Age: 31.
Raised in:Old Forge.
Current residence: Keene.
Occupation: Outdoor skills coordinator at the Adirondack Mountain Club; formerly a dockhand for seven years at Clark’s Marina in Eagle Bay.
Accomplishments: “Becoming a Forty-Sixer in 2007 was a seminal moment in my nascent days as an Adirondack explorer! I’ve embraced the challenges that large tracts of wild lands and waters provide ever since, completing the Northville-Placid Trail, the Ninety-Miler, and the Cranberry Lake Fifty within the Adirondacks. Outside the Blue Line, I’ve completed nearly seven thousand miles of through-hiking on the stunning Pacific Crest Trail, New Zealand’s Te Araroa, and the venerable Appalachian Trail.”
Favorite paddle: “Traveling across the rare, quiet waters of the William C. Whitney Wilderness Area.”
Favorite view: “Any place where you can totally immerse yourself in wildness is a luxury in today’s developing world. Silence, solitude, remoteness, and intact wildlife corridors are at a premium in society. These intangibles cannot be replicated in many other places east of the Rockies, adding to the allure of the Adirondack Park. Whether it’s from your tree stand or from a secluded mountaintop, the feeling you get from a wild space adds significance to the view itself.”
Why I live in the Adirondacks: “After departing my hometown of Old Forge to earn my master’s degree, I returned to the Adirondacks because of the opportunities to live within tight-knit communities that provide access to motor-free recreation. Inimitable Wilderness Areas, abundant wildlife, and quaint towns make the Adirondack Park attractive to young professionals who value the natural world and healthy lifestyles.”
Memorable wildlife experience: “Spotting a fisher and her kits bounding through the forest along the shoreline of Lake George.”
If I were in charge of the Park: “I believe in fostering a personal connection with public lands through exposure, education, and stewardship. My grand immersion into wilderness broadened my perspective and underscored the importance of defending the rare wildlife havens where they still exist. We all have a duty to speak for the trees and denizens that lack a voice. As a member of the Adirondack Wilderness Advocates and co-creator of Foot Stuff Podcast, I intend to preserve the spirit of wildness both near and far. Collectively, we can all work towards a future that invests in our vibrant communities while preserving our backcountry for the creatures that call it home.”
