K = Katahdin

Maine’s Greatest Mountain

To travel the length of Maine will require over 380 miles and more than 6 hours of driving. Depending on one’s ability, it will take on average at least that long to climb the state’s highest point, Mount Katahdin. It is a few feet shy of one mile in height. While it is no Mount Everest, it is a challenge and dangerous journey. Its name — given by the Penobscot Native Americans — means “The Greatest Mountain.”

Mount Katahdin is one of the beautiful gems of Maine. First-time travelers on Interstate 95 find the sudden appearance of the mountain stunning, particularly when it is snow-capped. A lookout point was created for vehicles heading north so they can pull off the highway and enjoy the view.

This Maine mountain is located in Baxter State Park. Its namesake, Percival P. Baxter, was governor of the state in the 1920s. He purchased the mountain and land and gave it with this well-known declaration: “Katahdin, in all its glory, forever shall remain the mountain of the people of Maine.”

Baxter State Park includes over 200,000 acres. Maine’s most iconic large animal, the moose, is not allowed to be hunted within the park. It was on my first trip to Baxter that I came face-to-face with one of these creatures. This was somewhat unsettling and led to a lifelong preference to observe them only at a great distance!

One of the region’s most well-known visitors was Henry David Thoreau. He writes about the great Maine peak in his book, The Maine Woods, though spelling it “Ktaadn.” He attempted a climb up Mount Katahdin in 1846, but didn’t make it to the top.

The site received national attention in 1939 when Donn Fendler, a 12 year old boy, became lost on it. He not only survived alone for 9 days, but made his way out. His fascinating story was captured in the book, Lost On A Mountain In Maine. As seen in this video, Mr. Fendler spent years traveling to schools to tell the tale.

This post is part of my A to Z Challenge Series with the overall theme, “This Maine Life.” I am covering a Maine-related topic with a different letter of the alphabet every day except Sundays throughout the month of April 2020.