“Anessentialcampsiteread,AndrewVietze’sThisWildLandisafascinatingandintimateaccountofthetriumphsandtribulationsfacedbyaparkrangercommittedtoprotectingMaine’spremierstateparkandthecolorfulcharacterswhovisitit.“--AndreaLankford,authorofRangerConfidential:Living,Working,andDyingintheNationalParksAlmosttwentyyearsago,AndrewVietzemadeanunexpectedcareerchange:frompunkrockmagazineeditortoparkrangeratBaxterStateParkinMaine.HometoKatahdin,thenorthernterminusoftheAppalachianTrail,BaxterStateParkseessome60,000visitorseachsummeralone,keepingtheparkrangersbeyondbusy.Frommidnightsearch-and-rescuemissionstotrailmaintenancetocleaningtoilets,Baxterrangersdoitall...and,overthedecades,Vietzehasseenitall.Ashegrowsfromneophytetooldhand,therelationshipsthatVietzebuildswithhisfellowrangersareillustratedasvibrantlyasanyattempttosavealightningstrikevictimorraidonillegalcampers.InThisWildLand,Vietzetellshisstorywithhumor,action,andaneyeforthecompellingdetailsoflifeasaparkranger,makingittheperfectreadforoutdoorandarmchairadventurersalike.“Eighteenyearsago,AndrewVietzedidsomethingmanypeopledreamofbutfewofushavethegutstodo;heleftaprestigiousofficejobtotakeanentry-levelpositionworkingintheMaineNorthWoods.ThisWildLandrecordshisadventuresandmisadventuresasarangeratBaxterStatePark:hometolegendaryMountKatahdin,belovedbybothHenryDavidThoreauandTeddyRoosevelt,andarguablythelastwildplaceintheEasternUS.Vietze’sstoryisatonceinspirational,franklyheartfelt,andendlesslyentertaining.Inotherwords,ithasallthemakingsofanewMaineclassic.“--PaulDoiron,authorofThePoacher’sSonandDeadbyDawn“Whenyoungpeopleaskforadviceaboutbecomingawriter,myresponseisgenerallyasfollows:write(andread)allthetime.Andgetarealjob.Usually,Irecommendplumbing,becauseit’slucrativeandalsobecausetherearealwaysgoodstoriestobefoundinkitchensandbathrooms...HavingreadVietze’sfinestorytelling,IthinkImightrecommendhispathinstead.Beginningasamagazinewriter,Vietzefoundareal,andreallywonderful,job,patrollingandprotectingBaxterStatePark.Oneofthemostbeautifulplacesonearth,BaxteralsoboastsMountKatahdin,thehighestmountaininMaineandthenorthernterminusoftheAppalachianTrail.TheworkofaBaxterrangerisvaried,challengingandsometimeslife-saving...andhasprovidedAndrewVietzewithanabundanceofgoodstories.Heoffersthesewithhumor,verve,aneyeforthetellingdetailandaninfectiousdelightinthisruggedcornerofthenaturalworld,anditshumanandnon-humaninhabitants.“--KateBraestrup,NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorofHereifYouNeedMe“TheexperienceofreadingThisWildLand--floatingintheeddiesofAndrewVietze’sprofoundlycaptivatingandelegantlyunpretentiousprose,seeingthroughhiseyesthenaturalworld’squietbeautyandruthlesstragedy--offersanidealescapefromtheunrelentingmadnessofmodernlife.Onlyanobservant,giftedwriterwhohasspenteighteenyearsworkingbeneaththeforebodingsummitofKatahdincanachievethehumilitytowritesuchaperfecttributetothemagnificentparkinthemiddleofMaine.“--MichaelFinkel,NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorofTheStrangerintheWoods
