Imagine spending a week alone in the backcountry. While that’s extreme, Baxter State Park’s backcountry rangers spend a lot of time alone and far away from the support and backup that frontcountry rangers rely on.

In this episode, we talk with Greg Hamer and Brendan Curran about their lives as backcountry rangers. How do they deal with injury, threats, and working alone on a day-to-day basis? These men have had some adventures, saved a number of people, and lived lives that those of us in the mainstream can only dream about.

The Art of Katahdin with David Little by Friends of Baxter State Park

Join us for an interesting conversation about leadership at Baxter State Park. In April of 2023, the Baxter State Park Authority reached within the ranks of park staff to hire Kevin Adam as the Park's fifth director. Kevin is best known for his 28 years of experience with the Maine Warden Service. A native of Vermont, he came to Maine to study Conservation Law Enforcement at Unity College. He rose through the ranks of the Warden Service to lead its Search and Rescue program for 11 years. He also had oversight of the Warden Service K-9 and Incident Management Teams. In 2020, he was recruited by the Park as a District Ranger Law Enforcement Ranger. Along with his proven leadership skills, Kevin is known for his thoughtful demeanor.

Join our host Jensen Bissell for a conversation about the Park’s Scientific Forest Management Area (SFMA) with Bob Seymour and Joe Wiley. Bob and Joe have served on the SFMA Advisory Committee for nearly four decades. This episode traces the origins of the SFMA, explores the principles behind its management, and looks ahead to what the future might hold for this remarkable working forest.

Join us for a conversation with Charlie Trautmann about the Baxter Park Wilderness Fund Trust. This important contributor to Baxter Park is a private endowment established by long-time Park volunteer Frank Trautmann. The fund currently holds a value of more than $40 million and contributed a half a million dollars to BSP in 2025.

Frank Trautmann passed away in 2014. In this episode, your hosts Bill and Jensen speak with Frank's son Charlie Trautmann about Frank as a father, a volunteer, and an unassuming, modest philanthropist who left a significant gift to help the Park. You can learn more at www.baxterparkwildernessfundtrust.org.

Join us in a conversation with Gail Fanjoy, a fourth generation native of Millinocket and long-serving president of the Katahdin Chamber of Commerce. Gail talks to us about ongoing efforts to revitalize the communities of the Katahdin region.

Our August episode features a conversation with Matt Polstein, the owner of New England Outdoor Center. Matt has been a fixture of the outdoor recreation scene around Baxter Park for more than three decades. We’ll talk about Matt's transition from whitewater guide to major player in Maine's outdoor recreation economy. This is a fascinating account from a man who believes that the clean air, clean water, and abundant forests are the greatest values of the Katahdin region.

Join us for a lively and interesting conversation with Molly Ross, the current President of Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters. Molly has an extensive background with the National Park Service and was deeply involved in the creation of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument along the eastern border of Baxter State Park. She takes us on an informative tour through the process of establishing a National Monument and the importance of the East Branch of the Penobscot to all of us. This is a thought-provoking conversation with a leader, conservationist, and attorney who leads our sibling organization.

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Nate Saunders, veteran violinist for the Augusta Symphony Orchestra and composer of the Katahdin Suite. With infectious enthusiasm, Nate tells us about his creative and very collaborative thinking in composing the piece and capturing his feeling about hiking to Baxter Peak. Oh, and there are fiddle tunes!

Join us for a fascinating discussion with Rupert White. Rupert is the grand nephew of Percival Baxter and remembers Sunday dinners with his great uncle. Rupert’s perspective on Percival Baxter and the Baxter family is a vivid trip back to the era in which the Park came to be. Rupert has long been part of the fabric of the Park. He continues to serve on the Park’s Investment Committee, and his son Michael serves on the Park's Advisory Committee.