Huge shoutout to Bill for taking the time to share so many details of his trip with us. If you want to watch video highlights of Bill’s adventure, visit his YouTube Channel. If you have a paddling story from 2025 you’d like to share, whether it’s a thru-paddle, a section paddle, or even just a day trip, let us know. Email chris@northernforestcanoetrail.org to share!
Name: Bill Kett
Age: 50
Location: Vermont
Dates of trip: Started at the Old Forge terminus on July 9, 2025, and ended on July 29, 2025, at Little Spencer Stream. We did not complete the thru-paddle. Total days on the trail was 17: four rest days with three of them due to one of my canoe partners getting their flights cancelled from Dallas, Texas, to Vermont. He actually spent the night in Dulles Airport in Washington, DC, for a night.
Overall, what was your experience like paddling the NFCT?
I totally enjoyed the entirety of the trip. I have never done a canoe adventure more than 10 days before. I found the first few days of extreme heat were not fun — sunscreen, hat, long sleeves, rest/shade during peak sun radiation. We avoided heat exhaustion thank goodness. I felt a bit exhausted by the end of the first day but my body was fine after that to do 20-mile-plus days. I liked talking with people as we got into towns who asked what we were doing. Telling them when we are in NY we are going to the top of Maine — the amazement was awe-inspiring. Seeing the trail magic from tourists, locals and businesses was great, offering us snacks, water etc. Everyone was positive/excited for us and helpful. I looked at the trip as like four trips in one. Each leg was with someone different — my son Adam, my friend Eroni, my uncle Kevin and then the Allagash waterway to Fort Kent with Kevin. So it broke up the 740 miles to smaller amounts. I found the trip to be a fun and exciting adventure. What will we come across next? I must say, though: I did not like walking on the road with the canoe and gear.
What were 3-4 of the best moments for you?
I got to spend some one-on-one time with some very important people in my life. My son, Adam, for the first leg of the trip — getting to talk with him during the trip about life, what he wants to do as he grows up, conversations that were more than one word answers. He was 16 at the time. To see his strength with the paddle and single carry the canoe/gear around Raquette Falls Portage and half of Indian Carry portage was impressive. He wanted to carry the canoe and not have his father do it as I used to when he was younger at age 12. Yes, we had a canoe cart for the smoother trail and road portages but he felt we were faster on the rough portages by doing the single carry.
My best friend from Dallas, Eroni, who I have known since 1995 and someone I have paddled with every summer since 2016, did the second leg with me. Our friendship continues to grow each year and he’s someone I can talk about things and get advice on. We talked about our days in college, the fun we also have on the trips, our weird sense of humor, laughing at stuff that no one else would.
Then, for the last leg, my uncle Kevin from Fort Worth, Texas, joined me. He and I have a special bond as we have been close since 1995 as well. We are closer in age than I am with my father, who is his older brother — 12 years between us and 33 years between my father and I. We have similar mannerisms, similar style jokes. He is, of course, better looking than I am. It’s almost like I am a copy of him. I introduced him to wilderness canoeing just after COVID and he has become a student of the paddle and of his nephew. Just ask him about Maple Lake in 2023 in Algonquin Park!
Getting out of the state of Vermont was also a best moment — hitting the Connecticut River with the speed of the current going downstream!
Finally getting out of New Hampshire and into the larger lakes where we could paddle the entire day with little to no portages was a plus.
Getting real food and real drinks at gas stations, convenience stores, trail angels, food drop shipments, etc.
The support from the Facebook group as we posted every few days! When we got long days, we remembered some of the posts or messages from friends in Ohio, Maine, etc. Getting told we were spotted at a specific spot and being sent photos of us or our canoe. Those things really pump one up on a long journey.
What were the biggest challenges you faced?
Lake Champlain got very rough on us. My mom always told me as a young kid to respect this lake. It can get rough really fast and it did on us.
All the walking through Vermont. It’s my home state. I studied the rivers and figured we could paddle them in July … nope. The Clyde River was frustrating, as was the Missisquoi. Walking 3 mph on the roads versus paddling 1 mph was easier.
The traffic on the roads was not fun with the canoe. We found walking towards traffic was better, so if needed we could jump in the ditch if a driver was not paying attention.
Spencer Stream/Little Spencer Stream. The slipperiness of those rocks, plus the extra-low water made the Spencer Streams difficult.
Did you have any encounters with wildlife?
Surprisingly, no — not really anything out of the ordinary. A deer at the bridge before we entered Raquette Lake, several deer in the river before we did the long portage from Umbagog lake to Richardson Lake. I had set up a trail camera to watch our tent when we slept and saw no critters the entire trip. I guess you could say we saw lots of beavers on the trip.
Did you have a favorite section or community?
Flagstaff Lake was a favorite section. When you can look 360 degrees and see no sign of anyone on the lake or at any campsites, it’s a great feeling. It’s just you, your canoe and your partner. No motors, no noise from people — just the wind, the water lapping on your canoe. We did 26.2 miles that day.
The town of Rangeley and all it has to offer for food, snacks, beverages, shopping, history, etc.
What was your rig? What gear did you find useful and what would you leave at home if you had a do-over?
16-foot Swift canoe, Keewaydin model — ultra lightweight canoe. I found the canoe being light helped us when we did a single carry and reduced weight when we used the canoe cart. However, Spencer Stream took its toll on the canoe. The water was so low that we had to drag the canoe with gear in it over the rocks, which ultimately caused the canoe to get several holes in it from a very sharp rock. Sigh … The water overall was about 6 inches lower than normal and if anyone is keeping up with conditions in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, there is an extreme drought this year, making it next to impossible to traverse the trail.
The canoe cart worked perfectly on smooth roads and trails. It got a little difficult on rugged trails, rocks, roots, etc. The canoe cart I used was the Suspenz Catch All Universal Airless Cart, Model 22-9909. If I were to go again, I would use what Austin Garber had: an air-filled tire system that was able to bounce and roll over roots and rocks with more ease. I would have kept everything we brought as we were ultra-light-weight packers. We packed a larger, four-person tent, which was a nice comfort when sleeping.
The FarOut NFCT app for your phone was great. It tracks you even when you don’t have a cell signal. The Garmin Inreach 2 allowed us to communicate when there was no cell service via text message and get weather updates.
I would also try to find some type of shoe to use on Spencer and Little Spencer Stream. This stretch of water, as you will walk through most of the stream, you want some sort of footwear that will grab the rocks. The rocks are slippier than greased marbles. I tried sneakers, crocks and finally used my hiking boots. Still, I slipped and fell and am lucky I did not break a leg. I feel a long portage might be the best and safest thing for Spencer and Little Spencer Stream.
What would you tell someone who is considering a thru-paddle? Or, in your case, a long adventure?
The canoe cart is important. Learn how to use it before your trip if you have not used one before.
Get a good pair of comfortable road/trail trail walking shoes. You will use them and be thankful for it. I brought a pair of lightweight Asics running shoes that I used through all of Vermont.
Study all maps — NFCT maps, the FarOut app. Drive along the routes, get out and look. Study the lakes and rivers in advance. Talk to the locals when you scout out ahead. I drove the entire trail twice outside of the rural areas. Utilize trail stewards — Craig Von Bargen in the Saranac area is full of awesome knowledge. Reach out to them in advance, take down numbers of motels, forest rangers, outfitters, restaurants, campgrounds, trail stewards along the way. You never know when you might need to book a reservation or ask for advice/help. Join the Facebook Group! Ask questions! Be friends to those who are going to do the trail! Offer assistance if you live near the trail.
