John Celley & Zach Seeger - Philmont Forestry Feature

Continuing our mini-series, this episode focuses on Philmont's forestry management through time.  Discussing this complicated and diverse topic, John Celley and Zach Seeger join the show.  This fire series is sponsored by Limmer Boot Company. For over 100 years, Limmer has been known for providing the highest quality boots, built to last for generations with the only true single piece leather upper design. If you are in search of your last pair of hiking boots, owner Chris Sawyer looks forward to sharing how Limmer is different. Check out the reviews online and visit limmerboots.com to learn more!Zach kicks it off discussing Philmont’s historic fire regime, in conjunction with compounding changes in the Forestry industry throughout time. He also examines Philmont’s first commercial timber harvests and unpacks in detail the forestry practices of resistance, resilience, and transition.John reminds us of the many people and places involved in the story of Philmont’s Forestry management, and how different universal beliefs and values regarding fire, logging, and wilderness have shaped the story.  He praises the community engagement of the Cimarron Watershed Alliance and advocates for broadened, uninterrupted, more committed forestry at Philmont.Lastly, both John and Zach reflect on their experiences working with seasonal staff and professional fire crews during the 2018 Ute Park fire, and share the story of the vitally important Forestry Work Crew program, which they spearheaded into origin in 2016.Since 2003, the Philmont Ranch Committee via the Philmont Forest Management policy became certified through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. This rigorous annual audit ensures that Philmont’s forests are being managed at the highest level of sustainability, with regard to the complexity and variability across Philmont's landscape.John Celley1995 - Regular trek participant1997 - Regular trek participant1999 - Ranger2002 - Logistics, Fall - Fire Rehab Crew Member2003 - Winter - Fire Rehab Crew Member2003 - Lead Conservationist - Head of Dean, Fall - Fire Rehab Foreman2004 - Summer - Associate Director of Conservation - Conservationists2004 - Fall - Fire Rehab Foreman2005 - Summer - Associate Director of Conservation - Conservationists2005 - Fall - Fire Rehab Foreman2006 - Field Manager2007 - Field Manager2008 - Director of Conservation2009 - Director of Conservation2009 - Fall - GIS Coordinator2012 - Summer/Fall - Field Manager2013 - Winter/Summer/Fall - Field Manager2014 - Winter/Summer/Fall - Recreation Resource Manager2015 - Started full-time on January 1 - Recreation Resource Manager/Conservation Foreman/Director of Conservation2018 - Last working day on December 31Zach Seeger2004 - Participant 2012 - Summer GIS Staff, Fall Work Crew, Winter GIS2013 - GIS Coordinator - Summer, Fall, Winter2014 - Winter GIS2015 - Summer Field Manager, Fall & Winter GIS2016 - Summer Forester Work Crew ADC, Fall - became full time2016 - 2019 - Full Time Forester (First ever) Notable Mentions:Mark AndersonMike SerioDaniel GodwinMary StueverBob RicklefsKevin & Nancy StickelmanDoug PalmerJacob DavidsonChris SawyerJay MittenMichael CrockettKevin DowlingJohn McManRobert FudgeEric MartinezNate LayThe Carson National Forest TeamPaul MondragoneJordan MoedeArnie FreedKent ReedGus HolmesRick SmithMichael SudmeierRanda CelleyCliff GyleCS Ranch, Davis FamilySeth ManginiSupport the show