Nestled in upstate New York lies the Adirondack Mountains. Within them, miles from any major city, lies Johns Brook Lodge (JBL), a pit stop for hikers passing through. The property consists of the main lodge, lean-tos, and campgrounds, all within hiking distance of some of the major mountains above 4,000 feet, known as the Adirondack High Peaks. It is a popular base camp for beginner and experienced hikers alike looking to conquer these peaks, and has been dubbed “The Heart of the Adirondacks.” 

The heartbeat of this cozy destination is the caretakers who work there. Switching seasonally, the caretakers keep the fire lit, make sure the water is clean and show hikers around. 

19-year-old Natalie Drabkin is working at the lodge this fall season, starting in September and ending in November. Drabkin first heard about the job through her friend Lizzy, who worked there many years ago. 

“She told me about it, so I’ve always known about it,” Drabkin said.

During the summer, Drabkin worked as an adventure trip leader at YMCA Camp Chingachgook, a nearby summer camp based in the Adirondack Park. She became interested in the High Peaks region after being placed on the ‘46er trip’ offered at the camp. The trip takes campers backpacking through the Adirondacks so that they can summit all 46 high peaks in around five weeks. 

Drabkin had summited her first high peaks only a few months before being placed on the trip. 

“I was glad I wasn’t leading the trip that year,” Drabkin said. “I was like, ‘I’m not cut out for this.’” 

However, logistical issues with the camp resulted in Drabkin’s last-minute placement on the trip for the last two weeks, where she summited 25 high peaks in 11 days. 

Being in the High Peaks for the better half of her summer, Drabkin realized she loved the area and wanted to be there more. 

“I really fell in love with the High Peaks region,” Drabkin said. “It made me feel awesome. I really liked the challenge.” 

Drabkin also grew interested in JBL, as she passed it frequently while on the trip. 

“Every time I passed it, I stopped in and became friends with everyone on staff,” Drabkin said.

The fall caretaker position was not open initially, but Drabkin applied immediately after finding out that the old caretaker had quit.

“I had my interview and got hired,” Drabkin said. “It was really awesome.” 

Day to day, Drabkin had a set list of tasks she had to complete to ensure the lodge was running smoothly. Starting at 6:15 a.m., she would make coffee for all the guests. 

“I make people coffee, big big pots,” Drabkin said. “Then I go back to bed because I don’t want to be awake that early.” 

Then, she does multiple water tests to make sure the water is clean and potable and fills up the water tank if necessary. She would then do general housekeeping around the lodge and keep it clean. 

“It’s pretty chill,” Drabkin said. 

Of course, a job like this does not come without its adjustments. For Drabkin, this meant learning how to check the propane tanks. 

“The first time I did it I didn’t know all propane tanks are threaded backward, so I was putting my entire weight on a wrench trying to undo this attachment until I realized very easily I could’ve just done it the other way,” Drabkin said. “I never made that mistake again, it’s pretty funny.” 

Not all tasks are fun, with the infamous “blue-barrel changing” being the one that gets the Drabkin the most looks when she shares it. 

“The blue barrels are the toilet changing,” Drabkin said. “So if someone uses the bathroom it goes into the blue barrel. When it gets to a certain height you have to pull it out and carry it over to the maintenance shed where it gets helicoptered away.”

Propane tanks and blue barrels aside, Drabkin’s job has allowed her to explore the mountains she holds so close to her heart. 

“I’ve taken the opportunity to go up a few mountains,” Drabkin said. “Also, if I wanted to, before 6:15 [a.m.], I could put coffee out early and I’ve done a couple of sunrise hikes, which are gorgeous.” 

It is the part of the job that Drabkin finds the most fulfilling. 

“It’s been a super awesome opportunity to explore the area which I’m super grateful for,” Drabkin said. 

Her tasks also meant ensuring the safety of those in the Adirondacks. If anyone was reported missing, she would have to find out as much as possible and contact the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). 

One time, Drabkin had had some hikers who had gone out at around 6:15 a.m.and had still not returned by 9:30 p.m. 

“I relayed the information to the DEC who told me to wait until 11:45 p.m. for them,” Drabkin said. “At 11:46 p.m.  the two men came back. … I was so glad they made it back.” 

In terms of experiences with her guests, Drabkin has had a positive experience overall, with many core memories being made, and exchanged, between her and the guests. 

“I would just sit around the fire and talk to the guests,” Drabkin said. “They just shared stories of their life and of the trail and all these incredible things.”

Another special memory from her time at the lodge is when she ate a whole turkey dinner with some guests. 

“I was invited by a group of hunters to another camp that’s hidden in the valley, Johns Brook Valley,” Drabkin said. “They just shot a 17-pound turkey and cooked a full turkey dinner in the woods.” 

One of the men in this group was even the grandson of the ‘John’ whom Johns Brook Lodge is named after. 

“He had a lot of old pictures, it was really cool,” Drabkin said.

Being in the wilderness also means encountering some furry creatures. The most memorable was when Drabkin came across a group of deer. 

“I was making eye contact with one of them, and he just kept coming towards me,” Drabkin said. “He put his nose up to me and sniffed me, and just walked away. I was like, ‘Wow, a deer just came up to me.’”  

Drabkin’s favorite memory, however, is when all the guests combined their food and shared a meal together. Drabkin was already cooking a meal of chili and banana bread with a visiting friend of hers, but it slowly became a group event. 

“We shared our chili and our banana bread, other people shared beef-wellington and pasta,” Drabkin said. “Everyone shared food and stories, it was amazing vibes.”

All these experiences accumulated into a job unlike any other Drabkin has had. It provided meaningful lessons Drabkin will keep for life. Drabkin emphasizes the importance of nature and friendship through this job. 

“Just the remoteness of it,” Drabkin said. “I loved being able to be out there in the wilderness.” 

The other most valuable aspect was the friendship Drabkin gained from it. 

“It’s such a wide range of people,” Drabkin said. “From children to adults to elderly [people]. … I met a lot of awesome people with lots of cool stories.” 

Drabkin even encountered those who had been hiking the Adirondacks when female backpacking pioneer Grace Hudowalski had been around. 

“You would write to Grace and tell her about the peaks you had done and she would write back about her [experiences],” Drabkin said. “Once you completed it you would be an official 46er.” 

Overall, being a fall caretaker allowed Drabkin to meet people and encounter things she never would have in real life. It has all been extremely significant for Drabkin. 

“I’ve never been in a position where I’m in charge of an entire lodge in the backcountry,” Drabkin said. “It’s pretty cool.”

By Lucy Randall