On July 27, the 11th campsite of the Penobscot River Paddling Trail was established on Verona Island.

The campsite is a collaboration between landowner Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust, Maine Island Trail Association, and the PRPT. The land trust offered us a place for a campsite on the Joost Family Preserve, about halfway down the island on the Eastern Channel of the Penobscot. This will link the PRPT with the Maine Island Trail. Thus, the three-way collaboration.

Members of all three groups participated in making the campsite, which included installing stairs from the low tide line up to the campsite bluff, assembling a 12-foot picnic table, removing some dead trees and limbs, installing a kiosk with information, and putting up signs and a privy. 

Joost Campsite is accessible within two hours either side of high tide, or with a drag through the mudflat. From there, the closest MITA campsite is Ram Island, about 11 miles, between Castine and Cape Rosier. It is advisable to switch to a sea kayak for the Maine Island Trail. Sea kayak rentals in Castine can be obtained by calling (207) 866-3506 or by clicking here.

With many hands, the campsite work was finished by noon, followed by a celebratory bag lunch at the new table, and the Annual Meeting, which we hold at a different campsite each summer.

Happy paddling, everybody!