Nailing the sign in place are Cristin Bailey and Justin Presindorfer.
"Bailey" made the sign.

Justin Preisendorf  writes: “April Fools! Frozen ice pellets drop on the cabin roof and I throw down another chocolate chip cookie (for Ned, not me of course!) On the way here I dropped off Ned’s old snowboard to get waxed and sharpened. There’s some kind of spirit, some twist of Ned, some spark of life that steers that board. Riding it for the past year I’ve learned to grab the reins and follow the board’s lead. Fortunately, nobody has caught me ducking the lines or coming down the Tux Trail or Ned would’ve gotten me in trouble!
Cheers friend! Justin

Dave Buonomo/Slowfoot/Upper Goose Pond Cabin Caretaker  writes: “Today Ned is all around with us. I hiked up to the cabin with Adrianne and Clare. The weather is snow and rain. Ned is in the air blowing snow. Ned, is that you? Look down on us and see us. We miss you so much but you are in our hearts always!! I know you’re climbing all those big peaks now. Your tribute sign hanging here at the cabin looks cool. Ned would be so happy and he is. May the Gods and Great Spirit watch over us during these times.”

John Brochu  writes: “Hiked up in wind, blowin’ snow. It’s the first time since the accident that I’ve been back to the cabin. The hike in brought back a lot of memories, and I think it’s good for me to come back up here and spend time with Ned’s family and friends. The sign looks great, and it’s a great tribute to Ned. I miss you Ned, and really wish we had a chance to know each other more. I guess life works in mysterious ways.
Peace. John Brochu”
(John was Ned’s ice climbing buddy on Feb. 18, 2001.)

Buster Miller/Friend of John Brochu’s  writes: “Hiked up in wonderful winter weather. something that has been missed most of this season. Ned, I only briefly met you this time around. I hope next time we meet there will be more. Until then, live each day to its fullest.
Buster”

Julie Mueller/Queen of Crawford’s  writes: “I wasn’t going to come - sore throat and rain were sending my mind on a couch and tv. BUT, a kind offer from Blair made me see that I was going to be glad that I came, and I am. What better place to be on a fresh powder night, in a warm cabin with the best people in the world. I will carry the memory of Ned, this place, and all the good people out west to Idaho. Ned, you are always in my heart. Remember to let things happen.
Julie”

Blair Evans and Julie Mueller are East and West AMC Caretakers

Matt Lavigne/Tux (Tuckerman’s)”Geek” Caretaker  writes: “ What a great way to start my 2nd season up at Tux. Thanks for the food and great company.
Thanks for the snow, Ned. –Matt”

Tim Martel/Caretaker#3 of HMC  writes: “Great crowd! Great food! Snowy skies! and even better desert! Two seasons here in the Cutler. Ned and I were planning on working together one more season. this year. He was surely here helping the cabin run smooth and keeping the SAR (Search and Rescue) season quiet. The sign looks great! Not quite enough to make the cabin look any better, but it will keep us all thinking about our friend, Ned, every time we visit this place that meant so much to him.
Love ya all, Caretaker#3”

Blair Evans/Shift Leader at Pinkham and Jibbah’  writes: “What a great gathering of good hearted people. So good to see everyone and eat a bunch of good food. May we always remember Ned and his good ways of dealing with life. Everytime I strap my feet in my snowboard, my turns are for Ned.
Peace, Love and Happiness, Blair”

Adrianne Gass/Carter Notch Hut Caretaker  writes: Drinking Alex’s homebrew amongst some lovely folks- a great night and a beautiful sign! I remember watching the Perseids’ meteor shower on a mtn. in Acadia, falling asleep as Ned explained how to brew beer; I’d wake up and he’d still be talking. Anyway, we’ll always remember Ned up here and he’ll always be in our hearts.
Peace, Adrianne”

Cristin Bailey/AMC Trails Supervisor & SIGNMAKER!!  writes at 6:30 a.m. April 2, 2002: “This was my first night sleeping in Harvard Cabin and only my 3rd visit over. My first visit was with Ned coming up in the cat. We collected firewood which had been stacked in piles along the Tucks Trail, as we drove towards the cabin. I remember Ned joking about how long it was taking because I had just hoped to get a quick early morning run on the Sherbourne Ski Trail. Taking the slow ride, chatting with Ned, throwing firewood into the back of the cat, AND getting my run on the Sherbourne turned out to be one of my dearest memories of Ned and Harvard Cabin.

Making Ned’s sign was a blessing of a challenge for me. At first I thought I’d make it in the Spring, then Summer, then Fall and next thing I knew it was Winter again. I avoided it because I knew it would be hard for me. I finally asked Adrianne and Clare to join me one night in February in the shop. Clare brought pizza, beer and Ben & Jerry’s – what a woman! They were there for moral support. I set up the text, the wood, the router. I began to route the text. I have made dozens and dozens of trail signs, but this was different. I was nervous because I wanted it to be perfect. So many people would see it when it would be hung at the cabin. But as I routered the text on Ned’s sign and felt the support of Clare and Adrianne, after avoiding it for so long, I felt Ned smiling down on me. And as I slipped out of the template while routing his name, I laughed at myself and Ned laughed with me. It turned out to be perfectly imperfect, just like Ned and just like the rest of us. And so the painting and drilling and mounting all went the same. What a wonderful feeling to hike the sign up here last night. And to hang it in the company of so many wonderful friends, all with one thing in common – an ever present love and appreciation of Ned Green.
Thank you all for this celebration of Ned. Cristin Bailey”

Clare Green/Ned’s Mom  writes: “On April 2 morning, Brad Ray walks into the cabin to retrieve the avalanche block indicators to post the conditions at the Huntington Ravine Sign and I asked him, “Did you see the sign?”
He replies, “What sign?”
I said, “Go back outside and look to the left of the cabin entrance on the outside wall. My turn to be boss for a minute.”
“Got it. Great sign. Who made it?” he asks.
“Thanks, Bailey made it and we hung it yesterday on April Fool’s Day. Wouldn’t Ned just love that one? and I think you gave us a late joke by not noticing it.”

That morning we awoke to 8” of “powda” which was a true gift considering the meager winter we had. Excited to depart in winter fun, Tim took the lead while elegantly snowboarding down the trail, followed by Adrianne gracefully telemarking, and I was the sweeper… blitzing through on a plastic sled, becoming airborne a few times…pure joy! even amidst the tumbles we all took (We all felt Ned’s spirit of adventure with us.) I felt very grateful to be embraced by Ned’s friends in the mountains and to be so warmly welcomed into tasting a bit of Ned’s world. My heart has been touched and a deeper understanding of Ned’s love of the mountains prevails. Many of you here and not here have helped me. Thank you. The potluck gathering last night was yummy…complete with Bailey’s pan pizzas, Slowfoot’s broccoli pasta and 15 pumpkin-nut breads to share with everyone, Matt’s brownies, Rick’s wine and more wine and beer. The cabin was cozy with friends chatting and fires crackling…complete with ice climbers arriving at 1 a.m.

A different indoor sign for Ned which hangs inside the cabin above the window opposite the sink was made by 11 year old Tucker. He and his Dad had spent time at the cabin while Ned was Caretaker #2 (as he dubbed himself) in early February 2001. Tucker made the sign as a kind gesture of appreciation for Ned for the weekend shared. Now it hangs as a tribute to Ned for all to enjoy.

back row: Buster Miller, Matt Lavigne "Tux Caretaker," John Brochu, Rick Buirkle
front row: Tim Martel, Adrianne Gass, Dave "Slowfoot" Buonomo