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 (my house).  

I’m an administrative organizational type of person. That’s where being able to do the Thank You’s is great for me. And use me for that type of thing. Even when I was 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. 

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 (i.e. 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), is the kind of thing most people can do. 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 a snowshoe event one time. We started close to Beal Pond, snowshoed to the Fly Rod Crosby trail, and ended up here.  We did hot cocoa and chili. That was a fun thing, and the barbecue down and by the Fly Rod Crosby kiosk. ATV clubs were invited. So 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 the organization. 

 

Would you share a memorable moment related to conservation? 

A memorable moment was when Betsy Squibb, and Bud and Ben Godsoe came to my door and asked about starting the Fly Ride 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 said “No, not interested”. I’m like, “Are you kidding me?” We left it at “We’ll let you know.” When they left I said, “We’re doing that.” Obviously, he came around, but that was really what kind of introduced me to conserving land for the purposes of recreation in this area. 

 

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

We were prepared, but the distance to goods and 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, built a new chimney for us. He did the brickwork in here. I 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 for private 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 but I felt it was 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 who have been here forever, respect is so important. 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 personally in the last couple of years are more disrespectful hunters. That’s why I’ve posted this land, but just for hunting. I didn’t really care and then two years ago there was a guy who parked at the bottom of the hill here where 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 came out of the truck too. They walked into the field. They didn’t get the deer but I was incensed. I didn’t call the Game Warden; I couldn’t see what his license plate was. It was 28 degrees and I was out in my pajamas and bare feet. I remember seeing the deer and hearing the truck slowing down. I gave a humongous whistle to scare the deer, but it was frozen. I did everything I could do but after that. I added purple blazes to trees along the property, but it seems no one knew what they stood for.  So, I decided to put 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 I contribute to that and still be a part of it, but not feel like I have to do those things to be a part of it.