On May 6, an intrepid group of students and alumni embarked on a 220-mile journey by canoe down the Connecticut River all the way from Hanover to the Long Island Sound. This annual expedition—the Trip to the Sea—gives students, and a few alumni, the chance to retrace an expedition undertaken by John Ledyard, namesake of Dartmouth’s Ledyard Canoe Club. See photos, below, or watch highlights from the trip.
Photos
Image

As the group prepares to leave Hanover, Lily Xu ’18, the trip director, gives some final instructions. (Photo by Kevin Yang ’20)
Image

The group heads out from Hanover, passing under Ledyard Bridge. (Photo by Kevin Yang ’20)
Image

Portaging: less fun than paddling, especially when the portage involves a steep hill. (Photo by Kevin Yang ’20)
Image

After the portage, the group enjoys getting back on the water. (Photo by Kevin Yang ’20)
Image

On the first night, the group camped at Wilgus State Park in Weathersfield, Vt. (Photo by Kevin Yang ’20)
Image

Peyton Ragsdale ’17 enjoys a peaceful morning in Wilgus State Park. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Image

Taking a break from paddling to talk. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Image

The group starts a portage in North Walpole, N.H. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Image

Relaxing after the portage. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Image

Setting up camp near Walpole, N.H. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Image

It took almost the entire group to carry the largest of the canoes during a portage near the Vernon hydroelectric dam in southern Vermont. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Image

On Tuesday, May 8, the group paddled across the state border into Massachusetts. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Image

The group puts in on Wednesday after a night camping at Northfield Mount Hermon, a private high school in northern Massachusetts. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Image

It took five canoes to hold the entire group: two smaller canoes that usually held two people each, and three larger canoes. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Image

On Wednesday, the group stopped at a marina in Massachusetts, where they were met by a local Dartmouth alumni club. (Photo by Robert Gill)
Image

As the paddlers made their way south, they started to pass through more urban areas, including, here, Springfield, Mass. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)
Image

Thursday, May 10, proved to be a long day, as the group continued to paddle even as the sun started to go down. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)
Image

On Thursday night, the group camped on the athletics fields at Loomis Chaffee, a private high school in Windsor, Conn. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)
Image

On Friday, the paddlers continued south through Connecticut. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)
Image

The group approaches Hartford, Conn. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)
Image

Lily Xu ’18 (left), Charlotte Blanc ’17, Thayer ’18 (center), and Carolyn McShea ’18 study a guide book to paddling the Connecticut. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)
Image

Enjoying the sunset on the last night of camping. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)
Image

On Saturday, May 12, the weather turned windier and colder as the group made its way to Long Island Sound. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)
Image

Everyone celebrates after reaching the sound and starting to head to their destination for the night—the home of Bill ’65 and Sue Webster. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)
Image

The group nears the shore in front of the Webster’s house, where they’re greeted by students who drove down to help with the trip back and by several alumni. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)
Image

Dave Larson ’67, president of the Dartmouth Club of Southeastern Connecticut, presents an honorary paddle to Lily Xu in recognition of her work directing the trip. The paddle was signed by everyone who took part in the adventure and will hang on the walls at the Ledyard Canoe Club. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)
Image

As the trip comes to an end, the group poses for one last photo together.
Standing, from left: Emma Rieb ’18, Emily Wechsler ’18, Graham Rigby ’17, Riley Carbone ’18, Carolyn McShea ’18, Alex Witherspoon ’18, William Tyree ’18, Hannah Markowitz ’18, Elena Horton ’18, Jay Daukas ’18, Eliza Ezrapour ’18, Charlotte Blanc ’17, Allie Reichert ’18, Conor Cathey ’15, Johnny Sanchez ’18, Madeleine Waters ’19, and Alyson Young ’19. Front row, from left: Jaime Eeg ’18, Vivian Jiang ’18, Peyton Ragsdale ’17, Lily Xu ’18, Ella Ryan ’18, and Alma Wang ’18. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)