Maine

Mud Pond Carry | Thoreau Journey Photographs

Mud Pond Carry | Thoreau’s Maine: A Photo Story of an Epic Adventure For centuries those who wanted to go deep into the Maine wilderness knew about Mud Pond carry, a nearly two miles trek through tangled forest and knee deep (or worse!) mud. The carry tested teamwork, endurance, and everyone’s spirit of adventure. Thoreau’s […]

By Yankee Magazine|Mar 19 2015| Print icon

Person carrying a red canoe through a dense forest with tall, thin trees and a mossy ground.

Among those who know these northern forests, the Mud Pond carry is legendary. Penobscots have made the same journey for centuries. To group members the isolated land felt ancient, even mystical.

Credit: Little Outdoor Giants

Mud Pond Carry | Thoreau’s Maine: A Photo Story of an Epic Adventure
For centuries those who wanted to go deep into the Maine wilderness knew about Mud Pond carry, a nearly two miles trek through tangled forest and knee deep (or worse!) mud. The carry tested teamwork, endurance, and everyone’s spirit of adventure.

The morning after the epic Mud Pond carry, the group actually put in at Mud Pond. The mud was so soft at some points that many sank up to their knees, making loading the boats dangerous and messy.
The morning after the epic Mud Pond carry, the group actually put in at Mud Pond. The mud was so soft at some points that many sank up to their knees, making loading the boats dangerous and messy.
Credit: Little Outdoor Giants
Near the final stretch of the carry, the water was so deep that group members could drop their canoes and float them forward with their gear inside. The deep water eventually gave way to waist-deep mud with submerged trees, making the final leg of the carry one of the toughest.
Near the final stretch of the carry, the water was so deep that group members could drop their canoes and float them forward with their gear inside. The deep water eventually gave way to waist-deep mud with submerged trees, making the final leg of the carry one of the toughest.
Credit: Little Outdoor Giants
Head Guide Kevin Slater, of Mahoosuc Guide Services, looks to clear the waterway of trees and other debris.
Head Guide Kevin Slater, of Mahoosuc Guide Services, looks to clear the waterway of trees and other debris.
Credit: Little Outdoor Giants
Glen Horne hauls the Kevin Slater designed and built wanagan, a wooden pack box that contained the group’s cast iron pots and eating utensils. “These were the hardest to carry and the bulkiest items that needed to be hauled,” says McCabe. “Glen did so with his additional personal items stacked on top as well. He was a true champ.”
Glen Horne hauls the Kevin Slater designed and built wanagan, a wooden pack box that contained the group’s cast iron pots and eating utensils. “These were the hardest to carry and the bulkiest items that needed to be hauled,” says McCabe. “Glen did so with his additional personal items stacked on top as well. He was a true champ.”
Credit: Little Outdoor Giants
The day of the carry, the group never made it to its intended campsite. The day proved just too long and arduous to reach their destination. Instead, they chose an emergency campsite, where there wasn’t enough room to set up the tents or build a big fire. Instead, the exhausted group slept on the ground, happy and relieved the day was over.
The day of the carry, the group never made it to its intended campsite. The day proved just too long and arduous to reach their destination. Instead, they chose an emergency campsite, where there wasn’t enough room to set up the tents or build a big fire. Instead, the exhausted group slept on the ground, happy and relieved the day was over.
Credit: Little Outdoor Giants
Photographer Jarrod McCabe carries his canoe, while Jason Pardilla assists him. In all, the carry consumed more than six hours and with all the back-and-forth, required some 15 miles of walking for some.
Photographer Jarrod McCabe carries his canoe, while Jason Pardilla assists him. In all, the carry consumed more than six hours and with all the back-and-forth, required some 15 miles of walking for some.
Credit: Little Outdoor Giants
Thoreau scholar Stan Tag carries a waterproof haul bag through the last leg of the carry. In front of him, McCabe moves his gear case, which weighed more than 60 pounds and contained two backup hard drives, spare batteries, cameras, lenses, mobile phones, and sound equipment.
Thoreau scholar Stan Tag carries a waterproof haul bag through the last leg of the carry. In front of him, McCabe moves his gear case, which weighed more than 60 pounds and contained two backup hard drives, spare batteries, cameras, lenses, mobile phones, and sound equipment.
Credit: Little Outdoor Giants
Mud Pond claims a victim: Stan Tag’s brand new Teva sandals, which split in half as he tried to pull his foot out of the mud. A wad of duct tape soon brought the sandal back to life.
Mud Pond claims a victim: Stan Tag’s brand new Teva sandals, which split in half as he tried to pull his foot out of the mud. A wad of duct tape soon brought the sandal back to life.
Credit: Little Outdoor Giants
Among those who know these northern forests, the Mud Pond carry is legendary. Penobscots have made the same journey for centuries. To group members the isolated land felt ancient, even mystical.
Among those who know these northern forests, the Mud Pond carry is legendary. Penobscots have made the same journey for centuries. To group members the isolated land felt ancient, even mystical.
Credit: Little Outdoor Giants
Rest stops during the carry comprised of one member of a canoe-carrying team propping up the boat, while the other let it rest on his shoulders.
Rest stops during the carry comprised of one member of a canoe-carrying team propping up the boat, while the other let it rest on his shoulders.
Credit: Little Outdoor Giants

Thoreau’s Maine: A Photo Story of an Epic Adventure

Last May, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the publication of Henry David Thoreau’s classic “The Maine Woods,” Thoreau’s final trip, 325 miles through the heart of Maine’s north woods waterways was recreated. Maine Woods Discovery brought together expert Maine guides, members of the Penobscot Nation, Thoreau scholars, and those hoping to draw attention to the wonders and potential of Maine’s north woods. They were joined by Yankee photographers Jarrod McCabe and Dominic Casserly who make up the talented team Little Outdoor Giants. Our photographers were the only media along for the 16 day expedition, and they captured hundreds of photos. What follows lets you see and feel the trials, tribulations and sheer joy of following in the footsteps of Thoreau and his Penobscot Indian guide Joe Polis.

More Photographs of the Thoreau Journey through Maine

Thoreau Journey Photographs | Moosehead Lake
Thoreau Journey Photographs | Camping Life
Thoreau Journey Photographs | The End of the Journey

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  1. Our group of 4 did the Mud Pond Carry in May 1981. It took almost all day and was shoving the canoe up over one side of a tree and then down the other side and up over the next tree and on and on. It was brutal. Also about 45 degrees F and drizzling.

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