s u m m e r g u i d e 2 0 1 7 1 2 5 s u m m e r g u i d e 2 0 1 7 1 2 5 Mountain Ancient Connections mountain’s hunched shoulders around him, Thoreau experienced a 150-proof in- sight. Sierra Magazine calls it a “meltdown”: “This was that Earth of which we have heard, made out of Chaos and Old Night. Here was no man’s garden, but the unhand- selled globe. It was not lawn, nor pasture, nor mead, nor woodland, nor lea, nor ara- ble, nor wasteland…Man was not to be as- sociated with it. It was Matter, vast, terrif- ic…rocks, trees, wind on our cheeks! the solid earth! the actual world! the common sense! Contact! Contact!” B arry Dana grew up on the Penobscot River and currently works to teach Wabanaki culture to native youth to preserve the traditions of his people. We talk to the tribal leader about the spiritual signif- icance of the mountain for the Penobscots. hat asyour irstimpressiono atahdin and hyisthe summitsospirituallysigni iantto enobscots I first visited Mt. Katahdin as a freshman in high school on a class trip. I was blown away with what I saw and have returned every year to maintain that connection. Why would I agree to give, convey, or teach about that which is sacred to me and my people, the Wabanaki? Because if I don’t, it will be even more likely that people will continue to disrespect the mountain. When I say mountain, it’s not just the top but the entire area that makes up the mountain, from the top down to as far down as the blueberry ledges, including all the designat- ed campgrounds. hatareyourpersonal eelingsaboutthetopo atahdin aveyoueverbeenthere Yes, I’ve been to the top of Katahdin. I’ve climbed it in search of enlightenment, guid- ed by my intuition. Indigenous cultures all over the globe look to the mountains for spiritual insight. Too many explorers and climbers confuse this inner voice of moun- taintop connection with a need to “conquer” the mountain. I think this to be unfortunate because, should they not reach the peak, they feel as though they have failed. Too much ego robs one of spiritual happiness. (Continued on page 128)