The MATC Caretaker and Ridgerunner Program

"I can honestly say that this is the best job I have ever had! To live and dance in the elements everyday and be a part of the mountains...I love it!"--Heather Mirczak,
Horns Pond Caretaker (1995 and 1996)

The demands of managing the AT have increased as more than 100,000 hikers in Maine use the trail each year, a 25% increase since 1990. Many Maine summer camps use the AT as part of their programs. In fact, over 40% of AT users in Maine are from organized camp groups, including scouting, colleges, high schools, and churches. The AT resource is free of charge to these groups, and provides (outside of Baxter State Park) the only long-distance hiking opportunity in Maine.

Alice Nelder, Horns Pond Caretaker (2004)
Alice Nelder -- Horns Pond caretaker (2004)

 

The Caretaker and Ridge Runner Education (CARE) committee was formed in 1992, responding to a need to develop a preventative and proactive approach to protecting the AT resource. In 2003, a total of 57 volunteers helped with the CARE program. They worked 1,443 hours. Committee members come from many organizations, including: the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, The Appalachian Trail Conference, Bureau of Parks and Lands, Baxter State park, as well as a number of members from the community.


Dozens of volunteers come together at the start and the end of the season to "pack-in" and "pack-out," helping the caretakers and ridge runners carry their camping gear and equipment to their sites and setting up or breaking down the facility.


As the trail's popularity has flourished, so to have the impacts of human use, including water pollution, erosion, habitat destruction, and the loss of a wilderness experience. The focus of our Caretaker and Ridge Runner program is to provide environmental education to the Trail's users, provide a management presence on the most heavily traveled sections, and enhance communication with organized groups. As such, the program provides:



    
     A) On-trail hiker education and awareness of Leave No Trace (LNT) ethics and
     skills;
    
     B) Daily management of the AT lands through interaction with AT users;
    
     C) On-trail evaluation by caretakers that is sent back to organized groups;
    
     D) Crisis management, deterrence of vandalism, and nuisance problems.





     

          canoeists
          
Progress made since 1992, includes:


    

  The Caretaker and Ridge Runner program has helped reduce impact to Horns Pond, Gulf Hagas, and Piazza Rock by 30% to 50%.
    

  Group sizes reduced from an average of 12 to 10.
    

  One college now spreads its trips out over the entire summer instead of 3 weeks.
    

  99.9% of users bring tents, stoves and water purification devices, as compared to only 75% of 1992 users.
    

  Emergency rescues at Gulf Hagas dropped by 70% in the first year of the program, and have continued to remain low, in large part, because of the presence of a Gulf Hagas ridge runner.
    

  Questionnaires indicate strong public approval of the program!




Thank you! To the following organizations for their direct financial support:


The Appalachian Trail Conference

          Bureau of Parks and Lands

          Piscataquis County

          L.L. Bean

          Davis Conservation

          Guy Waterman, Alpine Stewardship Fund









Our Caretaker and Ridge Runner positions are seasonal, full-time jobs running from June to October. If you would like a description of one or all of the sites, please select one or all of the following buttons:


Horns Pond


Abol Bridge


Piazza Rock


Gulf Hagas





View of North and South Horns (So. Horn is on left).
A view of the Bigelow Mountain Range








Last updated, May 20, 2006. This webpage was designed by Sarah Herdan
 and is maintained by
MATC Webmaster Terry L. Karkos. Copyright ©1997-2006 MATC.
 Bigelow Mountain Range photo is copyright © 1985 Terry L. Karkos.







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