Shea retires as Glacier Park trail foreman

Corey Shea, a longtime trail crew foreman in Glacier National Park, retired this month after a 42-year career with the National Park Service.

Shea grew up in Falls Church, Va. When he got out of the Army, he learned about Glacier Park from a friend who worked at the Parks’ backcountry chalets, he said.

In 1972, he was hired on as a seasonal trail crew worker.

“I made $2.90 an hour,” he recalled.

In 1983, he was named acting trail crews foreman for the east side of the Park. The job became permanent in 1984. He moved over to the west side in 1997 to be the trail crews foreman here.

Over the years, some excellent and dedicated crews have made his job a pleasure, Shea said.

He didn’t know how many miles he’s hiked over the years, but it’s probably in the thousands. In recent years, the job has required more paperwork, but he still hiked about 100 miles last summer.

Shea’s wife, Susie Bouton, is a fifth-grade teacher at Glacier Gateway Elementary School.

Shea said he plans on hiking for pleasure now.

“I look forward to getting over on the east side and doing some exploring,” he said.