Jaime Schmidt
U.S. Forest Service: 31 Years
Jaime has always loved trails. She grew up hiking, camping, and spending time outdoors in the Pacific Northwest with her family, including backpacking portions of the PCT in Oregon. When she was young and visiting Glacier National Park with her family, an evening ranger talk made a lasting impression on her and she left thinking that he had the coolest job around. Several years later, Jaime met my future husband Andy at Glacier where they both had summer jobs while attending college. After graduating from the University of Idaho with a degree in Wildland Recreation Management, Jaime served with Andy as Peace Corps Volunteers in Honduras and the Galapagos Islands. Upon returning to the States, Jaime began working with the U.S. Forest Service in recreation management at the remote Avery Ranger District on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Throughout her career, Jaime increasingly focused on trails and was fortunate to be able to lead development of the Route of the Hiawatha Rail-Trail in Idaho and later coordinate planning and development of the Iditarod National Historic Trail on the Chugach National Forest in Alaska.
Jaime became involved with national trails on a broader level when, as the Forest Service’s National Trail Information Coordinator, she served as the agency’s representative in developing the interagency Federal Trail Data Standards. As she continued her career as the Forest Service’s Assistant and then National Trail Program Manager, she was fortunate to be able to work closely with PNTS and many other national trail partners, our sister Federal agencies, and Forest Service leadership, managers and national trail administrators to help protect, promote, and affect positive change for trails. Her career of Federal public service spans 35 years. She retired in April 2020. Jaime and Andy enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and spending time outdoors.
“It’s been a real joy and honor to work so closely with Rita, Deb, Gary, and so many others. I couldn’t have wished for a better career or better people to collaborate with. I’m incredibly grateful for that and for now being able to spend a lot more time out exploring and enjoying so many incredible trails and wild, beautiful places,” Jaime said.
Jaime Schmidt visiting her daughter’s first grade class with Smokey Bear during “Parent Career Day” in 2000. “I’m pretty sure that she and her classmates thought I had the coolest job and coworker.”
Hiking with Gifford (and social distancing) on a trail near our home this Spring 2020.