Rebuilding Pisgah: Disaster Relief Funding and New Leadership to Tackle Hurricane Helene Recovery
The road to recovery for the Pisgah Ranger District after Hurricane Helene has been and continues to be significant however it has been instrumental in bringing the community together. Today we have some incredible news that will supercharge our efforts to rebuild, restore, and make our beloved trails more resilient than ever.
We are thrilled to announce that Pisgah Area SORBA has been selected to receive critical disaster relief funding from the National Forest Foundation (NFF)!
Distributed over the next four and a half years, this vital funding will directly support long-term recovery and trail restoration across the district. We aren't doing this alone! PAS is proud to stand alongside several incredible regional nonprofit partners. Together, in close collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, we are ready to coordinate and execute the massive wave of recovery work ahead.
To effectively manage this historic effort and our organization’s rapid growth, we are also expanding our leadership team with two major appointments.
Welcome Craig Brickser: Our New Trails Program Director
Bringing a lifetime of trail-building passion and extended professional expertise, Craig Brickser is joining PAS as our new Trails Program Director.
Craig holds a Master’s in Urban Planning from Florida State University and brings over a decade of experience guiding communities through outdoor recreation planning, master design, and trail construction. His impressive background includes leading trail development workshops across the Mountain West for the IMBA Subaru Trail Care Crew, as well as serving as a seven-year member of the Professional Trailbuilders Association. Furthermore, he has successfully managed complex, environmentally sensitive international trail projects across Switzerland, Japan, and Finland.
Deeply rooted right here in Transylvania County, Craig has a unique ability to bridge big-picture strategic planning with hands-on, technical execution. He is uniquely qualified to lead Pisgah’s trail infrastructure into its next chapter.
Jared Hartman Steps Into a New Role: Disaster Recovery Coordinator
To ensure our multi-year disaster relief funds are managed with maximum efficiency and transparency, our current Trail Director, Jared Hartman, is transitioning into a brand-new, full-time role as Disaster Recovery Coordinator.
In this critical position, Jared will oversee all Hurricane Helene disaster recovery projects and coordinate the massive volunteer workforce required to bring our public lands back to life. Jared has been the backbone of our boots-on-the-ground operations since 2019, previously serving PAS as a Trail Crew Leader and Trail Crew Coordinator, a Board Member, the Butter Gap Field Inspector, and Trail Specialist. Additionally, he brings valuable leadership experience from his past role as the President and Board Member of the Ocala Mountain Bike Association.
Jared is heavily certified in field safety and possesses an unparalleled operational knowledge of the Pisgah Ranger District. There is truly no one better suited to strategically steward these relief funds over the next 4.5 years.
"The recovery of the Pisgah Ranger District is a monumental task that requires tremendous collaboration, dedicated leadership, and long-term commitment. With the backing of the National Forest Foundation, the addition of Craig Brickser’s elite planning expertise, and Jared Hartman’s proven field leadership directing our recovery logistics, we are fully equipped to rebuild stronger, more resilient trails for everyone who loves and recreates in Pisgah."
— Chris Kehmeier, Executive Director of Pisgah Area SORBA
How You Can Help
Rebuilding Pisgah is going to take a village. We are incredibly grateful for the NFF's support and the dedication of our growing team, but we need our community now more than ever.
Stay updated: Check back here or visit www.pisgahareasorba.org for official trail recovery updates.
Volunteer: Keep an eye out for upcoming trail workdays where you can help us dig in at https://www.pisgahareasorba.org/events-volunteer.
Get in touch: Have questions or want to support our efforts? Reach out to us at outreach@pisgahareasorba.org.