Andrew Vietze

Two decades ago, writer Andrew Vietze left a cushy job as managing editor of Down East to begin life as a park ranger in the “Forever Wild” wilderness.

“I decided I could write about the interesting people of Maine – or I could go and become one,” he said.

The bestselling, award-winning author of Becoming Teddy Roosevelt, Boon Island, and White Pine recounts the adventures that followed in his new book, This Wild Land. From daring, all-night rescues in storms atop Katahdin to moonlit raids on illegal camps, from fighting forest fires to facing off with black bears and moose, Vietze has done it all, and he recounts it in page-turning fashion.

In this program, Andrew Vietze will share some of his adventures and discuss life as a park ranger in the North Woods.

From Paul Doiron, author of the popular Mike Bowditch series: “Eighteen years ago, Andrew Vietze did something many people dream of but few of us have the guts to do; he left a prestigious office job to take an entry-level position working in the Maine North Woods. This Wild Land records his adventures and misadventures as a ranger at Baxter State Park: home to legendary Mount Katahdin, beloved by both Henry David Thoreau and Teddy Roosevelt, and arguably the last wild place in the Eastern US. Vietze’s story is at once inspirational, frankly heartfelt, and endlessly entertaining. In other words, it has all the makings of a new Maine classic.”

This event will take place in the Community Room and will be livestreamed via Zoom; email elewis@rocklandmaine.gov FMI and for Zoom links.