Thru-paddled in a kevlar wenonah Minn II
Posted by: cooper316 on Oct-18-11 4:40 PM (EST)
The water levels on the rivers were bony and I punched a hole in it on the Class 2 ledges in Plattsburg. (I can send you a photo, if interested.) Got it fixed in Burlington, VT at Canoe Imports and it lasted the rest of the trip. I really scuffed up the bottom and need to get the whole thing back in shape this spring. I had installed skid plates which I'm sure, saved me a lot more damage. Fast flowing, rocky rivers constantly kept me on edge--but it's weight was totally worth it. I avoided anything over Class 2. Will depend on your water levels. The Allagash was running at spring levels (1700 cfs) when I passed through in August and it was a dream to run, although I did not run the Chase Rapids when the ranger said "I wouldn't do it in a kevlar." In hindsight, I don't think it would have been much different than some of the other rapids you run farther downstream. Be prepared for your canoe to have more "character" afterwards.