MTC Member Spotlight: Brennan Turner
Happy Spring! This past winter was less than stellar in many ways, but we are embracing the spring and looking ahead. This is the time of year when many trail maintainers (paid and volunteer) are thinking about everything that needs to happen to successfully open trails, and have been busy working to plan bigger projects. For many trail managers, stewards and trail builders, they are thinking about how to factor in any storm damage curveballs into their current and future work plans.
This month, our blog highlights Brennan Turner, who is a member of the MTC Stewardship Work Group. Brennan works in Baxter State Park, a place that is special to many for reasons that often are deeply personal, cultural, or spiritual. Take a moment to read about why trails are important to Brennan.
Name: Brennan Turner (he/him)
Where you live: Millinocket, Maine
Organization/Affiliation: Baxter State Park, Trail Supervisor
Why do you Love Maine Trails? High mountains, deep verdant forests, and majestic coastal vistas. What's not to love!?
What trail project are you currently working on or most involved with? I really enjoy large construction projects, so in the short-term I am very excited to replace the “Upper Saddle Brook” Bridge on the Chimney Pond Trail this coming summer. This is going to be a really fun project in a beautiful location.
In the long-term, I’m really excited about many of the alpine stewardship projects we have planned for trails on Katahdin’s Tablelands. Previous trail staff have done a phenomenal job protecting the mountain by hardening the existing trails. The quality of their stonework is exemplary, but the work is never finished and I’m excited to lead the next phase.
Favorite trail activities? Hiking and backpacking is obviously a big part of the job and I love it, but outside of work I like to fill my time with mountain biking, alpine skiing, and rock/mineral hounding! Katahdin Area Trails (KAT), a nonprofit organization here in the Katahdin region, has done an amazing job developing mountain bike optimized trails in the region, so it’s a real joy getting to indulge in all my favorite outdoor hobbies right here in the surrounding area.
Favorite trail or trail memory in Maine? I have a special affinity for the Dudley Trail here in Baxter State Park. It had been closed for several years following a mass wasting event that damaged the trail, but it actually reopened on the day of my job interview! The Chief Ranger and I hiked up to Chimney Pond to review the rerouted portion of the trail where he asked me how I would continue to improve upon it. Since taking the job, the Trail Crew and I have worked to quarry and shape the stones we use to harden the trail. The various crews who have worked on that trail, before and after my arrival, have not shied away from the challenge and everyone has really brought their A-game to what I consider one of the most challenging trail construction projects I’ve ever been part of. While there is still work to be completed, we’re done with a lot of the major construction for now as we turn our attention to other trails, but I’m looking forward to the next phase of that project.
Why did you get involved in trail stewardship? After completing my undergraduate degree, I was working as a mud-logging geologist in the Permian Basin, and it quickly became clear to me that it wasn’t a path I wanted to stay on much longer. The geologist that trained me on the rig told me about the time she had spent working on trail crews in Colorado, so itching for adventure, I quit my job and went to work for the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. I quickly found that trail work satisfied many of my needs to be outdoors, playing in the dirt, building meaningful relationships, and making impactful changes in the world by creating literal avenues for people to connect with nature. I’ve always had an affinity for stone, teamwork, and outdoor adventure so trail building was the perfect fit for me.
Best tip or encouragement for trail users or trail organization volunteers? If you ever have the privilege to develop an entirely new trail, or trail system, consult a professional! Just like the road networks that connect our communities today, trails are no simple thing. There are so many trail maintenance problems that can be resolved or avoided through intelligent and sustainable design.
Finish the sentence, I never hit the trails without… A water filter, a headlamp, and a turn-around time! Can you tell I work at Baxter State Park?
How does one explore trail work as a career path? If you or someone you know is contemplating a career in trailwork, or simply wants to get paid to get outside for a summer, I’d share two pieces of advice.
1) Learn to work smarter, not harder. This applies to the strong and fit as well. The sooner you can get good at using mechanical advantage and the seven simple machines (wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, screw, wedge and lever), the longer you’ll be able to keep doing the work you enjoy.
2) I’d encourage you to check out a conservation corps program. They can be found throughout the US, and offer excellent avenues for personal and professional development. Programs like the Maine Conservation Corps, the Student Conservation Association, the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Baxter Youth Corps, Montana Conservation Corps, etc. Pick a state, and you’ll find lots of opportunities for paid jobs out on the trail. Trailskill.org is a great place to find Trail Crew opportunities.
> Thank you Brennan for being involved with the Maine Trails Coalition, and for sharing some of your experiences and insight with us, and for your work in Baxter State Park and beyond. fYou can follow Brennan on the trails on Instagram @lithified_dirt
To learn more about Baxter State Park and some of the many outdoor trail opportunities in the Katahdin Region, here are a few resources to get you started:
Baxter State Park website - use for trip planning and more
Baxter Youth Conservation Corps trail crew positions- Friends of Baxter State Park
Maine Appalachian Trail Club- become a volunteer, find a training, and more
Maine International Appalachian Trail -check out their volunteer opportunities and events
Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument - use for trip planning and get updates on conditions
Here are some other great resources to support or check out in the Katahdin Region:
Maine Appalachian Trail Project - Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness - support Wabanki people’s access to outdoor recreation
Katahdin Gear Library - gear-lending library, outdoor adventure hub, and public space for people of all ages to access equipment and tools, information and leadership, and to connect with people around a common interest in outdoor adventure and recreation.
Katahdin Area Trails (KAT)- a great group, doing amazing things to build a vibrant trail community
If you have some you’d like us to add, let us know here.
>> Don’t forget to check out Trails Skills Project at trailskills.org
