Shoutouts From Maine

First, Katie and Greg sent a photo of themselves with the moose they had hunted for up north in Aroostook County. Katie was thrilled at the end of last season after finally—after years of trying—winning a slot through the state lottery system for a license to shoot. Next, the publisher of Maine Homes, Boats and Harbors emailed me regarding my article in the spring ‘26 Freshwater edition. He urged me to come up to visit for the glorious fall colors that abound this time of year. Then, while on a short business trip to East Hampton, I met with my friend and plant specialist, Charlie Marder, to discuss the health of the trees around my house. His plans after our meeting were to pack and head up to his home away from home in Maine for the New England autumn.

These visions of the Maine idyll call to mind the book I just finished: Thoreau’s The Maine Woods, his posthumously published homage to the state’s majestic wilderness. Thoreau’s account of his experience in the Allagash and East Branch sections of the Maine woods, alongside his Penobscot guide, Joe Polis, would be consequential. Polis is a largely unsung hero of the movement to preserve the country’s wilderness, as his influence on Thoreau’s views on nature during their trip was profound. The Maine Woods, a bestseller at the time, raised awareness about the importance of wilderness conservation and led in due course to Teddy Roosevelt’s creation of the national parks and forests. We all benefit from and enjoy these pristine settings, which are that way not by chance, but have a unique history tied to one of America’s literary icons and a lone Penobscot Native American.