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Recreation is as popular as ever in the Granite State, and Ladd Raine 鈥�06 is doing his part to make sure everyone, from casual hikers to seasoned climbers, has an opportunity to experience it safely.听听

A graduate of UNH鈥檚 kinesiology and outdoor education program (now recreation management and policy), Raine has built a career and a life centered on helping others enjoy the outdoors.听听听

After working as a rock-climbing guide in West Virginia and later as a special educator and program leader using outdoor adventure to support youth in New Hampshire, Raine now serves as an administrator at Plymouth Orthopedics & Sports Medicine and as president of the Rumney Climbers Association (RCA).听

Through RCA, a nonprofit focused on education, safety, and maintaining access to climbing areas, Raine helps coordinate trail improvements, infrastructure projects, and outreach efforts.听

鈥淩umney is an international climbing destination that just happens to be here in New Hampshire,鈥� Raine says. 鈥淲e do a ton of volunteer work, meet a lot of people, and bring them into the outdoors. We talk about environmental impact, how to recreate sustainably and safely, and still get out and have adventures.鈥澨�听

RCA collaborates with partners including the Appalachian Mountain Club, the Access Fund, and the White Mountain National Forest to make many of these projects possible.听听

Raine says the need for education and stewardship has grown with the surge in popularity of outdoor recreation since the COVID-19 pandemic. His simplest piece of advice to people new to the outdoors is 鈥渟tay on the trail,鈥� because using side paths increases the risk of injury and damages the environment.听听

鈥淚t鈥檚 not glamorous, but it鈥檚 the biggest thing,鈥� Raine says. 鈥淲hen I first started climbing, it was kind of the wild west 鈥� trails were just paths through the woods, and bolts or anchors were whatever someone happened to put up. Now we鈥檝e built real, sustainable infrastructure so the impact stays in one area, and people can climb safely while protecting the environment.鈥澨�

One of Raine鈥檚 most recent projects was helping to launch the Pawtuckaway Climbers Coalition, which aims to replicate some of Rumney鈥檚 success at Pawtuckaway State Park.听

鈥淔or years, individuals worked with the park on their own, but without an organized group, it was hard to make lasting progress,鈥� Raine says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where my background in outdoor education helps. I can bring people together and keep the effort moving forward.鈥澨�听

By forming a unified group, Raine says it increases opportunities to secure funding and collaborate with the state on improvements, such as a new parking area and boat launch 鈥� steps that will reduce environmental strain while making the park more accessible for climbers and the surrounding community.听听

Raine says many of the lessons he learned at UNH continue to shape how he leads today, both professionally and in his volunteer work.听

鈥淓very piece of the risk management training I got at UNH still applies,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e learned how to manage groups, develop plans, and make them sustainable, skills I use every day.鈥澨�

Beyond his volunteer work, Raine maintains his connection to the outdoors by participating in a yearly challenge. His most recent challenge over the summer was completing the Directissima, a continuous 250-mile footpath that covers all 48 of the White Mountains鈥� 4,000-foot peaks. Raine completed the challenge in one week.听听

He arranged the trek with the support of friends, carrying only a small pack with food and a couple of liters of water before camping in his car each night.听听

鈥淭he hardest part was honestly not going crazy from spending so much time alone in the woods, and not getting injured,鈥� Raine says. 鈥淥ut West, the trails are smoother, but here they鈥檙e rocky and rooty, so every step matters. When you鈥檙e covering 36 to 38 miles a day, the real challenge is just keeping your feet from falling apart.鈥澨�听

Raine says the best part of the experience was moving through the mountains and experiencing the views of Franconia Ridge, Mount Washington, and Lafayette Ridge.听听

鈥淚t was a challenge I could have easily failed at,鈥� Raine says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 part of why I enjoy it, there鈥檚 a vulnerability in it.鈥澨�听

Raine remains connected to UNH as a volunteer for Nate Fitch鈥檚 Lead Rock Climbing class, where he shares his outdoor experiences with students.听听

鈥淚 got a thank-you card recently from a student who said hearing about my experiences gave them some ideas on ways they could move forward with their degrees,鈥� Raine says. 鈥淭hat mentorship connection is a big reason why I volunteer.鈥澨�

Learn more about the Rumney Climbers Association .听