Donn Fendler's 1939 Wilderness Ordeal on Mount Katahdin

In July 1939, 12-year-old Donn Fendler became separated from his hiking party on Mount Katahdin, Maine's highest peak, due to dense fog and rain. He survived nine days alone in the rugged wilderness, covering over 80 miles on foot with no food, torn sneakers, and bloodied feet. Search efforts involved up to 500 people, including Forest Rangers, Maine State Police, National Guardsmen, and local woodsmen. Fendler sustained himself on wild strawberries and followed a stream to the East Branch of the Penobscot River, where an elderly couple rescued him on July 16. He lost 16 pounds and suffered insect bites and dehydration. After his rescue, he received medals from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Fendler later studied forestry at the University of Maine, served in three wars as a Green Beret, and authored the book Lost on a Mountain in Maine (1978), which became required reading for Maine fourth-graders. A feature film adaptation produced by Sylvester Stallone was released in 2024. Fendler died in 2016 at age 99. Maine observes July 25 as Donn Fendler Day.