Russ Walliser

0:00Hello listeners, and welcome back to Silver on the Sage podcast. I am Caitlin your host. Thank you for being here. Today I get to chat with Russ Walliser. We discuss everything from how the podcast prompted Russ to apply to work at the ranch, to the upcoming Riyada reunion and the little things. Like the view of the Filmont Mountains, Silhouetted against the sunset as you approach the ranch for one more summer. I want to thank Russ for his support of the podcast and his enthusiastic idea collaboration behind the scenes. May it serve as a reminder that I am a big fan of any and all suggestions for the show, nominations and the like. Please reach out anytime if you have any ideas or want to contribute. I'll leave you with this quote. Some people talk to you in their free time and some free their time to talk to you.

1:05From upper leadership to first year staff, it has been my experience that the people of Filmont place great value and worth in getting to know one another's stories. It is a powerful human connection and I encourage you to stay curious about one another always. Thank you for listening and being here today. Let's take on. Good morning. Good morning. Welcome back to the show. I'm here with Russ Walliser and I'm really excited to have you on the show today to talk about your time at Filmont and also to talk about an upcoming special event celebrating

2:0650 years of the Riyada program. So good morning. Welcome. How are you? Good morning, Caitlin. Happy to be here. It's got a nice snow dusting here this morning and it just happened to be here. Yeah. And you're at the ranch, right? You're there where everybody wants to be. That's where you are. Yeah, yeah. So I'm here. I know I'm actually recording in administration. So right out the window, there's some turkeys and just some snow. So it's cool. Oh, okay. I'm jealous. I'm jealous. You are a lifelong scouter. So we can take it back to kind of your first interactions with scouting if you want and then how you ended up at Filmont in 2017 was your first year on track. Yeah, tell us a little bit about growing up and scouting. Yeah. So some of my earliest memories are with my older brother with his events and cut to cuts and all that. I was too young to join with just being in the room and hearing the meetings and involved it on that.

3:06So then I joined and did the whole crossover into Boy Scouts and in the whole spiel, right? The first time I heard about the ranch was on my older brother's trek. Two years prior to my trek, 2015, he came out here not too long after the big flood came. So the big Tonya flood. And I remember he was a little nervous, a little unsure about it and I had no idea what he was doing at all. I was kind of too young to know and then he came back and had all these stories to tell. Yeah. And then I came on trek just a two years after that and actually had the exact same ceremony as he did. So same night, same everything. And he wasn't there on the trek, but some of his trek mates were on my trek. So we did the ATV trek down at Zastro, so had a whole day of ATVs and all that and that was cool. So that was awesome. It was pre-burne. So we experienced part of like, you know, you park area pre-burne and that was cool.

4:12And a cool thing on that trek, I wore contacts and about halfway in on the trek, either I ripped or I broke or tore all my contacts. So for like the last half of the trek, I was like blind almost because I could really see. Oh my gosh. Wandering around. You'd definitely probably had to like lean on your crew mates at that point, like, yeah, help me out, guys. So on that trick, I was also the crew leader, so like with all of that, like with Big and Charge and having to like be like, you know, authority, you know, being blind was like a new step to that. So kind of changed the game a little bit. Yeah. Fillmont challenges us, right? Yeah. 2018, I went to sea bass and then 2019, I came back out on a trek. I turned down the other triple crown up at Northern cheer to come back here because it's awesome here. Nice. I typed up north and did a whole north trek and, yeah, I moved from Indiana to Florida

5:13or from Indiana. I spent all my scouting life in Indiana. After high school, I moved to Florida and was working non-stop, had a full job and all of that. And come 2022, I was kind of lost in the sauce a little bit and looking for kind of some new sources of media and I found this podcast, you know, out of the blue. So this is pretty staff, you know, I wasn't even on staff yet and this podcast came up and just hearing the stories of others and the inspiring moments kind of helped to prompt me to apply and in 23, I applied and I came out as a ranger. Awesome. That's so cool. I love that so much. I'm so glad you stumbled upon us and, yeah, made it out to Fillmont in 23 as a ranger. Is that what you applied for? Was that like your top choice? Yeah. Yeah. I really didn't know what to apply for, but I just thought being a backpacking guide for a summer, it's hard to beat that. So yeah. Yeah.

6:14It's a fantastic job, a very important job at the ranch. Obviously, you'd been there, you'd tracked, but what was sort of your experience as a staff member at that point? Just diving in. Did it feel like immediately a click? Like it was home or were there any challenges, sort of just kicking it off? Yeah. Yeah. It was pretty awesome. In the preseason and I went to my older brother's college graduation and then I drove out. So I drove cross country and that was like my first ever like big trip, like alone, I guess. So yeah. That by itself was cool and then just pulling up here. Like I remember I was over in spring or like driving over and I kept having this thought in my mind like, where's the mountains, where's like to the time and like it's right in front of you, but like I didn't know the peaks because it's been a few years, so I'm like, where is it? It's just all right there. I love that. I think like coming into film on every time, like every time you finally can sort of see the horizon and pick out like, oh, there's black mountain or others.

7:16You know, you're Akamasa, you're just like, it's heaven, like it's just the best view and you know you're almost there and that's a moment like every time I returned to the ranch. I love that. Every time nowadays, like I'm going to Las Vegas or something, I always just love that big grand view. It's incredible. There's a really beautiful painting of it by Don Chandler. She's kind of a famous film aunt, alumni artist and she has a beautiful painting of it that I, one day, hope to own a print of so yeah, yeah, yeah, if you get one, I'll take one too. Yeah. Yeah. We shout out Don Chandler, you guys, if anyone listen and go check it out. So you're a Ranger 2023 first year on staff. Do you remember like some highlights about like maybe your first trek you took out or even like your, your Ranger trainers, the people who mentored you and prepared you for that summer? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So I was incredibly blessed. I didn't have a tent mate all summer. Nice.

8:17So I had a double bed. So it was like a queen bed and like a tent, which was awesome. So the mega bed, if you will, and I didn't know that, you know, everyone had a tent mate to like a week or two and I'm like, whoa, you know, I don't have that. So yeah. I had Kate's work as my Ranger trainer. Oh, nice. She was incredible and I'll jump ahead, but she's my boss now with marketing, but it's cool to have that kind of full circle moment. Sure. She was incredible. She'd been an RT for a few years at that point. So she knew a lot of great things and was a great mentor to me. Our training track was fun, it rained almost every day. So a cool bit on both of my tracks here as a youth. It didn't rain once on either of them for either day, like anything. So you know, coming here, I just thought like it never rained in Mexico and then like

9:18our whole train track, it rains every day. That was a wake up call. Yeah. Well, that's pretty lucky. That's pretty incredible. Not one day on both your tracks. I guess, yeah, then it made up for it when you were training. Yeah. Yeah. I remember, because like on the first track, I packed like the rain pants and like the whole suit and like on track too, I was like, I don't need that. Yeah. You know, it was okay. But now it's like, I need everything. Yeah. It rains all the time. Yeah. Yeah. 23 was awesome. Chase Anderson was our new chief. So I knew mentor to our department and he changed the whole dynamic in a very positive way. So just, you know, hearing him speak and, you know, be that mentor type person. So our whole department was incredible. So I still respect the heck out of him and, you know, he's a great man and we talk still some and it's just cool to have that. So yeah. Do you remember, yeah, any special crews that summer that you took out?

10:19Yeah. Yeah. I had a couple crews. I had only six crews. Then I ended it with a riot of the session. So I kind of cut, cut short and did the riot of deal. Yeah. But of the six crews, they're all from six other states, other councils. So I got to experience kind of all of Americana, which is cool. So I had a crew from Wisconsin and they had like the deep Wisconsin accents and like the whole time. I was like trying to not laugh because it was just hilarious. Like, should boykin and all the things and then it was just making me laugh. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Just awesome crews. I still have yet to have like a true problem crew, if you will, like you've all been so great and great. Great. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So how does riot work these days? Do you get sort of chosen for that? Do you have to apply? I know it's kind of morphed over the years, how Rangers, you know, get that selection. Or that option. So 23, it was, I say the old way.

11:21Okay. Yeah. They had it like that for a decade or so. And it was the whole application process. So there were two sessions and each one had its own group of Rangers. So I had really no interest in riot until Kate, my RT, like pushed me to apply. So I applied on a whim and I got it in 23 and it's a whole interview process. So like you walk into the riot track coordinator office and you do like a 20 minute interview if you will, just answering some, you know, questions how you work with a partner and X and X and X and all that. Great. Yeah. And then you spend a whole half week on train track. So you go out and you just learn about Rado. I had no idea what anything was in Rado. I didn't know any of the elements or anything at all because I never went as a youth. So it was all new to me and just being on trail with friends and all that.

12:23We actually had our trek up in the VA. So we've spent four nights in the VA with all staff just doing train track and we hiked all over the VA. And I had never been up there until that moment. So every single day and stuff was new to me. That's really cool. I'll never forget the first time I went up in the VA because I was just like, what is this? This is incredible. Like the whole different feel like very much still New Mexico, but just the vastness. So that's really special that you got to do your Rado training up there. I dig that a lot. We have shwacked all around and hiked and just had a lot of fun. And we cooked like some meals. We had like a pancake breakfast and all that and it was pretty cool. So. Yeah. And so then you did you take out just one Rado session, like one Rado trek or were there? I only had one. It was the end of 23, the July dates and sessions. So I had will Carter as my partner and he only worked the one year.

13:28He's now a med students that come in Missouri. Nice. But at that time Rado had a volunteer or a deal. So with the Rado arrangers, one was over 21 and one was under 21 to meet white PT. Right. And on top of that, they had to add in a volunteer to meet white PT. So the volunteer was over 21. Gotcha. Drew Bell, he was our volunteer and he was a Navy, you academy arranger, not too long back. And it was cool to have him. And yeah. Yeah, I kind of forgot that that all shifted at that point. And they needed the over the 21 and older portion. So there were some opportunities for people to come back, which seemed kind of cool. I don't know how it worked on the back end if that was a logistical nightmare or not. But I hope it was fun, fun for the people who got to come. As far as I know, you know, our track went great. We got to go awesome time. But I know there's some horror stories with some volunteers.

14:30You didn't quite know what Rado is and how I can, you know, eight peaks or whatever, internally dying. Yeah. That would have been me if I had volunteered for that. I would have been like, oh, no. So 2023 sounds like you had a fantastic first year on staff. Did you leave that summer thinking like, okay, I'm definitely coming back. And want to do Ranger again, or what was the end of summer like? I guess coming into the summer, I really had the idea of this is my one summer. This is it. You know, I'm going to go explore it. My boss back home in Florida actually gave me the time off to come out over the summer. Okay. So I really thought it was like a, you know, one time or a deal when I thought I do everything. So Rado was like the pinnacle of I thought my Ranger experience and then like you leave the ranch, you go home, come like, you know, Christmas, New Year's, you start to like get those ideas again. Oh, let's just go back, you know, more summer.

15:34On a whim, I just, I talked again with my employer in Florida and he said, all right, I'll give you one more, you know, full summer off. Great. And I was like, that's all I need. And I came back and I applied for a new position, a Rado, a Ranger position. I was new for that year. It was the full of the summer opposition. So you do both tracks. Oh. Okay. Okay. Did that. And I really thought that in 23, it was the one summer and then here I am still here. So I just kind of edged into your mind. Go and go. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, you have been there, let's see, 2025, then you were a RT, Ranger trainer. And now you've been there. You haven't left. So you stayed on for autumn and you're there for the winter and assuming you're staying out for the summer. So yeah, you, yeah, we can get into that. But so Ranger, Ranger on Rado, you just did both sessions, you were just a Rado Ranger all summer. Yeah.

16:35Yeah. So that was a big move. That's probably the biggest move Rado's had over the past many years, right? Oh, yeah. They changed the hiring. So now everyone who's hired is over 21 to reduce the volunteer position, right? Oh, I see. Yeah. It kind of helps out in the broad scheme of things. So the hard part is hiring over 21 year olds, because by that point, a lot of them are in leadership and X and X and X. Yeah. It was cool and an honor. There's a lot of controversy in it because there's the whole ordeal of, you only get one even as a Ranger. So it was kind of a wake up call about, you know, already having experience and kind of knowing the unexpected part of it all. But I will say that that was the best summer ever, like you are right under the role of through responsibility, but you're just getting paid to hike for two sets of 21 days and

17:39just like exploring all the backcountry, like, that was the year that I went to every staff camp and I hiked every peak on ranch and done like a lot of cool things that you wouldn't have the opportunity and other roles to do. So. Yeah. Cool. So a cool story is, yeah, I knew more backcountry staff than I did Rangers because we're the backcountry so much like you never get to see them. So like you meet people and yeah, so that's incredible. I can't say I've been, well, have I been to every staff camp? Maybe I have. I definitely haven't hiked every peak. Do you have a favorite spot on ranch if you had to choose one? How to choose, there's the bridge between Minors Park and up to Shafer's Pass, a little wood bridge, me and my Reado partner, who's not my best friend Ethan Lyon, him and I would

18:41sit on that bridge as our crew was hiking on for like 10, 20 minutes and just like enjoy the water beneath us and it's just like a cool, my new spot. Oh, I love that. That's a great answer. Yeah. Just those little little places, especially anything, any of those streams always like make me pause because they're just so like dainty and beautiful and I don't know, they kind of just like reset your brain. So I love the water element there and how that was special to you. At this point, you know, you've been a Ranger for two years, you've been in the backcountry a ton. Have you had any crazy encounters with like Mother Nature or animals or lightning or anything or is it just like a breeze of I've yet to see a mountain line. That's good. It's good. Yeah. So I've seen the tracks and like all like that, but I get to see that a couple of bearing counters. Yeah. In 23, I remember this is my last crew before Reado and our last night, it was at head

19:43of Dean like the last night with the Ranger, right? Yeah. And I remember a bear came up, the crew on the far side is, you know, trying to sing Happy Birthday and I go out to help them and there's a mom and a cub and we deal with it. And then at the same time on the other end of the meadow, a mom and two other cubs comes up. So on both ends of the head of Dean Beto, there's just like these like bear like entourage and just like, I'm like running back and forth just to support both the crews who don't know what they're doing. But it's just trying to help. That's pretty funny. That everything all at once, right? Sometimes life is like, oh, there's the sprays where it's like sometimes life is long moments of like stillness and plateau and almost dull. And then it's like everything at once. So it sounds like one of those moments. It was a wake up call like, you know, I don't think I knew what I was doing. I was trying the best I could and just, you know, like I was wanting at the time.

20:48So like you're just at the guy in charge, I guess, so it's open to support. Yep. You just jump in. That's kind of what Philmont staff are known for. They're determination and resilience and willingness. So maybe this is a good kind of moment to segue or talk a little bit about just like the Ranger department and the Ranger culture. Are there any special like traditions or anything you got to witness that was really special to you? Your three years in that department. Yeah. Yeah. Every year I've been here, I've been on trail for July 4th, so I've yet to experience like a base fourth. Yeah. But I was on going thing. I spent the first two at Euraka and we could see the fireworks over the town from inspiration point. Oh, cool. So like that's like my top place for, you know, on July 4th. So. Yeah. But I'm hoping I haven't been to like the kickball game yet or like, you know, any of those. So hopefully in years to come will attend that and do that, but do you know what you're

21:53doing this summer? Are you going to be in the Ranger department? Do you want to share? Are you not sure yet? Yeah. Yeah. I'll be the Academy coordinator. Nice. Nice. Yeah. Congrats. Thank you. Yeah. Well, because it, okay, so in 2025, you did some, you co-ta a cadet class, right? As an RT. Yes. Okay. So for listeners who might not know like what that means, do you want to talk a little bit about that experience and the Academy portion? Yeah. Sure. So we have this ongoing relationship as a ranch with the main Academy. So that's West Point Army Air Force in the Navy Academy. So we had the Coast Guard for a while, but they dropped a couple years back. I'm not sure exactly when. So we just hit the anniversary in 2022. I was 50, so 50 years with Academy and our ranch, so that was pretty cool.

22:56Yeah. And essentially over the summer, they send blocks out and a block is like a little under a month. So each Academy gets two blocks, select a June block and a July block. And they might send 10 or 20 Academy officer, you know, cadets, if you will. And part of their training is they come out here and they learn small group leadership and a development with being a ranger. So in the field with youth, learning those skills and how to build and be a leader and it's pretty cool. So it's pretty inspiring to have a countryman and women come back and help serve. So yeah. I think that relationship is really unique and I always just want to know more about it. Like I need to interview more Academy Rangers on the show. Do they still call them Academy Rangers? Yeah.

23:56Yeah. Yeah. So this year's Academy is the true name. Okay. Okay. And so this summer, you'll be in charge of training, you know, those Rangers who will then train the service Academy folks, is that what that position is the coordinator or is it a little different? So essentially they come out and it's our job to train all of them. So they have Academy artis who are internally with the Academy who have rose the ranks who come out as a Academy, your trainer, and it's our job to mentor the RTs, to mentor the Rangers. But it's also our job to train everybody. So it has on trail and I'm not alone, I have a partner, Tessa, Fashing. I think you had Doug on the show before. Yeah. Okay. Awesome. Awesome. Yeah. That's super fun. Okay. So you and Tessa will be doing that this summer, 2026. Do you guys get to take out a crew at all or are you training all summer?

24:58She had a crew this past year, she had the job this past year as well. Okay. Yeah. My goal is to have a crew in there, probably at the end of the summer when it kind of dies down a little bit, but I love crews, so I'd love to have a crew at every fun. Yeah. Yeah. So 2023, you think, you know, one summer going to figure out what I want to do with life and you've stayed since. So, you know, Russ, what are your thoughts? What are your plans? Are you going to stay forever? Are you looking for a full-time gig? Are you just kind of enjoying, you know, what comes, what opportunities come next? Yeah. I think that's the dream, right? It's like everyone who works here once a full-time gig, like, that's pretty easy to see. So in 25, I was an RT and it was awesome. And then I stayed on to work before on the winter. So with being here now and with doing the fall guiding, which is also incredible. And now here, like, I work in the admin building as my office space now with marketing.

26:00So being able to see kind of that behind the scenes look with administration and our GM and announce and other, you know, higher members just seeing the responsibility and things, which a normal ranger would never see. Like, that's awesome. So just being more involved is great. I really don't have a, you know, a true plan in the future. I would love to be here. It'd be great. But I know that, you know, this isn't for everybody and with being here in the winter, you know, it's kind of changed my mindset with it being quiet and all, so. Yeah. Yeah. That's totally fair. I did one autumn and one winter back to back in a row. And I definitely remember the winter being quiet and like, you get kind of weird and stir crazy with your friends and there's lots of like inside jokes that are born and it's great. Yeah. All of us can like answer everyone's joke like before we say it, like we all laugh before we even say it because we know what they're going to say. Yeah. Yeah. Totally.

27:00It's, you get, you get kind of weird in like the best way. So. Yeah. But yeah, I get, I get that vibe. I know it's, it's, luckily, it seems like the ranch stays fairly busy year round. Like I think it used to be even quieter, maybe. I don't know. It seems like the ranch continues to try to offer a lot of opportunities year round, especially through, you know, PTC and just all the different things. So. I'd say now, at least like with marketing, like, yeah, is the busiest I've ever been, like F.L. Monk. Yeah. From eight to five, you're doing your prep, you're planning all the online stuff and like the socials and also like on the photographer for marketing at the moment. So out in the field with pictures and I was out in the bison pasture. So like you're always doing something. Yeah, that's good. And we saw each other recently at check and those retirement celebration. So you were, you know, photographing that and I did one summer in news and photo. It was called news and photo. Now it's media. What is it? What is it?

28:00Thank you. Photo services. Thank you. I did photography one year back in 2009 and I loved that job. Like it was always just kind of wherever something was happening or whatever you wanted to capture. You could go do for that day. It felt really flexible and different every day. So I'm glad you're enjoying marketing in the winter. Yeah. Yeah. It's cool. Like I spent a day with the conservation teams and they were just sawing down trees and like as a ranger, like, I don't get to experience that. So like seeing new aspects. That's pretty cool. Yeah. So is there a department you'd ever want to try outside of the ranger, ranger department or do you think that's kind of your home? Yeah. I've always had aspirations of like the backcountry, right? I think everyone does, right? But in my mind, I think I'd just get to stuck in one place. Like I think I'd go like slap happy by like end of June or something. Yeah. More of like a pipe dream, it'd be cool. But kind of I'm happy with art department and it's like a cult, you know, it is.

29:02Yeah. So we just kind of band together forever and that's kind of it. Totally. Yeah. Are you a musician at all or do you sing? No, no, I don't. If I sing, I'd probably break a window or something. Do you do at least karaoke when Philip sets it up? I've been. I've been. Good. I got to do that when I was there last and that was really fun. Shout out to Philip. He's got an amazing set up. Yeah. Yeah. In 2005, I got to experience hot dog day on body. That was pretty cool. Yeah. Is that a yearly tradition or do they do it often? That's like a brand new thing. Okay. Tell us about it. Yeah. So it started in 24. A lot of the back country camp directors and stuff. They had this idea and it's kind of all of them. I just tagged along for it. But on July the 16th, that's national hot dog day. All of us hike body and we cook hot dogs on the peak for any crew that hikes up.

30:05It's just a cool surprise. So whoever's up there, like where's costumes, there's like hot dog costumes and like mustard costumes and all the stuff. I hiked up it and washed first light on the peak in the morning. So it was pitch dark and I waited for everyone else to come up and it was just an inspiring all-dropping moment. Yeah. And then like the cruise hike up and they're just so surprised and so happy and just taking all the pictures and having fun and I hope it goes on forever because like it's just a cool thing. You know, I think in life we need to remember to just like have some fun sometimes and do silly things even if it doesn't accomplish anything necessarily or make any money or whatever it might be. So I love that that exists right now. I hope it goes on. I'll never forget the advisors who were stunned and like they're tired and you know having a battle. Look down is just like a propane stove on top of a body. Like how did that get here? What?

31:06Don't ask. Yeah. You mentioned your brother went on trek. Have your family come out and visited it all since you've been out there? My parents came out in 23 for the Riyado banquet. Nice. They end up trek a banquet. Good. So they stayed at PTC for a night and they did a tour of the villa and all that but they haven't done a whole lot more. I'm hoping to have them out here to like run the trail race or do whatever. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Do you run? Are you going to run it? I am on paper to run it. So this is new for me. So we'll see how we do. Nice. Good for you. Yeah. I want to do it someday. I don't run but I'm like, I could just you know, fake it, right? Like I'll try. Hellblood or infirmary is probably like, please don't do that. Is that in August? So for this year, I want to say it's August 1st, 2016. Cool. Cool. And registrations now live. Yeah. So all the listeners. Sign up.

32:06Sign up, guys. I am hoping to be their end of July this year actually for the 50th Riyado weekend celebration. So do you want to talk about that a little bit and what's going to be going on for that anniversary? Yeah. Yeah. I kind of go broad spectrum. The PSA is hosting the Riyado reunion and partnership with the PTC and the camping department. So it's a very joint effort with everybody. And it's kind of whoever's involved. So if you were a ranger and old RTC, if even a participant, you know, there's still options and availability. So there's an ongoing list out there and Excel sheet of every single year and every single participant. And that's cool to kind of flip through and see some names and all that sort.

33:08So yeah. But yeah, it's end of the line. I don't know the date stuff top in my head. I want to say like July 20th is the start date. And there's options for a week or a weekend and there's options for the trek as well. So the camping department opened up a lot of openings for crews to go to trek and it's a cool Riyado kind of trek. So they're already pre-planned routes that we hope to make and scheme and you know, hit up a lot of cool places along the Riyado history and that kind of thing. And if trekking isn't a really thing, you can head over to PTC and there's a whole weekend long activity and I'm not too sure what's happening, but they have a lot of cool things planned and there's going to be a whole banquet. And I pulled out all the old Riyado archives like the end of your reports and all that. So I'm going to have all those on display and it'll be cool. It'll be fun. Yeah.

34:09Yeah. You guys have been doing a lot of work on that and I know there's a whole team of people like you said, a big joint effort to make this happen. The anniversaries are always really special and just to see who's able to come and visit the ranch and kind of come out of the woodwork and I know I'll be there and several of my friends will be there. So if you guys are able to make it, I did jot down the dates. I think the trek is the 9th, July 19th through 26th and then the weekend then would be the 23rd through the 26th. So check your calendars, listeners, see if you can come out and be a part of that. Get back to the ranch. Be really cool. Are you going to go on the trek or what do you think? Are you going to just be at base? I don't know. It'd be awesome to trek it. But with my new job, it's kind of like who knows, right? Yeah. I'll be there at the reunion and at like all that is to shake hands and meet people. You mentioned a couple of people but is there anyone else you want to sort of shout out as being inspiring, being a mentor to you, just in the Ranger Department or even as

35:10a guide in the Ottoman winner? It's tough because there are just a boatload of incredible people at the ranch. I mean, as everybody knows, like everybody's impactful in some way, right? So when he named me, it's hard to kind of skip some people and miss people. So our chief for this past year and now for this year Nick Copeland, he's awesome. He's been here 10 summers and just boatload of information. So he's just the best for Reato Trek coordinators over the years. We had Eric Ingram, who was the son of a past chief rancher, Scott Ingram. And his partner, Jake Dalton, I had the two of them. And 24, Jaren Taylor and Daniel Stoffer, they were so funny, I mean, I'll think of laugh that hard, like ever, except for like with like the two of them and some others.

36:10But yeah, and this, you know, a number of people and everybody works hard and puts their all into it. And there's that quote that it's on about the income, it's about the outcome. And everybody here does that in some capacity, right? With this being a new year for me, with being now in upper, with the Render apartment, just, you know, taking the skills I learned from others and implementing that. I had an ACR this past year, Danny Jelming, who is just like on it. Like he made the whole Ranger online schedule and like he's so tech savvy, right? But just like the little minute skills that he would do is just like, it's so empowering. Just like makes you appreciate those around you. Film was really good at like growing leaders, definitely. And then when you're around people of like such high caliber and you see them putting

37:12so much into so much passion and willingness and skill set into their jobs, it makes you want to rise to that same level. And so I think that's a really awesome community and like place to grow up in and as a young adult, or even like, you know, the professional scouts, you know, Andrea, Kenneke and Shelley and Joey and just, I mean, people who've been out there for decades. Those people are always, they're just incredible to me. So definitely, it's, it's a good time to be at film on. Yeah. Yeah. Everybody just takes the time to know you too. Like they just like care to know about your story and who you are and who you stand for. And like that by itself, so cool, like having a team around you who is way above you on the train of command, but they still, you know, care and that's awesome. It's the servant leadership and then it's like even more because they care. So yeah. Kind of a cool place, film on a little bit. A little bit. Yeah.

38:12You know, do you want to shout out any of the simmer on local communities or businesses or, you know, being out there full time this year, places that you have enjoyed going? Yeah. Yeah. And then, like, the town, like I'm now doing like the trivia nights with Philip and like, the karaoke nights and all that and obviously all the restaurants are so great. And just like, you know, a pleasure to have us and to have a partnership with them and it's just like a cool place to be. It's, it's a lot quieter, as we said in the off time, but it's just as busy in other ways. So even if there's not, you know, 20,000 campers here, there's still plenty of action. So, every day, you know, there's a high and a low point and you kind of have adversity.

39:15And at the town's folk, they get that and they help us out and support us. So. Awesome. Great. Is there anything you want to share just that you're excited for for the future of film on? Yeah. It's a big year for the ranch with Riyado and in America. And it's America's anniversary birthday. So. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Our patch just dropped this past week. It went public. So it's, it's a new arrowhead with a rewind blue outline after those who don't know. And just the exciting things we have planned with the birthday, you know, anniversary this year. So a lot of cool, you know, ideas and concepts were hoping to implement. Yeah. Every year out here, it just gets better and better. So, you know, hopefully we can keep growing and building and making it the same place now as it is for our kids. So. Yeah. Absolutely.

40:15Speaking of kids, I just had my kids on the podcast. It was super fun. Yesterday, we were cooped up inside and I was like, do you guys want to do an interview? And they were like, yeah. So they got really excited and like prepared and got all fancy. And I was like, well, I don't record like the video. And they were like, oh. But it was fun. I think at one time only you should do like a video of like the kids all like dressed up or something. Yeah. I thought about it. I was like, you know, maybe I should, I actually did record the videos and maybe I'll share it later. But it was cool to like hear their vivid perspective and memories. Like because I didn't go to film on as a little kid, you know, they've been there twice now. And so I love to just see the magic through their eyes. And like you said, I'm excited for them to be able to experience film on one day and as staff members. So. You mentioned my parents and like how they came out here and all that. I'll listen to the podcast for a long time.

41:17And a member for Larry's interview. He mentioned the film documentary he made and all that. Yes. I bought a copy on eBay for like 20 bucks or something. Yeah. And like I watched it with my parents one time just like so they could see it. And like they were amazed because like all they saw was like right out of launch and like the villain and like, oh my gosh. Like bobe and so green and like they just like loved like the little and that thing. So. Yeah. Shout out Larry for just a great doc. No kidding. No kidding. I was just thinking about the documentary like two nights ago and how. For a long time, it was just like my background. Like I just would play it in the background when the baby my kids are really little. And I was home with them all day. And it just like was so wonderful to just have that kind of playing in the background. When you miss film, you know, so yeah, it's a it's a treasure. I own a copy too. And I like I do kind of covet it because you can't get them anymore.

42:20So like yeah, you have to wait, wait on eBay or know someone who maybe if you know Larry, you could ask him. But yeah, it's a that's a really special documentary. So I. The the sights and sounds like part on it is incredible. Same. Right. I know. I think I said this in my interview that like that's the only part I wish was longer. Because I just want that to go like on and on and on. Yeah. I'll talk about fall with autumn, right? With being a fall guy. That's just the best. Like I think the fall is the best of the seasons out here just with. Like it's still warm enough to hike in like the leaves change, which is just so so pretty. Right. Yeah. I had the opportunity to help lead a PSA trek in the fall. And that was awesome. Just the hear stories from staff of past and that kind of thing. So. Yeah. I would like to advertise the fall. Right. Like there's this great opportunity to come out here and experience New Mexico in the fall with the.

43:24Blit and festival and like the trees and all that. So anyone at home like. Come out of the fall. Like we need crews. This will be awesome. A great opportunity. An adventure. So. Yeah. Go out there. Get out there. People. Um. Okay. Russ, do you have an 11th essential? Well, I wouldn't be a ranger if I didn't say McCrazy Creek. So. Are to beat that. Yeah. I was just sitting in a crazy creek the other day in like a gear store. And I was like, oh my gosh, I love this product. Because it's just perfect. That's great. Up here on the wall, um, paint actually made like a crazy creek couch. It's four like sewn together. No way. Like all your friends and stuff. Yeah. Um, I forgot to ask nominations. Is there anyone you want to nominate to be here on silver on the sage podcast? Yeah.

44:24Um, a lot of names, right? I've already named a bunch of people. But I love to get Austin St. George on here. I mean, you know, he's been here for who knows how long, but he has all the stories. So. Yeah. Um, Ryan Jackson. He's newer on the team and. Yeah. You know, has some experience. And I think he's just an awesome person. So just hearing his story. Okay. Yeah. I would love to get Nate lay on here. Because he knows everything, but also that's probably a bad thing because he knows everything. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um, and then any, um, like the past chief rangers, like, uh, Joyce Trotter, the first woman chief ranger. Yeah. Um, Scott Ingram. He's the longest tenured chief ranger who's still among us. And then just those past, you know, mainline chief rangers. Um, yeah. And then. A cool thing.

45:24I'd love to see just a shout out on our PSA crew in the fall. I had a, a husband and wife on the crew. And I, I think a joint interview of them on here would be awesome. Um, that is, uh, Steven and Cynthia trumper. A Stephen actually held the camera for the trail, the rock opera. So. That's life. First user one who like recorded the whole thing. No way. Yeah. That's so cool. Cause that's another whole another kind of, you know, legendary thing that happened to film it back in the 90s. So okay, I'm making notes. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. I have so enjoyed getting to know you. And thank you for spending your Sunday with me here on the show. I love your story and your dedication to the ranch. And I'm just excited to see where it takes you. And I'll see you this summer. So thank you, Rust. Thanks, Caitlin. It's been an honor and I'm humbled to be here at this such great company with these interviews and you do so well.

46:26And it's just awesome. So even with being at the ranch, I still have the urge just to pull it up and hear that intro again just because it's so great. Yeah, that one never gets old. And I hear it all the time when I'm editing and stuff. But I always just thank you Dylan McDermott for composing and recording that little ditty. Yeah. Yeah. And we have a lot of cool pictures coming out on socials and some cool new ideas and outlets. Yeah. A lot of changes coming. So it's good. Great. Awesome. We'll stay in touch and enjoy wherever you are. Yeah. Yeah. Same to you. Tell everybody hi. Thanks, Caitlin. Bye. Thank you.

47:46Thank you.