View Full Version : 1879 Katahdin Trip Report
Teddy Roosevelt didn't seem to be bothered too much by the black flies...
http://katahdinlake.com/trdiary.html
Tipi Walter
01-20-2007, 12:18
It sounds like a hungry T Rex trying to keep a trail journal(and thinking with his tongue). Them boys were meat-eaters! It reminded me of the Lewis and Clark journey where each guy required something like 9 pounds of meat a day. Phew.
But thanks for sharing it. I wonder what kind of gear they carried and who carried it? Old Teddy did some traveling in his time. I remember some trip he did in the jungles of South America where he nearly died . . .
And we all know he saved millions of acres by putting them into the National Forest system(though the Indians would say he stole more of their land than any other white man).
While fishing on a remote river in Maine, i came upon a sign on a huge Pine tree which read: Teddy Roosevelt camped here in 18??.
Can't remember the exact year but will say he knew(or his guides knew) where the good fishin was.
Teddy Roosevelt didn't seem to be bothered too much by the black flies...
http://katahdinlake.com/trdiary.html
:) wow interesting journal:cool: neo
4eyedbuzzard
01-20-2007, 13:26
Teddy Roosevelt didn't seem to be bothered too much by the black flies...
http://katahdinlake.com/trdiary.html
Well, ya know, they don't bother Chuck Norris at all! In fact Chuck Norris' skin is so tough the black flies fly south for His visits.:D
Sorry:o Interesting journal. The old timers seemed to have figured out how to travel light as well - by killing all their food along the way. I've been looking for a journal by Darby Field, the first (white) man to summit Mt. Washington(June 1642). The local indigenous people were quite scared of the mountain. There are accounts in Gov. Wintrop's writings, but I can't find an online account from Darby himself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darby_Field
The Scribe
01-20-2007, 13:41
There are accounts in Gov. Wintrop's writings, but I can't find an online account from Darby himself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darby_Field
Probably couldn't get a wireless signal or his ISP was down. :banana
Tipi Walter
01-20-2007, 13:44
Well, ya know, they don't bother Chuck Norris at all! In fact Chuck Norris' skin is so tough the black flies fly south for His visits.:D
Sorry:o Interesting journal. The old timers seemed to have figured out how to travel light as well - by killing all their food along the way. I've been looking for a journal by Darby Field, the first (white) man to summit Mt. Washington(June 1642). The local indigenous people were quite scared of the mountain. There are accounts in Gov. Wintrop's writings, but I can't find an online account from Darby himself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darby_Field
You are probably familiar with this book: NOT WITHOUT PERIL, a history of Mt Washington and the epic journeys there that resulted in almost 200 deaths over the course of a century. I found a used hardback copy and took it out with me on a cold January backpacking trip(after of course removing the cover and index)and though I burned it as my trip progressed I found it to be excellent reading.
4eyedbuzzard
01-20-2007, 13:47
Probably couldn't get a wireless signal or his ISP was down. :banana
DOH!!!!!!:datz
TJ aka Teej
01-20-2007, 15:58
The local indigenous people were quite scared of the mountain.
This 'fear of the mountain' story is just a recurring European's legend according to the Penobsot, MicMac, and Passamaquoddy folks I've spoken with at the annual gatherings at Katahdin.
Interesting link to TR, thanks!
While fishing on a remote river in Maine, i came upon a sign on a huge Pine tree which read: Teddy Roosevelt camped here in 18??.
Can't remember the exact year but will say he knew(or his guides knew) where the good fishin was.
Woodsy, are you sayin' the sign makah didn't know what yeear it was or you don't recall what yeear was on this sign yur claimin' ta have seen? Regaardless, I must say, sounds like a fish story to me!;)
Woodsy, are you sayin' the sign makah didn't know what yeear it was or you don't recall what yeear was on this sign yur claimin' ta have seen? Regaardless, I must say, sounds like a fish story to me!;)
Can't remember the year that was on the sign, it was too many years ago :rolleyes:
We had Landlocked Salmon AND Brook Trout for breakfast though and that's no fish story;). This place is close to the AT, Andover being the nearest human habitation.FFO (fly fishin only)
Read out loud in your best Downeast accent:
We caught about 100 trout at Sandy brook; then got lost, and after tramping through frightful ground till after dark, camped out by a small water hole; wet, tired and hungry-but happy.
I'd hike with TR in Maine. Too bad he gave that up long ago.
One day I visited the library at Good Will Hinckley School with my MCC team, where I pulled a book off the shelves about TR and read a passage out loud and spoke briefly of his works and those of Gifford Pinchot. He was a good man, that TR.
Teej and others, you should read David McCullough's book Mornings On Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt if you haven't already.
The Scribe
01-20-2007, 21:37
[quote=Shades of Gray;306864]Read out loud in your best Downeast accent:
We caught about 100 trout at Sandy brook; then got lost, and after tramping through frightful ground till after dark, camped out by a small water hole; wet, tired and hungry-but happy.
TR had a downeast accent? If he did, I guess I never thought about it.
Read out loud in your best Downeast accent:
We caught about 100 trout at Sandy brook; then got lost, and after tramping through frightful ground till after dark, camped out by a small water hole; wet, tired and hungry-but happy.
TR had a downeast accent? If he did, I guess I never thought about it.
I don't recall if I ever heard any recordings of TR's voice and I don't know whether there are any as I'm not sure when that technology became available.
The passage is about Maine and just sounds better to me as do many things spoken in that manner. I was just trying to imagine myself there at that time and it helped transport me.
The Scribe
01-20-2007, 22:03
Well, he was born in NYC so I doubt he sounds like us.
That Maine Downeast sound is getting harder and harder to hear.
It's a wicked shame.
Well, he was born in NYC so I doubt he sounds like us.
That Maine Downeast sound is getting harder and harder to hear.
It's a wicked shame.
So right you are. I hope the day never comes when everyone speaks the English language the same. Life would be far less interesting.
When I'm missing Maine, I get out my copy of Woodsmen and River Drivers: "Another day, another era." (http://www.umaine.edu/folklife/Woodsmen.htm) and pop it in my VCR. View it if you have the opportunity. Maybe it's available from your library. Interviewed is Frank Dowling, age 100, et al.
The Scribe
01-20-2007, 22:22
So right you are. I hope the day never comes when everyone speaks the English language the same. Life would be far less interesting.
When I'm missing Maine, I get out my copy of Woodsmen and River Drivers: "Another day, another era." (http://www.umaine.edu/folklife/video.htm) and pop it in my VCR. View it if you have the opportunity. Maybe it's available from you library. Interviewed is Frank Dowling, age 100, et al.
Thanks for the tip. I will have to check that out.
4eyedbuzzard
01-21-2007, 00:28
I don't recall if I ever heard any recordings of TR's voice and I don't know whether there are any as I'm not sure when that technology became available.
http://vvl.lib.msu.edu/showfindingaid.cfm?findaidid=RooseveltT
Select the recording# from the list and then select "listen" in the upper right of next window.
Gray Blazer
01-21-2007, 00:46
Well, ya know, they don't bother Chuck Norris at all! In fact Chuck Norris' skin is so tough the black flies fly south for His visits.:D
Sorry:o Interesting journal. The old timers seemed to have figured out how to travel light as well - by killing all their food along the way. I've been looking for a journal by Darby Field, the first (white) man to summit Mt. Washington(June 1642). The local indigenous people were quite scared of the mountain. There are accounts in Gov. Wintrop's writings, but I can't find an online account from Darby himself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darby_FieldSome of the local indigenous people were my ancestors, not direct ancestors. They were the Willey family that lived at Crawford Notch in the original Willey house. Neo has a good picture in hus gallery of Mt. Willey behind the Willey House. The mountain is a blue blaze, or whatever they call them in NH, off the AT and is very steep. My Dad and my son climbed it together one time and it almost did my dad in! I was freakin' scared, but,recovered. Almost had another Willey disaster there. With all the deaths that have occured on Mt. Washinton I'm in awe of it myself. My son and I hiked up from dry river and it's freaky to see those signs at the treeline.
I don't recall if I ever heard any recordings of TR's voice and I don't know whether there are any as I'm not sure when that technology became available.
http://vvl.lib.msu.edu/showfindingaid.cfm?findaidid=RooseveltT
Select the recording# from the list and then select "listen" in the upper right of next window.
I listened to one of the longer TR speeches and want to thank you for providing the link to Vincent Voice Library at Michigan State University.
TJ aka Teej
01-21-2007, 11:10
Teej and others, you should read David McCullough's book Mornings On Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt if you haven't already.
A David McCullogh book I haven't read! Thanks for the suggestion SoG, I'll order it up from the library,
I've long thought I might enjoy visiting Sagamore Hill (http://www.nps.gov/archive/sahi/home.htm), Theodore Roosevelt's home at Oyster Bay, New York.
Anyone who's been there, especially recently, I'd appreciate your comments. PM me or post post them here if you'd like to share them with the thread.
Is there anyone else who might be interested in visiting? Maybe we could agree upon a date and meet there some time before their busy season begins.