Fendler speaks to area youth about Mt. Katahdin

    The 2012 Woodie Wheaton Land Trust Summer Speakers Series recently featured Donn Fendler with his presentation “Lost On Mount Katahdin”.
    On July 17, 1939, 12-year old Fendler was separated from his father and hiking companions and became lost on Mount Katahdin. Fendler was on a vacation trip to Maine from his home in Rye, N.Y. and his disappearance launched a massive search which became a front page story throughout the nation and involved hundreds of volunteers. Fendler survived for nine days on a few handfuls of wild strawberries and fresh water. Despite not having proper clothing, Donn followed his Boy Scout training to find a waterway and follow it downstream, eating what he could find and attempting to shield himself as best he could during the frigid nights. He finally walked out of the woods at a sporting camp on the East Branch of the Penobscot River near Staceyville.
Contributed photo/Michael Saunders
GUEST SPEAKER — Donn Fendler, left, speaks with 11-year-old Mallory Gilman and 12-year-old Thomas Gilman, children of Jen Gilman during a recent visit. Mallory and Thomas are approximately the same age as Donn when he became lost on Mount Katahdin and were very interested in the collection of news reports and headlines from the newspapers of the time.
    Fendler was dehydrated, covered head to foot with insect bites and 16 pounds lighter then at beginning of his odyssey, but otherwise unharmed. Fendler tells of experiencing hallucinations due to hunger and fatigue as well as losing most of his clothing including his sneakers. He survived by not only eating berries but by his “never-give-up attitude”, his faith in God and his love for his family.
    Fendler now lives in Clarksville, Tenn. but spends six-months a year in Newport. Each fall he visits schools in Maine to tell his story of his amazing experience of seventy-three years ago and to answer the children’s questions.
    The final speaker in the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust  Summer Speaker’s Series will feature Syd Lea, poet laureate of Vermont, reading from his new book, “A North Country Life: Tales of Woodsmen, Waters and Wildlife” on Saturday, August 4th. The event is free to the public. If possible, please pre-register at 207-448-3250 or pattywwlt@gmail.com.