Nick Hall is the Northern Forest Canoe Trail’s new assistant trail director. (Provided photo)

WAITSFIELD, Vt. — The Northern Forest Canoe Trail has announced the hiring of Nick Hall as its new assistant trail director.

Hall has been with the NFCT’s stewardship program since 2024, when he worked as an intern. In 2025, Hall led the Allagash work crew, executing and completing a series of projects along the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in Maine. He steps into the position of assistant trail director following the departure of Alex Delhagen, who led the NFCT’s roving stewardship crew, which performs work across the Northeast, for the last two years.

“We are thrilled to have Nick step into the role of assistant trail director,” said Noah Pollock, the NFCT’s trail director. “As both a former intern and a crew leader, he knows and appreciates our stewardship program and the community as well. I appreciate his passion for the waterways of the Northern Forest, his belief in the value of our stewardship work, his work ethic and his dedication to community building. I look forward to working with Nick to implement a successful 2026 season.”

As assistant trail director, Hall will support the NFCT’s stewardship work in a variety of ways, from planning projects and working with landowners and state agencies to training seasonal interns and coordinating with local partners to implement projects that improve access to the waterways of the Northeast. In addition to his past experience with the NFCT, Hall has a background in outdoor recreation, having completed his studies at SUNY Adirondack’s Outdoor Education program.

“I’m excited to step into this role because it combines two things I care deeply about: connecting people to the outdoors and making sure trails are well maintained and sustainable,” Hall said. “Over the past two summers with NFCT, I’ve loved working with paddlers, crew mates and volunteers in the field, and I’m looking forward to continuing those efforts on a larger scale. I’m eager to grow as a leader and outdoor professional while supporting stewardship that keeps our trails thriving for future paddlers.”

In 2024, the NFCT doubled the size of its stewardship program due to higher demand for its services and with support from revenue generated by the Adirondack Race Series, which includes the ‘Round the Mountain Canoe & Kayak Race, the Long Lake Long Boat Regatta and the Adirondack Canoe Classic, known as the 90-Miler. Delhagen played a critical role in evolving the program.

“While I’m sad that my time as assistant trail director has come to a close, I’m comforted knowing I will always be a member of the NFCT family, and can’t wait to come back to paddle the trail again,” Delhagen said.