The U.S. Forest Service announced on Friday the selection of a head ranger for the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. There is nobody in the role currently.
Jon Gellings has been selected to manage the monument starting Sept. 18.
“I am thrilled to welcome Jon and his family to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest,” said Forest Supervisor Johanna Kovarik in a news release. “Jon brings a depth of experience working in a variety of land management roles and will be a strong asset and partner with our communities in stewarding this dynamic landscape.”
Gellings was born and raised in the Kettle Moraine Forest in Wisconsin and has worked for the Forest Service for nearly 10 years in various positions connected to outdoor recreation, land-use permitting, natural resource-focused contracting and wilderness management, the release stated. He previously oversaw the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and has been the acting district ranger on the east zone of the Hiawatha National Forest. Most recently, Gellings has been leading construction and design contracting efforts across the northeast United States, the release stated.
“I am very excited to return to the Pacific Northwest and engage with the employees and communities surrounding the monument and Gifford Pinchot National Forest,” Gellings said. “Mount St. Helens is a very special place, and I am looking forward to learning more about the landscape, people and legacy, while supporting the monument’s unique mission.”
Per the Forest Service, the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is a 110,000-acre designation within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. It was established in 1982 for the purposes of research, recreation and education. Within its boundaries, the area that was impacted by the May 18, 1980 eruption, is generally left to respond naturally to environmental processes, enabling scientists to study how a volcanic landscape responds following a major eruption.
The monument offers many seasonal activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, snow sports and ranger-led educational programs. Permits are required for any person who wishes to hike above 4,800 feet. on the volcano, which includes climbing to the summit.
Learn more about Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/gp/MountStHelens.
