Meet the New Caretakers of Pikes Peak’s Barr Camp

This couple must have interviewed really well because I am surprised they did not select someone who had at least hiked up Pikes Peak before:

Renee Labor thought she was working her dream job.

So when the Denver resident heard a radio report about a vacancy at some place called “Barr Camp,” she found it interesting but didn’t seriously consider applying.

Ideas have a way of germinating, however, and the next thing she knew, she was asking her boyfriend about dropping out of society to go live on Pikes Peak. Then they were applying for the job, then interviewing, then accepting.

Next month, Labor and Anthony Duricy will leave everything behind and take over as the caretakers at the camp, where they’ll greet 25,000 hikers a year 6.5 miles along the trail up Pikes Peak.

“I don’t think in a million years I would have ever imagined myself in this position, but it’s turning out that it’s the dream job that I didn’t even know I was dreaming about,” Labor said.

Neither Labor nor Duricy have climbed Pikes Peak, and they’ve only hiked to Barr Camp twice – once to check it out before the interview and the second time to interview.  [Out There Colorado]

You can read more at the link, but the couple will have plenty of time on their hands to hike up and become familiar with Pikes Peak.  Being familiar with the various trails and conditions on the mountain I find is an important part of the job based on the few times I have been to Barr Camp and listened to the prior caretakers answer questions.  I wish the couple luck and hope they enjoy their time living on what I consider my favorite mountain in Colorado, Pikes Peak.