Igniting Local Voices
The Alliance announces a leadership transition as founding board member and current board president, Lloyd Griscom, steps down at the end of December. Lloyd hands the presidency to John Rogers, vice president and longtime board member, marking a new chapter.
Lloyd helped launch the Alliance to ensure that local voices guided the future of Maine’s High Peaks, one of the state’s largest and wildest landscapes. Over his tenure, he has been instrumental in building trust among hunters, hikers, ATV riders, landowners, and conservation partners, turning early conflicts into collaborations that protected public access and conserved critical habitat.
Forging Trust in the High Peaks
“When Roger Lambert and I started the High Peaks Alliance, we wanted everyone to have a cooperative voice,” said Griscom. “Hunters, hikers, loggers, and landowners all care about this place, and the future of the region depends on us working together. Over time, applying patient optimism with hard work to build trust has helped turn divisions into partnerships. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, and I know that with John’s leadership, HPA will keep protecting access, respecting the wildness of the land, and bringing people together who love these mountains.”
Under Lloyd’s leadership, HPA and its partners advanced key projects, including the Linkletter easement, the Perham Stream Birding Trail, and the Berry Picker side trail to the Appalachian Trail, which links to the Fly Rod Crosby Trail network. These projects reflect his belief in “moving slowly in the right direction,” honoring agreements, and creating solutions that work for both working forests and recreation communities.
Tempered by Service, Ready to Lead
Incoming board president John Rogers brings more than four decades of public service and extensive experience in outdoor recreation. John retired as Director of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in 2020 after a 43‑year career in law enforcement. He lives in Strong, in the heart of the High Peaks, and is an avid outdoorsman. For the past two years, he has built and cleared trails and constructed bridges for local ATV and snowmobile clubs, giving him hands-on knowledge of the multi-use trail systems that knit the High Peaks region together. John is deeply committed to maintaining public access to the High Peaks mountains and surrounding areas through strong partnerships with landowners so that hikers, bikers, paddlers, ATV riders, and snowmobilers can continue to share the landscape.
“Lloyd’s legacy is the culture of trust he built,” said Rogers. “He showed that we can honor private landownership, protect wild character, and still keep the outdoors open to everyone. My goal is to carry that forward, working with our partners so the High Peaks remain a place where people of all backgrounds can connect with the land.”
Carrying the Flame Forward
As HPA looks ahead, the organization will continue to focus on conserving the High Peaks region, maintaining multi‑use trail access, and strengthening relationships with partners, from local clubs and towns to statewide land trusts. Lloyd will remain involved as a board member and mentor, supporting a smooth transition as John steps into the president’s role.
Hear more from Lloyd in his recent Voices of the High Peaks interview. John Rogers will be featured as January’s VOHP interviewee, so stay tuned!
