03/23/2023
The Friends of Poke-O-Moonshine are now hiring an important member for the team, The summer Mountain-Tower Steward who is the public face of the Friends during the busy hiking season.
Job Description and Application Procedure:
Attend scheduled orientation/ training days in mid-late May, early June.
Receive, store, read, understand, and utilize educational materials in the Friends’ resource library.
Perform minor trail maintenance on both trails, as needed: cleaning water bars, brushing in over-trafficked areas, etc.
Maintain the summit area in a pristine condition. Place and manage “Hello Hikers: Please Remain on Rock Surfaces” signs. Keep trail register stocked with interpretive fliers.
Carry out needed cleaning and minor maintenance of the fire tower.
Assist with Friends’ scheduled work projects. Attend Friends’ meetings.
When on summit duty, present a clean, neat personal appearance, including wearing Friends’ hat/shirt. Present a friendly, outgoing, enthusiastic, polite personality.
Greet, engage, educate the hiking public regarding the cultural and natural history of fire towers, the trails, Poke-O-Moonshine, the local area, and the Adirondack Park. Educate on and encourage respectful and sustainable use of all of these.
Gently and positively police fire tower access and any hikers who are behaving inappropriately: overly loud voices, rowdy behavior, playing music loudly, running, stepping or sitting on the restored summit plant areas, leaving trash, throwing rocks, breaking branches, making campfires, etc.
Invite highly interested visitors to sign up for the Friends’ mailing list; direct them to copies of Friends of Poke-O-Moonshine newsletters.
Pass out signed “Summit Cards” to interested hikers; these certify that they have climbed the mountain and they share our contact information. (Not applicable during Covid restrictions)
Communicate with The Friends’ Coordinator at least once per week, as a regular update, and regarding any questions and issues. Follow applicable DEC procedures.
If applicable, perform all duties required by Environmental or Expeditionary Studies or related college course work and supervisor.
The work week is 40 hours, Thursday–Monday, mid--May to late August or through Labor Day if possible; the duration of employment will be 10-15 weeks . Pay for 2023 is $20/hour.
The application contact is the Friends’ Coordinator, David Thomas-Train at [email protected]; the application deadline is April 1., 2023. Our website, www.pokeomoonshine.org provides additional information. Please include cover letter, resume, and at least two references. The successful candidate will be hired by May 1.
Qualifications:
Upper-division college undergraduates or graduates with appropriate field(s) of study, and strong interpersonal and public speaking skills. Knowledge of and commitment to the Adirondacks and Adirondack Park is very important. Candidates must be physically fit and able to work alone in a remote location under adverse weather conditions, and have the willingness and experience to relate with people of all ages and backgrounds. Basic Red Cross 1st Aid/CPR and Leave No Trace certifications preferred. Candidates must provide their own transportation. Candidates should be familiar with The Friends of Poke-O-Moonshine and our work.
Location: Essex County, Town of Chesterfield, Taylor Pond Wild Forest.
Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain is located near the northeast end of the Adirondack Park, west of NYS Route 9 and the Northway.
Poke-O-Moonshine Trail - 1.5 miles from Ranger Trailhead to fire tower and summit and 2.3 miles from southerly Observer Trailhead to junction with Ranger Trail.
Vertical ascent, 1,280 feet. Two routes up the mountain converge at the site of the Observer's cabin ruin. The older route, known as the Ranger Trail, originates at a trailhead in the former Poke-O-Moonshine Campground. The old jeep road, known as the Observers’ Trail, follows a meandering route of gentle ascent beginning one mile south on NYS Route 9. The two trails meet high on the mountain at a leanto site.
Trail register sign-ins range from 3,000 to 5,000 visitors per summer.
The summit is tree-covered with open rock areas with expansive views. The tower stands alone in a clearing on exposed ledge at the summit. The east face of the mountain has 1,000 feet of cliffs that are popular with rock climbers. Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains are to the east. Deerfield Mountain can be seen in the southwest and beyond it the open ridges of the Jay Range. Additional views to the southwest include the High Peaks and Whiteface Mountain. Parts of the Adirondack Northway are visible to the north and south.
A lean-to is situated approximately 180' south of the cabin site at the junction of the Observers’ Trail and the Ranger Trail.
COVID Safety Protocols: ( to be reviewed for 2023) The Steward will follow all conventional Covid safety practices, including wearing a face mask when interacting with the public and maintaining a distance of at least six feet, not share any equipment, food or other materials, keep sanitizer on hand and use as needed; limit fire tower access to single un-associated hikers or to groups of three associated hikers at any one time.
