1857: Moosehead Lake to Indian Island. This was Thoreau’s longest—he spent twenty days in Maine, including eleven in the North Woods—and most arduous expedition. He, along with friend Ed Hoar and Penobscot Guide Joe Polis, completed a canoe loop that penetrated some very remote wilderness. Beginning again on Moosehead Lake, this time they paddled to Northeast Carry, portaged into the West Branch and followed it to Chesuncook Lake. From there they made their way up to Umbazooksus Lake, Chamberlain Lake and Eagle Lake, the point farthest north of Thoreau’s three expeditions. Returning to Chamberlain, they then paddled east to Round Pond, Telos Lake, and Webster Lake, before descending Webster Brook into Grand Lake Matagamon. Thoreau portaged around a dam at the outlet of the lake, but this dam was built in 1847, not the 1940 dam that is there today. Finally, over the course of five days, the team paddled the length of the East Branch all the way back to Indian Island.

Read more