Welcome back or welcome to the Single Track podcast.

I'm your host Finn Melanson and in this episode we talk with Barry Dana, an ultra runner and former chief of the Penobscot Nation currently based in Solin, Maine.

I was introduced to Barry after reading an article in Down East magazine detailing his numerous adventure runs through the 100 mile wilderness,

which you might recognize at the last section of the Appalachian Trail before the northern

terminus at Mount Katad. Barry and I talk about his upbringing on the Penobscot Reservation,

how his nation's history influenced his entry into trail running, the Katadne 100 event, his

experiences along the 100 mile wilderness, his overall thoughts on the Appalachian Trail.

We also talk about environmentalism, politics, and way more.

Let's get started.

Barry, it's great to have you on.

Maybe we start this conversation spending a little bit of time on your background.

Well, I'm 63 years old.

I grew up on the Pinovskate Reservation, part of the Penobscot tribe, native people,

hearing about, I guess what you would call central state,

and right in the middle of the river.

We had a bridge, so we were able to get back and forth.

Maine has a lot of small towns in a few cities.

So it's kind of rural life in Maine where I grew up.

Never really used to the cities much until I went to the University of Maine.

Orno, that seemed like a city to me.

So that took some getting used to.

I was an athlete in my entire life. So running was a part of everything I did from,

...