Thomas Kain is the new state parks ranger in Haines.
Kain has worked for the Division of Parks in Seward for the past four years, including as parks specialist, responsible for managing campgrounds, trails, public use cabins and remote parks in Prince William Sound.
“(Kain) was a lead person in Seward for a couple of years due to a vacancy. He ran state parks in Seward for a few years,” said Mike Eberhardt, Southeast area superintendent for the state Division of Parks.
Kain, who was in town last week looking for housing, hopes to move his family here by October.
He said he was attracted to the job here for the town’s small-town atmosphere and outdoor recreation opportunities. Kain grew up in the Midwest and came to Alaska in 2002 as a kayak guide in Seward and Prince William Sound. He’s held jobs with the National Ski Patrol in Girdwood and as an off-season carpenter.
A backcountry skier, Kain said he’s looking forward to working with the local ski club, which helps maintain ski trails on state lands. “I would love to get more involved in the Nordic club and help out however I can with them.”
He holds an associate’s degree in outdoor recreational leadership from Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, Colo.
As ranger, Kain’s responsibilities include Chilkoot, Chilkat and Portage Cove campgrounds, the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve and Chilkat Islands State Marine Park. The ranger also serves as staff to the bald eagle preserve’s advisory council.
Regional parks superintendent Eberhardt and two other parks officials on the hiring committee chose Kain from among 31 applicants. “It was a very qualified applicant pool. That way we were able to select a very highly qualified individual,” Eberhardt said.
Kain will oversee technician Jon Gellings and another technician who will be hired for Haines next spring. Parks here currently are supervised by Gellings and four Alaska Conservation Corps (temporary) parks staff.
Eberhardt said temporary workers were serving the bear monitor function along Chilkoot River and the state has been fortunate bear activity has been low. He said the division wouldn’t be pushing for funding of a monitor job.
“We don’t push. We take what we’ve been given. There’s always been a need for more staff out there. After construction of the (bear-viewing) facilities, there will be a re-assessment of where do we go from here. After we make the change, we’ll see what happens and we’ll have more data on the direction we need to go,” Eberhardt said.
Mosquito Lake Wayside also is in the state parks system but has been “passively managed” for about 12 years. “It would take a large capital project to reconstitute that park. At this point, the priority for the public hasn’t been at Mosquito Lake.”