pole and portage. Leaving the trail via other means of travel for lodging, shopping or other reasons will not count against the self-propelled paddler as long as they return to the same spot to continue the journey on the trail. Consideration for deviations to this definition will be given to safety, inclement weather and extreme low water. Self-Propelled Paddlers are designated with a double asterisk (**) on the Thru-Paddlers List.
• Integrated Paddlers. Those who paddle the NFCT as one expedition during a single season in one direction and use a shuttle for one or more of the carries, not to exceed 10% of the total trail distance (74 miles). Integrated Paddlers are designated with a single asterisk (*) on the Thru-Paddlers List.
• Integrated Downstream Paddlers. Those who paddle the NFCT as one expedition, during a single season, reversing direction on one or more rivers to increase downstream miles. There will be no mark to designate this category on the Thru-Paddlers List.

Section Paddlers

Section paddlers paddle the entire NFCT as a series of two or more expeditions, over the course of multiple paddling seasons. Please note that while we happily cheer section paddlers along the way and over the years, we do not confer recognition until completion of the entire Trail.

Recognition

We hope you’ll feel that the challenge was in the paddling, not in the process of gaining recognition! Applications are reviewed on an annual cycle and are due by November. Names are added to the Thru-Paddlers List, and certificates mailed by the end of January.

The above categories went into effect for the 2013 paddle season.

Apply for recognition using the NFCT Recognition Application and Feedback Form. The form is available in a two formats:

• Fillable Document (to be sent in as an attachment)
• PDF (to print and mail to the NFCT office)

If you need extra NFCT Travel Logs, follow this link.

All paddlers on the Thru-Paddler List prior to 2013 will remain on the list without category designation. Paddlers designated as NFCT Thru-Paddlers prior to 2013 can fill out and return the current “NFCT Paddler Recognition Application” to be considered as either a self-propelled thru-paddler or integrated thru-paddler.

Questions? Call 802-496-2285 or email .