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    Big Eddy Campground

    Big Eddy Campground

    COVID-19 Updates

    Author

    Chicken-of-the-Woods and Other Marvelous Mushrooms

    By Julie Puleio, Big Eddy Site Assistant on July 24, 2022

    Rain promises some of spring’s most welcome gifts.  I walk back and forth along the camp road, anticipating.  It’s only a matter of time until the annual flush of Chicken of the Woods will greet us with stunning layers of orange and yellow flesh.  Found on dead and decaying hardwood species, the old oaks along the river’s edge are a good place to begin looking for this delicious and eye catching species Laetiporus sulphureus or Sulphur Shelf as Chicken of the Woods is also known as, is perhaps one of the easier mushrooms to identify, when beginning to forage. There are only two varieties of Chicken of the Woods, both are edible and closely resemble each other. Only slightly varying in color and the way they grow out of the wood. 

    This June the old decaying oak stump fed over 20 plus guests this past week. Our seasonal campers in the D-loop fried them up like chicken nuggets; others added them to eggs, pastas and steaks. 


    Beginning in mid May, flushes of Dryad Saddle (Polyporus Squamosus), otherwise known as the pheasant’s back mushroom, began to pug nose out of the dead poplars on river left that were first spotted by our then seasonal camper Rachel. We have since learned that these are best when harvested no larger than a grapefruit to ensure their best texture and flavor. These mushrooms will flush from many hardwood species, and can even have a fall flush if the rains and weather encourages them. Bob Johansen, our neighbor and resident Maine Warden, was among the lucky recipients of this year’s early flush of Dryads adding them to fried sausages, he happily reported to me that they didn’t send him to the hospital, and he enjoyed their mild taste. 


    Bob was not lucky enough to stop by after a generous haul of Spring Oysters mushrooms (Pleurotus Populinus) were spotted by our guest Deb, who I assured, that yes indeed what she spotted were Oysters, and we would be eating them! These spring Oysters primarily will only grow on Poplars and Aspen trees that are dead and dying. Another key indicator of this mushroom can be a strong Anise smell that they emit. Sometimes while walking to one of our favorite trout ponds my husband Miles will smell the Oysters before we spot them. 

    With July upon us this means one thing, Chanterelle and Drake season! There are many varieties of Chanterelles (Cantharellus) found in North America.  They differ in color, shape and size. I have enjoyed many beautiful golden Chanterelles found in all sorts of terrain in this region, along streams, in culverts and just off the Appalachian Trail.  The trick with Chanterelles is when you find one you will typically be finding more. Like most mushrooms when harvesting you want to be mindful with how many you take, always leaving some for the health of the mycelium network below the ground to continue to flourish for years to come.  

    I am always eager to see David, who comes every year many times to Big Eddy, and discuss what new varieties of mushrooms we will be adding to our foraging repertoire. This year he insisted I harvest and try some of the King Boletes (Boletus edulis) that prolifically grow along the river in sites 112-116.   

    The mushrooms we see and enjoy above the ground are essentially the ‘blooms’ or flushes as they are referred to as a much larger vast network of underground webs of mycelium. Mushrooms are considered Saprophytes; they obtain their nutrition from breaking down nonliving organic matter. 

    The intermittent heavy rains we have been experiencing add to the early abundance of food the woods provide. Foraging has become not just a passion and a way to connect with people; it has been a way to make new friends.

    If you’re interested in learning more about identifying Maine’s mushrooms and foraging, there are courses available and experts to seek out on the subject. 

    —

    Julie Puleio is the Site Assistant at Chewonki’s Big Eddy Campground in Millinocket, Maine

    Author

    The Countdown to Spring is On!

    By Sarah Sindo on February 22, 2022

    Dear Big Eddy friends,

    It’s a fairly small act, but I always feel a big dose of happiness when I flip the calendar from December to January. Yes, it’s exciting to think about the new year ahead but it’s also the official time when I can finally say to Big Eddy friends and guests, “I’ll see you later this year!”. It’s like we’re all that much closer to reuniting at Big Eddy, and during the middle of winter that can feel oh so good for the soul. 

    The snowfall got off to a slow start here in Maine with December and the first half of January not producing any lofty snow totals. That all changed about a month ago though. A foot of snow here, and a foot plus the week after, and now the snowbanks lining the Golden Road grab your attention. If you’ve never taken a ride up the Golden Road during the winter, it’s quite delightful. The fairly smooth, low trafficked road is much different than the rattling, pothole-filled, dusty road we are all so acquainted with during the campground season. Animal tracks catch your gaze and to see a snow-capped Mt. Katahdin is truly something special. I always find myself thinking that the mountain too sees a shift in the seasons, just like Big Eddy. So many people visit the numerous campgrounds within Baxter State Park during the summer months, just like they flock to the waters of the West Branch. Yet, come winter, most activity comes to a halt and the land and forest return to the wild animals once again. 

    I made a trip north to the campground a couple of weekends ago. Keeping the solar panels mostly cleared of snow was my main duty heading into the winter. While I wasn’t quite successful completing that task this time around, I cleared what I was able to and confirmed the rest of the campground looked to be in good shape. Snowshoes were definitely required as there was 2+ feet of snow on the ground. 

    Meet the Year-Round Local

    I, and the rest of the Big Eddy team, feel very fortunate to have another set of eyes on Big Eddy during the winter months, as well as during the operating season. Some of you may have met Game Warden Johansen at the campground over the years. He enjoys swinging in to say hello and grabbing a cup of coffee. I can’t take credit for the feature of Bob in this issue of the newsletter, that idea came from Greg Shute, Chewonki’s Director of Northern and Coastal Properties. We thought you’d enjoy reading a bit about him, giving you a glimpse past the uniform and badge. 

    I’m Game Warden Bob Johansen, and some of you reading this may know me from seeing me around Big Eddy during the summer months because I’m the local Game Warden assigned to this area. I do enjoy stopping in at the “Eddy” to say hello and enjoy a cup of coffee on the porch when I get time. I’ve been “The Game Warden” in this area for the past 11 years and I plan on staying right here until I decide to retire someday. 

    A little bit about me, I graduated high school in Millinocket, went into the Marine Corps and served 4 years before returning to Millinocket where I quickly became attached to Theresa, who has now been my wife for nearly 27 years. She is also the mother of our only son, Christopher who now lives and works in the midcoast area with his own growing family. 

    I became a Game Warden in 2003 after several years as a Police Officer. I decided that I was tired of taking time off from work to go spend time in the woods so I found a job that would pay me to be – in the woods.  Fortunately, my wife and son supported this move and we began our adventure. We landed in Daaquam first for almost 2 years before moving to the Chamberlain Lake area where I enjoyed working the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and all the resources that area had to offer. In 2010, we decided to make the move to Rip Dam where we are still today. This move reduced their round trip every day to school from 110 miles to 60 miles. We both enjoy living and recreating in this area as much as I enjoy working here. Our German Shepard “Otto” is a very present member of our home and everyday lives as well. 

    The change of the seasons makes my work seem not so much like work most days. I hike, boat, kayak, canoe, and snowmobile many miles throughout the year in some of the most beautiful places Maine has to offer.Most of the time, I must remind myself that I’m working while doing most of it. I enjoy engaging with the fishermen, hunters, snowmobilers, hikers and many others recreating in the area. My visits to the “Eddy” are always enjoyable where I meet many first-time visitors and many more who have been coming here to the area for decades. There’s an amazing abundance of resources here and I enjoy the responsibility of protecting it for all of us to enjoy in any way we decide to do that.

    The Beauty and the River

    One of the backbone reasons for wanting to create the Big Eddy Newsletter was to feature the many admirable guests. Over my seven seasons here, I have met many wonderful people and the encounters have flourished into friendships and staying in touch over the winter season. I reached out to George and Janice Betts to see if they’d be interested in sharing their story. The family visits the campground a few times each July. Maybe you haven’t met them yet, but you might recognize the photo George shared in his story. Each visit, George launches their beautiful wooden drift boat into the eddy, their river dog Bo already at the helm, he assists Janice inside the boat, and downriver they go. Here’s their story about how they first stumbled upon Big Eddy.

    I was 43 years old the first time I saw the Big Eddy in the summer of 1990. My wife Janice and I are farmers in the southern part of New Jersey and we have a vacation camp in Kokadjo, Maine. We had become good friends with a Greenville man named John McCloud. He was a Maine Guide and his nickname was Riverboat John. We had been helping John with his garden in town and he wanted to take us fishing to pay us back. I was just learning how to fly cast and didn’t want to embarrass myself but Janice made me go. At noon the next day, we met John at the Kokadjo General Store. He had an old truck and trailer with a big drift boat on it. It was the first boat I ever saw with such a strange design plus there was no motor and it had only oars. Janice and I bought John lunch at the store. Then, we bounced our way north to the Golden Road passing through the gate at Sias Hill. They reminded us that the gate closed at 10:00pm! It was almost 3:00pm when we rolled into the Big Eddy Campground and John knew everyone staying there. Peter Pray and his wife Bunny were the owners and everyone was so friendly and relaxed. You could tell right off this was a fisherman’s paradise and most of the campsites along the Eddy were all fly fishermen. All they did was tie flies, talk, eat and fish. What a life! Most only fished the Eddy from their canoes or wade fished the pools around the gorge. Riverboat John said, “We are going downriver,” as we helped him launch his drift boat on a very rough ramp into a backwater. It’s almost 5:00pm by the time we shuttled the trailer and John rigged us up with fly rods. I was embarrassed that someone was watching me cast so John rowed us to the head of the Eddy. He told me to just let some line straight out and retrieve it slowly and “bam” a salmon jumped out of the river, took the fly and ran out of line. I’m the one who got hooked that summer afternoon. We fished until dark and were too late to make the gate before it closed so we drove to the marina on Ripogenus Lake and they gave John a cabin to spend the night but we were so excited we could not sleep. John stayed up late tying flies to match the hatch and they are the same patterns we use today. The following winter, Janice and I hired a craftsman to build us our own wooden drift boat back in New Jersey. I wanted it strong so we used ¾ inch African Mahogany that was as pretty as it was strong. We bought a set of 10 foot oars and I practiced rowing that spring on tidal rivers in New Jersey. Everyone who saw our boat said how pretty she was so we named her The Beauty and trailered her to Maine the summer of 1991. We bought a season boat ramp pass from Peter Pray, and Janice and I and our hound dog Boomer would stay at Nancy Pray’s camps by Ripogenus Dam. I would put on my lifejacket and just keep running the river to the Wardens Pool takeout over and over till I felt safe to take Janice and our river dog. As the years passed, we never missed a summer and we love the West Branch River and the Big Eddy. Chewonki bought the campground from Peter Pray and they have done an amazing job helping young people see the river of life through their Foundation and programs while keeping the character of the Big Eddy for fisherman, rafters, kayakers and hikers. We thank Sarah and all the staff at Chewonki for keeping the river open for us, Bo and our big wooden Beauty. Keep your eyes open in July and you might see it floating by!

    ~ George & Janice Betts & Bo Dog

    The Beauty anchored in the Eddy backwater with river dog Bo sporting the salmon, George Betts trying to net the fish with his Grandson, Lyle Nemeth, keeping an eye on Eddy the bald eagle who wants the salmon for dinner. (Picture taken by Dr Janice Lake Betts, July 2015.)

    Big Eddy Improvement Fund

     

    And finally, because I can’t let you leave without giving a nod to our continuous efforts to raise money for the Big Eddy Improvement Fund. The fund was created almost a year ago with the goal of raising $58,000 over a 2-year period for bettering Big Eddy. On the time chart, we’re nearly halfway there, but our fish chart shows us still a bit below water. Can you inch us up towards the surface a little?

    As a non-profit organization, we rely on generous donations from folks like you to help maintain and improve the campground. Some projects we have our sights set on are: 

    • New solar panels & generator
    • Cabin improvements
    • Campground amenities & landscaping
    • Upgrades to the water system

    To date, we have raised $11,323 and we want to thank each of you who contributed to the fund. 

    Book Now for Spring

    Lastly, it’s probably no surprise that dates and sites are filling up fast for the upcoming season. If you’ve been putting off planning your trip, you might want to start thinking about it and check availability. If you have any questions, please send us an email at bigeddy@chewonki.org and we’d be happy to assist you. 

    There’s only about eleven weeks to go until opening day! May the rest of your winter be healthy and allow you time and space to get outdoors and soak up the fresh air. 

    See you soon,

    Sarah

    Sarah Sindo
    Big Eddy Site Manager
    ssindo@chewonki.org

    Author

    Explore These Close-by Hidden Gems

    By Alexis Grillo on March 30, 2021

    Big Eddy makes a fine base camp from which to explore the surrounding region:

    Allagash Wilderness Waterway The put-in at Chamberlain Lake is less than an hour’s drive north on the Telos Road from Big Eddy.

    Ambajesus and Chesuncook Boom-houses  The West Branch Historical Society is restoring the boom houses at Ambejesus and Chesuncook as a way to preserve these historical buildings and the logging and river driving heritage on the West Branch of the Penobscot. 

    Baxter State Park  With over 200,000 acres the park offers short day hikes to multi-day experiences.

    Debsconeag Lake Wilderness Area Trailheads for the Ice Caves and the Rainbow Loop Trails are located a short drive down the Golden Road from Big Eddy.

    North Maine Woods The North Maine Woods encompasses over 3.5 million acres of land under a variety of ownership including big and small corporations, individuals, families, and the State of Maine and The Nature Conservancy. Day use and overnight camping fees are charged at North Maine Woods Checkpoints.

    Penobscot River Corridor Big Eddy Campground is located in the Penobscot River Corridor and the lands upstream and down of us are managed by the State of Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.  Short access trails lead to the river including just upstream of the Campground on the east side of the Telos Bridge. Here there is a small parking area and a short trail to an overlook at “Vulture Rock” that offers an incredible view of the Cribworks Class V Rapid.

    Author

    Nighthawks on the West Branch

    By Alexis Grillo on March 30, 2021

    Big Eddy visitors often enjoy spending a relaxing evening sitting in the Adirondack Chairs and gazing out over the Eddy. As the sun sinks low, one of our non-human summer visitors can often be heard calling over the West Branch. 

    The Common Nighthawk. Photo by Gary Clark

    The Common Nighthawk spends the winter in South America and returns to the Katahdin region in mid-May. Nighthawk populations have declined as a result of habitat loss and increasing use of pesticides which impact the large insects that are a major part of the Nighthawks diet.  We are fortunate that the population remains healthy around Big Eddy. This section of the West Branch offers many open ledges that are the preferred nest sites this ground nester.

    Keep your eyes and ears on the sky this summer when you visit the Eddy and you may be treated with the peenting and Vroom of our resident nighthawks. These birds are known for being crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk.

    Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
    Author

    Reflections on the River: Guests Share Their Love

    By Alexis Grillo on March 30, 2021

    What’s so special about Big Eddy? A few guests share their thoughts:

    For Judy and me it is the joint love of fly fishing, the north woods, the solitude of the trout waters in the West Branch Region, and the liberty of knowing a stint on the “Eddy” is mere feet away – these experiences shared with good friends of similar minds are a blessing to our husband-and-wife team of over 50 years.  

    For Judy, it is home – born and raised in East Millinocket, who sports the claim of a fishing “tomboy” if ever there was one. For me, an old forester who has spent nearly a lifetime professionally and personally in the Maine woods – a sojourn at the “Eddy” conjures up fond memories on each trip to the “Nesourdnahunks”,  Ten-Forty Pond or when coasting “Ladd Hill” down into the valley of the West Branch. 

    • From Elbridge & Judy Cleaves 

    This summer (2021) will be the 40th year I have camped at the Eddy, without missing a year. (Last summer  having a small camper meant we could do it safely.) 

    I was the first woman licensed to guide the river (1982). I’ve been a mom floating the “circuit” up in the outflow from Big Eddy rapids, my daughter and I laughing at the push of it. With Nick Albans, I have been a river advocate, co-organizing the West Branch Coalition to Save the Penobscot, a coalition that grew to over 30 state, regional, and national groups that worked to stop the Big A dam. (It would have dewatered Horserace and then made a lake to the power station, a lake so vast Great Northern Paper proposed to relocate the Golden Road over the ridge next to Rainbow Lake. 

    I hatched my first novel about the loss of the north woods while sitting with my feet in the river as caddisflies stained my paper. Nick Albans taught me how to fish so now at age 71, I cast into the Eddy’s green swirls but often just sit long after dark, eyes closed, happy knowing the river will murmur for my granddaughters. (Nick has a rock and plaque behind the eddy lawn down by the river. Stopping by to thank him is a good thing to do.)

    • Sandy Neily
    Author

    Look out for ME: Statewide Campaign to Keep Maine Beautiful

    By Alexis Grillo on March 30, 2021

    The COVID-19 pandemic inspired more people than ever before to explore the forests, mountains, lakes, rivers, and coastlines that make Maine uniquely Maine. It’s natural that newcomers to outdoor adventure—from hiking and camping to fishing and snowshoeing—might not know the ins-and-outs of responsible recreation.

     

     

     

    That’s why the Maine Office of Tourism has started the Look Out for ME initiative. Their goal is to ensure that visitors and residents alike venture out safely and responsibly, with respect for the land we all love and cherish. Help us spread the word about how we can all do our part to protect Maine’s natural resources for generations to come.

    Author

    A Better Big Eddy: 2021 Improvements

    By Greg Shute on March 30, 2021

    A Message from Greg Shute, Vice President of Lands and Waters

    Before you know it Big Eddy will be open. As the days get longer I wanted to let you know of some updates that we will be working on in 2021 and beyond. We are always looking at ways to reduce the run time for our diesel generator. In May we will install a new bank of storage batteries. The new batteries should increase our capacity to store even more of the sun’s energy. We are also working on a plan to increase the overall number of solar panels so that we can generate even more power on sunny days. A new and more efficient (and quieter) generator is in our future too.   

    We have heard that many of you miss filling water jugs at the old hand pump. We removed the old pump in 2020 so that we could meet new safe drinking water guidelines. One of the unintended consequences of removing the old pump was that it required the electric pump to run more often to fill water jugs. To cut down on the run time of the electric water pump we plan to install a new Bison hand pump this summer.  

    We will also be working with the Land Use Planning Commission on permitting to address the erosion issues at the boat launch.  

    All of these improvements come at a cost and as we work hard to keep camping fees low at Big Eddy we will establish the Big Eddy Improvement Fund. We welcome donations to the fund which we hope to grow over time.  All funds raised will be exclusively used for infrastructure improvements at Big Eddy.  When you visit this year we would be happy to chat more about all the projects that we have in mind. 

    Wishing you well and we look forward to seeing you this summer.

    Author

    Team Chewonki Reaches Higher for Lifeflight of Maine

    By Cullen McGough on August 2, 2019

    If you’ve participated in a Chewonki program, the odds are good that we’ve introduced you to “the backcountry,” that mythic land with the most scenic views, the most remote trails, and the toughest travel conditions.

    Along with the glory of the backcountry comes the cold hard reality of facing injury outside the reach of mainstream medical support systems. Rescue, if possible, might be hours or days away.

    Enter Lifeflight of Maine. Since 1998, more than 26,000 people have been plucked out of harm’s way, some from the most challenging and remote locations in Maine, by the dedicated helicopter pilots and medical staff of Lifeflight. Some of our staff and friends directly attribute their survival to the emergency medical care provided by Lifeflight. 

    In recognition and support of this amazing service, more than a dozen Chewonki friends & alumni have formed a team to join the 2019 Islebourough Crossing Lifeflight swimathon and have already raised more than $11,000 of their $15,000 goal.

    Team Chewonki members:

    • Megan Phillips
    • Matt Russ
    • KC Ford
    • Katie Curtis
    • Annelise Pugh
    • Ryan Linehan
    • Stacy Linehan
    • Lorna Fake
    • Alicia Heyburn
    • Henry Heyburn
    • Conor Burke
    • Carrie Curtis

    Lifeflight provides a unique and much-needed service for the folks who live in remote areas– and those of us who like to hike, swim, camp and paddle in the remote corners of Maine. Please join us in supporting the Lifeflight Islesboro Crossing, a fundraising effort to ensure that the necessary equipment and personnel are there when we need them most. 

    Your gift of $100, $500, $1000 or more will save lives every year.

    Make a Donation to Support Megan Phillips and Team Chewonki

     

    Author

    It’s About the Moment

    By Anne Leslie on August 1, 2019

    “I don’t know if you are a fly fisherman,” says Bob Hamer, Maine Guide, photographer, fly fisherman, and part of the team who takes wounded veterans fly fishing in Maine every summer as part of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, “but fly fishing isn’t really about fishing. It’s about the moment. It’s almost meditation. Each of these guys brings his own baggage, but when their minds are on fly fishing, they’re off their problems. Even if it’s only for a few days.”

    For 14 summers, Hamer and his friend Dan Legere, who owns Maine Guide Fly Shop and Guide Service in Greenville, Maine, have arranged the expedition for the nonprofit organization, which engages these military service veterans in learning about and practicing the sport. The Greenville trip was the very first expedition Healing Waters undertook, with three wounded combat soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center (now Walter Reed National Military Medical Center), back in 2005.

    “Dan arranges the fishing part,” explains Hamer. “I handle the logistics. And then I go along to take photographs,” so the veterans have proof that they’re not telling fish tales.

    On July 17-20, seven Healing Waters participants and two counselors came to Maine from Vermont and Massachusetts. “Greenville rolls out the red carpet,” says Legere. Local restaurants provide meals. This year, Indian Hill Trading Post put on a cookout, Kelly’s Landing provided dinner on Moosehead Lake, and the Kokadjo Store served breakfast. The local American Legion Post prepared a barbecue for the last night. The group stayed at the Kokadjo Sporting Camps on First Roach Pond. 

    One day they fished at the Kennebec River’s East Outlet. The next day, Sarah Sindo, site manager at Chewonki’s Big Eddy Cabins and Campground on the West Branch of the Penobscot River, greeted the group bright and early. They spent the morning “fishing the eddy,” she says, had lunch on the lawn, and then boarded drift boats to fish as they floated down to Salmon Deadwater. 

    “They are always such a great group,” says Sindo. “Always in great spirits, excited to be fishing on the river…Photo time is interesting because there is always a jokester in the group.” 

    This year, luck was with them. “They all caught fish during the day on dry flies,” Sindo says.

    Legere and Hamer created the very first Healing Waters Fly Fishing expedition–the trip to Maine–after bumping into sportsman Ed Nicholson at an outdoors show in Washington, D.C. Legere had guided Nicholson in Maine, and he got excited when Nicholson told him about the organization he was founding. “He had the idea that learning to tie a fly and cast could help in wounded veterans’ rehabilitation,” recalls Legere. “It would develop hand/eye coordination and get them out of rehab”–and into the peace of the wilderness. 

    Healing Waters has grown to be a nationwide program with more than 200 chapters rooted in military hospitals, Veterans Affairs medical centers and clinics, and Warrior Transition Units. Summer fishing days are just one part of the program; during the rest of the year, the veterans who have chosen to participate learn to tie flies and build rods with staff from Trout Unlimited, a fly fishing, and natural resource conservation organization. 

    Like Sindo, Legere and Hamer say the Healing Waters trip is a special part of summer, and they are quick to point out that it wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of local people. “Everything is free for the vets,” says Hamer. “It’s all donated.” “The veterans are always amazed and so appreciative of the generosity of the Greenville people,” Legere notes. “Everyone has such a wonderful time.” 

    All Photos courtesy of Bob Hamer and Healing Waters Fly Fishing.

    Learn more about Big Eddy Campground and Cabins

    Author

    Bringing the Mountain to Chewonki

    By Anne Leslie on June 8, 2019

    Step through the double doors of Chewonki’s Center of Environmental Education and follow the trail markers to Katahdin. Katahdin: Maine’s highest mountain! It is the subject of legends among generations of native peoples and Chewonki folk.
    Above: Gordy Hall, Paul Crowell, David Crowell 
    Thanks to Gordon Hall III (Boys Camp staff 1951-1953; Chewonki trustee 1972-present; chair of the board 1997-2004; past participant in more than 20 Chewonki wilderness expeditions with friends and family; former member of the Committee on Trustees and Advisors and the Maine Coast Semester Advisory Committee) and Paul Crowell (Boys Camp 1977, 1978; Thoreau Wilderness Trip 1980; Boys Camp staff 1981-1984 and 1986; Foundation Advisor 2000-present), we now have our own little Katahdin right here at Chewonki. At a fundraising auction for Friends of Baxter State Park last fall, Crowell and Hall bought a three-dimensional, painted fiberglass model of the mountain showing all the peaks, cirques, and trails. It stood on display at the park’s Roaring Brook ranger station for decades; people tracing the trails with their fingers wore the paint off some of the most popular routes.
    Above: Gordy Hall on Katahdin circa 1950
    Crowell and Hall then gave the model to Chewonki in honor of James Whittlesey Crowell (b. 1925-d. 2014; Boys Camp staff 1971; Chewonki wilderness expeditioner 2005), an adventurer, teacher, and outdoorsman who loved Katahdin and was Gordy Hall’s close friend (they climbed the mountain together) and Paul Crowell’s beloved uncle.   Penobscot Nation historian James Francis shared his people’s perspective on “the great mountain” with us for a small exhibition accompanying the model. Also included are photographs and writings that reveal Katahdin’s important place in Chewonki culture. If you are at Chewonki this summer, be sure to make your way to the entrance hall of the Center of Environmental Education to see this venerable model for yourself. Our big thanks to Gordy Hall and Paul Crowell for their generosity.
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      Chewonki Foundation, 485 Chewonki Neck Road, Wiscasset, ME 04578

      Phone: (207) 882-7323
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