With the retirement of current Chief Ranger Jack Bridges confirmed for the end of this year, the Emerson Valley Park Service has announced his replacement: Samantha Bellinger. She has been a ranger with the service for nine years, and was trained by Mr. Bridges himself. Upon hearing that Mrs. Bellinger will take on the role he’s held for the last 18 years, Mr. Bridges gave a nod and smiled.

“As it should be,” he said when asked to comment on the announcement. “I don’t get a say in who they pick, but if I did, it’d be Sam. She knows the forest inside-out, and she’s got a way of anticipating problems so we can keep them from happening. I’m really happy for her. Congrats, Sam!”

Mrs. Bellinger moved to Emerson Valley from Wyoming in 2010 and joined the Park Service soon after. Although she’s been a ranger here for less than a decade, she has spent her whole life in parks.

“Yellowstone was practically in my backyard,” she said after the announcement. “I grew up in a very rural area, so my parents started teaching me survival skills as soon as I could walk. Nature can be amazing and beautiful, but you have to have a healthy respect for the fact that it can be very dangerous, too. My goal as chief ranger is to make sure the people of this town are safe when they step foot into our forest.”

The Emerson Valley Park Service has served as the town’s guiding hand when it comes to Blackwood Forest. After a number of disappearances in 1998, Brian Saunders—Mr. Bridges’ predecessor as chief ranger—pushed City Hall to implement new regulations that gave the Park Service greater control over visitors to the forest. This included a new law that anyone venturing into Blackwood Forest must first register at the Ranger Station. This has had a significant impact in decreasing the number of deaths and disappearances in the forest.

“Nobody likes to feel like they’ve got someone looking their shoulder,” Mrs. Bellinger said about the law. “But that’s not what we do. We aren’t here to tell you how to enjoy your time in Blackwood. What we do need is to know where you’re going, who is in your party, and what activities you intend to engage in. I know that sounds like a lot, but it’s helped us save lives on many occasions.

“Just recently, we had a big storm roll in about two days earlier than expected. A party was camping out by Harrison Falls, so we sent a ranger to warn them about the storm. By the time he got there, the rain was already causing mudslides all over the forest. He was able to get everyone out just before a mudslide sent about 300 pounds of rocks right through the campsite. It was lucky we knew exactly where they were, or there’s a good chance they would have died.”

It wasn’t just luck that warned them about the storm. You might recognize Mrs. Bellinger’s husband David as our local weatherman on NBS-affiliate WEVL Channel 8 News. Being married to meteorologist has its perks as a park ranger, including getting comprehensive weather reports as soon as they come in.

“I like to stay on top of what kind of weather we’ll be getting in Emerson Valley,” Mr. Bellinger told the Gazette. “I mean, it’s my job, obviously. But even when I’m not working, I’m always checking the Doppler [radar] and satellite feeds so I know exactly what’s going to hit where. And as soon as I know, Sam knows.”

We have no doubt that Mrs. Bellinger will do an exceptional job in her new role as chief ranger,” said Director of Park Service Helena Vazquez. “She’s been a fantastic trail guide and safety expert, and we know she’s got what it takes to fill Jack Bridge’s’ big shoes.”

-Sarah Donovan, Editor & Local News, Emerson Valley Gazette