Journeys on Screen, Water, and Land!

By Kate Williams

Late last week NFCT experienced some exciting journeys in various forms.  Over the course of two days, April 15 and 16, we shared our 2010 Northern Forest Paddler Film Fest with almost 400 viewers.  In Portland, ME on the 15th, we partnered with the Maine Island Trail Association to debut this year’s film lineup for 195 attendees at One Longfellow Place.  And the next night, at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts in NY, we joined with Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters to share the screening with 200 people.  Our thanks to all who attended and to the diverse filmmakers who told us such wonderful stories.

Hopefully the blurriness of this photo conveys the energy in the lobby at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts!

Meanwhile, on April 15, a journey of the more physical sort was launching in Old Forge, NY.  Ryan and Catherine Thompson set out from the western terminus of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail with plans to first through paddle the trail, and then make their way to Baxter State Park to hike Katahdin and begin a north to south through hike of the Appalachian Trail.  Wow.  We look forward to hearing from them along the way and we will share updates as they come in.

The canoe that will carry Ryan and Catherine on the watery part of their journey.

Warm sunshine and smooth waters greeted Ryan and Catherine for their first paddle strokes.  We hope this beautiful start bodes well for the journey that lies ahead!

‘Tis the season for these kinds of journeys that reconnect us with the paddling community, and with the watersheds and landscapes that spring to life after the long winter.  For some of us the journeys may only consist of an afternoon or a weekend, and for others, like Ryan and Catherine, they will last months.  They are all good and important, and we hope you will share your stories with us.  In the meantime, we wish you safe and inspiring travels.

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