North To Katahdin

When Thoreau ventured into the Maine woods in 1846, he was one of a handful who did so simply to see what was there. Now, hundreds of thousands of people pursue "the wildest country" either for itself, as Thoreau did, or as the terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Using Mount Katahdin as his lab, Eric Pinder contemplates what draws people to the mountains. Are the urbanites trekking the trails with cell phones, synthetic fabrics, and GPS units having remotely the same experience that Thoreau did? Pinder's interviews with these hikers create a vivid portrait of the communion with nature they seek, and of the world they are trying to escape.

With a light boat, a tent, two blankets apiece, a rifle, pistol, fishing apparatus, fifty pounds of flour, twenty pounds of salt pork, and "a sufficient quantity" of sugar, tea, cornmeal, molasses, salt, pepper, beans, and cheese, our four young men traveled to Moosehead Lake, and then began to row and paddle and sail and portage their way towards Katahdin, through rapids, and over the "carrys," before they headed home--down the West Branch when it was still a wild river.

Mount Katahdin, in Baxter State Park, is Maine's highest mountain. It is also the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Tucked away in the remote North Woods, it is an adventure seeker's paradise. Hiking, climbing, backpacking, snowshoeing, back-country skiing, and ice-climbing are among the activities pursued there; and there has a been a similar range in the ways people have met their demise on the mountain and in the park.Randi Minetor gathers the stories of these fatalities, from falls to exposure to cardiac arrest; and presents dozens of misadventures, including hunting accidents, lightning strikes, and even more than one suspicious death. It's a fascinating addition to the North Woods canon.

Maine historian John Neff's compelling and comprehensive narrative traces the history, legend, and legacy of Mount Katahdin--the spectacular peak that looms over Maine's Great North Woods--from the earliest Native American stories to colonial exploration through the logging industry's peak to today's conservation successes and opportunities.

Based on the true account of a boy's harrowing journey through the vast wilderness of the Katahdin Mountains, Lost on a Mountain in Maine is a gripping survival story for all ages. Twelve-year-old Donn Fendler steps away from his Boy Scout troop for only a minute, but in the foggy mountains of Maine, a minute is all it takes. After hours of trying to find his way back, a nervous and tired Donn falls down an embankment, making it impossible for him to be found. One sleepless night goes by, followed by a second . . . and before Donn knows it, almost two weeks have passed, leaving him starving, scared, and delirious. With rainstorms, black bears, and his fear of being lost forever, Donn's journey is a physically, mentally, and emotionally charged story told from the point of view of the boy who lived it. Don't miss this thrilling survival story, a proven high-interest winner that pulls in readers the way Hatchet, My Side of the Mountain, and the I Survived books do.

Although New England contains three of the four most densely populated states in the country, there are still numerous natural sites to be explored in this beautiful area, and this detailed guide catalogs the most unique and scenic mountains. From Mount Katahdin in Maine to the peaks above the coastline, the finest hikes are included here, along with beautiful photographs of the land and precise directions and descriptions.