Embracing the Portage: The First Leg of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail Expedition Completed by MVHS
In 2022, Mountain Valley High School students embarked on an ambitious journey, tackling the legendary Rapid River portage as the first leg of a three-year expedition along Maine's historic waterways of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail from The Magalloway to Haines Landing.
"Embrace the portage. Respect the portage. Celebrate the portage."
This was the mantra for five determined students from Mountain Valley High School's Outing Club as they shouldered canoes and hefted gear along the challenging five-mile Rapid River portage last July. Their journey from the Magalloway River to Mooselookmeguntic Lake marked the beginning of an ambitious expedition in which Maine students aimed to paddle the entire Maine section of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail over three years.
A "Hybrid" Expedition
Led by experienced guides, the MVHS crew embarked on what they called a "hybrid" trip—heavier than ultralight backpacking but lighter than traditional canoe camping with its Dutch ovens and wooden cook boxes. Every gear decision revolved around one critical question: could they carry it over the legendary Rapid River portage?
"The portage can eat a group up, or bolster a group and provide meaningful bonds between teammates as they test their own mettle through strain and perseverance," reflected one of the guides. "While not everyone's cup of tea, it's an essential chapter in one's resume of voyager-style tripping."
The students discovered that wheeled portage carts made a world of difference on gravel roads—but only if used with finesse rather than brute force. A broken cart would have meant hand-carrying everything, a sobering thought that encouraged careful navigation around rocks and water trenches.
Weather Challenges Created Stronger Paddlers
The five-day journey wasn't just about physical challenges. Mother Nature delivered a mixed bag of conditions: scorching 90-degree heat on day one followed by thunderstorms that had the group deploying lightning protocols and huddling under tarps.
Despite the rain, the shifting weather patterns worked in their favor. The low-pressure system brought calmer waters for paddling across open lakes—a blessing when crossing expanses like Upper Richardson and Mooselookmeguntic where wind and waves can quickly become hazardous for canoeists.
On their final morning, the crew made a strategic decision to skip breakfast and break camp early to navigate Mooselookmeguntic's notoriously wind-prone northern section before the day's heat could generate challenging conditions. Their reward? A majestic bald eagle escort for the final half-mile into Haines Landing.
Building Future Leaders
This expedition wasn't just about paddling. For one freshman wrestler with guide aspirations, the trip confirmed his decision to pursue outdoor leadership training. For others, it was about disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with each other.
"The transformation was immediate," noted one of the guides. "Students who barely spoke in hallways were suddenly sharing laughs while navigating rapids and working together to set up camp."
The expedition also taught practical lessons in overland navigation, camp cooking, weather assessment, and medical safety. When one student developed a digestive issue mid-trip, the team rallied around him with support, education, and the proud group cheer of "We have a champion!" when the situation resolved.
Even gear selection became a teaching moment, with students joining pre-trip shopping expeditions to learn about food planning and quality gear choices. One senior helped plan menus, incorporating his own culinary experiments like cooking with grits.
A Multi-Year Vision
Forest Hills Consolidated School continued the journey, paddling the Allagash to Michaud Farm section in the summer of 2024. This June 25-28, 2025, Teens to Trails staff, outdoor club leaders, and Northern Forest Canoe Trail staff will paddle the final section of the Trail from Michaud Farm to Fort Kent, completing the Maine section of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail just in time for its 25th anniversary. Since 2022, our two organizations have proudly supported groups of students as they paddled the Maine section of the Trail—from the Magalloway to Michaud Farm—and now, in this milestone year, the journey will conclude with a celebratory paddle to honor the NFCT's quarter-century legacy.
Perhaps most importantly, the students helped create trip kits and section guides that will make these routes more accessible to other school outing clubs across Maine.
As one freshman reflected while looking at his compass during a lake crossing: "So that's Rumford over there." Sometimes seeing your hometown from a new perspective—across open water with paddle in hand—is exactly what Maine teens need.
Photos courtesy of MVHS Outing Club
This expedition was made possible through a partnership between Teens to Trails and the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, with support from the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.