Wilderness Intern
The Gardiner Ranger District has a diverse and robust recreation program including both front and back-country recreation; the district manages approximately 287,000 acres of the Absaroka - Beartooth wilderness; includes all season recreation opportunities including skiing, snowmobiling, picnic areas, backcountry trails, 6 developed campgrounds, 4 developed river accesses and numerous other special recreation sites such as a petrified forest interpretative trail. The location of the district to Yellowstone National Park provides extraordinary opportunities for collaboration and meaningful coordination in many program areas. In addition to Yellowstone National Park, the communities of Cooke City and Gardiner are all part of the public fabric of this district.
The Gardiner Ranger District of the Gallatin National Forest is looking for one or two interns passionate about wilderness stewardship. The primary work area will be in the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness and the Crazy Mountains which average from 6,000 to 10,000 feet above sea level and are home to large wildlife populations including mountain goat, elk, moose, deer, black and grizzly bear, mountain lion, wolf, and wolverine plus many smaller mammals and birds and differse plant communities.
Interns will participate in orientation and training sessions with local District trail crew members and will work alongside the trail crew during the first portion of the summer preparing trails for summer use. Later in the season interns will patrol high use areas making visitor contacts, providing Leave No Trace information, naturalizing campsites and conducting wilderness monitoring. Candidates should be self-motivated and self-sufficient to work in a backcountry setting that requires overnight camping trips of 4 to 8 days in duration. Interns will be carrying 40-50 lb packs and traveling 5 to 10 miles per day. Housing will be provided.
