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Photo by Travis Pratt
Park ranger Christopher Elbich, who spent six years working at national parks in his home city of Philadelphia, recently accepted a transfer to Catoctin Mountain Park in Thurmont. |
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When Christopher Elbich moved to Frederick for a job at Catoctin Mountain Park, he left behind a bustling life in Philadelphia."I'm used to meeting double the population of Thurmont every day," Elbich said in an e-mail. With his wife, Julie, and two children, Severin, 4, and Joni Marie, 1, Elbich accepted a transfer to the park as an interpretive ranger. "This will be a real change for us," he said. For almost six years, Elbich worked as a National Park Service ranger at Independence National Historical Park, home of the Liberty Bell, and Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site in the City of Brotherly Love. Elbich said his new job focuses on giving people the opportunity to enjoy public land. Additionally, he runs educational programs and teaches visitors how to appreciate the park and the public space. He spends much of his time in the park's Visitor Center and looks forward to being out on the trails. "I wanted to get out, helping people enjoy the outdoors," he said. "It's a rare chance that I get to do what I love." Not only did the story of Catoctin Mountain Park draw the Elbichs to the area, but the Quaker population was a plus for his family. "It's an instant community," Elbich said. "We felt instantly involved." Elbich is still getting used to the "very different style" of Frederick living, a month after he began his new job. "It's a change of pace," he said. A Peace Corps veteran, Elbich doesn't mind small-town life. He met his wife while overseas in Bulgaria from 1999 to 2002. "Sure, I love Philadelphia and I will miss it, but there's a world of good here that will make it another great place for us to live," Elbich said. "In Frederick County, I'm trading skyscrapers for mountains, where I can go fishing every weekend. I'll take excellent schools over excellent beer any day." Doing his best to connect with the community and the region, Elbich said he felt like the Frederick County mentality helped him identify with the area. The walkability of the town and its historic nature are perks for the family. "My job in Philadelphia was about 200-year-old buildings and the birthplace of our great nation," Elbich said. "My job here is about a 200 million-year-old mountain and the rebirth of our great nation."
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