The Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) 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 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.”

“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, crewmates, 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.”

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.

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.

“Our growing investment in stewardship work required more staff capacity, and Alex helped us navigate that growth successfully,” said NFCT Board Chair Warren Whitney. “With the foundation built by Noah and Alex, we are poised to continue with our expanded stewardship capacity in 2026. It’s great to have Nick stepping in to carry the momentum.”

“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.

As the only dedicated water trail crew in the Northeast, the NFCT’s stewardship crew specializes in projects at the interface of land and water, including campsites, portage trails, and access points. To learn more about the NFCT’s stewardship work, contact Trail Director Noah Pollock at noah@northernforestcanoetrail.org.

For more information about the NFCT, visit northernforestcanoetrail.org.