Behind the Scenes with RMBL Operations: The Heart of Gothic

Katie Harper prefers to stay behind the scenes. As RMBL’s Administrative and Operations Manager, she was genuinely surprised when we asked to feature her in the e-newsletter. “Who cares about operations when we have such exciting science going on?” she said with a laugh.

But we do care — because when operations run smoothly, they’re almost invisible. And that’s thanks to Katie and her team, who are especially busy this time of year. Aside from the winter caretakers, her crew is the first to arrive on campus each season. They bike in before the road opens, clean the cabins, open common spaces, and prepare the offices. Katie calls it “waking up the campus.”

Not long ago, scientists had to do all this themselves — starting with hauling mattresses out of the barn. Katie’s goal is to make sure researchers can walk into a cabin, drop their bags, and get right to work. She takes pride in making research easier for them.

Her team handles everything from ordering supplies and managing housing assignments to organizing conferences, courses, and social events. With a maximum occupancy of 180, campus will be at full capacity for several weeks this summer.

Katie was drawn to RMBL by its vibrant scientific community. After living in Germany, she and her husband moved to Crested Butte in 2015 to be closer to family. In 2018, they attended a RMBL event. The scientists’ passion was contagious, and Katie knew she wanted to be part of it. She joined the staff in 2020 and considers one of the job’s biggest perks to be the ability to stay “science-adjacent,” attending seminars and events on campus.

One of the most rewarding parts of her role is supporting students in the RMBL Education Program. Her team ensures each student is settled and ready — whether they’re seasoned campers or city kids seeing stars for the first time. One student barely knew how to ride a bike but mastered it at RMBL. Another began in the RMBL Middle School program, continued through the High School session, and is now part of the undergraduate program. Watching that growth is something Katie finds immensely fulfilling.

She’s also brought significant improvements to campus safety and support. From upgrading first-aid kits and adding more EpiPens and Narcan, to installing an after-hours cell phone and a Ring doorbell at the Admin Office, Katie and her team are always thinking ahead. She even wrote a grant proposal for an automated external defibrillator, now available to both the RMBL community and the public recreating in the Gothic corridor.

The Administration and Operations team may think no one notices—but we do. And now, you know which group to thank when everything just works.

Katie Harper has been working in Administration and Operations for RMBL since 2020 and is excited to be gearing up for her sixth Gothic summer. She comes to RMBL with a combined 15 years of domestic and international experience in hospitality, logistics, and project management. Outside of work, she stays busy adventuring with her husband, Brady, and 16-month-old son, Hollis, enjoying activities like skiing, hiking, camping, and multiple book clubs. While her passion is travel, she’s always happy to return to Crested Butte, which has been home since 2015.