Interesting Observation

[Ingo]

All the rangers at R.H. are 1st time Isle Royalers this year. I found that interesting. I would think that having some experience in the visitors center would be beneficial. Curious if this is just a coincidence, or if there was some reason behind it.

[Mandolynn]

I was surprised by this as well, and I agree with you that it's not the best for visitor relations. New rangers can be very enthusiastic and sometimes that helps inject a new sense of wonder into their presentations, which is good for visitor enthusiasm; but there needs to be that voice of experience to draw on as well. It doesn't inspire a lot of confidence when you overhear someone ask the ranger who is checking on site tags in RH campground "What time does the Ranger leave?" and the reply is "I dunno." I doubt that it was calculated move by the park. Probably it just worked out that way because everyone with experience had made new plans. Obviously they were missing Karina big time, but she made a move to the Forest Service and now lives in Houghton year round. I didn't get to see her but my friend Alan did and she said she was really happy with the move, though of course she misses IR. I guess for most (if not all?) rangers the job is only half a year so they've always got to have winter life somewhere else. Maybe that makes it harder for IR to get the same people back every year. Last year there was young schoolteacher from California who was into birding who was a first timer, and I really thought he did an excellent job. Too bad he wasn't back again this year.

[Don_P]

I didn't catch that Karina wasn't back... will miss seeing her this trip.

Mandolynn - just noticed you live pretty close to us. We're in Wilmington.

[Mandolynn]

Yep, it's not far. I only had one occasion to visit Delaware in the 18 years I've lived here, but for people in the southern end of Lancaster County, it's not far at all.

I once went to see Johnny Cash do a concert at a university in Delaware... University of Delaware, I guess??? Anyway it was years ago so I don't remember all the details. It was a very good show. Some of his kids sang, John Jr for one, and one of the girls, and I think Junie was onstage, too. Some folks from his band sang or played solo so that Johnny didn't have to be onstage the whole time. I think his health wasn't that great at the time but his voice was still wonderful.

I got interested in IR by way of the North Shore of Minnesota (which I ended up there because Garrison Keillor made Minnesota sound so inviting and because I really, really, really wanted to see a moose.) I'm from southern Indiana originally. I also lived in Columbus, OH for a few years. I don't know why I love the North Woods so much having been raised just this side of Dixie, but it sure holds an attraction for me.

[Ingo]

Mandolynn, I caught up with JohnH this afternoon on my way home and he said about the same thing. Thanks.