BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 17, 2022
Katahdin, Maine’s tallest peak, has long been a source of awe and adoration. Here are a few fascinating facts.
1. Katahdin rises 5,267 feet above sea level, just 13 feet shy of a mile.
2. The alpine area on Katahdin is home to a butterfly found nowhere else on Earth.
3. “Katahdin” is an Abenaki word that roughly translates to “greatest mountain.”
4. More than 60 people have died on Katahdin since 1933.
5. Katahdin was purchased by former Gov. Percival Baxter and donated to remain “forever wild.”
6. Black bears have been spotted near the top of Katahdin.
7. In 1939, 12-year-old Donn Fendler got lost hiking on Katahdin. His survival story is told in “Lost on a Mountain in Maine.”
8. There are several trails to hike Katahdin.
9. A Penobscot Indian entity called Pamola dwells on Katahdin.
10. The top of Katahdin is the northern terminus of the National Scenic Appalachian Trail.