New Spotted Bear District Ranger has a full plate
New Spotted Bear District Ranger Adam LaDell at Backslope Brewing last week. (Chris Peterson photo)
When Adam LaDell started as the new Spotted Bear District Ranger last fall, he said he spent most of his time doing paperwork and getting things organized. He didn’t get out on the trails and rivers the district is renowned for.
This spring, he hopes to change that as he enters his first full season in one of the most coveted districts in the U.S.
The district is about 1,037,083 total acres with 849,126 acres in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex (about 55% of the complex).
A Marine Corps veteran, LaDell, 48, said over the course of his career he’s held just about every post in the Forest Service, from firefighter to district ranger.
He was last district ranger Questa District Ranger on the Carson National Forest in New Mexico, which included the Taos Ski Resort.
He has plenty of experience working with the private sector and hopes to foster stronger relationships with the outfitters and guides that work on the Spotted Bear District. All told, there are 32 outfitters and guides permitted on the district and he said he wants to “meet every single outfitter and guide face-to-face.”
“I’m firm but fair with outfitters and guides,” he added. He noted they’re there to provide a service and to be good stewards of the land as well. He’s like to see them have Leave No Trace training and to train their staffs in Leave No Trace principles as well.
Leave No Trace, as the name implies, is a protocol for ethical use of the wilderness and public lands in general; things like packing trash out and using fire pads instead of campfire rings.
The district has about 30 employees, including two trail crews, office staff and fire personnel.
He wants to get to know his staff and meet for coffee on a regular basis.
“I truly believe in interpersonal relationships,” he said. LaDell will head south to the district in early May. He is also a member of the Flathead National Forest Leadership team, which includes Anthony Botello, the new Forest Supervisor as well as staff officers and deputy supervisor Tammy MacKenzie.
LaDell said he has about five trips planned in the backcountry so he can get to know the lay of the land of the district.
They’re all horseback trips, he said. He also wants to hear from the public. He’s already started that effort, holding meet-and greets in Columbia Falls and Kalispell.
“I want to get with the public and see what they have to say,” he said.