The Town of Mammoth said farewell to Inyo National Forest Deputy District Ranger Mike Schlafmann on Wednesday. Schlafmann, who has served on the Inyo since 2001, is headed for Everett, Wash. to take a job on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

“When Snoqualmie Forest called to check Mike’s references they asked me a bunch of questions about him,” explained Inyo District Ranger, and Schlafmann’s boss, Jon Regelbrugge at Wednesday’s Council meeting. “One of the things they said was that their recreation situation up there is a mess. They wanted to know if Mike had any experience in strategic planning in that area … all I could say was ‘If that’s what you need, then Mike’s your guy.’”

“It still hasn’t hit me that I’m leaving,” Schlafmann said when it was his turn at the podium. “I feel like I’m just going somewhere else to get some things done, but this will always be my home.”

Friends at his going-away party at Hyde prepared him for his new post with an umbrella hat and a poncho.