From having little experience traveling, to the 3rd day on trek being on the Baldy Saddle, Mariah Hughes had a revelation, and her life was changed for the better.  She returned home and was unrecognizable to her friends. Mariah went on to work seasonally at Philmont Scout Ranch for 9 summers. During her time as a ranger, she lived for hike-in days and the freeing confidence that a map and compass gave her.  Mariah speaks about the fatal lighting strike in 1988, of her role as CD reopening two backcountry camps that had previously been closed (Dan Beard and Crooked Creek), and she shares a mysterious tale or two. Mariah holds the title of the first and only female Director of Conservation, which was a role that Doug Palmer encouraged her to undertake - and quote, “one of the best decisions she made while working at Philmont.” Today Mariah is the Director of Operations at Snow Mountain Ranch, YMCA of the Rockies and an avid world traveler.

Philmont Experience:
1978 & 1980 - Trek participant

1983 - Health Lodge receptionist
1984 - Ranger
1985 - Ranger
1987 - Ranger
1988 - Conservation Environmental PC at Cito
1989 - CD Dan Beard
1990 - CD Crooked Creek
1991 - Associate Director of Conservation
1992 - Director of Conservation.  First and only female to hold this title to date.

Notable Mentions:
Kathy Stanish Mead
Harper Davison
Cryse Canty 
Jodi Hitchcock
Suzanne Sumank
Rose Kazuba
Forky Rudin
Cindy Werhane
Lee Hughes
Doug Palmer
Rod Taylor
Dawn Chandler
Kathy Leech
Jane Munch
Mary Stuever

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