The High Peaks Alliance successfully concluded its first season with a dedicated five-person crew of Recreation Rangers. This Recreation Ranger Corps project is a key part of the High Peaks Initiative, a collaborative effort to protect and enhance Maine’s High Peaks region. Coordinated by High Peaks Alliance, the program brings together partners including Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust, Maine Huts & Trails, and the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands to steward trails and campsites, improve access, and promote responsible recreation throughout this treasured outdoor landscape.

In partnership with Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust (RLHT), Maine Huts & Trails (MHT), and the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL), the team made significant progress stewarding trails and campsites across Maine’s High Peaks region. Their work aimed to improve access and promote responsible recreation throughout Maine’s outdoor community.

The season began with three weeks of work on High Peaks Alliance properties, focusing on the Fly Rod Crosby Trail and the Perham Stream Birding Trail. A variety of projects on these trails will help facilitate both motorized and non-motorized use for future recreators.

The next several weeks were spent working alongside Ken Beaulieu of RLHT to complete projects on properties including Bonney Point, Hunter Cove Wildlife Sanctuary, Cascade Stream Gorge, and Forest Legacy trails. Many of these areas required extensive stonework to improve trail durability and provide users with safer, more stable terrain. Bog bridging was also installed in multiple locations, and sections of grown-in trail were cleared to enhance access.

Throughout the season, Rec Rangers took turns working independently to maintain BPL campsites around Flagstaff Lake and Stratton Brook. Additionally, they worked on trails in the Tumbledown Public Lands, which often see high traffic during the summer. They performed trail maintenance here, such as constructing and clearing waterbars, lopping, painting blazes, picking up trash, and managing trailhead kiosks. Community engagement was an important part of the goal, and Rec Rangers frequently provided information about maintenance projects as well as gave directions to members of the public. The response was very positive, reflecting community appreciation for preserving access to these public lands.

The crew also collaborated with the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust to catch up on routine corridor-clearing efforts that haven’t occurred since 2023. With the blessing of the Philips Historical Society, the rangers improved the curb appeal of Daggett Rock by cutting back excessive overgrowth. And, in a day of work on Mt. Abraham, 124 blowdowns were cleared.

The final location for the trail crew was with MHT. During this time, the Rec Rangers were based out of Bigelow Lodge on Flagstaff Lake. They completed bog bridges throughout the Shore Trail near Flagstaff Hut and cut back overgrowth and blowdowns on the Warren’s Trail and Larry’s Trail. They also constructed a new privy to help minimize off-trail traffic.

The High Peaks Alliance extends a sincere thanks to Lead Recreation Ranger Matt Kusper, Assistant Rec Ranger Matthew Whitfield, and Rec Rangers Kayla Palau, Jamie George, and Cole Saunders for their dedication and hard work this summer. In total, they worked on 100 miles of trail, rehabilitating 35. They placed 61 stepping stones and 30 rock steps.

“It was an honor to take part in such an expansive collaborative effort for the benefit of our regional trails. Our trail crew members came from a variety of states and brought with them their own unique experiences and skillsets. We are ambitious to see this program grow and become an essential element of trail maintenance in the High Peaks Region, much like the Appalachian Mountain Club in the White Mountains. I am already eager to begin planning out some exciting projects for the crew for 2026!” said Kusper.

Hiring for next season will begin in January. Those interested in future opportunities, both paid and volunteer, should feel free to contact Matt Kusper at [email protected] and check out High Peaks Alliance’s website, highpeaksalliance.org.

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