GS-462-6/7
FORESTRY TECH-RECREATION
SNOW RANGER/AVALANCHE SPECIALIST
FORESTRY TECH-RECREATION
SNOW RANGER/AVALANCHE SPECIALIST
White Mountain National Forest
Androscoggin Ranger District
The White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) is advertising to fill one PFT 13/13 Forestry Technician (Snow Ranger/Avalanche Specialist) on the Androscoggin Ranger District in Gorham, New Hampshire. The person selected will be expected to work a minimum of 26 weeks between November 1 through May 31 annually, and will be placed in non-pay status the rest of the year.
Applications can be submitted by going to http://www.avuedigitalservices.com and responding to 1. ADS10-R9-WMNF-6/7-2730DP which is open to US Citizens and/or 2. ADS10-R9-WMNF-6/7-2730G which is open to current or former permanent status federal employees and veterans eligible for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA).
This position works as part of a motivated and effective team that issues daily avalanche advisories, performs in Search and Rescue missions for the Forest Service as Lead Agency in command, and increases visitor knowledge through avalanche education programs of varying media.
Producing an accurate and timely avalanche and mountain hazards advisory for the visiting public is the focused priority each day. The position will determine present avalanche hazard and forecast future hazards based on field observations and snow stability analysis. Analysis will utilize field observations paired with an intimate knowledge of snow metamorphism, snow physics, and mechanics of slab fracture and failure. In addition, knowledge of mountain weather forecasting tools such as weather maps, satellite imagery, and real time weather data is necessary to produce forecasts of the highest standards. The candidate must have the ability to quickly synthesize data and disseminate this information in writing via e-mail and websites and verbally through telephone hotlines. Excellent writing skills that convey the hazards of the day are sought.
The Forest Service has unique authority as the lead agency in charge of SAR operations on Mount Washington from December 1st to June 1st of each year. The position may act as a first responder, searcher, team leader, technical team leader and possibly Incident Commander on smaller incidents. Numerous Forest Service volunteer SAR teams respond to assist with missions that are managed by the Snow Rangers. Strong leadership and personnel management skills are required to effectively oversee safe operations of all teams under hazardous and potential stressful circumstances. Incidents typically include ice climbing or mountaineer falls in Huntington Ravine, avalanche burials, searches for lost or overdue visitors, and skier injuries. The spring ski season may bring 2500 people or more to Tuckerman Ravine on a sunny Saturday in April or May. The position is required to provide pre-hospital medical care at the EMT-Basic level; consequently experience and current EMT certification is highly desired.
The dedication required for this position requires a unique enthusiasm for harsh winter weather and the ability to work well in a difficult environment while in the pursuit to help visitors on Mount Washington. The summit records many days through each winter with winds in excess of 100mph and temperatures below -25F. Due to these weather conditions the position requires excellent physical fitness to maintain a margin of safety during searches in severe conditions and collection of the field data required for accurate avalanche forecasts.
The ideal candidate should have the ability to teach avalanche safety, stability analysis and snow mechanics to a wide variety of audiences from school children to seasoned recreationalists. Venues include slide shows, field snow pits, and seminar settings. The position must stay abreast of avalanche education practices and changes in avalanche technology and snow science. The candidate must display good public speaking and teaching skills.
Due to the complexity of the terrain ski touring to access avalanche forecast areas is the exception rather than the rule. Because of this sound mountaineering and ice climbing skills are needed to access all potential areas to assess snow stability as well as injured climbers. Candidates may be required to lead climb water ice to render medical and technical assistance to individuals in the event of an accident. Good mountaineering skills are needed on a regular basis to carry out a variety of Snow Ranger tasks across the mountain. Snow Rangers also operate and maintain snowmobiles, ATV’s, and a diesel Pisten Bully Snowcat. Experience with this equipment is very beneficial.
This is a field-going position focused on field contacts during a five day work week. Being available to provide good information and advice about current hazards, avalanche conditions, route selections, mountain weather and being close to the interface between visitors and the mountain is critical. Current Snow Rangers make up a team of open, forward-thinking, and creative problem solvers that attempt to continually improve their knowledge through sharing and collaborating with one another. They are team focused to get the job done and put themselves behind the group in that effort. The Snow Rangers care about the visitors they are there to help and provide unique services with a mission to promote safety while caring for and promoting backcountry values of environmental protection and stewardship.
Open the following links to review a detailed history of the Avalanche Center and the recreational and social use on the mountain. It also discusses the unique avalanche forecasting factors associated with Mount Washington.
tuckerman.org/
The Importance of Micro-scale Avalanche Forecasting in Mount Washington’s Tuckerman and Huntington Ravines
DISTRICT INFORMATION
The Androscoggin Ranger District is located in Coos County, New Hampshire and Oxford County, Maine. The primary office is in Gorham, New Hampshire and was built in 1996. The WMNF is visited by between 6 and 7 million people each year, and is considered one of the northeast’s crown jewels. Our visitors and local communities have a long history of caring for the forest in the White Mountains: they were the driving force behind the 1911 Weeks Act, under which the WMNF was purchased. This strong interest in the management of these lands continues today, and is demonstrated through the substantial number of partnerships and cooperative agreements that exist on the Forest.
The Presidential Range of the White Mountains offers a stunning alpine backdrop to the quiet villages in the river valleys of northern New Hampshire and western Maine. Outdoor sports opportunities are endless while our scenery is unsurpassed. The phrase "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute, it'll change," was created in New England. Northern New Hampshire and western Maine have a history of bizarre and unpredictable weather patterns. The summit of Mount Washington is the official home of "The World's Worst Weather", where the highest wind speed ever recorded on land was documented at 231 miles per hour. In general, there are four distinct seasons with snowy sparkling cold winters, wet and muddy springs, relatively cool summers and glorious falls. Tuckerman Ravine is well known for extreme skiing in the spring and Huntington Ravine is well known for ice climbing. Access to both areas requires fairly arduous hikes of over 3 miles from the nearest year round road and our Snow Ranger program provides avalanche forecasting for these two destinations.
Recreation activities, facilities, and programs on the District include: five fee campgrounds (four of which are managed by concession); three Wilderness areas; numerous day use areas; extensive dispersed backcountry and Wilderness camping; over 440 miles of four-season trails (including a substantial portion of the Appalachian Trail) that receive various uses including hiking, snowmobiling, snowshoing, cross-country skiing, and mountain bike use; rock and ice climbing; several swimming areas; backcountry cabins; an organization camp; a dispersed walk-in campground; a network of backcountry shelters and tent sites; and several National Register historic sites.
COMMUNITY INFORMATION
Gorham has a population of about 3,100 and the nearby city of Berlin has a population of about 11,800. The economy of the area is pretty evenly split between recreation and forest products. Gorham is generally thought of as a recreation community and Berlin as industrial. Both communities recognize the value of a “working forest” to provide a variety of needs for the public. A large paper mill complex is located within the Berlin area. Both Gorham and Berlin have public schools through high school. Nearby Bethel, Maine, hosts a private high school. Berlin also hosts a regional Catholic school (K-6), a branch of the College for Lifelong Learning affiliated with the University of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Community Technical College. Hospital facilities are located in Berlin while Gorham hosts a medical clinic. There are several banks and credit unions in the area. Cable television is available in towns but may not be available in some of the more rural areas. Churches for just about every Christian denomination are present but places of worship for other faiths are absent. There is diversity among the predominantly Caucasian population with French being a common language, especially in Berlin.
New Hampshire is the "Live Free or Die" State, but it isn't completely free. There are no State income or sales taxes. To make up for that, property taxes can be high. Each community is different, so checking them out can be a deciding factor when buying a home. Houses in the area rent for about $400-$800 per month and sell for $100,000 to $200,000+. There are numerous homes for sale in the area and with patience, excellent buys can be found. A percetage of District employees live “south of the Notches” in the North Conway region where home prices and rentals are generally higher.
The White Mountain Region is a four season recreation destination. Recreational opportunities are numerous, including summer activities of camping, hiking, climbing, biking, fishing - both lakes and rivers, boating, swimming, surfing - the Atlantic Ocean is a short drive (about 2 hours), wildlife watching, tax-free shopping, picnicking, the arts and other forms of entertainment too numerous to mention. During the winter months, hunting, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, winter mountaineering, ice climbing and other winter sports are popular. There are many winter ski resorts within easy driving distance of Gorham including Wildcat, Attitash-Bear Peak, Bretton Woods, Sunday River, and Cannon Mt. Backcountry skiing can be found above treeline in the Bowls and Gulfs across the Presidential Range, and includes Tuckerman Ravine on the East shoulder of Mt. Washington. Several world class Nordic centers serve cross-country skiers including: Jackson Ski Touring, Great Glen Trails, Bretton Woods, Bear Notch, and Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring.
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