Thank you for a great year, how to play safely in winter, Friends welcomes new directors, Haskell Hut youth trip, ranger-led events, and more…
Pine cone scales left by the red squirrel inside. Photo credit: Ross Knowlton
The first weeks of 2025 blew in on a cold front! In the parklands of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, snowflakes are falling, ponds are freezing over, and the clatter of wind-knocked branches punctuates an otherwise quiet landscape. Winter adventures happening now show the range of activities available, with something for everyone! Whether skiing in to camp at one of the huts in the north end of KAWW or heading out for a hour on snowshoes with kids, visitors experience a serene version of the landscape–absent the vibrant colors and animal chatter of the warmer seasons–with open views and more visible animal signs that tell the stories of predation and survival.
Conditions can change quickly, however, turning even short excursions dangerous. Check out the resources we’ve shared this month on recreating safely in winter from the National Park Service.
Finally, as we begin a new calendar year, the staff and board of Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters are thrilled to say THANK YOU to everyone who made our year-end appeal wildly successful! We challenged ourselves to give more, and by working together, we were able to meet and surpass our 2024 fundraising goal, helping us start 2025 ready to get to work on behalf of Katahdin Woods and Waters.
Make the Most of Winter, Safely
Plan for slower travel when hauling gear. Photo credit: FKWW
Katahdin Woods and Waters is a destination for many in winter, with good reason! Snowmobiling (restricted to certain areas), cross-country skiing, hiking, and more offer locals and folks from far away the opportunity to excape to a frozen wonderland. And just as the experience in winter is starkly different from an August visit, so are the considerations for safety. KAWW Interim Superintendent Keith Johnston recently emphasised that safety is top of mind for him and his staff this time of year. Fortunately, the NPS has myriad resources for you to delve into before your trip. Below are quick links to get you started:
Current Conditions – Check here for road closures, general conditions, and more. Note that logging trucks are present in winter on roads that enter the monument, and monument roads have been icy this season.
Winter Activities – Run down the checklist of nine winter safety guidelines on this page as you plan your adventure.
Be Winter Ready – Use this more comprehensive article from the NPS (with even more links for further learning) to dig deeper into winter safety planning, including having a “plan B.”
Trail Conditions (North Entrance) – Understand the conditions and know the limits of your equipment and expertise. (Grooming began this week!)
Friends’ News
High spirits before hitting the trail on Sunday. Photo credit: FKWW
Haskell Hut Youth Leadership Trip – Over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, Elise (FKWW Education Coordinator) teamed up with the Katahdin Region Outdoor Collective (KROC) to guide local middle and high school youth on an overnight ski trip to Haskell Hut. These six students were invited to expand their leadership skills after exhibiting determination and teamwork throughout summer programs. Before the trip, the students planned a nutritious menu and learned to pack for the backcountry. Spirits were high on the trail, despite an unexpected lesson in winter safety and decision-making when the forecast for Monday showed outdoor temperatures plummeting to -13F with windchill. Although disappointing, leaders made the tough call to cut the trip short after one night. From the more than eleven miles of skiing (while hauling heavy pulks!) to cooking for a crowd off-grid, to heating the hut with wood, everyone agreed that it was a challenging, but incredibly rewarding weekend. We extend huge thanks to KAWW Ranger Crystal, who skied along on the way in–enriching the journey by sharing her knowledge of Katahdin Woods & Waters. Watch the Friends blog for a complete trip report next month!
All smiles at Vacation Camp in 2023. Photo credit: FKWW
February Vacation Camp – Heading into its fourth year, Vacation Camp is a cherished program for local students in grades 2-5 during school breaks. Exploring animal tracks, learning to cross-country ski, and visits from the National Park Service and Baxter State Park are a few of the activities that Katahdin Learning Project educators are planning for this year’s camp! The curriculum is closely tied to connecting students to nature, community, and the monument. After a successful trial in 2024, camp will again welcome middle and high school volunteers to join the fun. These tweens and teens found roles as fun, relatable mentors for younger participants, while connecting with community and developing a sense of service. Millinocket-area families can learn more about signing up here.
Board Welcomes New Directors – Friends welcomed three new directors at the December board meeting. Joining for a three-year term are Amanda Hannah (Yarmouth), Head of External Communications and Brand Engagement at L.L.Bean; Gavin Robinson (Holden), VP and Community Relations Manager at Bangor Savings Bank; and Brian Threlkeld (Portland), Membership Director for Maine Outdoor Brands.
Ruger heads out for a day of hunting grouse. Photo credit: FKWW
Trip Report – Hunting for Grouse in KAWW’s Seboeis Parcel
Late last year, two Friends staff members took advantage of our unique and generous personnel policy–that time spent within the national monument is “at work!” Operations and Finance Coordinator Ruger and Education Coordinator Elise headed up to Katahdin Woods & Waters for a day of grouse hunting. Unlike most national parks, KAWW allows hunting on certain parcels east of the East Branch of the Penobscot River, including the Seboeis parcel. (You can learn more about hunting in the Monument from the National Park Service here; both state and federal laws apply.)
Photo credit: Ross Knowlton
Behind the Signs
News from the National Park Service and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
Upcoming Events in the Monument! Visit the calendar to learn more and reserve your spot today:
Always be the first to know about NPS happenings, news, and events by following KAWW on Facebook @woodsandwatersnps
Fresh summer job opportunity – three trail positions are currently open including the newest: Maintenance Worker Leader.
To view all job openings, visit usajobs.gov, search for “Patten, Maine,” and filter to exclude remote jobs. Save your search and receive email notifications when new jobs become available.
The National Park Foundation will welcome Jeff Reinbold as president and CEO effective February 1. Jeff succeeds Will Shafroth, a great champion of KAWW who ushered an era of major philanthropic growth for our national parks system over the last decade.
Sponsor Spotlight
Thank you to our Lookout level sponsor Elliotsville Foundation, whose work is about strengthening communities and economies by expanding connections with the outdoors.And thank you to Lee Auto Malls for their Barnard level sponsorship! Lee is committed to contributing to positive change in the communities in which they do business.Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports Friends’ mission and work. To learn more about becoming a sponsor in 2025, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.
—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on January 23, 2025. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup
It’s winter…now get outside! January eNewsletter
Posted: January 28, 2025 by Sarah Andre
Thank you for a great year, how to play safely in winter, Friends welcomes new directors, Haskell Hut youth trip, ranger-led events, and more…
The first weeks of 2025 blew in on a cold front! In the parklands of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, snowflakes are falling, ponds are freezing over, and the clatter of wind-knocked branches punctuates an otherwise quiet landscape. Winter adventures happening now show the range of activities available, with something for everyone! Whether skiing in to camp at one of the huts in the north end of KAWW or heading out for a hour on snowshoes with kids, visitors experience a serene version of the landscape–absent the vibrant colors and animal chatter of the warmer seasons–with open views and more visible animal signs that tell the stories of predation and survival.
Conditions can change quickly, however, turning even short excursions dangerous. Check out the resources we’ve shared this month on recreating safely in winter from the National Park Service.
Finally, as we begin a new calendar year, the staff and board of Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters are thrilled to say THANK YOU to everyone who made our year-end appeal wildly successful! We challenged ourselves to give more, and by working together, we were able to meet and surpass our 2024 fundraising goal, helping us start 2025 ready to get to work on behalf of Katahdin Woods and Waters.
Make the Most of Winter, Safely
Katahdin Woods and Waters is a destination for many in winter, with good reason! Snowmobiling (restricted to certain areas), cross-country skiing, hiking, and more offer locals and folks from far away the opportunity to excape to a frozen wonderland. And just as the experience in winter is starkly different from an August visit, so are the considerations for safety. KAWW Interim Superintendent Keith Johnston recently emphasised that safety is top of mind for him and his staff this time of year. Fortunately, the NPS has myriad resources for you to delve into before your trip. Below are quick links to get you started:
Friends’ News
Haskell Hut Youth Leadership Trip – Over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, Elise (FKWW Education Coordinator) teamed up with the Katahdin Region Outdoor Collective (KROC) to guide local middle and high school youth on an overnight ski trip to Haskell Hut. These six students were invited to expand their leadership skills after exhibiting determination and teamwork throughout summer programs. Before the trip, the students planned a nutritious menu and learned to pack for the backcountry. Spirits were high on the trail, despite an unexpected lesson in winter safety and decision-making when the forecast for Monday showed outdoor temperatures plummeting to -13F with windchill. Although disappointing, leaders made the tough call to cut the trip short after one night. From the more than eleven miles of skiing (while hauling heavy pulks!) to cooking for a crowd off-grid, to heating the hut with wood, everyone agreed that it was a challenging, but incredibly rewarding weekend. We extend huge thanks to KAWW Ranger Crystal, who skied along on the way in–enriching the journey by sharing her knowledge of Katahdin Woods & Waters. Watch the Friends blog for a complete trip report next month!
February Vacation Camp – Heading into its fourth year, Vacation Camp is a cherished program for local students in grades 2-5 during school breaks. Exploring animal tracks, learning to cross-country ski, and visits from the National Park Service and Baxter State Park are a few of the activities that Katahdin Learning Project educators are planning for this year’s camp! The curriculum is closely tied to connecting students to nature, community, and the monument. After a successful trial in 2024, camp will again welcome middle and high school volunteers to join the fun. These tweens and teens found roles as fun, relatable mentors for younger participants, while connecting with community and developing a sense of service. Millinocket-area families can learn more about signing up here.
Board Welcomes New Directors – Friends welcomed three new directors at the December board meeting. Joining for a three-year term are Amanda Hannah (Yarmouth), Head of External Communications and Brand Engagement at L.L.Bean; Gavin Robinson (Holden), VP and Community Relations Manager at Bangor Savings Bank; and Brian Threlkeld (Portland), Membership Director for Maine Outdoor Brands.
Trip Report – Hunting for Grouse in KAWW’s Seboeis Parcel
Late last year, two Friends staff members took advantage of our unique and generous personnel policy–that time spent within the national monument is “at work!” Operations and Finance Coordinator Ruger and Education Coordinator Elise headed up to Katahdin Woods & Waters for a day of grouse hunting. Unlike most national parks, KAWW allows hunting on certain parcels east of the East Branch of the Penobscot River, including the Seboeis parcel. (You can learn more about hunting in the Monument from the National Park Service here; both state and federal laws apply.)
Behind the Signs
News from the National Park Service and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
Upcoming Events in the Monument! Visit the calendar to learn more and reserve your spot today:
Ripple Effect
News and notes from the Katahdin region, the Friends community, and beyond
Sponsor Spotlight
Thank you to our Lookout level sponsor Elliotsville Foundation, whose work is about strengthening communities and economies by expanding connections with the outdoors.
And thank you to Lee Auto Malls for their Barnard level sponsorship! Lee is committed to contributing to positive change in the communities in which they do business.
Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports Friends’ mission and work. To learn more about becoming a sponsor in 2025, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.
—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on January 23, 2025. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup
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