If you thought your job was hard, try being a National Park Ranger.
Andrea Lankford’s Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks
I had always wanted to work at a big TV network. I built up this idea that working there must be the most amazing feeling ever experienced by man, and that the people who already have jobs there are the luckiest people on the planet. After all, the final product, what we as consumers or viewers or visitors see is so truly amazing, being one of the few who bring that to the public must surely be one of the most fascinating and rewarding jobs ever. In fact, it is. And it isn’t. I worked at ESPN, a dream job for sports fans and TV nerds around the world. I got to see sports celebrities every day. I passed people like Dan Patrick and Rich Eisen in the hallway. If it weren’t for my work schedule, I would have been in one of the famous “This Is Sportscenter” commercials and had my picture taken with the Stanley Cup. I still have some great memories of the place.
But I also have bad memories of working overnight and hardly seeing daylight; never being able to hang out with my friends; and messing up so badly that entire blocks of programming on several ESPN networks had to be changed. This job wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. After 15 months, I left ESPN.
While reading Ranger Confidential: Living, Working, and Dying in the National Parks
Take, for instance, the story Lankford tells gradually throughout the book of a young ranger who comes on board. This guy is gung-ho and ready to be a Ranger. It’s what he always wanted to do. He works his way up, he travels the U.S. working at various parks, he falls in love (with a girl and with his work)…he’s basically living the dream. That is, until tragedy strikes, and any semblance of a dream turns into a nightmare. Such is life for a National Park Ranger. What Lankford tries to establish in Ranger Confidential
Granted, there are upsides to the Ranger life. There have to be, or people just wouldn’t do the job. There’s the solitude of living in the middle of nowhere in Denali National Park. There’s the satisfaction of educating a foreign visitor on the history of Ellis Island. There’s the adrenaline rush of short-haul helicopter extractions from Yosemite Valley and knowing you saved a life.
Ranger Confidential
I’m afraid that if you think that Andrea Langford gives a “behind the scenes” look at ranger careers you are sorely mistaken. Ms. Langford is no longer a ranger because she couldn’t handle the realities of rangering. A closer look at the profession, however, will reveal that the service is full of many competent people who LOVE their jobs and who remain dedicated to their chosen field. Among those ranks, Langford is NOT respected. Good riddance and I’m glad she found a parasitic way to make a living out of portraying a career she personally couldn’t handle.
To Yellowgirl: Andy Lankford is one of the most competent people I have ever known…I encouraged her to stop being a ranger with NPS because the Job was very dangerous, very stressful, and very low pay.
..I knew she could and has found a more rewarding way to earn a living (less dangerous and more pay as well as other rewards)! Andy was one of the best NPS rangers. Andrea is very respected by anyone and everyone who matters. Yellowgirl may have Andy Lankford confused with someone whose last name is Langford. Lankford vs Langford…a case of mistaken identity?
And just what are those “realities” of rangering, dear yellowgirl? What’s your credibility as it relates to truth telling? Ms Langford has put herself out on the line in a huge way, and not only does that take courage, but it takes a great deal of credibility she knows she has. I think Ms Langford wants to tell the truth…a whole spoonful… Or haven’t you heard about all the high ranking NPS employees entrusted to tell the truth, who have come up short. There are talented, dedicated, honest people working for the NPS…but there are equally many who are not so ethical, not so honest, and who lack leadership where its needed most. Writing like Langford and Berkowitz can have a monumental affect on bringing about ethical and professional change in the NPS, which is sorely needed. And though these writers are retired or resigned, they will forever be Park Rangers…they just have more freedom of speech now to tell the truth. So, don’t use that phrase, “realities of rangering.” You’re not fooling any of us with that kind of language.
Not sure if you know Andi, but doesn’t seem you do. I hired her in Yosemite Valley, she was one of my better employees. Hard working, smart, reliable and good to work with. I respect Andi for the job she did. Her book is accurate on things I am personally aware of. She did a great job in tough work environment, overcoming problems both inside and outside the system. The NPS lost a good employee when she left.
With all due respect to Yellowgirl, I found Andrea’s assessment as very real. The stories are the daily work that field staff are asked to do in the emergency services ranks. I agree that the service is full of very dedicated persons who continue to do good work. However, the NPS regularly has cracks and flaws that are highlighted in Ranger Confidential.
When staff is given treatment that is illegal to give to inmates of prisons, treated with contempt by many administrators and denied the ability to live healthy lifestyles due to the residual machismo of the illusory image of the “Ranger,” the Service is failing in providing for its most important tool, the employee.
Andrea is VERY respected among those who have “seen the elephant” and done the hard work of dealing with broken visitors. Her assessment helps those who will listen work toward a better future of the NPS.
I do know her. And I stand by my assessment. I think that there are many others, who’s comments she obviously hasn’t solicited, who would agree.
YELLOWGIRL sounds like a woman scorned!
To Yellowgirl…shame, shame, shame on you…Your nasty comments demonstrate someone retaliating, bashing Langford’s work with a mean-spiritedness that is unethical, and criminal; so go ahead and retaliate…it can be quite cleansing therapy…but you do make me believe Langford even more. She has integrity…which you obviously do not.
Yeah, and she must know you, too.
I am so happy to see professional writing about the work of park rangers in the National Park Service. I love Langford’s writing, sometimes serious, sometimes humourous. It makes me even more proud to have served under the direction and mission of this land management agency…within a federal agency, it was an important job whether employed as a chief, or a clerk, maintenance woman, historical interpeter, biologist, or field ranger; I have fond memories of coworkers, visitors, and very special places. It was the best job in America…but as a job it was not perfect by any means. Ranger Confidential is a great title…and great writing.
andrea is a liar knew her ,couldnt trust her, a sell out for the lazy life. could shoot to save a life full of herself and a liberal feminist
thats couldnt shoot a typo andy should know well inferior like her books
yellowgirls right most of the pro post for andrea are from friends and family hi to you andys mom pat
Well, thank you all for your comments. I’m not going to allow this to turn into a shouting match, so avoid the name calling and accusations. If you disagree with Ms. Lankford’s account of events that happened, that’s fine. But don’t resort to name calling just because you disagree.
Of course Ms. Lankford’s friends and family are going to write supportive posts. Get over it. I have no connection to the woman. I just read the book.
After having spent a short time as a VIP (Volunteer-in-Parks, for those who do not know) at Ellis Island, and having gotten to know some of the Rangers there, I see a grain of truth in many of Ms. Lankford’s stories.
I did, however, mention that she was very melodramatic in her retelling of a lot of it. Of course she was, she wanted to sell books. It’s pretty blatant to anyone who reads the book.
It’s also obvious that many of you haven’t actually read my review, and only came here because you found another review of the book and are trash talking. Tread lightly, because I won’t stand for trolling here.
National Parks are not the safe places we imagined; I do not view Lankford being overly dramatic with her accounts of incidents…actually it’s a pretty accurate account of working in a western park with a high visitation rate.
Lankford’s technical knowledge of search and rescue rings true, and especially of advanced EMS, which lends her credibility on the subjects she writes about in Ranger Confidential. It soon becomes clear that being a Park Ranger at Grand Canyon is not just a walk in the park. The Grand Canyon has a reputation for being an extreme heat magnet for serious EMS, police work, and technical Search & Rescue operations. The daily work pace is fast and furious.
She’s offers a clear picture of how multiple episodes present themselves often in a bizarre manner; Life- threatening incidents require “dramatic” responses at places like the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. The definition of “dramatic” means, “characteristic of, or appropriate to, the drama” involved in rescue work.
Large western parks present visitors and park employees with a scenic landscape as recreational and educational playground which in and of itself imposes an inherently dangerous and powerful resource on all who tread there. The author reflects on how the rescue work that rangers perform requires a special mindset, extreme courage, and the ability to respond to multiple dangers on a day to day basis.
Her writing as a supervisor, reveals her own genuine concerns for safety and well being of her subordinates. Within the confines of her leadership position, she manages to nurture her employees’ professional development. The coworkers and subordinates she mentions by name are people she knows well, who are not flawless, but they are of good character, and possess unique abilities and varied backgrounds which help to keep them steadfast in their ranger work.
She mentions CISD as an essential component to search and rescue work, identifying some of the effects of traumatic stress. Lankford reminds us that even the most adrenalin-rush-driven ranger needs to rest and recuperate before they are thrown repeatedly into a new incident that ends with good news of a life saved, or a tragic case of death.
She identifies one seasoned rescue ranger with a niche for high angle rope rescue from aircraft (dope on a rope); she notes how his reputation precedes him, known to erupt with bouts of anger, intolerance, and even violence against other rangers. Despite his history of episodic rage on other rangers, he is well respected within the rescue community for his abilities, courage, and calculated response to tragedy associated with SAR work.
Lankford is eloquently honest about being human, and gracefully reveals the longing all park rangers have at one time or another, for a more normal personal life, and lighter work load.
The park ranger turned author seems to struggle with her overwhelming feeling of things not being right on the job, especially after the death of a former subordinate working in Denali; for this she blames herself for not hiring him into a full time position at Grand Canyon which she rationalizes would have prevented him from taking the job in Telkeetna, Alaska where he perished in a plane crash during rescue operations.
In the end she unleashes her desire to finally let go of her competitive job and constant state of being overworked; exhaustion and fatigue creep in to day to day work until she realizes something has been lost or stripped from her. It seems that Ranger Confidential is Lankford’s story of how she managed to stay alive, taking care of herself through the difficult process of letting go of her beloved job as park ranger.
just the truth and nothing but and still think they stink
For Cathy,
Your nasty comments demonstrate someone retaliating, bashing Langford’s work with a mean-spiritedness that is unethical, and criminal; so go ahead and retaliate…it can be quite cleansing therapy…but you do make me believe Langford even more. She has integrity…which you obviously do not.
Yellowgirl…shame on you.
For Deborah,
You always reveal yourself through your writing, always