Live-in Caretaker Couple for day-to-day operations at year around Camp - Manitou Springs, CO

Barr Camp, Inc. is looking for a couple to live onsite and operate their remote cabin on Pikes Peak, located at 10,200 ft. above sea level on Barr Trail.  This is a full-time position.

The ideal candidates would be available for a minimum of one year. Located 6.5 miles and 3500 feet above the town of Manitou Springs without road access, the Camp sees 20,000 visitors who hike, bike or run Barr Trail and others on Pikes Peak. While remote with no road access, the Camp is busy in the summer, with up to 300+ people a day and up to 45-overnight guests. In the winter, guest nights are less common, and only a few people visit the camp most days. Rustic, hostel-like overnight accommodations include twenty mattress spaces in a bunkhouse, a separate cabin, and three lean-to shelters. Additional guests may book tent camping spaces. Overnights include breakfast which consists of homemade from scratch pancakes. Optional dinner can be reserved and includes spaghetti, homemade sauce, and garlic bread.

• The Camp is open daily and year-round; at least one staff must be on-site at all times. The busy summer days are balanced by shorter, less busy days of November to May.
• This position offers a unique experience and includes aspects of customer service, handyman/handy woman, tourism, outdoor activity/lifestyle, homesteading, functional fitness, rustic B&B operation, and much more. 
• Dedication to the Camp and a spirit of providing service to others is critical; these attributes guarantee success and a return on your personal investment in the form of an incredible life experience. 

Compensation:

Compensation includes starting salary of $ 2000 to $2300 per person per month, room and board, paid vacation time, and health care assistance.

• It also affords the right candidates an incredible life experience, sharing Pikes Peak and the trails and beauty of the mountain with people from all walks of life, and from locations near and far. Often your interaction has a lasting effect on those you interact with, and as such, is a responsibility and an honor. The right candidates will understand the value of giving to others, and making the Camp about those who pass through, not themselves.
• Caretaker lodging:
  • Caretaker lodging is in the main cabin, with two lofts available. These lofts, along with the office area where there is a small shower stall, are accessible only to caretakers. The main cabin doors are locked at night and the space is private at that time. Occasionally trail users may be in need of assistance during the night and Search and Rescue may ask for assistance at any time.
  • The main cabin space is to remain free from personal effects such as photos and knick-knacks and is to remain free from political, religious, sexual, and any discriminatory materials in accordance with USFS permit requirements. Barr Camp is an equal opportunity employer.

Responsibilities:

Caretakers are responsible for all aspects of the daily operation of the Camp, including, but not limited to:

• Maintaining a welcoming deck and cabin space at all times
• Customer Service including trail and weather information, snack and merchandise sales; daily interactions with the public and overnight guests,
• Meal preparation and cleanup;
• Logistics of daily operations including shopping for and transport of the Camp.
• Use and maintenance of ORV and trailer, chainsaw, and Camp systems.  
• Five main Camp Systems include solar array/batteries, water, composting toilets, wood heat, and propane for lights/cooking.

1. Solar array/batteries: Learning how the system works; some electrical work and troubleshooting
2. Summer gravity-fed water system and filter require weekly to daily checks and upkeep Winter system include ice chipping and bucketing of water to the tank in the Cabin along with filter/tank upkeep.
3. Composting toilets are to be kept clean and sanitary; requires removal of composted material.
4. Wood harvesting during fall months, hand transport to camp; wood-burning stove.
5. Propane tank transport and connection to the Cabin.

• Facilities upkeep and maintenance, including cleanliness and safety of approximately 2 acres of land the Camp leases from the National Forest Service.
• Interact in a professional manner with outside agencies to include Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Pikes Peak Toll Road Rangers, Summit House staff, USFS, El Paso County Search and Rescue, and other organizations.
• Office work including daily email and reservation management, and bookkeeping using QuickBooks.

Qualifications, Attributes, and Skills

The ideal applicant couple should have diverse experiences spanning at least five years each. Their combination of experience should include a majority of the following:

• Troubleshooting/analytical thinking and the ability or willingness to learn to do minor repairs to electrical, structures/camp systems.
• A strong work ethic.
• Comfortable interacting with a diverse population of varying outdoor experience levels.
• Working with minimal supervision.
• Fitness level to live and work at 10,200 feet in altitude.
• Ability to hike 6.2 miles with 3,800 feet of elevation gain to access the Camp as often as once a week.
• Ability to be on your feet for long periods of time and to work long days in the summer while maintaining positive customer service interfacing with potentially 300 people a day as well as being comfortable with each other on quiet winter days with 0-5 people visiting the Camp.
• Managing food stock and storage in a root cellar beneath the bunkhouse/or willingness to learn.
• Comfort level/willingness to carry out ongoing rodent control via trapping.
• Ability to live a “homesteading” type existence, with little electricity, no electric appliances, hand-operated washing machine/ringer, wood heat in the winter, propane lights and cookstove, and limited hot water for showering, and limited connectivity.
  • There is no phone service in the Cabin, but there are several spots nearby that a signal can be obtained.
  • Email capability and internet access via satellite connection.
  • Barr Camp has no public internet/electrical access. Caretakers have limited access to electronics, bandwidth for you-tube/movie/video, etc., and should plan on downloading these things while in town.
• Willingness to share private Camp and living space with part-time help as needed during summer months and special events
• Understanding and appreciating the history and operational standards of the Camp and working within the framework, guidance, and direction provided by supervisors.
• Barr Camp is a drug-free environment.
• Due to the position requirements and volume of people passing through the Camp, candidates with children or other family members living with them will not be considered. Pets are not allowed.