Tell me about your journey. What roles have you played with the Alliance?

Over the years I’ve been secretary as well as on the board. I supervised interns. We had an AmeriCorps guy, Dylan, we put an office in my barn for High Peaks. He was from Waterville. When he was up in this neck of the woods and at the office rather than him going home, he would stay overnight here. This was all part of my contribution to the High Peaks Alliance.

That’s where being able to do the Thank You’s is, is great for me. I’m an administrative organizational type of person and use me for that in any way, absolutely you can. Even when I was a secretary, I think I was secretary for five or six years, I didn’t always understand what I was writing down, but I wrote it down. These notes make sense to somebody, right?

I’m not out there cleaning up trails. I’m not cutting down trees, but this is the kind of thing that I can do.

 

What advice would you give to someone who loves the High Peaks but isn’t sure how to get involved? 

The first thing is to talk to you or Brent. The second thing, looking at the things that I have been able to do, sending out the acknowledgments when we get a donation, putting names into an Excel sheet when you’ve had people handwrite their attendance at an event or a meeting.

That’s the kind of thing most people can do at this point. There are probably a ton of ways that don’t have to do with picking up a shovel or a saw that you could still participate.

We held meetings in the barn here and we did the snowshoe little event one time ending up here and we did hot cocoa and chili and you know that was a fun thing and the barbecue down and right by the kiosk there you know the ATV clubs were invited and so there’s there are ways that you can help it just may not be what you think is typical.

Think of things that don’t require what you think would be required to be a part of that organization.

 

Would you share a memorable moment related to conservation? 

A memorable moment was when Betsy, Bud, and Ben came to my door and asked about starting the Fly Rod Crosby Trail on the property here. They gave a little history of how Bud had really wanted to do it. Ben had the GPS. He knew where it would go.

Of course, Betsy was always supportive of everything. What’s interesting is that my husband was like, “No, not interested.” I’m like, “Are you kidding me?” We left it at “We’ll let you know.” When they left I was like, “We’re doing that.” Obviously, he came around, but that was really what kind of introduced me to conserving land for recreation in this area that’s all about that.

 

What unique challenges or opportunities might surprise people moving to the High Peaks region?

We were prepared, but it was the distance to goods in healthcare was noticeable compared to where we had come from. I had three hospitals within 20 minutes of where I came from in New Jersey.

People who live here or were born and raised here understand the uniqueness of this place. It’s part of who they are and that needs to be respected by people who are moving into the area. I feel that people that move in either embrace the good and the challenge, or leave, and that’s happened.

When we did this house, we gutted it. Literally. Every wall was down. We lived here during it. Steve Mitchell, he’s a mason, made a new chimney for us. He did the brickwork in here. I just remember saying to him, do you think we’re crazy to be doing all this? He says, I don’t think you’re crazy, but I think you’re hardcore. I think that’s what you need to be.

 

Is there a specific project you’ve been involved with that exemplifies the Alliance mission? 

Well, the Fly Rod Crosby Trail and trying to maintain public land or private land for public use. And the Birding Trail. I don’t even know why that one touched my heart so much, but right from the very beginning when it very first came up about the idea of maybe purchasing the land, I kind of got the feeling not a lot of people were on board with that and I was like, I think that’s such a great idea.

 

How do you see the relationship between conservation and community?

What comes to mind is that there needs to be mutual respect. For people coming into the area or people that have been here forever or not forever, for a while, respect is as important and so is outdoor experience and knowledge.

 

Have you seen the traditional uses change?

Trail closures. That’s what I’ve seen. Gates all over the place where there were none before. That’s a very sad thing. It’s even sadder when people who are using this private land for public use are not respectful. That’s what causes people to put up gates. It’s kind of a vicious circle.

 

Have recreational users changed?

What I have had in the last couple of years are more disrespectful hunters. That’s why I’ve posted this land. I didn’t really care and then there was two years ago there was a guy who parked at the bottom of the hill here where my it’s open to my field.

There was a deer in the field. He stepped out of his truck and shot at the deer then a 12-year-old kid came out of the truck too. They walked into the field. They didn’t get the deer but I was incensed.

It was 28 degrees out. I was in my pajamas and bare feet. I couldn’t see what his license plate was. I remember seeing the deer and hearing the truck slowing down. I opened my bedroom window. I gave a humongous whistle. The deer was frozen. I did everything I could do but after that, I was like we’re putting up the big yellow signs.

 

Any last thoughts?

I look at the logo for High Peak Alliance. I don’t hunt. I don’t fish. I don’t have a bicycle anymore. I can’t hike like I used to. I don’t have a snowmobile anymore. Somebody might look at that and say that this organization is for those people.

I’m not one of those people, but I appreciate what High Peaks wants to do for those people. And so how can I contribute to that, you know, and still be a part of it, but not feel like I have to do those things to be a part of it?