Meet the first president of Friends of Baxter State Park, John Neff. John has a remarkable history with Katahdin, serving as the Maine Appalachian Trail Club president, an Appalachian Trail Conservancy board member, and for 20 years, he was the steward of the last section of the Appalachian Trail, the final hike to the northern terminus, the summit of Katahdin.

John also served as the first president of Friends of Baxter State Park and is the author of Katahdin: An Historic Journey - Legends, Explorations, and Preservation of Maine's Highest Peak.

Part 2 of our interview with Friends of Baxter State Park Historian Howard Whitcomb.

Meet Howard Whitcomb. Join us for an in-depth look at Baxter, the man, and his legacy, with foremost Baxter expert Howard Whitcomb, author of "Governor Baxter s Magnificent Obsession: A Documentary History of Baxter State Park 1931-2006."

Hosts Jensen Bissell, former Park Director, and Maine's own Bill Green are members of the board of directors of Friends of Baxter State Park. Howard Whitcomb is Friends' Historian.

Silvia Hartt has a short talk with park director Eben Sypitkowski. They cover topics such as how much Eben gets into the park to fish and what his hopes are for the future of Baxter’s fishery.

In this episode, Silvia Hartt interviews retired Park Ranger Dean Levasseur about his time in the park, specifically Kidney Pond. Topics range from finding a human jawbone, catching tons of fish, and giving away hundreds of hand-tied flies.

In this episode, we sit down with former Park Director Buzz Caverly, a very influential person in the Park’s history. Buzz recalls how he was convinced into taking a job as a park ranger, why two park locations are named after him, and why snowsleds are allowed on the Park’s tote road.

In this episode, Silvia Hartt sits with her grandfather, Scotty Skinner, who was a float plane pilot for 50 years. He talks about how he assisted the park with his plane, flying into Frost Pond with fisheries biologists, and fighting fires.

In this episode, Silvia Hartt talks to intense trout fisherman Jim McCloskey, who loves to fish in Baxter State Park. Jim talks about a troublesome loon, big fat bullfrogs, and some of the biggest brookies caught in Maine.

In this episode, Silvia Hartt talks with Tyson Porter, the youngster of all the interviews. Tyson talks about growing up in the Katahdin region and how his love of fishing pushed him to explore the waters of Baxter State Park.

In this episode, Silvia Hartt talks with Kevin Dunham, Enfield’s current Regional Biologist. Topics range from IF&W’s current involvement in the park, the whitefish project, and why fishless ponds are unique in their own way.

In this episode, Silvia Hartt talks with Stan Pauwels, an avid lifelong fisherman. He recalls to the audience his childhood fishing with his uncle in Belgium, his experience fishing in the park, and how he spread his love of it all to his kids and through them to his grandchildren.

In this episode, Silvia Hartt interviews retired Fisheries Biologist Paul Johnson about what it was like working for Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. He talks about the smelt population in Kidney Pond, three flat tires while on the job, and why the Wassataquoik Lake region is so interesting.

In this episode, Silvia Hartt interviews retired Park Director Jensen Bissell, about his job as director. They discuss what the Nesowadnehunk project is and how Jensen wants the togue fishery that once was back in the park.

In this episode, Silvia Hartt talks with retired Fisheries Biologist Nels Kramer, who was very passionate about his work. Nels talks about the albino Salmon that drew him to fisheries, the plane wreck in South Branch, and the helicopter ride of a lifetime.

In this episode, Silvia Hartt talks with retired Chief Park Ranger Chris Drew about life in the park and how he managed to get his position. Topics range from capturing eight bears in one day, a camper pulling a knife on him, and the story of why his famed fish had to be taken down from his office walls.