The Caretaker Life... (Written on July 4... Oops!)

Green Mountain Club Caretaker- Round 2!

This time... Stratton Pond Caretaker, southern VT

I think summer in southern Vermont at a lower elevation pond is supposed to be warmer... As I sit on my platform in the rain, wearing my down coat on the 4th of July I think... Maybe no? 

So... The start of this year's field season found me still without a teaching job but with the offer to return to the GMC as a southern caretaker. What's the difference between this year in the south and last year in the north? Last year I was the northern most caretaker at a subalpine pond on the Long Trail... On a windy ridge near Mt Mansfield. I was also at one of the lowest overnight use sights. This year I am the southernmost shelter caretaker on the Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail as it makes its way through Vermont. I am at a pond again, but much lower in elevation... Although not warmer so far! It is also the highest use overnight site on the trail... So many hikers!!

Other differnces? Last year I maintained 3 shelters with 1 composting privy and 2 molderers. (Composters get scooped, molderers get stirred in case you wondered!) last year I also maintained about 12.5 miles of the Long Trail and side trails. This year I maintain 4 shelters, 2 campsites, 3 composting systems and 2 molderers, and about 10 miles of trails.

So there you have it. :)

But here is the true difference.... That just may define my whole season... Last year I had LTE cell service in my tent. I could talk, text, and check the Internets whenever I was in the mood. I was never out of touch... This year I get barely one bar of 3G SOMETIMES and no Internets! No emails, phone calls, or FB unless I walk the mile to the other side of the pond.

That's the hardest part of Caretaking I think this year. I've scooped 2 of my 3 privies (one of them multiple times), walked lots of miles, already cleared some major trail obstacles... But I can't talk to my favorite people outside this little piece of heaven by the pond. 

I do love my job! I love being here... In the stillness of a wilderness pond... Meeting AT and LT thru hikers and their weekend counterparts. This is a good place... But it's lonely too. Maybe I'll learn to embrace that... I'll keep ya posted when I have service!!

The sunsets are pretty nice too!!