u/joshahadian

Not a whitewater trip (to my knowledge), just want to make sure I'm not missing anything. Taking a group of about 12 guys out on the Androscoggin near Bethel, ME this September, mixed experience including some total first timers. Planning to stay on calmer stretches, but this isn't a river I know well. Anyone familiar with that section, is there anything that looks flat on a map but actually has current or hazards worth knowing about before I put a bunch of beginners on the water? Also, if kayaking along the Androscoggin is on your bucket list and your looking for a group to join let me know!

Planning a group trip this fall, about a dozen guys staying in a house right along the Androscoggin River in Bethel, ME. Half the group has kayaked before, half have never been in a boat at all. Originally planned on kayaks for everyone, but wondering if tandem canoes might actually be the smarter call for the total beginners so they're not solo in a boat for the first time. Anyone dealt with mixing skill levels like this? Would love to hear how you'd set up the day. Also, if you wanna find yourself along the Androscoggin this September, happy to chat more about having you hang!

Planning a group trip this September of about a dozen guys, ages 20s-50s, a mix of experienced paddlers and total first-timers. Staying at a house right on the Androscoggin near Bethel, ME. Looking for a stretch that's forgiving enough for first-timers but not boring for the folks who paddle regularly, plus any put-in/take-out spots you'd recommend. Also curious if there's anything worth knowing about that river specifically in September (water levels, hazards, etc.). Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,

I’m a local guy based here in the Boston area. As someone in my 30s who works from home, I know firsthand that disconnecting from our screens and making genuine new friends in the city can feel like an olympic task. To get away from the digital grind, I started putting together intentional, real-world outdoor trips to help folks get offline and connect.

This past winter, I rented a cabin in Maine and rounded up a group of guys to go skiing. The vibe was incredible—because everyone was active outdoors, people naturally forgot about their phones and just focused on hanging out.

We’re keeping the momentum going and putting together our next long weekend trip from September 17–20 up in Bethel, Maine. We're swapping the snow for the river, and we have a solid itinerary lined up:

• Kayaking: We are staying at a property right on the water, and boats are fully included with the house.
• Fly Fishing: We'll be hitting the river stretches around Bethel for some casual wading and fishing.
• Trail Photography Walk: One of the guys joining us is a professional videographer who has spent nearly a decade shooting for the Harvard Art Museums. He’ll be breaking down camera frameworks and lighting tips on the trail for anyone looking to up their photo/video game.

This trip is all about hitting the reset button, getting out into nature, and building a solid local community. We have a couple of open slots left for the weekend.

If you're looking to unplug, get out on the water, and join a grounded crew of guys from the Boston area, you can check out the full details and apply directly here:https://tally.so/r/gD7AMM

Feel free to drop a comment or shoot me a DM if you have any questions!

As someone who's been working from home for over 5 years and now being in my 30s, disconnecting from my screens and actually meeting people in person has become a challenge. I live in New England where making fellow guy friends seems to be an olympic tasks and after not finding any groups that focus on just guys being dudes I looked into making that group.

I'm a big skier so I rented a slope side cabin up in Maine and rounded up a dozen guys who also enjoy skiing/snowboarding and were looking to make some new friends. There were no rules on keeping phones away, but it was so cool noticing that because everyone was involved in the activities, everyone just kinda forgot about their devices. The only time I saw guys take out their phones was at the end of the weekend to exchange contact info.

It's definitely got me excited about finding new places and activities, especially for this summer and fall, to disconnect from my devices and connect with folks in-person. Would love to hear what kinds of group activities or hobbies you've used to meet new people and get everyone excited for in-person events!

Hey everyone,

I’m putting together a small men’s outdoor group trip up to the Bethel, Maine area from September 17–20. Alongside hitting the water, we are planning a dedicated day hike to focus entirely on landscape and trail photography/videography as the early autumn colors start creeping in.

One of the guys joining us has been a professional videographer with the Harvard Art Museums for nearly a decade, and he's going to be breaking down some of his camera frameworks for us on the trail—specifically how to shoot compelling video and capture clean lighting in dense, changing canopies.

For those who hike the White Mountains / Western Maine region often, I’d love to get your perspective:

1. Trail Recs: What are some highly scenic day hikes within 30 minutes of Bethel that offer a good mix of dense forest trail and open ledge views for shooting?
2. Forest Lighting: New England woods can get incredibly dark under the canopy even on sunny days. Do you have any favorite gear tips (polarizers, specific lenses) or framing techniques for dealing with high-contrast sun spots breaking through the trees?

Also, we have room for one or two more guys to join the group for the weekend. If you’re a hiker or creator in the Northeast who wants to unplug, hit the trails, and talk shop about photography with a solid crew, shoot me a DM!

Appreciate any trail recommendations or shooting tips you can drop below.

Hey everyone,

I’ve been a long-time listener of Prof G, and his commentary on the structural decline of male community, the isolation of modern work, and the absolute necessity of "third places" has deeply resonated with me. It’s easy to look at the macro statistics on male loneliness and feel discouraged, but a few of us decided to actually do something about it on a micro level.

This past winter, tired of the digital grind, a few guys and I put together a tech-free ski trip. The goal wasn’t networking or professional climbing; it was just getting into the wild, doing something physically challenging, and building genuine, face-to-face friendships. It completely proved Scott's point: men connect best when they are doing things together.

To keep the momentum going, a small group of us are heading up to Maine from September 17–20 to swap the snow for the river—completely disconnecting to kayak, fly fish, and cook over a fire.

I wanted to share this because it's entirely possible to spin up these micro-communities from scratch. If you are currently feeling the weight of the isolation trap, how are you trying to build your own "third places" right now?

(Note: If you happen to be in the Northeast and are looking for a solid crew to hit the water with that weekend, feel free to shoot me a DM. Otherwise, let's discuss below how we can scale these kinds of offline interactions.)

Hey everyone,

I'm organizing a small men's outdoor group trip up to the Bethel area from September 17–20. We're planning to spend a couple of days on the water doing a mix of casual kayaking and fly fishing (primarily targeting trout).

I've been looking into the Upper Androscoggin stretch (specifically around Gilead to West Bethel), but I'd love to get some direct insight from Maine locals who know these waters best:

1. Water Levels: Is mid-September generally a safe bet for paddling this stretch, or does it get too shallow/bony depending on how dry the summer was?
2. Access Points: Are there any preferred public launch/take-out spots or scenic stretches you'd recommend for a group of mixed-experience paddlers?
3. Fishing Tips: Any specific fly recommendations or hatches we should look out for around that third week of September?

Also, if any local Maine paddlers or anglers are around that weekend and want to join a solid crew of guys looking to unplug and hit the water, feel free to drop a comment or shoot me a DM! We did a winter version of this trip for a ski weekend and had an awesome vibe, so we're looking forward to hitting the river.

Appreciate any tips or local insights you can share!

Hey y'all, I'm organizing a men's outdoor community trip up to the Bethel, Maine area from September 17–20. We’re planning a mix of kayaking and fly fishing.

For those familiar with the area, I’d love to get some recommendations on solid, scenic river stretches or lakes that are great for a group of mixed-experience paddlers.

Also, we have a few open spots left for the weekend. We're a group of guys just looking to get out on the water, disconnect, and make some new friends (we did a winter version of this for skiing and it was an awesome vibe). If you’re in the region and looking for a group to paddle with that weekend, let me know!

Drop a comment with any route tips, or shoot me a DM if you're interested in joining the crew.