Sep 26, 2025: Roll Dams (Seboomook section of Penobscot)

Troad Richmond (K1); Connor Marland, Kenny DeCoster, and TC Helen Hess (OC1).

Even though the release level was a scanty 430cfs, several of us decided to make the drive to paddle at Roll Dams at the beginning of the fall supper weekend. Kenny and Helen arrived early enough for a Friday afternoon run in glorious weather. Troad and Connor arrived that evening and we had the campsite to ourselves after the fishermen went elsewhere for the night. We made ourselves comfy and spread out across much of the west end of the camping area. 

Later on that evening as we enjoyed our campfire, a large kayaking party from Bowdoin arrived and the 30 of them cheerfully squeezed into the other half of the campsite. Troad was happy that a more typical kayak-to-canoe ratio was restored. For our Saturday run, Helen and Kenny swapped boats for a little change up. Another glorious run, including lots of surfing. Kenny looked great in Helen’s Ocoee. Even though our lunch break was quick, we didn’t have enough time to do justice to another full run before we had to drive over to The Forks for the fall supper festivities. So the three canoeists decided for some side-surfing at the bottom of Z-turn and rolling practice, two activities that naturally go together. Kenny used his longer Zephyr for this outing, so he paddled a different boat for each of his three runs. After having all the fun we could, it was time to pack up and head to The Forks. Hiking and the Kennebec gorge were on the agenda for the next day, but someone else will be providing those trip reports!

Jul 30-31: Roll Dam at 420cfs

July 30-31

The final weekend of July at Roll Dams included a small but spirited group of paddlers.  We did three runs on Saturday and two on Sunday, swapping boats and trying out new things.  There was a tandem canoe, a solo canoe, three kayaks, and two inflatable kayaks, and most of us paddled at least two different boats.  The weather was beautiful, and the bright sunshine inspired plenty of play in the waves and holes with lots of opportunity for rolling and swimming.  The drier weather and the breeze kept the bugs down to a dull whine.

Elliot Rappaport, Karen Merritt, Charlie Berliant, Erin-Kate Sousa, Nina Berliant, Genio & Ross Bertin, Helen Hess (TC)

Jul 1-3, 2022: Roll Dam at 430cfs

When I am paddling early in the season during the spring runoff, tromping through snow to the put in, thoughts of summer at Roll Dam warm my heart even while my hands freeze.  At last July arrived and the trip was on with just enough water for a good time on the river.  It was a slightly smaller group than in previous years, and on Saturday only three of us remained at Roll Dam while the rest of the crew headed over for bigger thrills at Canada Falls.  The only flaw in the lovely weekend were the bugs which were decidedly thick, fierce, and diverse.

K-1: Charlie Berliant, Jeff Bickford, Troad Richmond

iK-1: Erin-Kate Sousa, Deb Harris, Jeff Swett

OC-2: Gary & Suzanne Cole

OC-1: Rick & Koa Farnsworth, Kenny DeCoster, Helen Hess (TC)

Aug 6-8, 2021: Roll Dam 410 cfs

A sizeable and ever-changing group assembled at Roll Dam for runs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. A few arrived later, a few left earlier, a few tapped out for Canada Falls on Saturday, but there was always an enthusiastic group ready to have fun on a low-level run at Roll Dam. The weather gods and the bug gods were both kind throughout the weekend. There were graceful, upright runs (yay, Erin), swims and self-rescues. There were rolls, both hit (yay, Evie) and missed (most of the open boaters, including the TC; though John Brower never flipped, not even at the slide at Canada Falls I’ve heard). Lots of little surfing waves kept us busy and smiling. When Charlie Berliant’s paddle broke at the beginning of the run on Sunday, he thought he’d have to walk out. But Mark Berry broke out the neoprene hand-paddling mitts and used them while Charlie borrowed Mark’s paddle. There’s always something new to try or see at Roll Dam!

Helen Hess (TC), Genio Bertin, John Brower, Morgan Baxter, Rick Gause, OC-1, Gary & Suzanne Cole OC-2 and K-1, Jeff Bickford, Mark Berry, Asa Berry, Jeff Swett, Bill Smith, Troad Richmond, Charlie Berliant, Erin-Kate Sousa, Adam Wales, Evie Wales, K-1, Jen and Sasha Wales, tandem ducky.