A Hiker’s Dream

By Christopher Harper

Early morning at the trailhead, fog floating in the air as the sun begins to lighten the velvet blue sky. One by one your group arrives as you prepare to hit the trail on your morning hike. Sounds like a dream. Well, it’s not; everyday across America people wake up and go to work doing just as described. These people are park rangers, tour guides, land mangers, Boy Scout leaders, and the list goes on. Would you like to find employment that involves hiking, backpacking, or the outdoors in general? Like any other employment opportunity, having certain experience & skills are requirements for landing that dream position. That experience and skill can be as simple as extensive long-distance backpacking experience and leadership skills, or as complex as technical expertise (GPS or map & compass) or emergency medical training.
Having broad hiking or backpacking experience is required for getting a hiking or backpacking job. A potential employer wants to know that applicants can handle themselves, as well as other hikers if they are guides, in the backcountry, sometimes for weeks at a time. For example, you must know how to layer clothing to stay warm and dry; or to practice proper hydration principles while hiking. Applicants must also have a working knowledge of the following skills:
• Off-trail navigation using a map and compass; you must also know how to use a GPS.
• You must be able to quickly choose and setup a campsite. Erect many different styles of tents: and to build emergency shelters if the need arises.
• How to use a camp stove; properly pack, cook, and prepare backcountry meals.
The more experience that an applicant has in the backcountry, the more an applicant can bring to an employer. On occasion employers will request personal accounts where the applicant had to make critical decisions in the backcountry, and how they solved the problem. Many employers require providing your own backcountry gear, such as packs, hiking shoes, clothing layers, and water bottles.
Being able to teach & lead others can be crucial in getting the job; in most situations, you will be guiding green hikers and backpackers who need to learn the skills. The ability to instruct and communicate with inexperienced hikers is important. Also critical is being decisive in the backcountry; that will provide for the safety of your group, as well as make their experience more enjoyable. Employers may also look at professional experience, such as teaching certifications, or volunteer positions that you have had held.
Some type of medical experience is another important consideration that an employer will look for. It is important because a majority of trails is often in remote areas where medical assistance and evacuation could be difficult, and treatment delayed for an extended period from reaching the patient. All applicants that apply should have, at a minimum, a current First Aid and CPR course from a recognized instructor.
In addition more advanced training may be required. Depending on the job, taking a wilderness first aid or wilderness first responder course from a recognized wilderness medical program could increase your chances of landing the position. The courses teach how to handle emergencies, treat injuries, record information, and adapting all available equipment for treating patients. A wilderness first aid course is usually two-three days, while first responder courses are eight to nine days in duration.
When being considered for a hiking position, you can increase your chances by highlighting your experience & training in order to meet the expectations of the potential employer.
Finding a hiking position that pays to hike may sound fun, but where does one find those jobs? How can you find these positions, and where do you look? There are areas of the job market where companies that hire people with the required training and qualifications to fill positions.
One such field is wilderness therapy. These types of companies are constantly looking to fill positions as field instructors. They are responsible for teaching groups of students while in the backcountry, keeping them healthy, and assisting the students with completing their therapeutic work. Many of these employers provide a full-time salary, as well as health insurance and other benefits. A resource for learning more about wilderness therapy programs is the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP), which also has their own job listings.
Federal, state, and local governments also offer hiking or backpacking positions. The government is responsible for everything from large areas of public land to the local community parks, and often need employees who have the ability to manage these resources. These positions vary from seasonal employment to full-time positions with benefits. Some of the employment opportunities the governments offer include:
•Park rangers
•Foresters
•Trail maintenance workers
•Backcountry firefighters
•GIS workers
•Fish and Wildlife management
If you want to seek these kind of employment opportunities at the federal level, visit USAJobs.gov; this is the U.S. government’s website that lists of open job positions. State & local governments also have their own websites as well.
Every summer, camps and other seasonal programs will hire employees that can operate their diversified programs and to work with children. Many of these programs are the traditional summer camp; others are multi-sport adventure programs. Church groups, scouting programs, and private organizations are just a few of the different kinds of summer camp programs.
Finding employment in today’s economy can be difficult, but by researching opportunities, and looking for what sectors are hiring, job hunters can not only find employment, but one that will allow employees to get compensated to hike.
Do you like to hike and would want to earn a living doing it? There are many employment opportunities available for hiking and backpacking job-hunters. These can include, but are not limited to, working for organizations, both public and private, that focus on programs for children, teenagers, or adults.
Wilderness education groups use hiking & backpacking as an avenue for introducing others to the nature. These gatherings can be as short as a couple of hours at a city park, or extended backpacking expeditions to remote wilderness. Usually this work is seasonal, but some programs operate throughout the year. Potential employees need to be at ease in the outdoors, be able to lead and instruct others, and usually provides their own clothing and outdoor gear. Some groups that use hiking include:
The National Outdoor Leadership School: this non-profit based in Lander, Wyoming, runs wilderness expeditions (usually 30 days) throughout the western U.S. and several other countries that teaches skill development & leadership.
The Appalachian Mountain Club: Based out of New England & Mid-Atlantic areas, the Appalachian Mountain Club has outdoor recreational programs for children & adults throughout the year. They also appreciate volunteers to help with their programs.
To find a job with an outdoor education group, pay a visit to Outdoored.com’s job board, which usually has listings for current open positions.
Governments, both federal & state, employ personnel both seasonally and full-time. Some of these positions consist of park rangers, land management, researchers, and trail maintenance. These positions often require potential employees to spend considerable amounts of time outside in various weather conditions. In addition, park employees usually have to wear a park uniform.
. To find a position within the park system, check with your State’s parks & recreation division or at USAJobs.gov if you are interested in positions at the Federal level.
In closing, a hiking or backpacking position will always offer a beautiful office view, and the reward of teaching others about the outdoors. For a good all-round website offering open job positions throughout the USA, you can visit HikingJobs.com. With patience and maybe a little luck, you too can live “A Hiker’s Dream.”