Q: Just how big is the place?

A: It's comparable to six Yellowstones, a little bigger than Vermont and New Hampshire combined.

Q: What are the highlights?

A: We have three different mountain ranges. Four of the peaks are taller than 16,000 feet. We have a lot of large glaciers, a little village called McCarthy, and up the road is the historic Kennecott Copper Mine.

Q: Is it possible for you to get lost in Wrangell-St. Elias?

A: I've worked in eight different parks and I would have confidently said I could find my way around in each after working there a year or two. But here I could get lost.

Q: Should sissies stay out of Wrangell-St. Elias?

A: There are opportunities for folks of all capabilities and skills. If you're inexperienced, you can hire a guide. Or you could stay to the road system. You could go to the McCarthy-Kennicott area, where there's a hotel, and it's quite civilized.

Q: What's the best thing about being a ranger?

A: The mission of the Park Service is preserving and taking care of the nation's treasures. This is what our culture holds precious. It's public service at its finest.

Q: Hunter Sharp is such an awesome name for a ranger. Is it the name you were born with?

A: It was my father's name.

Q: What's the best time of year to visit?

A: June, July, and the first part of August. In September, the weather's really changeable. March is actually fantastic, if you don't mind the cold.

Q: What's the coldest you've ever been?

A: The coldest I've seen is -60ºF. It means you need to pay attention to what you're doing. You can't afford to have an oversight.

Q: What's the scariest critter you've seen?

A: I've trapped and moved alligators in the Everglades, but they're rather stupid creatures. The toughest situation I've dealt with is running a bear off of food that the bear has claimed.

Q: How many visitors hit the park each year?

A: Something around 65,000. Unlike other parks, such as Yosemite, there are no gates and no traffic counters.

Q: Do visitors impact the park positively or negatively?

A: For Wrangell-St. Elias, it's a positive thing. There's plenty of space in Alaska and plenty of space in 13 million acres.