Summit for a Cause: Katahdin

Join WHRL for our third annual Katahdin Summit Fundraiser!

Don’t miss this opportunity of a lifetime. Join us for a bucket-list weekend and hike Katahdin!

Ten women will join Registered Maine Guide Hazel Stark on August 2 – 4, 2024, to experience the splendor and adventure of Katahdin.

What You Can Expect

Summit for a Cause is a unique opportunity to hike Katahdin within a supportive community of women. It’s a way to connect with nature and one another while working to achieve a goal that offers a deep sense of accomplishment.

What’s Included

A guided experience up Katahdin, the tallest mountain in Maine with an elevation of 5269′ with registered Maine Guide Hazel Stark.
Lodging and meals are included. We will stay at the Katahdin Lodge at the Big Moose Inn Cabins and Campground. Rooms and meals will be shared.
You’ll receive a Katahdin trail map and other related swag.

The Cost: $1,500

This is a peer-to-peer fundraising event where participants raise $1,500 to participate. Participants may also pay all or part of the $1,500 directly. The money raised during this fundraiser will go towards Women for Healthy Rural Living’s Incredible Edible Milbridge program, which provides free, pick-your-own vegetable gardens and education initiatives designed to make our community stronger, healthier, and more food-independent.

Crowd Fundraising is a way to raise funds from a lot of people. Small donations add up! We help you accomplish this by providing you with a Summit for a Cause fundraising page, a how-to toolkit, social media posts, and ongoing support! It’s easier than you might think!

Your Commitment

Hiking Katahdin is no easy feat; the hike is limited to 10 people. To be considered for this trip, you need to:

Be able to be in Millinocket, Maine, from Friday afternoon, August 2nd – Sunday morning, August 4th
Obtain a doctor’s note that certifies your physical ability to hike up Katahdin
Commit to fundraising $1500 by July 1st, 2024
Weather is often unpredictable in Maine. We plan to summit the mountain if the conditions are safe, even in the rain. However, if the conditions are dangerous (e.g., a high chance of thunderstorms), we may have to turn back before the mountain summit.

Are you ready to take on Katahdin? Apply Now!

The first phase of the application process is to get a sense of who you are and your hiking capability and ensure you’re committed to this trip. The application fee of $100 includes a $75 deposit, which will be returned to you if you are not selected, and a non-refundable $25 application processing fee.

The application will close on March 22nd!

Our Guide: Hazel Stark

Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, Naturalist Educator, and Registered Maine Guide.

Hazel grew up in the woods of Winterport, Maine. Identifying the tracks, scat, mushrooms, and owl sounds in these woods gave her a deeper appreciation for the natural world and a passion for sharing its wonders with others. This led her to co-found Maine Outdoor School, L3C in 2016 and become a Registered Maine Guide.

Hazel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic and a Master’s degree in Resource Management and Conservation from Antioch University New England. She loves sharing nature with others by guiding hikes, teaching outdoors, and producing a weekly radio show, The Nature of Phenology. She is also a Wilderness First Responder.