Site Overviews
The data collection has been occurring since 2010 during even years involving 10 stewardship programs in four states.
The sites/programs involved: Baxter State Park, Acadia National Park, Maine Appalachian Trail Club, Green Mountain Club, Randolph Mountain Club, The US Forest Service/Appalachian Mountain Club Alpine Stewardship Volunteer Program, Dartmouth Outing Club, Moosilauke Stewardship, Welch-Dickey/Welch Ledges, Adirondack High Peaks Summit Steward Program, and Antioch University New England/Monadnock Ecological Research and Education (MERE) Project. Leadership, staff, volunteers and allies of these programs have contributed as co-researchers since 2010. NOTE: THIS PAGE HAS 2019 DATA |
Baxter State Park
Baxter State Park (BSP) is located on eleven unorganized townships in north-central Maine. The southern edge of the Park is about 18 miles from Millinocket and the eastern edge is about 24 miles from Patten. The Park is a large public trust. Beginning in 1931 and ending in 1962, Percival Baxter, acting as a private citizen, purchased 28 parcels of land totaling 201,018 acres, and gifted them in Trust to various Maine legislatures. Baxter attached communications to the gifts specifying how the parcels were to be managed. The management of the Park is an extension of the Trust Communications and the Authority acts as the final arbiter in the interpretation and application of the Trust Communications. The Park is now around 215,000 acres. The Park is home to Maine’s highest mountain, Katahdin.
BSP is separate from the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands and has its own governance responsibilities, funding and management system. The overarching management body is the Baxter State Park Authority, which is comprised of the Attorney General of the State of Maine (who interprets the deed of trust), the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Maine Director of Forestry. They make policy based on the deeds of trust.
Katahdin has the largest collection of rare and endangered species in the state of Maine. The Bigelow Sedge Meadow provides important habitat. Species of note include the Katahdin Arctic butterfly (Oneis polixnes katahdin), Northern bog lemming (Synaptomys borealis), and the American pipit (Anthus rubescens). 60,000 people visit the Park annually: of that, 30,000 hike Katahdin. On a nice August Saturday, one would find 60 to 100 people on the summit midday. Climbing the peak, regardless of skill level, is the goal of almost every visitor to the Park. The Authority operates the Park through a Park Director (new in 2018 Eban Sypitkowski) and administrating staff, including a Chief Ranger, Park Naturalist, Business Manager and Resource Manager. BSP has several advisory committees regarding forest management, operations, research, and investment/development. Stewardship activities are managed by the Park Naturalist, assisted by the Interpretive Specialist.
As of 2019, BSP has divided tasks for their Wilderness Educator Interns. 2 Interpretation/Education Interns, that concern themselves with providing educational programming in the park and outreach to schools and camps, and 2 devoted 3-month Alpine Outreach positions, known as Summit Stewards. The season runs roughly May through October, with the alpine work starting in June. They work 40 hours per week including weekends and holidays, with two days off. Housing is included; Interns camp at the Chimney Pond Campground when “up high” and in staff housing when “down low.” From Chimney Pond, they hike up and down Katahdin and visit other heavily used sites such as Table Land, Knife Edge, Baxter Peak and the Great Basin, interacting with hikers as they move along. Interns have 3 to 4 weeks of training with continued training and follow-up throughout the season. Training includes hikes to trails and peaks, natural history, plant identification, Bird training with ME Audubon monitoring protocol, Leave No Trace (LNT) two-day training course wilderness first aid, search and rescue and fire suppression. There is a detailed handbook used during training, and Students can access it with a small computer they carry. Interns are responsible for weekly reporting they complete on their computer and check-in with supervisor. Reporting includes an Alpine Mountain Patrol sheet for each day of patrol, Alpine Plant Watch sheets once a week a Loon count, SOAP (subjective, objective, assessment, plan) Notes and Incident Reports. In addition, they complete end of season reflections and feedback about the position.
BSP has a trail crew whose focus is keeping the tails safe and accessible. Recent violet weather has washed out many bridges, putting a strain on the short season. Stewards are considered educators and do not perform trail work. However, they do collaborate with other park staff to maintain and monitor string fencing, and there is photographic evidence that it is working. BSP also employs other passive management such as alpine zone signage, scree walls, and paint blazes along with their wayfinding signage. As pictured the alpine area signs are feeling some wear and tear and will be addressed during upcoming research projects.
Restoration falls outside of Park mandates. Governor Baxter wished that “everything to live out its life cycle naturally without interference from man.” BSP features a 29,000+-acre Scientific Forest Management Area. This and the other parts of the Park have very specific regulations about activities that alter nature. On the research front, outside investigators must submit a detailed proposal to the scientific research committee. If approved, researchers coordinate closely with staff on protocols, for housing (due to the Park’s remote nature), and other arrangements. In the past, Park staff has conducted some air quality monitoring, and there was a lichen study conducted by Allison Dibble. Currently, BSP participates in Alpine Plant Watch, for which they collect plant information at five sites and note the plants bloom times. As of 2019, students working with Dr. Jill Weiss at SUNY-ESF are helping the Interpretive Specialist with researching hiker preparedness and signage efficacy.
BSP has an informative website that was recently redesigned. Unfortunately, this information competes with other non-official sites and blogs that don’t always provide the most accurate or helpful information. In the Park, bulletin boards provide hiking and camping information, and advertise in-park education programs. Visitor Centers have handouts on various topics such as history, wildlife, and geology. At this writing, the park is embarking on a new signage redesign for kiosk areas.
Vitals
Baxter State Park
64 Balsam Dr.
Millinocket, ME 04462
Marc Edwards, Park Naturalist
[email protected]
207-731-2637
Fall 2020: Interpretive Specialist TBD
207-731-4458
Website: www.baxterstatepark.org
Also on Facebook
Mission:
To protect the resources and preserve the wilderness experiences in Baxter State Park.
Baxter State Park (BSP) is located on eleven unorganized townships in north-central Maine. The southern edge of the Park is about 18 miles from Millinocket and the eastern edge is about 24 miles from Patten. The Park is a large public trust. Beginning in 1931 and ending in 1962, Percival Baxter, acting as a private citizen, purchased 28 parcels of land totaling 201,018 acres, and gifted them in Trust to various Maine legislatures. Baxter attached communications to the gifts specifying how the parcels were to be managed. The management of the Park is an extension of the Trust Communications and the Authority acts as the final arbiter in the interpretation and application of the Trust Communications. The Park is now around 215,000 acres. The Park is home to Maine’s highest mountain, Katahdin.
BSP is separate from the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands and has its own governance responsibilities, funding and management system. The overarching management body is the Baxter State Park Authority, which is comprised of the Attorney General of the State of Maine (who interprets the deed of trust), the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Maine Director of Forestry. They make policy based on the deeds of trust.
Katahdin has the largest collection of rare and endangered species in the state of Maine. The Bigelow Sedge Meadow provides important habitat. Species of note include the Katahdin Arctic butterfly (Oneis polixnes katahdin), Northern bog lemming (Synaptomys borealis), and the American pipit (Anthus rubescens). 60,000 people visit the Park annually: of that, 30,000 hike Katahdin. On a nice August Saturday, one would find 60 to 100 people on the summit midday. Climbing the peak, regardless of skill level, is the goal of almost every visitor to the Park. The Authority operates the Park through a Park Director (new in 2018 Eban Sypitkowski) and administrating staff, including a Chief Ranger, Park Naturalist, Business Manager and Resource Manager. BSP has several advisory committees regarding forest management, operations, research, and investment/development. Stewardship activities are managed by the Park Naturalist, assisted by the Interpretive Specialist.
As of 2019, BSP has divided tasks for their Wilderness Educator Interns. 2 Interpretation/Education Interns, that concern themselves with providing educational programming in the park and outreach to schools and camps, and 2 devoted 3-month Alpine Outreach positions, known as Summit Stewards. The season runs roughly May through October, with the alpine work starting in June. They work 40 hours per week including weekends and holidays, with two days off. Housing is included; Interns camp at the Chimney Pond Campground when “up high” and in staff housing when “down low.” From Chimney Pond, they hike up and down Katahdin and visit other heavily used sites such as Table Land, Knife Edge, Baxter Peak and the Great Basin, interacting with hikers as they move along. Interns have 3 to 4 weeks of training with continued training and follow-up throughout the season. Training includes hikes to trails and peaks, natural history, plant identification, Bird training with ME Audubon monitoring protocol, Leave No Trace (LNT) two-day training course wilderness first aid, search and rescue and fire suppression. There is a detailed handbook used during training, and Students can access it with a small computer they carry. Interns are responsible for weekly reporting they complete on their computer and check-in with supervisor. Reporting includes an Alpine Mountain Patrol sheet for each day of patrol, Alpine Plant Watch sheets once a week a Loon count, SOAP (subjective, objective, assessment, plan) Notes and Incident Reports. In addition, they complete end of season reflections and feedback about the position.
BSP has a trail crew whose focus is keeping the tails safe and accessible. Recent violet weather has washed out many bridges, putting a strain on the short season. Stewards are considered educators and do not perform trail work. However, they do collaborate with other park staff to maintain and monitor string fencing, and there is photographic evidence that it is working. BSP also employs other passive management such as alpine zone signage, scree walls, and paint blazes along with their wayfinding signage. As pictured the alpine area signs are feeling some wear and tear and will be addressed during upcoming research projects.
Restoration falls outside of Park mandates. Governor Baxter wished that “everything to live out its life cycle naturally without interference from man.” BSP features a 29,000+-acre Scientific Forest Management Area. This and the other parts of the Park have very specific regulations about activities that alter nature. On the research front, outside investigators must submit a detailed proposal to the scientific research committee. If approved, researchers coordinate closely with staff on protocols, for housing (due to the Park’s remote nature), and other arrangements. In the past, Park staff has conducted some air quality monitoring, and there was a lichen study conducted by Allison Dibble. Currently, BSP participates in Alpine Plant Watch, for which they collect plant information at five sites and note the plants bloom times. As of 2019, students working with Dr. Jill Weiss at SUNY-ESF are helping the Interpretive Specialist with researching hiker preparedness and signage efficacy.
BSP has an informative website that was recently redesigned. Unfortunately, this information competes with other non-official sites and blogs that don’t always provide the most accurate or helpful information. In the Park, bulletin boards provide hiking and camping information, and advertise in-park education programs. Visitor Centers have handouts on various topics such as history, wildlife, and geology. At this writing, the park is embarking on a new signage redesign for kiosk areas.
Vitals
Baxter State Park
64 Balsam Dr.
Millinocket, ME 04462
Marc Edwards, Park Naturalist
[email protected]
207-731-2637
Fall 2020: Interpretive Specialist TBD
207-731-4458
Website: www.baxterstatepark.org
Also on Facebook
Mission:
To protect the resources and preserve the wilderness experiences in Baxter State Park.
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is managed by the National Park Service, and is one of 61 National Parks in its care. It is around 73 square miles or 47,000 acres, and is described on its website as: “Comprised of a cluster of islands on the Maine coast, Acadia is within the broad transition zone between Eastern deciduous and Northern coniferous forests, and hosts several species and plant communities at the edge of their geographic range.” The Park covers much of Mount Desert Island and neighboring islands off the Atlantic coast of central Maine, plus a portion of the Schoodic Peninsula on the mainland.
In 2018 there were 3.54 million visitors to the Park. Such a number requires a huge commitment to both passive and active stewardship by all Park divisions, and patience on the part of educators. Some common issues include hikers and campers off trail/durable surfaces, dogs where prohibited or off leash, and the public taking or disturbing rocks from cairns, seawalls, and summits.
Park work is carried out by five NPS work divisions: Resource Management, Visitor and Resource Protection, Interpretation, Administration and Maintenance. Each division has a Chief. All report to the Superintendent, assisted by the Deputy Superintendent.
Until 2017 the stewarding program was found within Resource Management, directed by Charlie Jacobi, Visitor Use Specialist. Well known to the alpine stewardship community, Charlie retired from his NPS role, but the legacy and positive impacts of his trail management research and innovation lives on. Upon his retirement the Ridge Runners and Cadillac Summit Stewards programs merged under one seasonal coordinator funded by the Friends of Acadia, and housed within NPS ANP’s Interpretive Operations Office. As a federal agency, Acadia National Park is prohibited from raising funds for itself. Friends of Acadia (FOA) is a nonprofit that takes on this task, and the stewards are hired through their funding. All of the educators are known as Summit Stewards and follow the combined traditions of the previous programs and leadership, as well as addressing new visitor education needs in the park.
Stewards maintain cairns on trails, close trails with brush, provide Leave No Trace (LNT) education to visitors, and monitor visitor use (counts, traffic, surveys, etc.). Four Stewards are hired for Summer and Fall; four for summer only. Four STEWARDs and one Rec Tech are hired for 10 weeks, mid-June through late August. The job is 99% day work, but occasionally they will stay over for visitor monitoring or remote sites/projects. Schedules are planned so at least three stewards are on each day, and about one or two days per week, everyone is on duty for special projects.
With the larger team they can cover all areas of the park, which is important during the very crowded summer months. Two days a week are on Cadillac Mountain, one of those days is a later shift to cover sunset on the mountain. The other 3 days of Summit Steward’s work week they can be found on any trail in the park. Mountains frequently visited by Summit Stewards are Gorham Mt, Beehive, Precipice, Sargent Mt, Acadia Mt, and Beech Mt.
There is no handbook, but various resources are shared throughout the training, which is roughly 15 days, and includes some Park-wide trainings and light trail maintenance techniques. Stewards also learn about Park history, fauna and flora – with special attention to alpine plants. They participate in the two-day LNT training, get oriented to trails and sites, and practice interpretation and visitor contact techniques that emphasize the Authority of the Resource. Each day out, stewards complete a patrol log that summarizes activities, work, number of LNT contacts, number of cairns (built or destroyed), missing or damaged signs, problems or unusual activity, and large groups. Stewards use a map on the form to identify locations. This is a great help for planning and management. Stewards post a general status report weekly. This information is shared with Friends of Acadia as well.
The Hiking Trails Foreman manages trail work and trail crews. Stewards have some overlap in training for techniques for cairn building, brushing, basic trail maintenance and quick fixes and occasionally work on special projects. Acadia employs several exclosure and passive management strategies. There is some signage and ongoing experimentation for more, but there is some resistance here (as well as other sites) about its aesthetic merit. Other passive techniques include rope and stones, cairns (as wayfinders), and scree wall (as trail guidance not restorative).
A variety of scientific study occurs at Acadia, including social science, recreation ecology, education techniques, efficacy studies, trail inventories, and soil cover, site management. Stewards have conducted social science and visitor use surveys in the past. Recently ANP hired a social scientist (at his writing, Adam Gibson) for the park. It is our understanding that he has been working with the Bar Harbor and ANP Transportation Plan. Other researching institutions include University of Vermont (Bob Manning), Virginia Tech (Jeff Marion), and University of Maine (John Daigle and others).
Acadia National Park has an extensive official and standardized website that is part of the larger National Park Service website. Visitor Centers and bulletin boards at trailheads and campgrounds also share LNT and conservation information. Acadia enjoys an excellent relationship with local media, for the Park drives the local economy. Print sources include The Mount Desert Islander and Bar Harbor Times (weeklies), and the Bangor Daily News. One may also hear and see stories on TV and radio through Boston Network Television, and Maine Public Radio. Acadia’s stewardship work has been active in the media with PSAs. ANP, BSP and several other Maine organizations came together to produce “Leave No Trace in Maine,” and educational DVD.
Vitals
Acadia National Park
PO Box 177
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
National Park Service
Kathy Grant, Lead Interpretative Operations Specialist
[email protected]
207-288-821
Website: www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm
Mission of NPS:
“…to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein, in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”
Mission of ANP:
The management of Acadia National Park today is driven by the mission of the Park, which was spelled out in the 1992 general management plan: “The National Park Service at Acadia National Park protects and preserves outstanding scenic, natural, scientific and cultural values for present and future generations their programs, facilities, and services. It also provides programs and opportunities for non-consumptive, resource-based recreation and education for an increasingly urban population.”
Friends of Acadia
Seasonal contact:
Stephanie Ley, Summit Steward Coordinator
[email protected]
207-288-8711
Permanent contact:
Paige Steele, Conservation Projects Manager
[email protected]
207-288-3340
Website: www.friendsofacadia.org
Mission:
“Friends of Acadia preserves, protects, and promotes stewardship of the outstanding natural beauty, ecological vitality, and distinctive cultural resources of Acadia National Park and surrounding communities for the inspiration and enjoyment of current and future generations.”
Acadia National Park is managed by the National Park Service, and is one of 61 National Parks in its care. It is around 73 square miles or 47,000 acres, and is described on its website as: “Comprised of a cluster of islands on the Maine coast, Acadia is within the broad transition zone between Eastern deciduous and Northern coniferous forests, and hosts several species and plant communities at the edge of their geographic range.” The Park covers much of Mount Desert Island and neighboring islands off the Atlantic coast of central Maine, plus a portion of the Schoodic Peninsula on the mainland.
In 2018 there were 3.54 million visitors to the Park. Such a number requires a huge commitment to both passive and active stewardship by all Park divisions, and patience on the part of educators. Some common issues include hikers and campers off trail/durable surfaces, dogs where prohibited or off leash, and the public taking or disturbing rocks from cairns, seawalls, and summits.
Park work is carried out by five NPS work divisions: Resource Management, Visitor and Resource Protection, Interpretation, Administration and Maintenance. Each division has a Chief. All report to the Superintendent, assisted by the Deputy Superintendent.
Until 2017 the stewarding program was found within Resource Management, directed by Charlie Jacobi, Visitor Use Specialist. Well known to the alpine stewardship community, Charlie retired from his NPS role, but the legacy and positive impacts of his trail management research and innovation lives on. Upon his retirement the Ridge Runners and Cadillac Summit Stewards programs merged under one seasonal coordinator funded by the Friends of Acadia, and housed within NPS ANP’s Interpretive Operations Office. As a federal agency, Acadia National Park is prohibited from raising funds for itself. Friends of Acadia (FOA) is a nonprofit that takes on this task, and the stewards are hired through their funding. All of the educators are known as Summit Stewards and follow the combined traditions of the previous programs and leadership, as well as addressing new visitor education needs in the park.
Stewards maintain cairns on trails, close trails with brush, provide Leave No Trace (LNT) education to visitors, and monitor visitor use (counts, traffic, surveys, etc.). Four Stewards are hired for Summer and Fall; four for summer only. Four STEWARDs and one Rec Tech are hired for 10 weeks, mid-June through late August. The job is 99% day work, but occasionally they will stay over for visitor monitoring or remote sites/projects. Schedules are planned so at least three stewards are on each day, and about one or two days per week, everyone is on duty for special projects.
With the larger team they can cover all areas of the park, which is important during the very crowded summer months. Two days a week are on Cadillac Mountain, one of those days is a later shift to cover sunset on the mountain. The other 3 days of Summit Steward’s work week they can be found on any trail in the park. Mountains frequently visited by Summit Stewards are Gorham Mt, Beehive, Precipice, Sargent Mt, Acadia Mt, and Beech Mt.
There is no handbook, but various resources are shared throughout the training, which is roughly 15 days, and includes some Park-wide trainings and light trail maintenance techniques. Stewards also learn about Park history, fauna and flora – with special attention to alpine plants. They participate in the two-day LNT training, get oriented to trails and sites, and practice interpretation and visitor contact techniques that emphasize the Authority of the Resource. Each day out, stewards complete a patrol log that summarizes activities, work, number of LNT contacts, number of cairns (built or destroyed), missing or damaged signs, problems or unusual activity, and large groups. Stewards use a map on the form to identify locations. This is a great help for planning and management. Stewards post a general status report weekly. This information is shared with Friends of Acadia as well.
The Hiking Trails Foreman manages trail work and trail crews. Stewards have some overlap in training for techniques for cairn building, brushing, basic trail maintenance and quick fixes and occasionally work on special projects. Acadia employs several exclosure and passive management strategies. There is some signage and ongoing experimentation for more, but there is some resistance here (as well as other sites) about its aesthetic merit. Other passive techniques include rope and stones, cairns (as wayfinders), and scree wall (as trail guidance not restorative).
A variety of scientific study occurs at Acadia, including social science, recreation ecology, education techniques, efficacy studies, trail inventories, and soil cover, site management. Stewards have conducted social science and visitor use surveys in the past. Recently ANP hired a social scientist (at his writing, Adam Gibson) for the park. It is our understanding that he has been working with the Bar Harbor and ANP Transportation Plan. Other researching institutions include University of Vermont (Bob Manning), Virginia Tech (Jeff Marion), and University of Maine (John Daigle and others).
Acadia National Park has an extensive official and standardized website that is part of the larger National Park Service website. Visitor Centers and bulletin boards at trailheads and campgrounds also share LNT and conservation information. Acadia enjoys an excellent relationship with local media, for the Park drives the local economy. Print sources include The Mount Desert Islander and Bar Harbor Times (weeklies), and the Bangor Daily News. One may also hear and see stories on TV and radio through Boston Network Television, and Maine Public Radio. Acadia’s stewardship work has been active in the media with PSAs. ANP, BSP and several other Maine organizations came together to produce “Leave No Trace in Maine,” and educational DVD.
Vitals
Acadia National Park
PO Box 177
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
National Park Service
Kathy Grant, Lead Interpretative Operations Specialist
[email protected]
207-288-821
Website: www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm
Mission of NPS:
“…to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein, in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”
Mission of ANP:
The management of Acadia National Park today is driven by the mission of the Park, which was spelled out in the 1992 general management plan: “The National Park Service at Acadia National Park protects and preserves outstanding scenic, natural, scientific and cultural values for present and future generations their programs, facilities, and services. It also provides programs and opportunities for non-consumptive, resource-based recreation and education for an increasingly urban population.”
Friends of Acadia
Seasonal contact:
Stephanie Ley, Summit Steward Coordinator
[email protected]
207-288-8711
Permanent contact:
Paige Steele, Conservation Projects Manager
[email protected]
207-288-3340
Website: www.friendsofacadia.org
Mission:
“Friends of Acadia preserves, protects, and promotes stewardship of the outstanding natural beauty, ecological vitality, and distinctive cultural resources of Acadia National Park and surrounding communities for the inspiration and enjoyment of current and future generations.”
Maine Appalachian Trail Club
The Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC) maintains the Appalachian Trail from Katahdin to Maine Highway 26 in Grafton Notch – 267 miles; and over 40 miles of related side trails. The Club is an all-volunteer, nonprofit corporation that was organized on June 18, 1935, to assume responsibility for the management, maintenance and protection of the Appalachian Trail (AT) in Maine. Except for in Baxter State Park, the MATC is responsible for trail design, construction, and maintenance, for monitoring activities in the AT corridor, and for basic public information and education regarding the Trail in Maine north of Grafton Notch. The MATC is not a hiking or outing club. It exists solely for the protection and perpetuation of the AT. The MATC is not affiliated with, nor is it a part of, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). However, like AMC, MATC coordinates management actions with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and the landowners. The ATC sponsors a Hundred Mile Wilderness educator managed by MATC. MATC has an Executive Committee (Board) with six officers, five “Overseers of Trail” (a.k.a. District Overseers) and eight additional board members. This group participates, along with members, in 15 committees. A Club Coordinator is the only paid employee and is half time. Seasonal staff includes Ridgerunners (RRs), Base Camp Coordinator(s), and the Trail Crew. Volunteer Trail Maintainers cover much of the day-to-day trail maintenance.
The field educators in this organization are called Ridgerunners (RRs). There are four posts, running roughly May to October. The schedule is either 10 days on 4 days off, or 5 days on 2 days off. All RRs are on duty for holiday weekends. They put in a full day, but mornings and late afternoon/evenings are when hiker contact is most important, so RRs may take personal time midday. The two RRs posted at campsites (Horns Pond, Piazza Rock) must be nearby and available in the late afternoon or evening to greet campers, check in expected groups and do programs. RRs patrol one of four designated areas; three include summits. They are primarily Leave No Trace (LNT) educators. They share flora, fauna, trail, and safety knowledge and they record the number of contacts. RRs provide a daily management presence deterring environmental impact, vandalism, injuries and illegal fires, lessening the need for emergency personnel. They have contact with around 10,000 visitors per season. Visitors to the Maine section of the AT vary wildly in experience and number. For example, at Gulf Hagas, a popular canyon, one may see a trail overrun with inexperienced hikers, while at Abol Bridge numbers may dwindle to a single thru-hiker per day. At posts where they manage campsites, they check in registered groups, and conduct LNT workshops.
MATC has a Ridgerunner handbook plus several reference pages on their website regarding campsite, privy and trail maintenance. They started using Fastfield Mobile Forms in 2017. New RRs are brought together for a five plus-day training in June that involves a 3-day pack-in with volunteers and the site supervisor. During this trip, they set up the Horns Pond camp, review all procedures and practice the job. There is another mid-season training (where they mix the compost toilets) and a late-season meeting to wrap up. This organization provides education about and the protection of alpine zones and high use areas through its activities, but “alpine stewardship” is not an explicit focus.
Several distinct parties handle trail maintenance. All trail work is carefully assessed and planned by the NPS and ATC who share information with the Volunteer District Overseers (a.k.a. Trail Overseers). Each has one of five sections, and manages the work done in their section by the Volunteer Trail Maintainers. Trail maintenance is not part of the RRs job. They are educators. However, they will work to keep the trail clear and passable, and occasionally join a trail maintainer or crew on a task. Other than signage, and standard blazing, passive management techniques are not in use above treeline.
MATC does not participate in alpine restoration and only below the treeline if it is part of a trail repair project. Scientific study is not part of the MATC mission. However, Ridgerunners have assisted with research such as an angler study for ME Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and a citizen science project regarding alpine birds for the VT Center for Ecostudies. The Club Coordinator is aware that some universities conduct research along the route and the ATC does undertake studies periodically.
MATC has a very informative website that lists coming events, job postings, maintenance information for RRs, volunteer opportunities and membership information. There is an in-house, seasonal newspaper known as “The MAINEtainer.” MATC may also appear in the Bangor Daily News as part of a feature or in “The Register,” an ATC online publication.
Vitals
Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC)
PO 7564
Portland, ME 04112
Holly Sheehan, Club Coordinator
[email protected]
207-518-1779
Website: www.matc.org
Mission: The MATC "exists solely for the protection and perpetuation of the Appalachian Trail" in Maine.
The Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC) maintains the Appalachian Trail from Katahdin to Maine Highway 26 in Grafton Notch – 267 miles; and over 40 miles of related side trails. The Club is an all-volunteer, nonprofit corporation that was organized on June 18, 1935, to assume responsibility for the management, maintenance and protection of the Appalachian Trail (AT) in Maine. Except for in Baxter State Park, the MATC is responsible for trail design, construction, and maintenance, for monitoring activities in the AT corridor, and for basic public information and education regarding the Trail in Maine north of Grafton Notch. The MATC is not a hiking or outing club. It exists solely for the protection and perpetuation of the AT. The MATC is not affiliated with, nor is it a part of, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). However, like AMC, MATC coordinates management actions with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and the landowners. The ATC sponsors a Hundred Mile Wilderness educator managed by MATC. MATC has an Executive Committee (Board) with six officers, five “Overseers of Trail” (a.k.a. District Overseers) and eight additional board members. This group participates, along with members, in 15 committees. A Club Coordinator is the only paid employee and is half time. Seasonal staff includes Ridgerunners (RRs), Base Camp Coordinator(s), and the Trail Crew. Volunteer Trail Maintainers cover much of the day-to-day trail maintenance.
The field educators in this organization are called Ridgerunners (RRs). There are four posts, running roughly May to October. The schedule is either 10 days on 4 days off, or 5 days on 2 days off. All RRs are on duty for holiday weekends. They put in a full day, but mornings and late afternoon/evenings are when hiker contact is most important, so RRs may take personal time midday. The two RRs posted at campsites (Horns Pond, Piazza Rock) must be nearby and available in the late afternoon or evening to greet campers, check in expected groups and do programs. RRs patrol one of four designated areas; three include summits. They are primarily Leave No Trace (LNT) educators. They share flora, fauna, trail, and safety knowledge and they record the number of contacts. RRs provide a daily management presence deterring environmental impact, vandalism, injuries and illegal fires, lessening the need for emergency personnel. They have contact with around 10,000 visitors per season. Visitors to the Maine section of the AT vary wildly in experience and number. For example, at Gulf Hagas, a popular canyon, one may see a trail overrun with inexperienced hikers, while at Abol Bridge numbers may dwindle to a single thru-hiker per day. At posts where they manage campsites, they check in registered groups, and conduct LNT workshops.
MATC has a Ridgerunner handbook plus several reference pages on their website regarding campsite, privy and trail maintenance. They started using Fastfield Mobile Forms in 2017. New RRs are brought together for a five plus-day training in June that involves a 3-day pack-in with volunteers and the site supervisor. During this trip, they set up the Horns Pond camp, review all procedures and practice the job. There is another mid-season training (where they mix the compost toilets) and a late-season meeting to wrap up. This organization provides education about and the protection of alpine zones and high use areas through its activities, but “alpine stewardship” is not an explicit focus.
Several distinct parties handle trail maintenance. All trail work is carefully assessed and planned by the NPS and ATC who share information with the Volunteer District Overseers (a.k.a. Trail Overseers). Each has one of five sections, and manages the work done in their section by the Volunteer Trail Maintainers. Trail maintenance is not part of the RRs job. They are educators. However, they will work to keep the trail clear and passable, and occasionally join a trail maintainer or crew on a task. Other than signage, and standard blazing, passive management techniques are not in use above treeline.
MATC does not participate in alpine restoration and only below the treeline if it is part of a trail repair project. Scientific study is not part of the MATC mission. However, Ridgerunners have assisted with research such as an angler study for ME Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and a citizen science project regarding alpine birds for the VT Center for Ecostudies. The Club Coordinator is aware that some universities conduct research along the route and the ATC does undertake studies periodically.
MATC has a very informative website that lists coming events, job postings, maintenance information for RRs, volunteer opportunities and membership information. There is an in-house, seasonal newspaper known as “The MAINEtainer.” MATC may also appear in the Bangor Daily News as part of a feature or in “The Register,” an ATC online publication.
Vitals
Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC)
PO 7564
Portland, ME 04112
Holly Sheehan, Club Coordinator
[email protected]
207-518-1779
Website: www.matc.org
Mission: The MATC "exists solely for the protection and perpetuation of the Appalachian Trail" in Maine.
Green Mountain Club
The Green Mountain Club (GMC) is a nonprofit, membership based, hiking club and a resource for hikers visiting the Long Trail, Appalachian Trail and the Green Mountains in Vermont. Started in 1910, GMC maintains the entire Long Trail, which runs the length of Vermont, as well as many access trails. GMC is an advocacy and education organization that shares low impact trail practices, safety skills and multiple guides and publications to enhance the hiking experience. GMC has protected more than 78 miles of the Long Trail system and 25,000 acres of backcountry land. Plant species of note include Boott’s rattlesnake root (Prenanthes boottii), black sedge (Carex atratiformis), and highland rush (Juncus trifidus).
Organizational partners include the University of Vermont, Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and private landowners. Alpine visitorship centers around the peaks near the Waterbury Center, VT Headquarters. Because of the Toll Road and the Gondola (together moving over 25,000 users per year) that run up from the Stowe Mountain Resort, visitorship on Mt. Mansfield skews heavily towards the non-hiker. Hiking is more strenuous on Camels Hump and Mt. Abraham, so experience ranges from novice hiker up to very experienced and thru-hikers.
Paid staff germane to this report includes one Director of Field Programs, one Field Assistant, 6-8 Caretakers and Summit Caretakers, and several Interns. GMC has a 40-year tradition of hiker contact on summits. As described by Dave Hardy in 2011, “GMC is alpine stewardship minded, but its central focus is on the Long Trail and the hiker experience.” GMC began this field education practice with a pilot program of “Ranger Naturalists” on Mt. Mansfield and Camels Hump. Now called “Summit Caretakers” (SCs), hiker education for the alpine zone continues. SCs are hired for a May to October season, while caretaking takes place year round on other parts of the Long Trail. As of 2018, it was noted that the hiking season is starting earlier. GMC uses volunteers for coverage, but considering starting their caretaking season earlier. SCs are posted at Mt. Mansfield, Camels Hump, Mt. Abraham, Taft Lodge, the Mt. Mansfield Visitor Center, plus a few other high elevation posts on the Long Trail. New SCs have a one-week orientation that includes a LNT awareness training, demonstrations on visitor contact, and an orientation hike to the alpine zone on Mansfield with natural history and plant ecology. They also do a search and rescue overview with the local squad. Caretakers employ hiker education and backcountry stewardship in order to minimize and counteract the effects of trail overuse. A low-key, one-to-one educational approach is utilized. In addition to protection of the fragile high-elevation areas, duties include providing information to hikers about the Long Trail System and about natural history, collecting trail use data, preparing reports, and trail maintenance. SCs follow an irregular five-day week that always includes weekends and holidays. Tools and equipment are provided. Indoor days off housing is provided for all field staff, and they stay at designated tents and cabins while on duty. SCs supply their own food and other incidentals. The Visitors Center in the old radio tower building at the top of Mt. Mansfield has had some display improvements, but the condition of the building is poor, and it is uncertain if this will be the site of an upgraded center as discussed as far back as 2011.
GMC is an early adopter and innovator of passive management above the tree line, and employs several techniques including string fencing, bog bridges (vegetation spreads underneath), scree walls, paint blazing, and signage. Cairns are minimized, as loose rock is scarce and precious for soil retention in Vermont alpine areas. Restoration is not part of their mission. However, recovery and growth of plant community area occurs through their trail management techniques.
SCs are encouraged to participate in the Northeastern Alpine Flower Watch. State Botanist Bob Popp (VT Fish and Wildlife) monitors rare plants on Mansfield and Camel’s Hump. Other research varies; it includes birds (geo- location, banding, etc.), butterflies and other insects, vernal pools, baseline and long term monitoring of soil, air, water, plants, and animals, alpine plant inventories, and photopoint studies. Besides the University of Vermont Natural Areas program, which is a partner of GMC, other ecological researching organizations include the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (bird monitoring), Vermont Monitoring Cooperative, Charles Cogbill and other individuals. As of 2018, The VT Trails and Greenways Council had conducted an economic impact analysis and in 2019 the VT Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation conducted a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) Survey, which will inform resource allocation goring forward.
GMC enjoys attention for multiple regional media outlets. GMC has a very informative website, publishes countless guides and is active on Facebook. Their in-house quarterly is called the “Long Trail News.”
Vitals
Green Mountain Club
4711 Waterbury-Stowe Rd.
Waterbury Center, VT 05677
Keegan Tierney, Director of Field Programs
[email protected]
802-244-7037 x20
Fall 2020: Field Supervisor TBD
802-244-7037 x118
Relevant websites: http://www.greenmountainclub.org (GMC); https://www.uvm.edu/environmentalprogram/uvm-natural-areas (UVM Natural Areas); https://fpr.vermont.gov/ (VT Dept. of Forests, Parks & Recreation); https://www.stowe.com/the-mountain/more-options/sustainability.aspx (Stowe Mountain Resort - Environmental Efforts)
Mission:
The mission of the Green Mountain Club is to make the Vermont Mountains play a larger part in the life of the people by protecting and maintaining the Long Trail System and fostering, through education, the stewardship of Vermont's hiking trails and mountains.
The Green Mountain Club (GMC) is a nonprofit, membership based, hiking club and a resource for hikers visiting the Long Trail, Appalachian Trail and the Green Mountains in Vermont. Started in 1910, GMC maintains the entire Long Trail, which runs the length of Vermont, as well as many access trails. GMC is an advocacy and education organization that shares low impact trail practices, safety skills and multiple guides and publications to enhance the hiking experience. GMC has protected more than 78 miles of the Long Trail system and 25,000 acres of backcountry land. Plant species of note include Boott’s rattlesnake root (Prenanthes boottii), black sedge (Carex atratiformis), and highland rush (Juncus trifidus).
Organizational partners include the University of Vermont, Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and private landowners. Alpine visitorship centers around the peaks near the Waterbury Center, VT Headquarters. Because of the Toll Road and the Gondola (together moving over 25,000 users per year) that run up from the Stowe Mountain Resort, visitorship on Mt. Mansfield skews heavily towards the non-hiker. Hiking is more strenuous on Camels Hump and Mt. Abraham, so experience ranges from novice hiker up to very experienced and thru-hikers.
Paid staff germane to this report includes one Director of Field Programs, one Field Assistant, 6-8 Caretakers and Summit Caretakers, and several Interns. GMC has a 40-year tradition of hiker contact on summits. As described by Dave Hardy in 2011, “GMC is alpine stewardship minded, but its central focus is on the Long Trail and the hiker experience.” GMC began this field education practice with a pilot program of “Ranger Naturalists” on Mt. Mansfield and Camels Hump. Now called “Summit Caretakers” (SCs), hiker education for the alpine zone continues. SCs are hired for a May to October season, while caretaking takes place year round on other parts of the Long Trail. As of 2018, it was noted that the hiking season is starting earlier. GMC uses volunteers for coverage, but considering starting their caretaking season earlier. SCs are posted at Mt. Mansfield, Camels Hump, Mt. Abraham, Taft Lodge, the Mt. Mansfield Visitor Center, plus a few other high elevation posts on the Long Trail. New SCs have a one-week orientation that includes a LNT awareness training, demonstrations on visitor contact, and an orientation hike to the alpine zone on Mansfield with natural history and plant ecology. They also do a search and rescue overview with the local squad. Caretakers employ hiker education and backcountry stewardship in order to minimize and counteract the effects of trail overuse. A low-key, one-to-one educational approach is utilized. In addition to protection of the fragile high-elevation areas, duties include providing information to hikers about the Long Trail System and about natural history, collecting trail use data, preparing reports, and trail maintenance. SCs follow an irregular five-day week that always includes weekends and holidays. Tools and equipment are provided. Indoor days off housing is provided for all field staff, and they stay at designated tents and cabins while on duty. SCs supply their own food and other incidentals. The Visitors Center in the old radio tower building at the top of Mt. Mansfield has had some display improvements, but the condition of the building is poor, and it is uncertain if this will be the site of an upgraded center as discussed as far back as 2011.
GMC is an early adopter and innovator of passive management above the tree line, and employs several techniques including string fencing, bog bridges (vegetation spreads underneath), scree walls, paint blazing, and signage. Cairns are minimized, as loose rock is scarce and precious for soil retention in Vermont alpine areas. Restoration is not part of their mission. However, recovery and growth of plant community area occurs through their trail management techniques.
SCs are encouraged to participate in the Northeastern Alpine Flower Watch. State Botanist Bob Popp (VT Fish and Wildlife) monitors rare plants on Mansfield and Camel’s Hump. Other research varies; it includes birds (geo- location, banding, etc.), butterflies and other insects, vernal pools, baseline and long term monitoring of soil, air, water, plants, and animals, alpine plant inventories, and photopoint studies. Besides the University of Vermont Natural Areas program, which is a partner of GMC, other ecological researching organizations include the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (bird monitoring), Vermont Monitoring Cooperative, Charles Cogbill and other individuals. As of 2018, The VT Trails and Greenways Council had conducted an economic impact analysis and in 2019 the VT Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation conducted a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) Survey, which will inform resource allocation goring forward.
GMC enjoys attention for multiple regional media outlets. GMC has a very informative website, publishes countless guides and is active on Facebook. Their in-house quarterly is called the “Long Trail News.”
Vitals
Green Mountain Club
4711 Waterbury-Stowe Rd.
Waterbury Center, VT 05677
Keegan Tierney, Director of Field Programs
[email protected]
802-244-7037 x20
Fall 2020: Field Supervisor TBD
802-244-7037 x118
Relevant websites: http://www.greenmountainclub.org (GMC); https://www.uvm.edu/environmentalprogram/uvm-natural-areas (UVM Natural Areas); https://fpr.vermont.gov/ (VT Dept. of Forests, Parks & Recreation); https://www.stowe.com/the-mountain/more-options/sustainability.aspx (Stowe Mountain Resort - Environmental Efforts)
Mission:
The mission of the Green Mountain Club is to make the Vermont Mountains play a larger part in the life of the people by protecting and maintaining the Long Trail System and fostering, through education, the stewardship of Vermont's hiking trails and mountains.
Randolph Mountain Club
Founded in 1910, The Randolph Mountain Club (RMC) maintains a network of nearly 102 miles of hiking trails in the Presidential and Crescent ranges in the White Mountains. RMC is a nonprofit trail club with around 800 members as of October 2011. RMC has a Board of Directors with 15+ members and many active committees. Paid seasonal employees include a field supervisor, trail crew and two caretakers. Around 15% of the trail system is about 3000 feet, and leads to the peaks of Star King, Madison, Adams, and Jefferson. The RMC section of the White Mountains is rugged and remote in places, but trailheads are available all along Route 2. This means a great variety of hiker experience and preparedness. RMC is concerned about the well-being of these hikers but also the protection of the resource and at-risk species from human impact and bootleg campsites.
This club has a lower profile than the other organizations in this study. Its volunteer board and members focus on trails, not education of hikers, but their Caretakers (CTs) have influence on the hikers with which they interact. There are two CT posts, one at Crag Camp (three season) and the other a Grey Knob (four season). CTs may be hired for one season and/or stay on for several. It is a full-time job the covers all weekends and holidays. For the most part, CTs follow a ten days on, four days off schedule. Their primary job is to protect RMC facilities, the trail, and collect fees from overnighters. During the day, CTs will take a variety of routes through the RMC trail system at stop at the two other camps, the Log Cabin and The Perch to ensure the well-being of visitors, do some RMC public relations and provide hiker education. CTs see up to 4000 visitors per year. The summer CTs get a three-day orientation with the trail crew, club members, and partner organizations to be oriented to the trails, Lodge, camps, composting toilets, safety procedures, rules, and regulations. CTs keep a log at the camp; usually post a blog, and complete forms related to incidents, retail sales (shirts, etc.) and fee collection. LNT and alpine zone education is part of the conversation, but not the central message.
RMC has a professional trail crew that undertakes large projects, mainly below the treeline, but with new projects on popular routes to 4000 footers, they expect to interact with the public more and more. Volunteers are an important part of regular trail maintenance across the system and provide support to this crew with special workdays. Passive management above treeline consists of path and arrow signs, brushing, scree and cairns. There is also the alpine zone signage at Grey Knob and RMC’s distinct wayfinding signage throughout the system.
RMC has a very detailed website that is geared towards record keeping (lists, blogs, pictures) and informing its members of activities. They have increased their social media presence and are adopting technologies like card readers and membership software to improve operations. They sell publications and maps of the area through their website and at the camps as a fundraising strategy. The “Randolph Mountain Club Newsletter” is their biannual news publication.
Vitals
Randolph Mountain Club
PO Box 279
Gorham, NH 03581
Note: The Board and Chair roles of RMC rotate regularly. As of Summer, 2019:
Bob Drescher
Chair, Trail Committee
[email protected]
Carl Herz
Camps Committee
[email protected]
Website: https://www.randolphmountainclub.org/index.html
Mission:
The purpose of the Randolph mountain club is to promote enjoyment of the Randolph, New Hampshire area through hiking, trail development, upkeep of camps and shelters, and sharing the collective knowledge of its members.
Founded in 1910, The Randolph Mountain Club (RMC) maintains a network of nearly 102 miles of hiking trails in the Presidential and Crescent ranges in the White Mountains. RMC is a nonprofit trail club with around 800 members as of October 2011. RMC has a Board of Directors with 15+ members and many active committees. Paid seasonal employees include a field supervisor, trail crew and two caretakers. Around 15% of the trail system is about 3000 feet, and leads to the peaks of Star King, Madison, Adams, and Jefferson. The RMC section of the White Mountains is rugged and remote in places, but trailheads are available all along Route 2. This means a great variety of hiker experience and preparedness. RMC is concerned about the well-being of these hikers but also the protection of the resource and at-risk species from human impact and bootleg campsites.
This club has a lower profile than the other organizations in this study. Its volunteer board and members focus on trails, not education of hikers, but their Caretakers (CTs) have influence on the hikers with which they interact. There are two CT posts, one at Crag Camp (three season) and the other a Grey Knob (four season). CTs may be hired for one season and/or stay on for several. It is a full-time job the covers all weekends and holidays. For the most part, CTs follow a ten days on, four days off schedule. Their primary job is to protect RMC facilities, the trail, and collect fees from overnighters. During the day, CTs will take a variety of routes through the RMC trail system at stop at the two other camps, the Log Cabin and The Perch to ensure the well-being of visitors, do some RMC public relations and provide hiker education. CTs see up to 4000 visitors per year. The summer CTs get a three-day orientation with the trail crew, club members, and partner organizations to be oriented to the trails, Lodge, camps, composting toilets, safety procedures, rules, and regulations. CTs keep a log at the camp; usually post a blog, and complete forms related to incidents, retail sales (shirts, etc.) and fee collection. LNT and alpine zone education is part of the conversation, but not the central message.
RMC has a professional trail crew that undertakes large projects, mainly below the treeline, but with new projects on popular routes to 4000 footers, they expect to interact with the public more and more. Volunteers are an important part of regular trail maintenance across the system and provide support to this crew with special workdays. Passive management above treeline consists of path and arrow signs, brushing, scree and cairns. There is also the alpine zone signage at Grey Knob and RMC’s distinct wayfinding signage throughout the system.
RMC has a very detailed website that is geared towards record keeping (lists, blogs, pictures) and informing its members of activities. They have increased their social media presence and are adopting technologies like card readers and membership software to improve operations. They sell publications and maps of the area through their website and at the camps as a fundraising strategy. The “Randolph Mountain Club Newsletter” is their biannual news publication.
Vitals
Randolph Mountain Club
PO Box 279
Gorham, NH 03581
Note: The Board and Chair roles of RMC rotate regularly. As of Summer, 2019:
Bob Drescher
Chair, Trail Committee
[email protected]
Carl Herz
Camps Committee
[email protected]
Website: https://www.randolphmountainclub.org/index.html
Mission:
The purpose of the Randolph mountain club is to promote enjoyment of the Randolph, New Hampshire area through hiking, trail development, upkeep of camps and shelters, and sharing the collective knowledge of its members.
USFS - AMC- ATC Volunteer Alpine Stewardship Program (VASP)
The Volunteer Alpine Steward Program (VASP) is a partnership between the US Forest Service (USFS), the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC). In the case of Mt. Washington, VASP also collaborates closely with New Hampshire State Parks and Mt. Washington Auto Road. VASPs work centers on Franconia Ridge between Little Haystack and Lafayette and on Mt. Washington trails above tree line. Franconia Ridge forms the backbone of the Franconia Range, which connects the major summits along part of circuit hike with spectacular views. This area hosts around 1.8 miles of alpine zone along its ridge, and is extremely popular for hiking, but because of the trailhead’s adjacency to I-93, a State Park Campground, and a Park Visitor Center only a few miles away. Species of note include pincushion plant (Diapensia lapponica), mountain cranberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) and alpine bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum). Mt. Washington is the highest summit in the Northeast, also has alpine zone areas, and is extremely popular for hiking, because of its dramatic characteristics, but also because of easy access via the Mt. Washington Auto Road and the Cog Railway, and proximity to Mt. Washington State Park. Species of note and primary issues are similar to Franconia Ridge.
Primary issues are visitors off trail and ignorance of LNT principles. The “Alpine Stewards” focus their efforts on popular summit cone trails and not on the summit itself (which is covered with facilities and parking, and is overseen by on-site state park staff). The stewards educate the public about the fragile nature of the alpine ecosystem by approaching hikers in a non-confrontational manner, increasing awareness of hiker impact, and answering questions about the trail and the ecology. Stewards also monitor research plots and record plant phenology data for six alpine species, and perform light trail maintenance, primarily repairing cairns and scree walls. In recent years, the corps of volunteers has between 20 and 30 members. Stewards sign up for weekends in advance. There is a commitment to two weekends per season, and the weekend stint is Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. On Franconia, one Steward is based at Greenleaf Hut and the other camps at Liberty Springs Tentsite. On Mt. Washington, the Steward is based at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center/Joe Dodge Lodge, and has the option of riding free on the Auto Road to access trails above treeline faster than hiking up each day. At each of their overnight facilities, Stewards may deliver evening programs or provide informal outreach as they engage with guests during and after meals.
AMC’s Outdoor Program Centers Volunteer Coordinator, with support from USFS and ATC liaisons, primarily manages VASP. There are three Lead Stewards who participate in a fall VASP leadership meeting with those AMC, USFS, and ATC staff and assist with the spring training weekend. New stewards attend spring training each of their first two years. Experienced stewards return to training at least once every three years and are welcome to return annually, as many do. The training weekend focuses on Leave No Trace, alpine ecology, alpine trail maintenance, hiker engagement, plant phenology data collection, and other topics. Stewards are also required to hold current Wilderness First Aid and CPR certifications. VASP participates in Mountain Watch in partnership with the AMC research department. In the past, they have participated in air quality, visibility and photopoint studies.
Professional and volunteer trail crews and trail-adopters do the majority of trail work on Franconia Ridge and Mt. Washington. Stewards repair scree walls, remove false cairns, and perform other light trail work that aids passive management of alpine zone.
AMC and USFS have several avenues for communicating with the public. Outside of direct contact, VASP does not engage in public outreach or communication. Periodically, they appear in AMC's in-house publication called “AMC outdoors” and there is a page about VASP within the AMC website.
Vitals
Appalachian Mountain Club
AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch
White Mountain National Forest, U.S, US-302,
Bretton Woods, NH 03575
Kyra Salancy
Outdoor Program Centers Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected]
603-278-3820
Websites: www.outdoors.org (AMC) www.fs.fed.us (USFS)
Missions:
USFS
The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
AMC
The Appalachian Mountain Club promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region.
Volunteer Alpine Steward Program (VASP)
We promote protection of the alpine zone through on-site education about fragile alpine vegetation, Leave No Trace Principles, and low-impact trail tending. We encourage our fellow hikers to become caring stewards of this unique and fragile land while experiencing the mountain adventure.
Note, May 2021: The above information is from Fall 2019. Many changes and additions afoot in the White Mountains! At this writing, stewarding capcity is growing in the Franconia Ridge area. I will post details as soon as they are available.
The Volunteer Alpine Steward Program (VASP) is a partnership between the US Forest Service (USFS), the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC). In the case of Mt. Washington, VASP also collaborates closely with New Hampshire State Parks and Mt. Washington Auto Road. VASPs work centers on Franconia Ridge between Little Haystack and Lafayette and on Mt. Washington trails above tree line. Franconia Ridge forms the backbone of the Franconia Range, which connects the major summits along part of circuit hike with spectacular views. This area hosts around 1.8 miles of alpine zone along its ridge, and is extremely popular for hiking, but because of the trailhead’s adjacency to I-93, a State Park Campground, and a Park Visitor Center only a few miles away. Species of note include pincushion plant (Diapensia lapponica), mountain cranberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) and alpine bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum). Mt. Washington is the highest summit in the Northeast, also has alpine zone areas, and is extremely popular for hiking, because of its dramatic characteristics, but also because of easy access via the Mt. Washington Auto Road and the Cog Railway, and proximity to Mt. Washington State Park. Species of note and primary issues are similar to Franconia Ridge.
Primary issues are visitors off trail and ignorance of LNT principles. The “Alpine Stewards” focus their efforts on popular summit cone trails and not on the summit itself (which is covered with facilities and parking, and is overseen by on-site state park staff). The stewards educate the public about the fragile nature of the alpine ecosystem by approaching hikers in a non-confrontational manner, increasing awareness of hiker impact, and answering questions about the trail and the ecology. Stewards also monitor research plots and record plant phenology data for six alpine species, and perform light trail maintenance, primarily repairing cairns and scree walls. In recent years, the corps of volunteers has between 20 and 30 members. Stewards sign up for weekends in advance. There is a commitment to two weekends per season, and the weekend stint is Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. On Franconia, one Steward is based at Greenleaf Hut and the other camps at Liberty Springs Tentsite. On Mt. Washington, the Steward is based at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center/Joe Dodge Lodge, and has the option of riding free on the Auto Road to access trails above treeline faster than hiking up each day. At each of their overnight facilities, Stewards may deliver evening programs or provide informal outreach as they engage with guests during and after meals.
AMC’s Outdoor Program Centers Volunteer Coordinator, with support from USFS and ATC liaisons, primarily manages VASP. There are three Lead Stewards who participate in a fall VASP leadership meeting with those AMC, USFS, and ATC staff and assist with the spring training weekend. New stewards attend spring training each of their first two years. Experienced stewards return to training at least once every three years and are welcome to return annually, as many do. The training weekend focuses on Leave No Trace, alpine ecology, alpine trail maintenance, hiker engagement, plant phenology data collection, and other topics. Stewards are also required to hold current Wilderness First Aid and CPR certifications. VASP participates in Mountain Watch in partnership with the AMC research department. In the past, they have participated in air quality, visibility and photopoint studies.
Professional and volunteer trail crews and trail-adopters do the majority of trail work on Franconia Ridge and Mt. Washington. Stewards repair scree walls, remove false cairns, and perform other light trail work that aids passive management of alpine zone.
AMC and USFS have several avenues for communicating with the public. Outside of direct contact, VASP does not engage in public outreach or communication. Periodically, they appear in AMC's in-house publication called “AMC outdoors” and there is a page about VASP within the AMC website.
Vitals
Appalachian Mountain Club
AMC Highland Center at Crawford Notch
White Mountain National Forest, U.S, US-302,
Bretton Woods, NH 03575
Kyra Salancy
Outdoor Program Centers Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected]
603-278-3820
Websites: www.outdoors.org (AMC) www.fs.fed.us (USFS)
Missions:
USFS
The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
AMC
The Appalachian Mountain Club promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region.
Volunteer Alpine Steward Program (VASP)
We promote protection of the alpine zone through on-site education about fragile alpine vegetation, Leave No Trace Principles, and low-impact trail tending. We encourage our fellow hikers to become caring stewards of this unique and fragile land while experiencing the mountain adventure.
Note, May 2021: The above information is from Fall 2019. Many changes and additions afoot in the White Mountains! At this writing, stewarding capcity is growing in the Franconia Ridge area. I will post details as soon as they are available.
Welch Ledges
Welch Mountain is a prominent rocky peak that forms the western wall of the narrow gateway to Waterville Valley from which the Mad River flows. A short distance to the Northwest is the exposed summit of Dickey Mountain. There are many outstanding views of the surrounding countryside that can be seen from open ledges and rock outcrops along the Welch Dickey Mountain trail. Welch Mountain is one of five places in New Hampshire that jack pine survives. According to NH Natural Heritage, the site is technically ‘sub alpine rocky bald,’ and the granite dome on Welch, known as the Ledges, is the primary stewardship site. These trails are popular, especially with the locals. One can expect to see 100 to 200 hikers on a good weekend. Novice hikers go as far as the ledges, and more experienced hikers continue on to the loop. Trampling the alpine plants is the central issue at this site. Species of note include Appalachian sandwort (Minuartia glabra) and, Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana). Right, top: Guy Waterman, SRCA Crew Member, Dick Fortin, SRCA Crew Member on Franconia Notch training for the Welch program, 1991. Right, bottom: Stewards from the 2013 program. Welch-Dickey’s trail system is under the authority of the White Mountains National Forest. Most trail work/ improvements below treeline have been undertaken by paid hiking club crews and volunteers with USFS cost-sharing. Restoration work in 1991 and 1992 focused on delineating soil “islands” with stone and brush in order to protect outcrop communities from hiker trampling and erosion. In 2005, the “islands” were consolidated in larger “restoration units” and delimited largely with brush. In addition, some areas were “brush-packed” (brush was piled in restoration areas) to both discourage hiker trampling and provide micro-habitats for outcrop recovery. In 2007 brush was removed from brush-packed areas because of concern over possible changes in soil chemistry as a result of leaf and woody debris. Low log barriers were placed to delimit restoration area. Review of brush-packed sites in 2008-2011 show a substantial expansion of outcrop community vegetation in severely impacted areas. This suggests further study of a combined brush-packing and brush removal regime for outcrop community restoration. |
Stewardship at the site originated in 1988 through a partnership between the Sandwich Range Conservation Association (SRCA) and the White Mountain National Forest. Trail crew members were rotated on the mountain during weekends. In 1991- 92, an Antioch New England Graduate School master’s student, Dick Fortin, was hired by SRCA to be a dedicated “Summit Steward.” The program was modeled after GMC's “Ranger Naturalist” program and utilized a non-confrontational/ passive interaction with public; reminding hikers to stay off plant communities; educate about the unique ecology. Dick conducted plant community sampling during this period, and Information kiosks and signage were installed.
The stewardship was revived by Mr. Fortin with support from the USFS and the Waterman Scholarship Fund for the 2005 season. Chris Hilke, another Antioch student, was hired as the steward in 2005-2006. Nat Scrimshaw, through the Margret and H. A. Rey Center (now called the Rey Cultural Center) supported the stewardship 2006-2008. This included hiring another Antioch student as a dedicated steward for the 2007 season. Chris completed his Antioch University New England Master’s thesis project on the site during that time in 2007. Other people associated with this site at that time: Rebecca Oreskes (USFS, Waterman), Laura Waterman, Dan Newton (WVAIA), Dick Fortin, Jennifer Preiss (USFS), Nat Scrimshaw, Tom Wessels (AUNE).
The practice was revived around 2010 by Kim Votta, the Executive Director of the Rey Center at the time. The Welch Ledges Education and Stewardship Program involved stewards who educated trail users about hiker impacts, collected data, and protected the fragile plant communities on the Ledges. We have no data from this program later than 2014. During 2017-2018 the Rey Center underwent a restructuring, and stewarding was not included in their 2018 or 2020 strategic plans. Leah Elliot, current Executive Director, was interviewed for this report in 2018. She explained that stewarding is beyond their organizational capacity at this time. One or more partners with expertise and funding would be required to being the practice back to the Rey Center.
To our knowledge, there is no organized stewardship program at the Ledges at this writing. If you are aware of stewarding or education programs run by other organizations or agencies at this site, please contact the author of this report.
As of 2020 this site is dropped from our ASANE research as the protocols require a partnering organization and stewardship activity.
Vitals
If you have ideas for different models and/or capacity to help bring stewarding back to this very busy hiking spot, please contact Leah at the Rey Center.
The Rey Cultural Center (formerly Margret and H.A. Rey Center)
13 Noon Peak Rd. / PO Box 286
Waterville Valley, NH 03215
Leah Elliot
Executive Director
[email protected]
603-236-3308
Website: www.thereycenter.org
Mission (2018):
The Rey Cultural Center honors the Reys’ spirit of curiosity and discovery by increasing understanding of and participation in art, science and nature through programs for youth, adults and families.
Please visit their website to view the full strategic plan.
The stewardship was revived by Mr. Fortin with support from the USFS and the Waterman Scholarship Fund for the 2005 season. Chris Hilke, another Antioch student, was hired as the steward in 2005-2006. Nat Scrimshaw, through the Margret and H. A. Rey Center (now called the Rey Cultural Center) supported the stewardship 2006-2008. This included hiring another Antioch student as a dedicated steward for the 2007 season. Chris completed his Antioch University New England Master’s thesis project on the site during that time in 2007. Other people associated with this site at that time: Rebecca Oreskes (USFS, Waterman), Laura Waterman, Dan Newton (WVAIA), Dick Fortin, Jennifer Preiss (USFS), Nat Scrimshaw, Tom Wessels (AUNE).
The practice was revived around 2010 by Kim Votta, the Executive Director of the Rey Center at the time. The Welch Ledges Education and Stewardship Program involved stewards who educated trail users about hiker impacts, collected data, and protected the fragile plant communities on the Ledges. We have no data from this program later than 2014. During 2017-2018 the Rey Center underwent a restructuring, and stewarding was not included in their 2018 or 2020 strategic plans. Leah Elliot, current Executive Director, was interviewed for this report in 2018. She explained that stewarding is beyond their organizational capacity at this time. One or more partners with expertise and funding would be required to being the practice back to the Rey Center.
To our knowledge, there is no organized stewardship program at the Ledges at this writing. If you are aware of stewarding or education programs run by other organizations or agencies at this site, please contact the author of this report.
As of 2020 this site is dropped from our ASANE research as the protocols require a partnering organization and stewardship activity.
Vitals
If you have ideas for different models and/or capacity to help bring stewarding back to this very busy hiking spot, please contact Leah at the Rey Center.
The Rey Cultural Center (formerly Margret and H.A. Rey Center)
13 Noon Peak Rd. / PO Box 286
Waterville Valley, NH 03215
Leah Elliot
Executive Director
[email protected]
603-236-3308
Website: www.thereycenter.org
Mission (2018):
The Rey Cultural Center honors the Reys’ spirit of curiosity and discovery by increasing understanding of and participation in art, science and nature through programs for youth, adults and families.
Please visit their website to view the full strategic plan.
Dartmouth Outing Club/ Moosilauke Stewardship
Dartmouth College owns 4600 acres on and around Mt. Moosilauke (4802 feet). Moosilauke is the 10th highest peak in New Hampshire, and a popular hike because the trails are well maintained and there is no charge for parking. Dartmouth has had a presence on Moosilauke since the 1920’s. Activities on the property centers on the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) Moosilauke Ravine Lodge. The Lodge, rebuilt in 2017, offers accommodations and meals to students, alumni and others. They also host groups and conferences. The Lodge is often a starting point for hikes up Moosilauke, and the new layout features more educational information. The Lodge and trails are the responsibility of the Assistant Director of Outdoor Programs reports to the Dir. and Deputy Director of outdoor programs. As of the 2019 data collection, the position for Program Coordinator of the Outdoor Programs Office was added. This role supervises stewarding.
Stewarding began here around 2003 with the help of the Waterman Fund. At the time, trampling of vegetation and rock theft was a big problem. The stewardship mission is to protect the alpine vegetation while promoting the history and culture of the mountain. Field educators at this site are known as “Alpine Stewards.” At this reporting we learned that stewarding is no longer a task of the Lodge Crew. There is a paid summer Trail Crew and stewarding is part of their task rotation. There are 8 crewmembers. They try to have a Steward at the summit 5 days per week: always including weekends and heavy use days, where they interact with the public and remind visitors to stay on the rocks. They share natural history information or field guides as share info, maps, and guidebooks. Stewarding only takes place during the summer season. Trailwork in other seasons is completed by volunteers.
Practically all DOC programs are a volunteer student effort. The outing clubs and related activities run with a ‘spirit of service’ and ‘shared responsibility’ philosophy. Very few leadership, coordination and work positions are paid. That said, additional volunteer and service opportunities are presented to the Dartmouth community year-round. Sometime in the recent years the Dartmouth Outing Club has redesigned their website to make it more user friendly. It is still a place for information and links to the dozens of student run clubs, trip schedules, and reports.
Restoration is not part of the DOC mission, but trail crews have engaged in erosion control projects on the summit that allow for plant recovery. There is a limited amount of passive management at Moosilauke above the tree line. Some bog bridges below, brushing, and signage as you enter the alpine zone. Cairns are used for wayfinding. String fencing has not been used since sometime before 2010.
Moosilauke is the site of several research studies. One of note was started in 1986 and is on Forest Dynamics. Researchers Dr. David Peart (Dartmouth College) and Dr. Peter Palmiotto (Antioch University New England) have been monitoring permanently marked sites on the East and West aspect. The US Forest Service and Bob Capers of University of Connecticut have also been conducting research.
Vitals
Dartmouth Outing Club
Robinson Hall, Rm. 121
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH 03755
Willow Nilsen
Program Coordinator of the Outdoor Programs Office
[email protected]
603-646-2427
Rory Gawler, Assistant Director of the Outdoor Programs Office
[email protected]
Ravine Lodge Manager/Crew
[email protected]
603-646-1607
In season contact Moosilauke Ravine Lodge manager 603-764-5858
Websites: www.dartmouth.edu (Dartmouth College)
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~doc/moosilauke/ (Dartmouth Outing Club - Moosilauke page)
http://doc.dartmouth.edu/wiki/Dartmouth_Outing_Club (Dartmouth Outing Club Wiki)
Facebook page &Twitter account
Mission:
The purpose of the Dartmouth Outing Club shall be to further, through camaraderie in the out-of-doors of a diverse and inclusive membership, the educational objectives of Dartmouth College and its principal of community, by stimulating an appreciation of nature and environmental stewardship, a knowledge of the fundamental crafts of outdoor living, the creative use of leisure time, and above all, the development of such personal traits as initiative, integrity, tolerance, self-reliance, and leadership.
Dartmouth College owns 4600 acres on and around Mt. Moosilauke (4802 feet). Moosilauke is the 10th highest peak in New Hampshire, and a popular hike because the trails are well maintained and there is no charge for parking. Dartmouth has had a presence on Moosilauke since the 1920’s. Activities on the property centers on the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) Moosilauke Ravine Lodge. The Lodge, rebuilt in 2017, offers accommodations and meals to students, alumni and others. They also host groups and conferences. The Lodge is often a starting point for hikes up Moosilauke, and the new layout features more educational information. The Lodge and trails are the responsibility of the Assistant Director of Outdoor Programs reports to the Dir. and Deputy Director of outdoor programs. As of the 2019 data collection, the position for Program Coordinator of the Outdoor Programs Office was added. This role supervises stewarding.
Stewarding began here around 2003 with the help of the Waterman Fund. At the time, trampling of vegetation and rock theft was a big problem. The stewardship mission is to protect the alpine vegetation while promoting the history and culture of the mountain. Field educators at this site are known as “Alpine Stewards.” At this reporting we learned that stewarding is no longer a task of the Lodge Crew. There is a paid summer Trail Crew and stewarding is part of their task rotation. There are 8 crewmembers. They try to have a Steward at the summit 5 days per week: always including weekends and heavy use days, where they interact with the public and remind visitors to stay on the rocks. They share natural history information or field guides as share info, maps, and guidebooks. Stewarding only takes place during the summer season. Trailwork in other seasons is completed by volunteers.
Practically all DOC programs are a volunteer student effort. The outing clubs and related activities run with a ‘spirit of service’ and ‘shared responsibility’ philosophy. Very few leadership, coordination and work positions are paid. That said, additional volunteer and service opportunities are presented to the Dartmouth community year-round. Sometime in the recent years the Dartmouth Outing Club has redesigned their website to make it more user friendly. It is still a place for information and links to the dozens of student run clubs, trip schedules, and reports.
Restoration is not part of the DOC mission, but trail crews have engaged in erosion control projects on the summit that allow for plant recovery. There is a limited amount of passive management at Moosilauke above the tree line. Some bog bridges below, brushing, and signage as you enter the alpine zone. Cairns are used for wayfinding. String fencing has not been used since sometime before 2010.
Moosilauke is the site of several research studies. One of note was started in 1986 and is on Forest Dynamics. Researchers Dr. David Peart (Dartmouth College) and Dr. Peter Palmiotto (Antioch University New England) have been monitoring permanently marked sites on the East and West aspect. The US Forest Service and Bob Capers of University of Connecticut have also been conducting research.
Vitals
Dartmouth Outing Club
Robinson Hall, Rm. 121
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH 03755
Willow Nilsen
Program Coordinator of the Outdoor Programs Office
[email protected]
603-646-2427
Rory Gawler, Assistant Director of the Outdoor Programs Office
[email protected]
Ravine Lodge Manager/Crew
[email protected]
603-646-1607
In season contact Moosilauke Ravine Lodge manager 603-764-5858
Websites: www.dartmouth.edu (Dartmouth College)
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~doc/moosilauke/ (Dartmouth Outing Club - Moosilauke page)
http://doc.dartmouth.edu/wiki/Dartmouth_Outing_Club (Dartmouth Outing Club Wiki)
Facebook page &Twitter account
Mission:
The purpose of the Dartmouth Outing Club shall be to further, through camaraderie in the out-of-doors of a diverse and inclusive membership, the educational objectives of Dartmouth College and its principal of community, by stimulating an appreciation of nature and environmental stewardship, a knowledge of the fundamental crafts of outdoor living, the creative use of leisure time, and above all, the development of such personal traits as initiative, integrity, tolerance, self-reliance, and leadership.
Adirondack High Peaks Summit Steward Program (HPSSP)
The Adirondack Park was created in 1892 by the State of New York and is one of the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States. Park encompasses approximately 6 million acres, nearly half of which belongs to all the people of New York State and is constitutionally protected to remain “forever wild” forest preserve. The remaining half of the Park is private land which includes settlements, farms, timber lands, businesses, homes, and camps. One unique feature is the presence of alpine ecosystems located on the highest mountain summits. These alpine areas contain plant species found nowhere else in the state. Above tree line, there is 173 acres of fragile alpine habitat, spread across 21 mountain summits. Heavy hiker use is degrading these environments, and it has been necessary in recent years to more strictly regulate access and use.
The High Peaks Summit Steward Program (HPSSP) is a partnership between the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), and the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and was founded by active members of the Adirondack hiking and botany community around 1989. In 1989 thirteen people met to discuss what was called “The Crisis in Summit Stewardship”—the damage inflicted upon rare plant species in the alpine zone by increasing numbers of the recreating public. Groups represented included ADK, the Green Mountain Club, the Adirondack Conservancy (now the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy), the New York Natural Heritage Program, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the Adirondack 46ers. The meeting was called by Prof. Edwin “Ketch” Ketchledge, whose tireless efforts on behalf of the Adirondack alpine zone had already included cataloging the rare vegetation and the damage it was sustaining, as well as beginning the work of restoration. It was decided that the best way to protect the remaining alpine ecosystem was to have people stationed on the summits, educating hikers to stay on the solid bedrock and off of the fragile alpine plants and soils. The Adirondack High Peaks Summit Stewardship Program was born from this meeting. It took a collaborative effort to get the program off the ground. ADK, the Adirondack Conservancy and the NYSDEC agreed to partner to hire, train, support, and supervise the stewards. The 46ers provided additional funding, and the New York Natural Heritage Program provided some of the scientific expertise needed. The following June, 1990, the first two summit stewards, headed up Algonquin Peak and Mt. Marcy to begin the work of educating hikers about the fragile alpine plants. Since that time, over 100 other individuals have worked as summit stewards, interacting with well over half a million hikers mainly on Marcy, Algonquin, Wright, Cascade and Colden.
Their “Alpine Stewards,” or “Stewards,” are an educational and interpretive presence on summits with alpine vegetation. There is a full-time coordinator that works out of the ADK’s Adirondak Loj and reports out to the partner organizations. They hire around five stewards per year. Stewards are housed at ADK's Heart Lake Property, and hike from there to their backcountry posts, and are out for about for five days at a time. Stewards visit each peak with alpine vegetation at least once a season. The posts include Mt. Marcy, Algonquin, Cascade, Mt. Colden, and Wright Peak. While on duty they educate the public about fragile alpine communities, conduct biological inventories and monitoring, and work on alpine restoration, and light trail maintenance.
There is a detailed handbook and two and a half-week training occurs each May. They review Adirondack ecology, geology, botany plus other relevant natural and cultural history, interpretation training, Authority of the Resource Technique, LNT Training, Wilderness First Aid, radio protocol, and hand tool training. They also hike several of the summits to learn the routes, train on trail work techniques, and practice greeting visitors. HPSSP had twenty-five active volunteers in the 2018 season. Volunteers usually give a few days over the course of the season.
ADK has a distinctly separate leadership and crew for trail work. However, stewards are trained to assist in trail clearing (blowdowns, etc.) and other maintenance of areas on their route, plus maintain cairns, brushing in undesignated trails to close them off, rock packing, blazing, string fencing (with posts), and scree walls in the alpine zone. The latter is part of restoration work on some summits. Several restoration efforts have been made in the High Peaks, including Whiteface, Marcy, Algonquin, and Colden. Active restoration is defined here as an application of a mix of red fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, fertilizer, and lime. The non-native grasses stabilized the soil, but died off after a couple of seasons, allowing alpine species to grow back.
Several restoration efforts have been made in the High Peaks: (1) Whiteface has had active restoration through the early 90s (including bringing grass seed, fertilizer and lime mix), scree walls; (2) Marcy had some active restoration (grass seed, fertilizer mix), but those efforts ended in the 80s and has had passive restoration (scree wall, string fence, rock packing), since; (3) Algonquin had more active restoration than Marcy, but ended at the same time and has had passive restoration since; and (4) Colden had restoration sites but mostly has had some passive restoration.
Active restoration is defined here as an application of a mix of red fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, fertilizer, and lime. The non-native grasses stabilized the soil, but died off after a couple of seasons, allowing alpine species to grow back. The HPSSP is involved in photopoint monitoring study, or systematic re-photography, since 1999 at points first shot in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. From this study, we’ve found that peaks that have a regular summit steward presence are seeing a much greater increase in the amount of vegetation versus peaks that do not have that regular summit steward presence.
Furthermore, we have seen no statistically significant change in vegetation from 2009 to 2015 despite our contact numbers doubling. This means summit stewards are holding the line despite high use. They are also interested in quantifying the effects of their program, so methods such as attitude surveys are under consideration, and interested in collaborating with other orgs to investigate efficacy of stewardship practices. HPSSP also participates in Mountain Watch and does other work with the NY Natural Heritage Program and the SUNY Schools looking at changes in population of rare alpine plants.
Information about alpine stewardship is found within ADK’s website, and the “Alpine Alert” note is included in all their guidebooks. The program has been listed in local papers (Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Lake Placid News) and covered by local radio (North Country Public Radio). “Adirondac” is ADKs bimonthly magazine. In recent years, ADK has increased its social media presence.
Vitals
Adirondack High Peaks Summit Steward Program (HPSSP)
c/o Adirondack Mountain Club
PO Box 867 (Adirondak Loj)
Lake Placid, NY 12946
Kayla White, Summit Steward Coordinator
[email protected]
518-523-3480 x18
Seth Jones, Education Director
[email protected]
518-523-3480 x 19
Websites:
www.adk.org (ADK) https://www.adk.org/protect/volunteer/summit-stewardship-program/ (HPSSP)
www.dec.ny.gov (NYS Dept. Environmental Conservation)
www.nature.org ,
HPSSP Mission:
To protect New York’s alpine habitat through education, trail work, and research.
ADK Mission:
…Is a member directed, non-profit organization dedicated to responsible recreation and stewardship of NYS forest preserve, wild lands, and waters.
NYS DEC Mission:
…to conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well-being.
TNC Mission
…to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.
The Adirondack Park was created in 1892 by the State of New York and is one of the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States. Park encompasses approximately 6 million acres, nearly half of which belongs to all the people of New York State and is constitutionally protected to remain “forever wild” forest preserve. The remaining half of the Park is private land which includes settlements, farms, timber lands, businesses, homes, and camps. One unique feature is the presence of alpine ecosystems located on the highest mountain summits. These alpine areas contain plant species found nowhere else in the state. Above tree line, there is 173 acres of fragile alpine habitat, spread across 21 mountain summits. Heavy hiker use is degrading these environments, and it has been necessary in recent years to more strictly regulate access and use.
The High Peaks Summit Steward Program (HPSSP) is a partnership between the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), and the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and was founded by active members of the Adirondack hiking and botany community around 1989. In 1989 thirteen people met to discuss what was called “The Crisis in Summit Stewardship”—the damage inflicted upon rare plant species in the alpine zone by increasing numbers of the recreating public. Groups represented included ADK, the Green Mountain Club, the Adirondack Conservancy (now the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy), the New York Natural Heritage Program, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the Adirondack 46ers. The meeting was called by Prof. Edwin “Ketch” Ketchledge, whose tireless efforts on behalf of the Adirondack alpine zone had already included cataloging the rare vegetation and the damage it was sustaining, as well as beginning the work of restoration. It was decided that the best way to protect the remaining alpine ecosystem was to have people stationed on the summits, educating hikers to stay on the solid bedrock and off of the fragile alpine plants and soils. The Adirondack High Peaks Summit Stewardship Program was born from this meeting. It took a collaborative effort to get the program off the ground. ADK, the Adirondack Conservancy and the NYSDEC agreed to partner to hire, train, support, and supervise the stewards. The 46ers provided additional funding, and the New York Natural Heritage Program provided some of the scientific expertise needed. The following June, 1990, the first two summit stewards, headed up Algonquin Peak and Mt. Marcy to begin the work of educating hikers about the fragile alpine plants. Since that time, over 100 other individuals have worked as summit stewards, interacting with well over half a million hikers mainly on Marcy, Algonquin, Wright, Cascade and Colden.
Their “Alpine Stewards,” or “Stewards,” are an educational and interpretive presence on summits with alpine vegetation. There is a full-time coordinator that works out of the ADK’s Adirondak Loj and reports out to the partner organizations. They hire around five stewards per year. Stewards are housed at ADK's Heart Lake Property, and hike from there to their backcountry posts, and are out for about for five days at a time. Stewards visit each peak with alpine vegetation at least once a season. The posts include Mt. Marcy, Algonquin, Cascade, Mt. Colden, and Wright Peak. While on duty they educate the public about fragile alpine communities, conduct biological inventories and monitoring, and work on alpine restoration, and light trail maintenance.
There is a detailed handbook and two and a half-week training occurs each May. They review Adirondack ecology, geology, botany plus other relevant natural and cultural history, interpretation training, Authority of the Resource Technique, LNT Training, Wilderness First Aid, radio protocol, and hand tool training. They also hike several of the summits to learn the routes, train on trail work techniques, and practice greeting visitors. HPSSP had twenty-five active volunteers in the 2018 season. Volunteers usually give a few days over the course of the season.
ADK has a distinctly separate leadership and crew for trail work. However, stewards are trained to assist in trail clearing (blowdowns, etc.) and other maintenance of areas on their route, plus maintain cairns, brushing in undesignated trails to close them off, rock packing, blazing, string fencing (with posts), and scree walls in the alpine zone. The latter is part of restoration work on some summits. Several restoration efforts have been made in the High Peaks, including Whiteface, Marcy, Algonquin, and Colden. Active restoration is defined here as an application of a mix of red fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, fertilizer, and lime. The non-native grasses stabilized the soil, but died off after a couple of seasons, allowing alpine species to grow back.
Several restoration efforts have been made in the High Peaks: (1) Whiteface has had active restoration through the early 90s (including bringing grass seed, fertilizer and lime mix), scree walls; (2) Marcy had some active restoration (grass seed, fertilizer mix), but those efforts ended in the 80s and has had passive restoration (scree wall, string fence, rock packing), since; (3) Algonquin had more active restoration than Marcy, but ended at the same time and has had passive restoration since; and (4) Colden had restoration sites but mostly has had some passive restoration.
Active restoration is defined here as an application of a mix of red fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, fertilizer, and lime. The non-native grasses stabilized the soil, but died off after a couple of seasons, allowing alpine species to grow back. The HPSSP is involved in photopoint monitoring study, or systematic re-photography, since 1999 at points first shot in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. From this study, we’ve found that peaks that have a regular summit steward presence are seeing a much greater increase in the amount of vegetation versus peaks that do not have that regular summit steward presence.
Furthermore, we have seen no statistically significant change in vegetation from 2009 to 2015 despite our contact numbers doubling. This means summit stewards are holding the line despite high use. They are also interested in quantifying the effects of their program, so methods such as attitude surveys are under consideration, and interested in collaborating with other orgs to investigate efficacy of stewardship practices. HPSSP also participates in Mountain Watch and does other work with the NY Natural Heritage Program and the SUNY Schools looking at changes in population of rare alpine plants.
Information about alpine stewardship is found within ADK’s website, and the “Alpine Alert” note is included in all their guidebooks. The program has been listed in local papers (Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Lake Placid News) and covered by local radio (North Country Public Radio). “Adirondac” is ADKs bimonthly magazine. In recent years, ADK has increased its social media presence.
Vitals
Adirondack High Peaks Summit Steward Program (HPSSP)
c/o Adirondack Mountain Club
PO Box 867 (Adirondak Loj)
Lake Placid, NY 12946
Kayla White, Summit Steward Coordinator
[email protected]
518-523-3480 x18
Seth Jones, Education Director
[email protected]
518-523-3480 x 19
Websites:
www.adk.org (ADK) https://www.adk.org/protect/volunteer/summit-stewardship-program/ (HPSSP)
www.dec.ny.gov (NYS Dept. Environmental Conservation)
www.nature.org ,
HPSSP Mission:
To protect New York’s alpine habitat through education, trail work, and research.
ADK Mission:
…Is a member directed, non-profit organization dedicated to responsible recreation and stewardship of NYS forest preserve, wild lands, and waters.
NYS DEC Mission:
…to conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well-being.
TNC Mission
…to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.
Monadnock Ecological Research and Education Project
The 3,165 ft. Mount Monadnock is at the center of Monadnock State Park, located in southern New Hampshire, about 90 miles northwest of Boston, MA. NH Parks and Recreation has the management contract on the thousands of acres of protected highland that surround it, but several parties share the ownership of the landscape. In addition to having aesthetic, recreational, and economic importance, Mount Monadnock is ecologically diverse. Mount Monadnock’s open summit is an excellent example of the subalpine rocky bald natural community as defined by the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, and there are several exemplary forest communities on the hillsides below. The Mountain's steep altitudinal grade, latitudinal position between two ecoregions, a fire-induced timberline, and other conditions contribute to an abundance of plant communities. In fact, all three of New Hampshire's biomes, alpine tundra, boreal forest, and eastern-deciduous forest, are found on the mountain. These biomes include plant communities that typically occur at more northern latitudes and higher altitudes. For instance, the high-elevation spruce-fir forests on the mountain's upper slopes replicate lowland forests at more northern latitudes. The rocky balds are home to communities found at higher elevations in the White Mountains. Species of note include Appalachian fir clubmoss (Huperzia appalachiana), boreal bentgrass (Agrostis borealis), highland rush (Juncus trifidus), and mountain sandwort (Arenaria Montana).
The mountain is “2nd most climbed” in the world. Ten thousand visitors over Columbus Day weekend, for example, is not unusual. The majority of visitors are recreational or novice users from within 2-3 hours driving distance. MERE Stewards usually make at least 1000+ contacts per season. Their primary issues are hikers off trail/ bushwhacking, unprepared hikers, and large group impact. Dogs were historically an issue, but no longer allowed in the park.
Mount Monadnock’s location, high use, and unique natural attributes prompted Peter Palmiotto and graduate students from Antioch University New England (AUNE) to begin the Monadnock Ecological Research and Education Project (MERE) in 2007. MERE’s alpine mission is to “enhance the visitor experience while maintaining integrity of the mountain.” MERE has a director (full-time AUNE faculty) and a part-time staff funded through federal work study and small grants, that includes a project coordinator, education coordinator, volunteer coordinator, and two to four summit stewards/educators (pending funding). MERE’s educators are known as “Summit Stewards” or “Stewards,” and perform both patrol and education tasks. They interact with public in a friendly way, educate about the alpine plants and human impact, and assist park manager in emergencies. It is a day job and Stewards average around one day per week that requires strenuous hikes to Mt. Monadnock Summit or the Virginia Falls Site (top of most-used trail). They focus on days with large groups (300+ students), holidays and weekends. During inclement weather, Stewards put in office time researching and preparing educational materials. Some Stewards do school visits as well. MERE coordinates closely with the Park Manager, but unfortunately, there has been a lot of turnover in that position over the past 10 years, which has been disruptive in terms of communication, relationship building, and institutional memory.
MERE has a Summit Steward handbook; review and training varies depending on when the new Steward starts. Some stewards attend a formal training at the invitation of the ADK HPSSP. These stewards train others. New stewards review park policy and emergency procedures with the Park Manager. Stewards work with the park’s volunteer program, which is now a few years old and focuses on trail adoption, maintenance, and park cleanup. Trail work is managed by NH Parks and implemented by the Society for the Protection of NH Forests, community service groups, visiting volunteer trail crews and individual volunteers. At this time MERE Stewards do not do trail work. Passive management above the treeline includes some park created blazing and other writing painted on rocks (done years ago). MERE has experimented with scree wall and signage in partnership with the park.
Antioch University New England (AUNE) is the only institution at work on the site. Research includes plant Monitoring (Adopt-A-Crevice-Community with Keene High School), ice storm damage analysis (permanent sampling points in map preview below), some experimental restoration studies, and a planned photopoint study. Graduate students have conducted user studies in the past, and one managed a redesign of the visitor center exhibits a few years back.
MERE has a website nested within the larger AUNE site. It is informative and provides an overview of the organization and the social and ecological conditions of Mt. Monadnock, and their current educational and research activities. MERE has an excellent relationship with the local paper, the “Keene Sentinel,” and often appears in their environmental section “River Record.”
Vitals
MERE
c/o Antioch University New England
40 Avon St.
Keene, NH 03431
Dr. Peter Palmiotto, Director of MERE
Chair of Environmental Studies Department at AUNE
[email protected]
603-283-2338
Websites: www.antioch.edu (AUNE)
MERE: https://www.antioch.edu/new-england/resources/centers-institutes/monadnock-ecological-research-education-project-mere/
Monadnock State Park: http://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/monadnock-state-park.aspx
NH Forest Society: https://forestsociety.org/home
Mission:
The Monadnock Ecological Research and Education (MERE) Project was initiated in 2007 by Professor Peter Palmiotto and graduate students in the Environmental Studies Department at Antioch University New England …to promote informed use and foster appreciation of Mount Monadnock through ecological research, monitoring, and educational outreach.
The 3,165 ft. Mount Monadnock is at the center of Monadnock State Park, located in southern New Hampshire, about 90 miles northwest of Boston, MA. NH Parks and Recreation has the management contract on the thousands of acres of protected highland that surround it, but several parties share the ownership of the landscape. In addition to having aesthetic, recreational, and economic importance, Mount Monadnock is ecologically diverse. Mount Monadnock’s open summit is an excellent example of the subalpine rocky bald natural community as defined by the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, and there are several exemplary forest communities on the hillsides below. The Mountain's steep altitudinal grade, latitudinal position between two ecoregions, a fire-induced timberline, and other conditions contribute to an abundance of plant communities. In fact, all three of New Hampshire's biomes, alpine tundra, boreal forest, and eastern-deciduous forest, are found on the mountain. These biomes include plant communities that typically occur at more northern latitudes and higher altitudes. For instance, the high-elevation spruce-fir forests on the mountain's upper slopes replicate lowland forests at more northern latitudes. The rocky balds are home to communities found at higher elevations in the White Mountains. Species of note include Appalachian fir clubmoss (Huperzia appalachiana), boreal bentgrass (Agrostis borealis), highland rush (Juncus trifidus), and mountain sandwort (Arenaria Montana).
The mountain is “2nd most climbed” in the world. Ten thousand visitors over Columbus Day weekend, for example, is not unusual. The majority of visitors are recreational or novice users from within 2-3 hours driving distance. MERE Stewards usually make at least 1000+ contacts per season. Their primary issues are hikers off trail/ bushwhacking, unprepared hikers, and large group impact. Dogs were historically an issue, but no longer allowed in the park.
Mount Monadnock’s location, high use, and unique natural attributes prompted Peter Palmiotto and graduate students from Antioch University New England (AUNE) to begin the Monadnock Ecological Research and Education Project (MERE) in 2007. MERE’s alpine mission is to “enhance the visitor experience while maintaining integrity of the mountain.” MERE has a director (full-time AUNE faculty) and a part-time staff funded through federal work study and small grants, that includes a project coordinator, education coordinator, volunteer coordinator, and two to four summit stewards/educators (pending funding). MERE’s educators are known as “Summit Stewards” or “Stewards,” and perform both patrol and education tasks. They interact with public in a friendly way, educate about the alpine plants and human impact, and assist park manager in emergencies. It is a day job and Stewards average around one day per week that requires strenuous hikes to Mt. Monadnock Summit or the Virginia Falls Site (top of most-used trail). They focus on days with large groups (300+ students), holidays and weekends. During inclement weather, Stewards put in office time researching and preparing educational materials. Some Stewards do school visits as well. MERE coordinates closely with the Park Manager, but unfortunately, there has been a lot of turnover in that position over the past 10 years, which has been disruptive in terms of communication, relationship building, and institutional memory.
MERE has a Summit Steward handbook; review and training varies depending on when the new Steward starts. Some stewards attend a formal training at the invitation of the ADK HPSSP. These stewards train others. New stewards review park policy and emergency procedures with the Park Manager. Stewards work with the park’s volunteer program, which is now a few years old and focuses on trail adoption, maintenance, and park cleanup. Trail work is managed by NH Parks and implemented by the Society for the Protection of NH Forests, community service groups, visiting volunteer trail crews and individual volunteers. At this time MERE Stewards do not do trail work. Passive management above the treeline includes some park created blazing and other writing painted on rocks (done years ago). MERE has experimented with scree wall and signage in partnership with the park.
Antioch University New England (AUNE) is the only institution at work on the site. Research includes plant Monitoring (Adopt-A-Crevice-Community with Keene High School), ice storm damage analysis (permanent sampling points in map preview below), some experimental restoration studies, and a planned photopoint study. Graduate students have conducted user studies in the past, and one managed a redesign of the visitor center exhibits a few years back.
MERE has a website nested within the larger AUNE site. It is informative and provides an overview of the organization and the social and ecological conditions of Mt. Monadnock, and their current educational and research activities. MERE has an excellent relationship with the local paper, the “Keene Sentinel,” and often appears in their environmental section “River Record.”
Vitals
MERE
c/o Antioch University New England
40 Avon St.
Keene, NH 03431
Dr. Peter Palmiotto, Director of MERE
Chair of Environmental Studies Department at AUNE
[email protected]
603-283-2338
Websites: www.antioch.edu (AUNE)
MERE: https://www.antioch.edu/new-england/resources/centers-institutes/monadnock-ecological-research-education-project-mere/
Monadnock State Park: http://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/monadnock-state-park.aspx
NH Forest Society: https://forestsociety.org/home
Mission:
The Monadnock Ecological Research and Education (MERE) Project was initiated in 2007 by Professor Peter Palmiotto and graduate students in the Environmental Studies Department at Antioch University New England …to promote informed use and foster appreciation of Mount Monadnock through ecological research, monitoring, and educational outreach.
This material is copyrighted. Do not copy or distribute without permission. (c) 2022 J. Weiss
This area represents 2018-2020 data collection and communication. It is still undergoing some edits. Please contact me if you have a correction. Programmatic changes will be collected in the 2021 data collection. Press inquiries: Please Contact Dr. Jill Weiss at SUNY-ESF [email protected]
This area represents 2018-2020 data collection and communication. It is still undergoing some edits. Please contact me if you have a correction. Programmatic changes will be collected in the 2021 data collection. Press inquiries: Please Contact Dr. Jill Weiss at SUNY-ESF [email protected]