Peter Mattox is a caretaker for the Appalachian Mountain Club in New Hampshire. He takes care of Carter Notch Hut, a guest house for backpackers located high in the craggy White Mountains. He keeps the place clean, registers guests, and keeps an eye on trail conditions. On Saturdays, he is busy, taking care of up to thirty guests. On most other days, he is alone. Spending that much time alone can leave you "slighly unhinged" and he spends his time reading and thinking. Often, he thinks about the inherent irony of his job: Wilderness Caretaker, managing something that is valued for it's wildness. Note: There are two versions of this story. This is the longest version, more or less faithful to what ran on Weekend America last year.

Peter Mattox is a caretaker for the Appalachian Mountain Club in New Hampshire. He takes care of Carter Notch Hut, a guest house for backpackers located high in the craggy White Mountains. He keeps the place clean, registers guests, and keeps an eye on trail conditions. On Saturdays, he is busy, taking care of up to thirty guests. On most other days, he is alone. Spending that much time alone can leave you "slighly unhinged" and he spends his time reading and thinking. Often, he thinks about the inherent irony of his job: Wilderness Caretaker, managing something that is valued for it's wildness. Note: There are two versions of this story. This is the longest version, more or less faithful to what ran on Weekend America last year.