Lifelong Concord resident and avid outdoorsman Carl Matson is still finding trails in the city that he never knew existed.
Matson, who has spent decades hiking, biking, skiing and snowmobiling along local trails, was recently hired as Concord’s new Trail and Open Space Ranger. He’ll spend his retirement perusing more than 80 miles of trails, and is tasked with encouraging hiking enthusiasts to return to the trails and join him.
As part of Matson’s position, he will lead group hikes, patrol the trails on bike and foot, maintain the trails and report anything in need of repair, he said.
“It’s the perfect job,” said Matson, who retired as a counselor for the New Hampshire Department of Corrections after 22 years.
The position was created last year as part of Concord’s effort to jump-start interest in its trails. Since many hiking enthusiasts often drive to the White Mountains, city officials felt Concord trails would offer closer and more accessible hiking options for locals looking to get outside and avoid a long drive in the car.
The city’s first trail ranger was hired in October and left the position after a few months on the job.
In April, husband and wife Steve and Wendy Reid were found shot to death on the Broken Ground trail system. Police have made no arrests in the double murder. Their deaths caused worry among the hiking community over the safety of the city’s trails.
“They wanted someone with a law enforcement background because of the murders and I have grown up mountain biking, hiking and hunting around Concord for a lifetime,” Matson said.
Matson said he isn’t concerned about criminal activity on the trails.
“I believe it was an isolated incident, but I am always on my toes and always alert,” he said. “I am always observing things that may be a factor to something in the future.”
Matson said he is prepared to encounter dangerous people or animals. His law enforcement and military training have taught him how to handle situations without using weapons or violence.
“I was unarmed and sent into buildings with hundreds of inmates at any given time,” he continued. “A lot of it was about de-escalating situations and working with inmates on anger management and conflict resolution.”
Still, he encourages community members to reach out to local law enforcement if they see something suspicious.
With a background in environmental education and a passion for all things outdoors, Matson has created a natural history program at The Balsams in collaboration with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, partook in their endangered wildlife program, taught classes on environmental education in North Country schools, and has experience as a Scout Master and a Park Ranger.
Hikers and residents are encouraged to say “hi” to him on the trails, but only if he doesn’t say “hi” first, he said.
“I can’t say enough about the trails here, they’ve done a great job preserving the open space,” Matson said. “I can’t stress enough that people should vault themselves to them.”