Waitsfield, Vt. The Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT), a water trail extending from Old Forge, New York to
Fort Kent, Maine is hosting the Second Annual "740 Miles in A Day" event on Saturday, July 30. Recently named "America’s Best Canoe Trail 2011" by Outside Magazine, NFCT is hosting this free event to get paddlers out on the water and raise awareness of Trailside businesses and communities.
"740 Miles in A Day" is a reference to the length of the Trail, but you need not worry if you can only paddle a mile or two. According to the "rules" of the event (http://www.northernforestcanoetrail.org/GetInvolved-2/740-Miles-in-One-Day-102), you can paddle any distance you wish and on any section of river, lake or brook that is part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. The organizers only ask that you pre-register and report back on the mile or miles you paddled. The goal is to have multiple paddlers across the Trail contributing a total number of miles paddled that meets or exceeds 740 miles.
Kate Williams, Executive Director of the non-profit Northern Forest Canoe Trail, hopes the total mileage this year surpasses last year’s total of more than 1,500 miles paddled and with measurable benefits for business along the Trail. "Last year, we were amazed at the support the event received. This event is all about supporting our business partners and demonstrating that the rivers and lakes of the Northern Forest are an important part of a vibrant Northern Forest economy."
Nationally, there are dozens of water trails in the United States and according to the "Outdoor Recreation Participation Report 2010" by the Outdoor Foundation, approximately 20 million Americans participated in some form of paddling (canoeing, kayaking, rafting) in 2009. The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is the longest inland water trail in the United States and is the only water trail that traverses four states and crosses an international border.
This year’s business sponsors of the event include Adirondack Exposure in Old Forge, New York, Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters in Saranac Lake, New York, and Ecopelagicon in Rangeley, Maine. According to Williams, these and other businesses like them hold the future to the success of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail and the region: "Our goal is to grow the event year after year, so that businesses in the North Country benefit from increasing demand for experiencing the Northern Forest Canoe Trail."
To register and learn more about the event, visit: http://www.northernforestcanoetrail.org/GetInvolved-2/740-Miles-in-One-Day-102.
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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. Northern Forest Canoe Trail, 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.
To learn more about paddling the NFCT, to become a member, and to purchase a guidebook and maps, visit http://www.northernforestcanoetrail.org or call 802-496-2285.
Media Contact: Kevin Mack, Director of Marketing and Partnerships
Northern Forest Canoe Trail
802-535-5855, Kevin@northernforestcanoetrail.org
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