The Kennebec River is the most formidable un-bridged crossing along the entire 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail.

The Kennebec is approximately 70 yards wide with a swift, powerful current under the best of circumstances. However, as a result of releases of water from hydro facilities upstream, the depth and current of the river surge quickly and unpredictably. You cannot cross faster than the water level rises.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FORD THE RIVER

The MATC and the Appalachian Trail Conference have contracted with David P. Corrigan of Fletcher Mountain Outfitters to provide a scheduled ferry service across the Kennebec River at the A.T. crossing at no cost to hikers.

As always, we will be “on call” time and weather permitting, during early May and late October.  Hikers should call well in advance if they want to try to cross the River during these early and late season periods.

• Between May 1 and May 21, and also between October 13 and October 31, service will be available on a "Time and weather permitting" basis.  Service is not guaranteed during these dates, and hikers should call in advance to see if service will be available.  There will be no service available before or after these dates.
  
  
• This ferry service -- not fording -- is the officially sanctioned means of crossing the Kennebec River on the Appalachian Trail. The A.T. was located here originally because of the existence of a ferry to provide access to Pierce Pond for visiting sportsmen.
  
  
• Hikers must meet the ferry on either the east or west banks of the Kennebec River at the point of the AT crossing. If the ferry is on the opposite side, a signal flag will be provided to alert the ferry operator.
  
  
• Hikers will be required to sign a release form, wear a life jacket, and follow the instructions of the ferry operator. If river conditions or weather make the crossing dangerous in the judgment of the ferry operator, the service will be discontinued until conditions improve.
  
  
• Large groups please call ahead to indicate when you will need the ferry service. No camping and no fires are permitted within the Trail corridor on either side of the Kennebec River. Camping and fires are permitted only at designated campsites.
  
  
• This service is provided only for users of the Appalachian Trail and is not available to the general public.
  
  

Additional information can be attained by contacting Ferry Contractor:
Fletcher Mountain Outfitters
David P. Corrigan
Registered Maine Master Guide
82 Little Houston Brook Road
Concord Township, Maine 04920
207-672-4879
E-mail: maineguide@live.com

2009 End of Season Report

Fletcher Mountain Outfitters - Kennebec Ferry Service

     I am happy to report that the 2009 Ferry season has come to a close without major injury or incident of any kind.  We had a very good season, with high hiker numbers, in spite of the extremely wet and cold summer weather.  We had some rather interesting days, with extremely high water due to the constant rain, but we were able to provide a safe crossing for hikers during every day of the season.

      During the 2009 season, which ran from May 22, through October 12, Fletcher Mountain Outfitters safely ferried 1,207 hikers on 1,214 trips across the Kennebec River.  The difference in hikers vs. trips is due to the fact that seven of them were day use hikers who went over and back in the same day.
    

As in seasons past, a small minority of hikers chose to ford the River this year.  This year was particularly dangerous due to the heavy rains which made predicting water conditions much more difficult.  Several of those who chose to ford the River ended up swimming for their lives.  Thankfully, there were no [reported] fatalities.  The number of hikers who chose to ford the River seems to hover around one percent.  This held true again this year, as I was able to confirm 12 hikers either forded or swam the River without the aid of the Ferry Service.  There may have been a few others that I did not hear about, but I doubt if it was more than a few.  As always, there were also a few who tried to ford the River, had a bad experience, and later quite happily took the Ferry.

 Again this year, the Ferry Service benefited from the dedication and experience of Registered Maine Guide, Craig Dickstein.  Craig worked an average of one day per week on the Ferry Service, and also filled in for several longer stretches when I needed to be away.  Craig’s skills, and his knowledge of the trail, have made him a great asset to the Ferry Service for the last several years.

     The Kennebec Ferry Service and the Appalachian Trail received a little good publicity this summer, being featured in two different articles by author and long time trail maintainer, Brad Viles, in the Bangor Daily News.  The first article centered on the wet trail conditions, and conditions at the River.  The second article was a feature on the Ferry Service.  We should all thank Brad for keeping the public informed both about the trail in general, as well as about the service provided at the crossing.

     It has been another exciting season on the River, and we are already looking forward to next year. 

Looking forward to next season,

David P. Corrigan
Registered Maine Master Guide
Fletcher Mountain Outfitters
82 Little Houston Brook Road
Concord Twp., Maine 04920
207-672-4879
maineguide@live.com