Wilderness Ranger
The McKenzie River Ranger Station is located approximately 50 miles east of the Eugene/Springfield metro area on Highway 126 near the small community of McKenzie Bridge. McKenzie Bridge is one of nine small communities located in the McKenzie river valley between the cities of Eugene and Bend. The community of Blue River is located about 12 miles from the Ranger Station. Services found in these two communities include restaurants, lodging, groceries, gas, churches and a medical clinic. Daily bus service from the Eugene area to the Ranger Station is available for more complete shopping or entertainment needs. More information about these communities can be found at: http://www.el.com/To/mckenzierivervalley/
The Cascade Crest Wilderness Working Group (USFS) will be hiring a student intern to assist with the Wilderness Solitude Monitoring Study. This project will entail working with a Trimble Unit to collect field data in an effort to better understand the distribution of people in the wilderness area. Interns will also complete a variety of field work in support of the wilderness program which will include rehabilitating campsites. Interns are expected to spend up to 4 days in the wilderness at a time, and be able to work with a Trimble GPS Unit.Most work will take place in the adjacent Three Sisters, Waldo Lake and Diamond Peak Wilderness Areas. Trails that run through old growth Douglas fir and cedar forests lead up to the Three Sisters volcanoes. Although a journey through the Three Sisters Wilderness may begin as low as 2000 feet in elevation, the glaciated North, Middle and South Sisters volcanoes are all taller than 10,000 feet creating a unique wilderness experience. Within the wilderness areas of the Cascade Crest, one can find a landscape of lava fields, waterfalls, alpine meadows, lakes and streams. The wilderness areas have over 250 miles of trail including nearly 40 miles of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. Unique to the area, one can discover obsidian cliffs used by Native Americans to make tools and weapons. The Obsidian Cliffs is a limited entry area with a rich archeological history. In recent history, the Waldo Lake Wilderness had a large fire. The recent fire areas show firsthand the power of nature and disturbance ecology and provide a wonderful opportunity for an education in ecology.Primary Duties
- Assist in the collection of data which tracks the number of people in various areas throughout the wilderness.
- Maintain wilderness campsites including site cleanup and restoration.
- Backpack with 50lbs or more for up to 8 days.
- Initiate public contact in the field to enhance user’s wilderness experience and protect wilderness resources.
- Assist with compliance checks and inspections on existing permits under Special-Use Authorization.
- Keep bulletin boards maintained with current information and other educational material. Help with sign replacement as needed and maintain existing signs.
- Monitor trail conditions within the wilderness and participate in trail maintenance duties.
- Assist to collect and input data for the annual wilderness reports, such as permit collection and input, and collect other data needed to administer the wilderness.
