This season is shaping up to be a great one, no doubt in part to the spectacular bunch of folks we have with us for the season. Our trails staff will begin training on Monday and our Ridge Runners are already on the trail. Everyone's very excited to have such a great group for 2014!
Berkshire Trails Staff
Benjamin Barry
Field Coordinator
This is my first season working for AMC in the great
Northeast and I don’t think I could be more excited about the fast-approaching
season. Originally hailing from far northern California, within the heart of
the redwoods, I’ve traveled to Massachusetts after working trails throughout
the west for the Selway-Bitterroot Foundation and the Pacific Crest Trail
Association. Boots-on-the-ground stewardship has always appealed to me; I have
such an appreciation for America’s remaining wildlands as well as the sweat
that goes into maintaining our access to them. When not on the trail, you can
find me untangling my fly–fishing line or trail running along the AT.
Faren MacDonald
Ridge Runner Coordinator
Faren MacDonald is the ridgerunner coordinator this year. In 2010 and 2011 she worked for the PATC in Maryland as a ridgerunner there. When not working for a trail club she is long distance hiking. In the past she has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail, and hopes to hike the Long Trail this fall.
Katie Cox
Field Support Staff
I have spent the past year pursuing my masters degree at Humboldt State
University in my home-state, California. If not on campus you would find me on
the beach hunting for agates or hiking and fishing along one of the 6 rivers
that run through Humboldt County. I spent last summer working in the Sierra
Nevada range in California and am very excited to spend this summer exploring
the east coast. I can't wait to meet all of you and have you make fun of my
accent!
Trail Crew Leaders
Molly Higgins
Hi everyone! My name is
Molly, I'm from little 'ol Mont Vernon, New Hampshire. I moved to Boston almost
6 years ago, and I graduated from Suffolk University with a B.S. in Business
Management in 2012. Since then I've been working at a local college as a
professional tutor and adjunct professor, and at Recreational Equipment, Inc.
(REI), helping people get ready for their adventures! I am working towards in a
career in outdoor education.
When I'm not at work I'm
most often hiking the 4,000 footers of the White Mountains to check peaks off
my list. You can also find me dodging Boston motorists atop Shadowfax (my noble
steed/road bike), climbing, reading, cooking and baking, finding something new
to do outdoors, and spending time with my family. This is my first summer
working with the AMC and I'm looking forward to getting out there!
Ben Swanson
I'm
Ben Swanson, and I'm from Lexington, Kentucky (right by the Red River Gorge,
for you climbers). Next fall, I'll be starting out at Columbia University
(probably studying something like economics, international affairs, or African
affairs), and I'm committed to finding as much nature as I can in New York
City! I started trail work in the stunning Denali National Park, Alaska,
began managing a nature preserve in my native Kentucky, and am excited to learn
lots more this summer with the AMC.
David Delcourt
I'm Dave. I spent
my childhood playing hockey or inside in front of the TV and computer.
After I graduated from SUNY Cortland in 2010 with a B.S. in Geographic
Information Systems with a concentration in Environmental Science I finally got
my feet outside and started hiking. I explored around my home town of
Queensbury, NY and around Lake George, NY. I got my first outdoor job
with the SCA in Idaho back in 2011 and have been bouncing around ever
since. I've worked in NY, MA, ID, MI, and AK. For the last two
years I have been a dog musher, spending my winters in the UP of Michigan and 1
summer in Juneau, AK. I absolutely loved it and bought my lead dog Greed,
who is front right in the photo. Now I plan to enjoy my first season here
with AMC in the Northeast. See you on the trail.
Jesse Samdahl
Greetings! This summer will be my fifth season doing
trail work with the AMC in the Berkshires. I hail from Central Massachusetts
and consider the Berkshires part of my own backyard. Currently I am an
Adventure Based Environmental Education and Adventure Therapy double major at
Unity College located in Unity, Maine. There I am lucky enough to work on their
trail crew and will be stepping in as Chief of Trail Crew in the fall! I can't
wait to get back on the trails and get dirty, hope to see you out there!
Rosalie Sharp
My name is Rosalie (also
Rosie, Rozo, and/or Jobin). I just finished my sophomore year at Wellesley
College where I'm an environmental studies major, geoscience minor.
I grew up on
the Vermont side of the Connecticut river valley, just north of where the AT
crosses into New Hampshire. My friends and I (self proclaimed Mountain Rats)
spend a lot of time adventuring in the green and white mountains by foot and
ski, and I can't wait to explore the Berkshires this summer. This is my first
season with the AMC and I'm looking forward to meeting everyone!
Ridge Runners
Audra Devoto
Hello! My name is Audra and I'm
studying to be a Biology major at Haverford College near Philadelphia, PA. I've
missed the woods during my first year of college, and I'm excited to be heading
back to my home state to spend some time on the AT! I've been backpacking for a
long time but I love the New England section of the Appalachian Trail
especially. I can't wait to talk to hikers and learn more about leave no
trace.
Gage Brogan
Salutations!
My name’s Gage and I’m thrilled to be back on the trail this summer. I was born
and raised in Milwaukee WI but have spent the last six years in the upper
peninsula of Michigan. After graduating from Northern Michigan University with
a bachelor in environmental science I spent my summer hiking over 700 miles on
the AT. I spent this winter building sustainable geodesic yurts and greenhouses
for off the grid life styles. Beside my passion for the outdoors I enjoy
playing drums and guitar and catching as much live music as I can. I look
forward to giving back to the AT community and meeting so many wonderful
people. Happy trails!
Lily Friend
Lily
Friend worked for the AMC Maine Woods Trail Crew back in 2006, and has returned
this year as a Ridge-Runner for the Berkshires Trails program. In addition to her outdoor adventures in the
U.S. she has done bicycle tours and hiking trips in Ireland, Italy, and New
Zealand. After thru-hiking the Appalachian
Trail in 2013, she is exited and ready to help improve and enhance others’
outdoor experience.
Brian Fredricks
Brian
leads a life full of many facts; it being so that these facts do not define
him, but merely help him define himself, he needn't share very many of them. He
was born with feet bare for the soil, and has sought the outside since. He has
hiked parts of the AT in eight different states, a fact he remembers, but
oftentimes has forgotten which eight. Brian attends school, and uses this
opportunity as a forum to study philosophy, 'the environment', 'humanity',
anthropology, geopolitical conflict and cooperation, heterodox economics,
history, public art and communication, the existential condition of American
youth, and campaigns for social justice. He is interested in backpacking,
foraging, community-based organizing, simplicity, books, writing, words,
hand-written letters, environmental justice, the contradiction of democracy,
organic gardening, and establishing a dynamic short circuit between radical
epistemological theory and radical political movements. Perhaps most of all,
Brian likes to listen-- please talk to him.
Alex Hinkle
My name
is Alex Hinkle and I grew up in Federal Way, WA but have been living in
Seattle, WA for the past several years. I graduated from the University of
Washington in 2012 with a bachelors degree in Earth and Space Sciences. I then
long distance hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and enjoyed every second of it. I
hope to one day work as a guide or outdoor educator to share my passion for
natural sciences with anyone who will listen!
Faren MacDonald is the ridgerunner coordinator this year. In 2010 and 2011 she worked for the PATC in Maryland as a ridgerunner there. When not working for a trail club she is long distance hiking. In the past she has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail, and hopes to hike the Long Trail this fall. 
I have spent the past year pursuing my masters degree at Humboldt State
University in my home-state, California. If not on campus you would find me on
the beach hunting for agates or hiking and fishing along one of the 6 rivers
that run through Humboldt County. I spent last summer working in the Sierra
Nevada range in California and am very excited to spend this summer exploring
the east coast. I can't wait to meet all of you and have you make fun of my
accent!
Hi everyone! My name is
Molly, I'm from little 'ol Mont Vernon, New Hampshire. I moved to Boston almost
6 years ago, and I graduated from Suffolk University with a B.S. in Business
Management in 2012. Since then I've been working at a local college as a
professional tutor and adjunct professor, and at Recreational Equipment, Inc.
(REI), helping people get ready for their adventures! I am working towards in a
career in outdoor education.
I'm
Ben Swanson, and I'm from Lexington, Kentucky (right by the Red River Gorge,
for you climbers). Next fall, I'll be starting out at Columbia University
(probably studying something like economics, international affairs, or African
affairs), and I'm committed to finding as much nature as I can in New York
City! I started trail work in the stunning Denali National Park, Alaska,
began managing a nature preserve in my native Kentucky, and am excited to learn
lots more this summer with the AMC.
I'm Dave. I spent
my childhood playing hockey or inside in front of the TV and computer.
After I graduated from SUNY Cortland in 2010 with a B.S. in Geographic
Information Systems with a concentration in Environmental Science I finally got
my feet outside and started hiking. I explored around my home town of
Queensbury, NY and around Lake George, NY. I got my first outdoor job
with the SCA in Idaho back in 2011 and have been bouncing around ever
since. I've worked in NY, MA, ID, MI, and AK. For the last two
years I have been a dog musher, spending my winters in the UP of Michigan and 1
summer in Juneau, AK. I absolutely loved it and bought my lead dog Greed,
who is front right in the photo. Now I plan to enjoy my first season here
with AMC in the Northeast. See you on the trail.
Greetings! This summer will be my fifth season doing
trail work with the AMC in the Berkshires. I hail from Central Massachusetts
and consider the Berkshires part of my own backyard. Currently I am an
Adventure Based Environmental Education and Adventure Therapy double major at
Unity College located in Unity, Maine. There I am lucky enough to work on their
trail crew and will be stepping in as Chief of Trail Crew in the fall! I can't
wait to get back on the trails and get dirty, hope to see you out there!
My name is Rosalie (also
Rosie, Rozo, and/or Jobin). I just finished my sophomore year at Wellesley
College where I'm an environmental studies major, geoscience minor.
Hello! My name is Audra and I'm
studying to be a Biology major at Haverford College near Philadelphia, PA. I've
missed the woods during my first year of college, and I'm excited to be heading
back to my home state to spend some time on the AT! I've been backpacking for a
long time but I love the New England section of the Appalachian Trail
especially. I can't wait to talk to hikers and learn more about leave no
trace. 
Salutations!
My name’s Gage and I’m thrilled to be back on the trail this summer. I was born
and raised in Milwaukee WI but have spent the last six years in the upper
peninsula of Michigan. After graduating from Northern Michigan University with
a bachelor in environmental science I spent my summer hiking over 700 miles on
the AT. I spent this winter building sustainable geodesic yurts and greenhouses
for off the grid life styles. Beside my passion for the outdoors I enjoy
playing drums and guitar and catching as much live music as I can. I look
forward to giving back to the AT community and meeting so many wonderful
people. Happy trails!
Lily
Friend worked for the AMC Maine Woods Trail Crew back in 2006, and has returned
this year as a Ridge-Runner for the Berkshires Trails program. In addition to her outdoor adventures in the
U.S. she has done bicycle tours and hiking trips in Ireland, Italy, and New
Zealand. After thru-hiking the Appalachian
Trail in 2013, she is exited and ready to help improve and enhance others’
outdoor experience.
Brian
leads a life full of many facts; it being so that these facts do not define
him, but merely help him define himself, he needn't share very many of them. He
was born with feet bare for the soil, and has sought the outside since. He has
hiked parts of the AT in eight different states, a fact he remembers, but
oftentimes has forgotten which eight. Brian attends school, and uses this
opportunity as a forum to study philosophy, 'the environment', 'humanity',
anthropology, geopolitical conflict and cooperation, heterodox economics,
history, public art and communication, the existential condition of American
youth, and campaigns for social justice. He is interested in backpacking,
foraging, community-based organizing, simplicity, books, writing, words,
hand-written letters, environmental justice, the contradiction of democracy,
organic gardening, and establishing a dynamic short circuit between radical
epistemological theory and radical political movements. Perhaps most of all,
Brian likes to listen-- please talk to him.
My name
is Alex Hinkle and I grew up in Federal Way, WA but have been living in
Seattle, WA for the past several years. I graduated from the University of
Washington in 2012 with a bachelors degree in Earth and Space Sciences. I then
long distance hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and enjoyed every second of it. I
hope to one day work as a guide or outdoor educator to share my passion for
natural sciences with anyone who will listen!