Appalachian Trail Ridgerunners

Ridgerunners on the Appalachian Trail in Maine

* Saddleback Mountain * Bigelow Mountain and the *Hundred-Mile Wilderness

Ridgerunner Job Description:

• Meet, greet and collect data about hikers on the Appalachian Trail including youth groups, day & overnight visitors, and long-distance backpackers.
• Teach backcountry knowledge, skills and ethics, for example protecting water sources, wildlife, fording a stream, and minimizing fire impacts.
• Provide education about rare alpine plants and steward summits and ridgelines.
• Manage and provide maintenance at campsites.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge, skills and ethics of low impact backcountry hiking and camping practices.
• Comfort with primitive, solitary, outdoor living and working conditions.
• Good physical condition – able to hike with a 40 lb. backpack.
• Public/customer service skills.
• Professional appearance and attitude
• Good communication skills including oral, by smart phone (required), and written.
• Long-distance hiking experience.

Housing/Food/Transportation: Ridgerunners will camp at backcountry sites during the workdays and some gear will be provided. Days-off housing is available at no cost at our Trail Center, in Skowhegan, ME. It includes bunk style bedrooms, a kitchen, Wi-Fi, showers and laundry. Personal transportation is required to get to trail heads.

Schedule: May 16 through October 18, 2026, 40 hrs./week including all weekends and holidays