Federal employees whose jobs directly affect our public lands and hiking

[AK Granola]

I am posting this in the hopes that it creates awareness. As someone who has worked in this realm, and who continues to oversee NPS grant projects that document the history of Alaska, I’m aware that folks don’t always fully understand the amazing work that goes on behind the scenes. I can say that every federal employee I’ve had the privilege to work with in my job, I’ve admired for their deep knowledge, expertise and commitment. I’m sure people have more to add. Some of the federal employees whose jobs are directly tied to hiking and backpacking include:

• NPS staff for assuring our parks are clean, safe and for enthusiastically providing information about our parks, especially programs for children and families; who work with college interns, volunteer groups, researchers, Native tribes, universities, land conservation groups, etc.
• USFS and BLM workers who oversee trails, roads, bridges, signage and working with volunteer organizations to maintain trails
• All these federal agencies have projects that restore degraded wildlife habitats, combat invasive species, conserve migration corridors, restore fish populations, and oversee the protection and recovery of more than 1,600 threatened or endangered species
• All these land managers for their roles in search and rescue coordination
• Postal workers for shipping/receiving resupplies
• Air traffic controllers and safety investigators for our flights to/from trails
• USDA inspectors who strive to keep food safe, so that we don’t get sick on trail from preventable food borne illness
• Public health researchers who ensure we’re ready for the next pandemic, and oversee preventive efforts
• National Weather Service staff for detailed weather predictions
• Researchers and scientists who study the natural and human history, prehistory, botany, biology, fire science, and so much more on public lands

 

[Terran Terran]

 

My dad was a soil scientist for the SCS.

The Soil Conservation Service (SCS), now the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), was formed in 1935 to address the severe soil erosion and dust storms that plagued the Dust Bowl region, and to conserve natural resources through technical assistance to landowners and conservation districts.

[Dan]

I assume that even in this day and age, most map information has its origins in work done by federal employees. Certainly USGS is the ultimate map resource just as NOAA/NWS is the ultimate weather resource.

[Kattt]

How exactly is this not political ? Postal workers? The next pandemic? Air traffic control?
I mean I am all for actual political discourse but cloaking this under federal employees that directly affect hikers? The pandemic in particular. Come on now.

[Terran Terran]

It all affects us. To say it doesn’t is political.

How are folks getting to your GGG? What if they’re sick?

[AK Granola]

I didn’t intend to “cloak” anything. “Postal workers? The next pandemic? Air traffic control?”

I ship my resupplies from Alaska to the lower 48. I can’t ship FedEx or any other shipper, to the places I need a resupply. The postal service is critical. During the 2020 pandemic I had a “golden ticket” to hike the JMT. I had to cancel. Preventing another one relies on continual monitoring and research by the NIH. And of course, I have to fly to the Sierra, Grand Canyon, Glacier, the Bob, the Adirondacks – all places I have had the privilege to hike in recent years.

I’m grateful to all these employees doing their jobs that help me go on backpacking trips. I’m glad it’s not a free for all.

[Kattt]

[comment removed – MK]

[Dan]

I think that the topic as written is not political, but some posts are clearly straying away from the topic and making political statements that are unrelated to backpacking – not even making an effort to relate to backpacking. Being angry at the government (or previous government) doesn’t give you permission to violate the guidelines that Matthew clearly set.

[Kattt]

^^^fair enough.

[Paul Wagner]

While I sign up as a volunteer to do trail work in several different wilderness areas, that trail work consists quite often of fixing things that visitors have broken, demolishing fire rings and campites that are clearly problematic, and burying TP and carrying out trash that they have left behind. The rangers I work with usually lead these efforts.  We make numerous trips per summer, and there is always more of this work than we can get done.

[Adrian Griffin]

I’m a volunteer like Paul. And like him, the majority of my time goes to removing trash, particularly toilet paper, and naturalizing scars from campfires in high-elevation alpine areas.

[Terran Terran]

Unfortunately this is true. On a hot summer day many head for the rivers and the lakes. The coolness of the hills. Go after a holiday, areas are covered with trash. Bins are filled and overflowing. I don’t know why folks can’t just take it home. I helped a guy pick up trash one day. He was doing it, so I joined him. We picked up a few large trash bags full. The next day, the place was trashed again. We cannot just depend on volunteers. God bless them, but they have their limits. Stewardship needs to be promoted. Some folks need babysitters. Walk out ten miles and it’s much nicer. As we get older, that’s less likely. Consider the handicapped. Young children, the elderly. We need our rangers. Instead we have plans of sending our trash to mars.

[Author]

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