Expedition Allagash
A 90-MILE WINTER TRAVERSE OF THE ALLAGASH WILDERNESS WATERWAY
The Allagash River is the only state-administered waterway listed on the National Wild & Scenic River Registry. A true gem of the state of Maine, and a sportsman's paradise, 2016 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Allagash Wilderness Waterways protection. Generally realized as a warm weather location, most visitors utilize the wilderness for its terrific water recreation, fishing, paddling, and camping opportunities. Never before has the Allagash been traversed and documented end-to-end in the wintertime. We intend to immerse ourselves in this frozen environment, covering all 90-miles of the waterway via cross-country ski, snowshoe, and ski pulk. This will be a self-propelled excursion lasting 7-10 days, requiring backcountry winter camping and survival in this seasonally harsh and frozen water-based environment. This will be an unsupported trek. We will be carrying the latest camera and drone technologies to capture the Allagash like it has never been seen before. We will then produce a short 10-15 minute film as a result, with hopes of promoting the Allagash, outdoor recreation, and the state of Maine.
ITINERARY
The actual trip will likely vary from our set itinerary. We will adjust our path depending on weather, ice conditions, and natural obstacles. The map below outlines our intended path of travel across a seven day time period.
#EXPEDITIONALLAGASH
MEET THE TEAM
The two adventurers looking to tackle the Allagash
Chris Bennett @chrisbennettphoto
Chris is a country boy at heart. He was born and raised in the woods of Maine, and has a degree in photography from RIT. Chris once worked on the Appalachian Trail, and lived in a tent for six months as a backcountry ranger. Chris enjoys cycling and often disappears during the month of July for the Tour de France. He loves music and thinks he knows how to play the guitar. He believes the key to happiness is directly correlated to the number of adventures one has. http://www.cbennettphoto.com/
Collin Blunk @thewildoutsiders
Collin arrived in Maine after thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2014. He stayed to pursue all the great adventures of this region. This past fall Collin solo thru-paddled the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail where he received his first taste of the Allagash Wilderness. As a lover of tough and uncomfortable, he could not think of a better way to celebrate the beauty of this now 50-year-old protected corridor. Collin is a student of film, earning both a degree in cinema and a degree in the arts.
The team meets with Reed and Alden of R.E.D.D. Energy Bars at their distribution headquarters to talk superfood, skateboarding, and warehouse zip-lining.