Do rangers hate VFTT?

I have heard from hikers in the ADK's that the rangers hate VFTT. Is this true and if so why?

Never heard that here in NH. Maybe 'cause ADK hikers are disproportionately New Yorkers?

Unfair Question

Unless there's a Ranger out there willing to speak for all Rangers, this is just baiting people to engage in wild speculation.

That said, I can't imagine any reason why anyone would object to information-sharing before heading into the backcountry. Knowledgeable hikers are good hikers.

No bad intentions.

Mark S,
I agree with you 100% about information sharing. I realize the subject is potentially touchy but I certainly don't have any wish to ''bait'' anyone or create a thread of ''wild'' speculation. I would sincerely regret having posted should that occur. Nevertheless, since hearing this from several different and reliable sources I really would like to know if anyone has information or personal experiences they could share. One person said that the ranger to whom he was speaking was almost visceral in their reaction regarding VFTT.

And you never know, maybe there IS a ranger on the board who would speak up.

Pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean by "ranger"? Is that someone who works for NYS DEC or ADKs or what? Here (WMNF) "ranger" would mean an employee of the USFS.

My experience with the DEC rangers has always been very positive. I've had many brief trail encounters and some long conversations with rangers and they have never failed to be courteous and helpful. My VFTT patches are visible on both my packs I wear hiking and, while VFTT has never come up in conversation with a ranger, never have I felt spurned by a ranger due to my VFTT affiliation.

As with any community of people(VFTT, DEC included) there is always a percentage who will be, shall we say, the "rotten apples" of the bunch. But as a whole, the DEC rangers I believe do their job without any prejudice.

I know a ranger in the Pemi (White Mts) who says that he checks VFTT every day for trail conditions. He seems to view it as a valuable resource.

I used to be in regular contact with the DEC head ranger out of Ray Brook.
In one instance, some vandal "hikers" paint blazed the herd path along Slide Brook in the Dix range. One of our VFTT people spoke to the vandals, got names and residence info off the trail register. DEC actively went after them.
I believe HPs ranger Kris Alberga is a reader as well.

Hey, there are hikers who hate VftT. Just like every other facet of life, there will be people who love and hate either side to everything.

I have talked with a few rangers who know of the site and occassionally browse it. I've never detected any animosity, though I'm sure a few threads have gotten some hackles up.

Since most spend so much time in the woods working, I doubt they would spend much time browsing web sites about hiking on their off days!

Rangers & VFTT

This subject came up this weekend during a hike.

I would say hate is a way to strong a word, but cause for concern is most likely better.

Some,at least one, Ranger has had to assist folks that read reports and assume everythings OK for their intended route, only to get themselves in over their heads.

It's the less experienced folks that don't have the calibration yet.

I don't think the Rangers hate anyone.

Mike G.

I recently met a ranger at Monadnock SP and he saw my VFTT patch and
said "That's the best website."

Andrew,the park manager at Monadnock,and the other rangers that I know of think pretty highly of VFTT folks.
We aren't the ones that climb Monadnock in October in jeans and sneakers,with no water and no lights,and have to be found and "escorted" down in the dark. And they appreciate that!

I have received positive emails from USFS rangers in the Whites and I have also had positive interactions with the NY DEC. If there are any rangers out there that have problems with the site, I would encourage them to email me directly. I would gladly work with them on any problems they perceive. However, without blowing my own horn, I think for the most part rangers would like this site. Rangers (in my experience) like knowledgeable people who appreciate the backcountry. I think that is what this site fosters.

- darren

darren said:

Rangers (in my experience) like knowledgeable people who appreciate the backcountry. I think that is what this site fosters.

Click to expand...

I just love that this is juxtaposed with your avatar.

Anyone can get over their heads with any type of information. It's silly to think that this website somehow makes things worse by providing accurate info to the masses. I've also encountered several backcountry rangers in the Whites who have had very nice things to say about VftT and other websites. I haven't spent much time in the Daks so I can't comment there.

-dave-

Rangers (in my experience) like knowledgeable people who appreciate the backcountry. I think that is what this site fosters.

Click to expand...

Well said, oh Grandfunk Webmaster. The first and last thing that most of my close hiking friends do when planning a hike is to check VFTT for info. Most people I have met who know about the site respect the opinions and info contained here, and will listen to me with a little more attentiveness if I tell them that I get most of my info here.

On the ranger hating topic, I've only had interaction with two "rangers" (unless you count the brief passing and nods that occur...) and have had mixed results. One was a young lady who I met on the summit of Wright peak who was very personable and knowledgable. She assisted me in berating my hiking companion for not having the proper gear and even hiked with us to the junction of the Wright/Algonquin trail. Very nice encounter. The other was not as positive, but I won't glorify that situation.

Happy Trails!

Josh

jbrown said:

One was a young lady who I met on the summit of Wright peak who was very personable and knowledgable.

Click to expand...

Josh, she may have been a summit steward, and not a ranger.

Hmmm, I bet that most do hate us. I know that whenever I do something stupid and am "caught" or have my life "saved" by the rangers, I ALWAYS tell them that "that's what they told me on VFTT". Try it sometime, It's a great way to deflect blame towards you guys and away from my own sheer stupidity

Actually, I'd agree with the Darren, I would think that any ranger that bothered to come in here at all would quickly understand the volume of sound advice being given. In the few years I been here, any time someone offered some bonehead advice or advacated totally unethical practices, its been deleted or other members chimed in to set things straight pretty quick.

As a side note - Doc, I wonder if it wasn't a ranger on Wright. I thought that stewards were only sent up to Algonquin , Marcy and occasionally Colden. I know I've run into rangers on Marshall (on the Herbert Brook herpath no less), Big Slide and a couple others, so I just ASSumed they were "peakbaggers" like the rest of us

mavs00 said:

As a side note - Doc, I wonder if it wasn't a ranger on Wright. I thought that stewards were only sent up to Algonquin , Marcy and occasionally Colden.

Click to expand...

Hey Mavs, Summit Stewards are "stationed" on Marcy and Algonquin, but they have rotating stewards who make the rounds on peaks like Colden, Haystack, Skylight, Wright, Dix, Giant, and possibly a couple others. The Stewards also do a lot of the summit resto projects as well as trailwork on the trails as they near the summits, usually above treeline. I talked with one this summer who was taking pictures for a photo assessment project.

If you're very sharp eyed you may have noticed small bolts encircled by green paint on the summits, and just below. The Stewards will set there tripods up over the bolts, plumb bob to the bolt, then compass bear their camera lens, while dialing in the camera angle to try and get a perfect "same spot" shot of re-growth on the mountainside. The Steward, Chrysta, had pictures from the early 90's thru the present showing just how well the resto projects have been. Very cool stuff.

In fact, here's a photo of her at work...

Doc,
She was, I believe, an "associate" forest ranger, or some other word that starts with "A." (I don't remember...Junior? No, that doesn't start with "A...") She told me that she wasn't a full fledged ranger, and I know that she wasn't a summit steward. She was carrying a massive full pack and heading from Wright over Aogonquin and down to the station on Lake Colden, I think.

I'm glad to read all the positive info regarding Rangers and VFTT. It all makes perfect sense. If I ever get into trouble doing something stupid and need to be bailed out by the rangers I'll just say I'm from the ADKforum or better yet, from Adkhighpeaks.com.