Episode Twelve: Journey's End?
Katahdin is the Northern terminus of the AT, and one of the trail’s most iconic mountains. As Matt attempts to reach Katahdin’s summit and finish his thru-hike, we explore some of the controversy surrounding Baxter State Park, where Katahdin is located. Park leadership has clashed with both Indigenous governments and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy over the past few decades, and some say that the AT might need to find a new Northern terminus.
This episode’s guests:
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Nolan Altvater
Special Projects Cultural Coordinator for the Passamaquoddy Tribal Preservation Office and the Maine Coast Heritage Trust
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Patty Cormier
Maine State Forester, and Chair of the Baxter State Park Authority
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Mills Kelly
Retired History Professor at George Mason University, Author of “A Hiker’s History of the Appalachian Trail”
Learn More:
Read former Baxter State Park Director Jenson Bissell’s letter to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in 2014.
Take a look at LD 294 - “An Act to Include a Tribal Member in the Baxter State Park Authority”
Learn more about the Wabanaki Alliance.
Learn more about Baxter State Park.
The welcome sign at the entrance to Baxter State Park.
Just above tree line on Katahdin.
Chop Chop navigating difficult terrain on Katahdin.
Everything was covered in a layer of ice!
Birdman completes his thru-hike!
Katahdin's summit.
Climbing Katahdin for a second time - this time on a beautiful sunny day!
Bear Snack on Katahdin.
View of Katahdin's infamous knife edge.
The line of hikers waiting to take their picture with the Katahdin sign.
Birdman on the summit of Pamola Peak after hiking the knife edge trail.
Episode Credits:
Produced by: The Wild Lens Collective in partnership with New Hampshire Public Radio
With Support from: Big Agnes
Producers: Matthew Podolsky, Taylor Quimby
Promotion/Social Media: Hannah Mulvany
Music by: Blue Dot Sessions
