Ron Chase

The White Mountains in New Hampshire have more to offer than great hiking, climbing and skiing. In the spring, melting snow drains into the steep streams and rivers flowing out of the tall peaks. For a few weeks in late April and May, they provide some of the best whitewater paddling in New England. Over […]

I don’t have a bucket list. At my age, my singular outdoor objective is longevity. If I had one, the Grand Cascapédia River on the Gaspe Peninsula in eastern Quebec would be on it. On several occasions while driving along the beautiful river that flows east out of the Chic Choc Mountains on my way […]

Five of us awoke to sunny cold weather on the second day of our Cascapedia River expedition on the Gaspe Peninsula in eastern Quebec.

This story was originally published in August 2022. Little Whaleboat Island in northern Casco Bay is a special place.

Five of us awoke to sunny, cold weather on the second day of our Cascapédia River expedition on the Gaspe Peninsula in eastern Quebec. Powerful winds had blown out of the northwest the entire previous day and they hadn’t subsided. The gale provided a substantial benefit: A tailwind had pushed us so rapidly downriver, we […]

Superlatives seem to define the Grand Cascapedia. Outstanding paddling and spectacular beauty are not its primary claim to fame. Fishing aficionados consider it to be one of the 10 best salmon fly fishing rivers in the world.

Powerful northwest winds had been blowing us downriver since we began the trip. Five of us were on the second day of a Grand Cascapédia River expedition. Located on the Gaspe Peninsula in eastern Quebec, the mountain river flows east through the spectacular Chic Choc Mountains to Chaleur Bay in New Richmond. Some of us […]

Situated in the middle and south of the horseshoe-shaped Sebascodegan Great Island, Quahog Bay offers paddlers opportunities to explore a multitude of islands and inlets. A circumnavigation of substantial Yarmouth Island is often an option.

One of the benefits of being a member of the Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society is that if you want to organize an impromptu outing, there is usually someone available to join you. That was true when I recently decided to organize a sea kayak trip on Quahog Bay near Cundy’s Harbor. Hot, sunny but […]

For me, the narrow 2.7-mile body of water has multiple attractions. Sheltered on all sides, a pleasant paddle can be enjoyed even on a windy day.