New District Ranger at the Mt. Hood National Forest
Monday, April 24, 2023
Here's the latest news from the Mt. Hood National Forest! New District Ranger
Mt. Hood National Forest
Forest Service News Release
Mt. Hood Welcomes New District Ranger
Mt. Hood National Forest is pleased to announce Nicholas Seibel as the new Zigzag District Ranger, beginning May 8. The Zigzag Ranger District spans 250,000 acres on the west side of the Forest, including busy campgrounds and trails, ski areas, and summer cabins. The district also includes most of Bull Run Watershed, which provides drinking water to about a million Oregonians.
“Zigzag Ranger District is receiving national attention and investment for Forest Service priorities,” said Mt. Hood National Forest Supervisor Meta Loftsgaarden. “Nick has a wealth of experience leading and collaborating with teams during complex projects. He’s the right person to help lead the implementation of these key priorities for both the Forest and our communities.”
Seibel is a retired combat controller in the U.S. Air Force, where he served for 24 years. During his military career, Seibel deployed to combat zones seven times, taking part in numerous high-risk missions providing support to both air and ground forces.
Seibel has extensive experience in emergency management, including leading task forces during national emergencies such as hurricanes Harvey and Irma. As a member of Oregon Air National Guard Seibel has come to know Mt. Hood well, leading and participating in search and recovery missions to locate and rescue lost or injured hikers.
Seibel lives in West Linn with his wife, son, and their two dogs. The Seibel family enjoys spending time together in the great outdoors, and they frequently explore Mt. Hood skiing, hiking, and camping.
“As someone who has always had a deep love and appreciation for the outdoors, I am thrilled to join the Zigzag Ranger District and Mt. Hood community,” said Seibel. “The opportunity to be a part of a team that stewards the natural beauty of this stunning mountainous region while supporting outdoor recreation is inspiring and fulfilling.”
Seibel succeeds previous District Ranger Bill Westbrook, who retired in late winter after 16 years in Zigzag.
