Fall Summit Steward

Summit stewards are responsible for educating the hiking public about the rare and fragile alpine ecosystem of the High Peaks.

ADK (Adirondack Mountain Club) works to protect New York State wild lands and waters by promoting responsible outdoor recreation and building a statewide constituency of land stewardship advocates. Since 1922, the organization has worked to increase access to the backcountry by building trails, conserving natural areas, and developing a stewardship community that supports the ethical and safe use of New York’s outdoor spaces.

A member, donor, and volunteer-supported organization, ADK reaches across New York through its chapters to inspire people to enjoy the outdoors ethically.

POSITION SUMMARY

Summit stewards are responsible for educating the hiking public about the rare and fragile alpine ecosystem of the High Peaks. A summit steward’s foremost goal is to encourage hikers to walk on the solid bedrock above tree line, thereby protecting the threatened and endangered flora of the alpine zone. As educators and interpretive naturalists, Summit Stewards teach hikers about:

• Minimizing impact on alpine summits
• The significance of alpine vegetation in the context of the state’s natural heritage

Summit stewards are Adirondack Mountain Club employees. The Adirondack High Peaks Summit Stewardship Program is a cooperative effort of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and ADK.

Education – 50%

• Provide a welcoming atmosphere to the public
• Through “low-key,” person to person educational contacts on the summits protect the endangered alpine flora by encouraging hikers to walk on the solid bedrock
• Provide hikers with interpretive education to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of the alpine ecosystem. Have information available about the natural history, ecology, Leave No Trace outdoor skills and ethics, and botany of the summits
• Provide accurate trail information
• Encourage hikers to follow DEC regulations and inform DEC of trail misuse and emergencies, provide first aid when necessary. Summit Stewards arenot law enforcement
• The Summit Stewardship Program shall not
  be
  responsible
  for initiating or conducting backcountry search and rescue operations

Trail Maintenance – 40%

• Complete alpine trail definition projects which include
• Building scree walls
• Rock packing exposed soil
• Brushing in social trails
• After Labor Day Weekend, the schedule shifts to focus on trail maintenance projects Wednesday through Friday, and person to person education on the weekends.

Research – 10%

• Work to collect population data of state listed alpine plants, which is used to update the database of the New York Natural Heritage Program
• Collect data on current research projects including AMC’s Mountain Watch and photopoint monitoring

This is a field-based position. Summit stewards are expected to be in the backcountry for the five-day work week, utilizing backcountry sites and sleeping in a backpacking tent. Further details about backcountry accommodations will be discussed in the interview process.

Basic:

• A passion for outdoor education and a commitment to the mission, values, and vision of the Adirondack Mountain Club
• Commitment to stewardship and environmental education
• Self-driven and comfortable working mainly independently with minimal supervision
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with a diversity of people
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail to manage projects
• Must be willing to live and work outdoors in inclement weather
• Ability to tolerate long hours, insects, and solitude
• Ability to navigate 5–10 miles by foot over rough terrain with heavy pack loads
• Gather and report use figures from the summits to be incorporated into the High Peaks Unit Management
• Participate in the evaluation of the program by preparing a final report that details the season and makes suggestions for the future
• Supplemental duties/responsibilities to support other club operations, as requested
• Current Wilderness First Aid Certification

Preferred:

• Backcountry camping experience
• Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor course or higher certification
• Curre…