Club Information and History

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The Founding:

    While on a vacation out west in 1988, Lynne and Bob Schott with sons Will, 10, Buddy, 8, and Ben 6, stopped at a fast food restaurant in Moah, Utah. While waiting for their not so fast food, Bob read some info from Tag-a-Long Tours about rafting the Colorado. the price was right, only $100 for the five of them. Bob and the boys immediately fell in love with rafting and Lynne soon followed.

    In 1990 the Schotts take their second commercial trip on the bitter cold Snake River from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Air temperature was 102º, but the water was only 35º. Following this trip Bob stops and talks with many private rafters in Wyoming and finds that Avons are the raft of choice. Within two weeks of returning to Maine the Schotts have their first Avon in the front yard on a Thursday afternoon. By Saturday the first crew is assembled and their first run down the Kennebec River is at 8000 C.F.S.. They had no idea that they had hit a turbine testing day.

 In 1991 the first trip down the Dead River is taken. The release was 5500 C.F.S. and it was a bright and sunny 80º. 1991 turned out to be a pivotal year, either friends and family hated or loved the sport. by the end of the year the Schotts were looking for a permanent base camp to house the gear that was piling up. On November 22, 1991 they purchased 75 acres in Moxie Gore, on Baker Pond. On Sunday December 3, 1991 the Schotts offered Christmas trees and cut them down with friends for the Rowe School's Quebec Trip of 1992 from their new wood lot.

    On memorial Day weekend in 1992 the seeds of what was to become the Moxie Gore Paddling Club were planted. This adventure led the members through the Maine courts, Maine Legislature, and against commercial outfitters and CMP/FPL. Through the hard work of Senator Hanley and Representative Winsor the Laws of Maine were rewritten to establish the rights of Non-profit rafting clubs to enjoy the great rivers of Maine and to share the training of the club guides and club expenses to make this a truly family fun and safe sport.

FAQs:

What Rivers does the club run?

With the club based in Maine we mostly run The Kennebec and Dead Rivers with the occasional jaunt to the West Branch of the Penobscot. Once a year we spend a weekend doing the Deerfield River in Massachusetts and every so often we take a longer trip to other rivers like the New River in West Virginia.

How does one become a member?

A Class A (dues paying) member must sponsor you to become a member of the club.

What can be done in the area besides rafting?

• Hiking to Mosquito Mountain, or Coburn Mountain (3800 ft.)
  
• Hiking to Moxie Falls( ½ Mile in 90ft. drop)
  
• Hike to Magic Falls or Poplar Hill Falls to take Action Shots of rafters
  
• Canoeing on Baker Pond, Indian Pond, Moxie Pond
  
• Swimming at Indian Pond, in the Kennebec or swamp swimming at Baker or Moxie
  
• ATV riding ( be respectful of trails and peace and quiet)
  
• Mountain Biking- You need to bring yours
  
• Wildlife spotting (Moose not campfire animals)
  
• Trips to Berry’s, Jackman or Greenville
  
• Moosehead Lake excursions.
  
• Read a book at camp while the noisy ones are gone, (except the squirrels and coyotes)
  
• Pick berries
  
• Check out the Appalachian Trail
  

General Club Rules:

• Park in parking area past the clubhouse.
• Hang all wetsuits and lifejackets up after each days rafting.
• Empty returnables can go into the blue recycle bin near clubhouse.
• Camp quiet hours start at 10PM (keep the noise to a reasonable level after this time
• Be respectful of other club members around camp.
• Smokers must pick up and dispose of cigarette butts appropriately (not thrown into fire).
• Trash is carry-in/carry-out (no burning of trash is permitted).

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