Location: Gila National Forest & Aldo Leopold Wilderness*

Black Range Ranger District and occasionally Wilderness Ranger District

Hermosa Field Station, Forest Service Road 157, Sierra County, New Mexico

*specific trails to be determined

Position type: Hourly Employee (Seasonal)

Schedule: late May – early October 2025; typically 8 days on, 6 days off

Compensation: $22.50/per hour

• up to $69.13 personal vehicle use reimbursement per hitch
• space to camp in a canvas wall tent the night before and after each hitch (includes access to group bathrooms and wifi)      

Natural Curiosity, Inc. (view website) is seeking qualified candidates for Wilderness Trail Crew Leads (Leads) on the Black Range Ranger District, Gila National Forest. These trails lie within the 2022 Black Fire scar and are typified by long deferred maintenance and fire and flood damage. Work will focus on clearing/defining trail corridors, troubleshooting, and repair of hazard areas. The work is physically demanding and takes place in a remote Wilderness Area*. Labor includes work with loppers, picks, axes, crosscut saws, and other hand-tools to move dirt, gravel, stones, brush, and logs. Environmental conditions may include extremes of heat and cold, wind, rain, sleet, snow, and high altitude. Leads and crews camp for 8 days in the backcountry without cell signal during hitches.  This job is for those who embrace physical discomfort and enjoy physical and mental challenges in a Wilderness setting.

Leads will direct and manage their crew to maximize safety, morale, and efficiency while minimizing and mitigating conflict. Interpersonal skills and diplomacy are essential. Leads will be responsible for proper use and maintenance of Natural Curiosity’s trail tools and tool cache. Leads will provide information on trail conditions and crew members to assist Natural Curiosity’s Admin in the prioritization of trial sections and trail work.  Leads may have opportunities to work with volunteers, students, and partner organizations. Excellent communication and compliance with safety protocols and check-in schedules will be required throughout the term of service. Trail condition documentation and reporting will be ongoing. A formal report of crew hours worked, work accomplished, work yet to be done, and photo documentation with before and after photos of trail work completed will be due within 48 hours of the end of each hitch.

*Crosscut saws will be used for all felling and bucking operations, requiring Wilderness First Aid certification and USFS crosscut saw certification; Natural Curiosity will work to provide or coordinate crosscut saw training and certification prior to assigning tasks that require crosscut saws.

Qualifications (please apply if you meet the majority of the following)

• Desire and ability to create a safe and inclusive work environment
• 12+ months of leadership experience in a field position
• Enthusiasm for backcountry camping and work under Leave no Trace principles
• Comfort working and camping both independently and in group settings
• Ability to work long hours in often uncomfortable outdoor conditions
• Ability to travel on foot over rough terrain, 5-15 miles/day, with loads up to 60 lbs
• Ability to regularly lift and/or move up to 60 lbs
• Comfortable living in remote and primitive settings with limited ability to contact those outside the work environment for days at a time
• Situational awareness and sound risk management skills
• Adaptability in the face of unpredictable conditions and shifting prioritization of tasks
• Willingness to provide logistical support to and engage in problem solving with Natural Curiosity staff and administration as needed
• Ability and willingness to engage in regular, clear communication, including use of 2-way radios and InReach devices
• Experience with handheld GPS units
• Competency with google photos, google docs, and google sheets
• Valid driver’s license
• Ability to pass a background check
• Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Access to a reliable 4WD or AWD vehicle with current registration & insurance

Preferred Qualifications

• Current Wilderness First Responder certification
• USFS Crosscut Sawyer certification (B or C level; bucking & felling certifications preferred)
• Experience with equine pack stock