Surrounded by wilderness in Maine

To the Editor;

Aislinn Sarnacki obviously is not only very enthusiastic about the outdoors, but also about writing about her experiences hiking the Maine outdoors and wilderness. Does she see much wildlife during hiking that readers would find interesting?

Having grown up in Millinocket surrounded by forest and the wilderness that Aislinn Sarnacki writes about, I have not only never climbed Katahdin but have not even been to its base. Growing up in a papermill small town, I was more interested and more attracted to city stuff like sports events and cultural opportunities and historical people, places, things. Which is what I did from 1969-1973  in the U.S. Navy, seeing, experiencing and enjoying major college and professional sports events and cultural opportunities not occurring and not part of daily life in Maine — not that Maine has not enjoyed and does enjoy its own sporting events, cultural offerings, public social activities levels of excitement depending on individual interests. 

As a student at the University of Maine from 1967-1969, I saw/heard Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey speak at Memorial Gym and afterwards up close as he exited and got into his waiting car along with several stewardesses. I was hoping to see and hear Bobby Kennedy in September 1968. And I watched and enjoyed John Huard play football in the 1966 season also while I was a UMaine student. 

I was surrounded by forest and wilderness and outdoors, but more interested in organized sports and pick-up games of football, basketball with friends.

Richard Mackin Jr.

Millinocket