Meet The New Hut Crew!

We’re proud to introduce the Maine Huts & Trails Hut Crew for the 2015-2016 winter season! If you’ve stayed at the Huts in the past year, you’ll see some familiar faces. In fact, this year sets a record for returning staff! That being said, there are plenty of newcomers who are excited to explore the Maine woods, cook great food, and keep the huts festive and warm through the winter. Whether you’re here for a day trip or an overnight, the hut crew looks forward to making your stay the best it can be.

At Flagstaff Hut:
	John "Young Gun" Winter is stoked to spend his second winter with Maine Huts & Trails at Flagstaff Hut! He has had the privilege of living his entire life nestled within the beautiful Western Mountains of Maine, and will be the first to tell you of all the magic and wonder that is found in these forests. This past spring, "Young Gun" traveled south to Springer Mountain, Georgia and set off on an adventure of a lifetime. Six months and ten days, and 2189.2 miles later, he can now add a Thru-Hike of the Appalachian Trail to his resume. Come on by to Flagstaff this winter and say hello! John would love nothing more than to enjoy a hot (or cold) beverage with you around the fire and talk about your current/next adventure.
	Jesse Guerin is from Glenburn, Maine. He is 19 years old and has recently graduated from home school. As an Eagle Scout and avid rock climber, he looks forward to spending the winter on Flagstaff Lake. This past fall he lived in Northern Norway and worked on an island as a gardener, and his most memorable outdoor experience was hiking the Lofoten Mountains in Norway.
	Ben Spurrier is from just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. After graduating from University of Maryland in 2013, he has spent his time traveling abroad and working seasonally. In 2014, Ben traveled 2,500 miles via bicycle through Chilean Patagonia and southern Argentina. He hopes to continue cycling abroad after the winter season ends. Most recently, Ben has finished serving a full year with The Student Conservation Association in New Hampshire as an Environmental Educator and Interpretive Ranger at Umbagog Lake State Park. He loves meeting new people and hearing stories, so don't be shy to introduce yourself.
	Andy Linder grew up in England and moved to America seven years ago. Since then he has moved around a few times, but right now he’s loving it up here in New England. He’s passionate about the outdoors and particularly loves to cross country ski. He hopes to start a career with the National Parks Service shortly after this seasonal position is over. He likes to read scary books, like Waking up Screaming by Lovecraft. He makes a spicy curry that he’s sure you’ll love!
	This is Ren McLemore’s first season with Maine Huts & Trails. She is stoked to be joining the crew at Flagstaff Hut as Hut Master. A trail enthusiast since her first backpacking trip as a teenager in the Catskill Mountains of NY, Ren went on to work a variety of outdoor related jobs in the past decade on several trail crews, teaching outdoor education in AmeriCorps and working as a field instructor for a wilderness therapy program. Splitting her time making a home in both Asheville, N.C and New England, Ren made time to section hike the entirety of the Appalachian Trail. Her last section was completed right here in the state of Maine this past September. Cooking food for others and living in the woods are a couple of Ren's favorite pastimes. As such, working at Maine Huts & Trails seemed an obvious fit for her. "I feel very honored to be part of an organization that not only gets folks out on trails but promotes sustainability as well, and does so with such gusto.” Her favorite book is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and she loves to cook risotto.

At Stratton Brook Hut:
	Levi Wark lives in his hometown of Phippsburg, Maine with his partner Amanda Kibbe, and his two daughters Amelie and Anda. Together Levi and Amanda run Center Pond Farm and guide adventure yoga trips. Levi also guides sea kayak tours in Boothbay Harbor. Amanda Kibbe grew up in Waterville in central Maine, and for the past 9 years has lived in the Bath, Maine area. Currently she lives in Phippsburg with Levi Wark. She is passionate about downhill skiing through trees, teaching yoga to kids and adults, and learning all about farming.
	Erin Brown-Farrington hails from the untamed woods of Bowdoinham, Maine. Exploring her youth barefoot, she was inspired by streamlets and sphagnum moss. Her time is now spent harvesting wild edibles, learning geothermal design/sustainable cultivation practices, sourdough baking, canoeing, kayaking, and hiking Maine. This year she plans to hike the Long Trail and move into a geodesic dome with partner Adam and Holland lop, “Mister Buns”. Erin loves Maine Huts & Trails for their eco-educational mission, stewardship exemplification, and access to the Bigelow Mountain Range. Adam Bowen is new to Maine Huts & Trails, and is excited to learn more about the organization. In the summer, he spends his time kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and camping. After spending ten winters in Southwest Florida, he’s very excited to experience another Maine winter, and is especially looking forward to cross country skiing. Originally from Woolwich, Maine, he’s looking forward to a snowy winter!

At Grand Falls Hut:
	Christie Conway hails from the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, just outside of Asheville, in a nice town called Morganton. She spent this past year serving America and the lovely people of New Hampshire by working as an Environmental Educator and Interpretive Ranger at Bear Brook State Park as a member of the Student Conservation Association. She also was the caretaker of Grand Falls Hut, which she enjoyed very much. She’s currently experiencing the world with purple hair... so far, so fun! This will be her first winter cross-country skiing, so she’s pumped to learn a new skill and add that to her repertoire. She looks forward to meeting everyone who comes to visit Grand Falls Hut! Her favorite book ever is called "Let the Great World Spin" by Colum McCann and she plans to re-read it again this season.
	Rob Stenger hails from St. George peninsula where he spends the summers kayaking and gardening. He has spent extensive time in New Zealand’s backcountry hut systems and a couple of seasons raft guiding in The Forks. An avid baker and snack-producer, this is his third winter at Maine Huts & Trails.
	Tyler Pierce grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where he attended culinary school on days which did not feature fresh powder in the beautiful Cascade Mountains. After graduation, he went on to skip work at iconic Washington dining destinations, such as The Herbfarm and The Salish Lodge, in the name of deep, dry snow pierced by majestic old-growth forest. Eventually switching to organic farming as a career path, he hitchhiked and biked around the country working seasonal jobs, landing in MOFGA's apprentice program in 2012. Since then he has continued to farm organically, excepting, naturally, stretches of time where good surf, prime ice-climbing conditions, or beer kept cold in a stream were present. He lives in a 140 square foot treehouse of his own design and construction in Palermo. If he is not climbing/sliding/walking/falling/swimming around something outside, you may find him playing the drums, playing chess, or reading his favorite book, The Lord of the Rings. Tyler is excited to have a job where before and after getting lost in the moonlit wilderness, he has the opportunity to spend time with and serve nourishing food to people who share his passions.

At Poplar Hut:
	Melie "Rainbow" Guzek is from Lynchburg, Virginia and is excited about spending her first Winter in Maine. She looks forward to welcoming and teaching the guests about the sustainable energy practices used by the huts. Last year she graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from Lynchburg College and hopes to pursue a career in freshwater stream monitoring. She also has a passion for hiking and the outdoors and has completed an Appalachian Trail thru-hike this past summer.
	Kellie Waksmunski is from Western Pennsylvania, and is excited to be back for a second winter at Maine Huts &Trails. She spend the warmer weather months building trails. This year, she worked on a trail crew in the Adirondacks and led volunteer trails crews on the AT. She’s looking forward to trying new recipes, meeting guests, and skiing the trails. Zach Seaton grew up in Southern Indiana, and has been working seasonally in the conservation field since 2011. Last year, his journey led him to Grand Falls Hut and he’s glad to be back at Maine Huts & Trails for a second winter. He spent the summer and fall on trail crews in the Adirondacks and here in Maine. This year he hopes to have many good conversations and have some fun skiing.


All Huts:
	Will Jeffries has vast experience working in remote isolated environments, and loves the challenges of his job at Maine Huts and Trails. Will takes advantage of his experience shuttling gear and supplies to the Huts in the winter and volunteers as a caretaker during our self-service seasons. In 2014 Will traveled in New Zealand for the year visiting over 80 huts of the country’s extensive hut system; and paid for his travels harvesting wine grapes (Central Otago Pinot Noir). Previously he was a canoe guide along Maine’s traditional canoe routes and this spring he paddled 550 miles along the Northern Forest Canoe Trail from Old Forge, NY to Flagstaff Lake and beyond. Will found the gem that is mountain biking in Carrabassett Valley this fall, and doesn’t plan on living anywhere else.