The weather at the top of Katahdin–Maine’s tallest mountain at around 5,267 feet, and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail–is unpredictable even on the most beautiful days. Depending on the season, the conditions above the tree line can change from peaceful sunshine to rolling thunderstorms to treacherous snowstorms within a matter of minutes. Locals who spent time on the mountain have a simple explanation for the capricious conditions: It’s Pamola, the guardian of Katahdin—or K’taadn, as it is more closely spelled in the language the area’s Indigenous people, the…
