State Department of Environmental Conservation Public Participation Specialist David Winchell gives advice to a visitor on hiking destinations on Friday, Oct. 9 at Mid’s Park in Lake Placid. It was Winchell’s last day on the job, retiring after 33 years at the DEC. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

LAKE PLACID — Lake Placid News Editor Andy Flynn interviewed David Winchell, the state Department of Environmental Conservation public participation specialist at Region 5 who retired in October, about his career and thoughts about some backcountry issues.