What drew you to the National Park Service?
I grew up 45 minutes from the Great Smokies in Tennessee, but I never really knew much about the national parks. In my junior and senior years at Hamilton, I got into the Outing Club, began to enjoy the outdoors, and wanted to educate others. I found an internship at Great Sand Dunes and from there worked for six months as an interpretive ranger at Arches before becoming a backcountry ranger this season. When I first started, I thought I’d absolutely hate the desert, but I’ve gotten so excited working here that I love it now.
What’s your typical day as a ranger like?
They all look really different. As a backcountry ranger, I spend most of my time hiking the park to monitor backcountry camping, canyoneering, road conditions, and other off-trail activities. I’m also part of the search-and-rescue team, so if I’m not keeping tabs on backcountry activity, I’m carrying someone off an arch or out of a canyon. When I was an interpretive park ranger, my job was to help park visitors. Sometimes that meant giving guided hikes, and other times it meant directing visitors to the park bathrooms. A little bit of everything — there really are no typical days.
What’s the most challenging aspect of your job?
Search-and-rescue scenarios are always high-adrenaline and stressful, but honestly, I find it more difficult to be outside by myself all day. On most days, I won’t see anyone. I’m outdoors every day from 6 to 5, and it’s like 95, 100 degrees in the desert. Being exposed to the heat and elements all day can be pretty intense. But I’ve developed a strong connection to the earth and the environment because of it. I might not see many people, but I do see some really cool cactuses!
What about your post-grad life are you most proud of?
I think I’m proud that I haven’t given up on the really hard things yet. I never thought I’d be a backcountry ranger, for example. I always saw them as really buff, go-getter, outdoorsy types, and I didn’t even like being outside until college. I didn’t think I’d ever want to become an EMT or enjoy rappelling off canyons, but I do. I’m glad I haven’t stopped in my tracks yet. I keep challenging myself to get out there and learn new skills.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Eventually, I want to get a permanent position in archaeology in the Park Service; those positions just come by infrequently. As part of my job now, I do archaeological monitoring — visiting sites and doing condition reports on them. I want to get my master’s in the next year or two because it’s really helpful for those archaeological positions. Or, if not, maybe work in the Department of the Interior, which oversees the Park Service. I hope to be doing something involving archaeology and the parks, but who knows what else could come my way; I’m pretty easy to please.
