Paddlers Wanted: Northern Forest Canoe Trail Event Has 740-Mile Goal

For Immediate Release
June 16, 2010

Contact: Kate Williams, NFCT Executive Director
802-496-2285 or kate@northernforestcanoetrail.org

WAITSFIELD, Vt. – The Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Inc. (NFCT) is celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2010, and is hosting a fun, international paddling challenge as part of its anniversary festivities.

On Saturday, July 24, kayakers and canoeists paddling on any waterway of the 740-mile trail can contribute to "740 Miles in One Day," with the goal to paddle the total mileage of the trail between sunrise and 5:00 p.m. on that day. Pre-registration for the free event is open at the event website http://www.northernforestcanoetrail.org/Paddler-2/740-Miles-in-a-Day-102.

"This event is a great excuse for families or a group of friends to get out on a lake, river or pond along the Trail and be a part of our fun anniversary celebration weekend," said NFCT Executive Director Kate Williams.

Miles will be counted per person, not per boat, so you don’t have to be a serious paddler to have a big impact. A canoe with three people making a 5-mile trip will translate to 15 miles toward the goal. Participating paddlers will report their mileage to the designated email address 740@northernforestcanoetrail.org or by calling or texting 802-279-8302. Photos and videos of paddler’s experiences can be uploaded on the event website.

Visit http://www.northernforestcanoetrail.org/to see the 13 mapped sections of the water trail in New York, Vermont, southern Québec, New Hampshire and Maine. Choose a portion of the trail close to home or take a road trip to a far off destination. People paddling from Vermont into Canada or from Canada into Vermont should have a passport to show at border patrol stations.

The "740 Miles in One Day" event is part of NFCT’s 10th Anniversary Paddler’s Rendezvous taking place July 24-25 in Rangeley, Maine. There will be a hosted paddle station set up on Haley Pond in Rangeley from noon to 4:00 p.m. on the 24th to give anniversary celebrants an easy way to contribute to the 740-mile goal.

The total miles paddled will be announced during a Saturday evening anniversary party and dinner at Saddleback Maine resort.

For more information about the Northern Forest Canoe Trail call 802-496-2285 or visit http://www.northernforestcanoetrail.org/.

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About the Northern Forest Canoe Trail: The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is a 740-mile inland paddling trail tracing historic travel routes across New York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire, and Maine. NFCT, Inc. is internationally regarded as the preeminent water trail organization in North America, and connects people to the Trail’s natural environment, human heritage, and contemporary communities by stewarding, promoting, and providing access to canoe and kayak experiences along this route.