Souadabscook race ice problem solved

Thursday’s seasonally warm weather turned out to be a boon for organizers of Saturday’s 27th Souadabscook Stream Race in Hampden.

Leslie Winchester of Bangor, who heads up the race for the Maine Canoe and Kayak Racing Organization, or MaCKRO, said that the higher temperatures helped to take care of an ice problem on Hammond Pond.

“There was still 6 inches of ice on Hammond Pond,” Winchester said.

Her husband, J.R. Mabee, has been spending some of his time chipping away at the ice.

“There was no trail to get through the ice. We’re pretty sure there will be today,” Winchester said.

The race begins at Vafiades Landing off Bog Road in Hampden and ends 81/2 miles later at the Hampden Water District.

The conditions at Hammond Pond, Winchester said, are significant because it comes early in the race when paddlers are building rhythm.

“It’s the first body of water after the start,” Winchester said.

The Souadabscook is a bit different than many races in that paddlers leave the start line en masse by division. The Souadabscook is also notorious for getting paddlers wet.

The drops and whitewater at Manning Mill and the Emerson Mill Bridge have been known to claim their victims over the years.

The largest rapid on the stream is at Crawford’s which is also an optional portage.

Depending on water level, the rapids on the course can reach Level 4, on a 1-6 scale, which is considered very difficult.

“Water levels might be kinda low,” Winchester said. “It’s certainly not as high as last year.”

Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. and the race gets under way at noon. Cost is $12 for American Canoe Association members. Nonmembers pay $17, which includes a $5 fee for insurance.

Winchester said that she expects at least 60 paddlers to compete in the race.

Dirigo Search and Rescue out of Bangor will provide safety personnel throughout the course.

Winchester said proceeds from the race will be split between Dirigo Search and Rescue and the Orono High School Outing Club.