2023 Trail Team
2023 Trail Team
Check out our trail team members on our Instagram profile and podcast – and click the links in each hiker’s profile to follow along via their personal channels!
ELLEN DELONG
"WAYFINDER"
PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
Wayfinder is originally from Iowa and is now a travel nurse working out of the PNW. In 2022, she hiked 500 miles of the PCT. This year, she is attempting the PCT for a second time while also raising awareness around pregnancy loss – by raising money for bereavement education for nurses. You can donate to her GoFundMe cause here. She will also be keeping a journal on her website as she hikes, so follow along!
LAURA STATTS
APPALACHIAN TRAIL
Laura is from the Philly side of Pennsylvania. She has been dreaming about thru-hiking for years and is excited to be flip flopping the Appalachian Trail in 2023. She’ll start heading north from Harpers Ferry at the end of April.
When she’s not hiking Laura works as a scientist, bow hunts, fishes, and travels wherever the wind takes her with her trusty dog/sidekick. She will be documenting her hike on The Trek and on her Instagram.
STEPHANIE SETIZ "CALZONE"
PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRAIL
Calzone grew up in Indiana and now works in western Colorado as a Field Instructor for Seeds Wilderness Therapy. She fell in love with long distance hiking on the PCT in 2019 and is now taking on the wild PNT this summer! Besides hiking, Calzone loves jamming on the guitar, knitting, reading, and dance parties. She is raising money for The Mooky Project, a charity started by her friend Pebbles to bring sock monkey treatment buddies to kids in the hospital.
MIKE MCCLURE "JUST MIKE"
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL
Just Mike is chasing his Triple Crown hiking dream. He started long distance hiking during COVID as a way to stay active outside. 2022 was a transition year when he retired after 30+ years in the technology industry to pursue hiking long trails. He completed the PCT in late Sept 2022. This year, Just Mike will be hiking the CDT and plans to finish his Triple Crown on the AT in a few years. When he is not on trail, he calls Michigan home. You can follow along with his CDT adventure on his Instagram and via The THRU-r Podcast.
CAROL COYNE "CHEER"
APPALACHIAN TRAIL
Cheer is from Southern California and is the founder of THRU-r. She hiked the PCT (her first love) in 2019 – nine months after deciding that she should take a break from corporate life. What she found was adventure and an amazing community! In 2022 she also completed the CDT which she dubbed “the brutal beauty.” Her on-trail experiences inspire her ceramic art at Dirtbag Ceramics. When she’s not hiking or creating ceramic pieces, she works as a consultant in corporate finance. Cheer is going for her Triple Crown this year, and plans to complete the Appalachian Trail on Mt. Katahdin. You can follow her latest adventures on YouTube and Instagram.
J.C. VAN ETTEN "CATMANDO"
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL
J.C. Van Etten or “Catmando” is from Florida and – since he retired – has been hiking as much as possible! Catmando thru hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2019, the Long Trail & Benton MacKaye in 2021, and the Pacific Crest Trail in 2021/2022. His hope is to start his Triple Crown on the Continental Divide Trail as a SOBO this summer, and it will likely be a LASH till he earns the crown. Stay tuned!
PATRICK CULLINAN "PITTER PATTER"
PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
After completing the CDT last year, Pat is looking to finish up his Triple Crown with a northbound hike on the PCT. While originally from Pittsburgh, he was living in Vermont the last few years bagging peaks across New England and in the Adirondacks. In the time leading up to his March 22nd start date he’s been doing odd labor jobs and spending time with his wife in Columbus, Ohio as she finishes up her masters. Pat spent most of his CDT hike alone and also had the pleasure of getting Giardia in Colorado. This time around he’s looking forward to a trail with a few more friends and (hopefully) a lot less parasites.
CATHERINE TURGY "STITCH"
APPALACHIAN TRAIL
Stitch is from Canada and will be hiking the AT this year. She’s hiked the PCT in 2022 as part of our trail team and we are so happy to have her back this year! Stitch works in industrial design/product development and loves to knit, crochet, do yoga, sketch tiny house plans, and do trail maintenance in her free time. She’s hiked in many spots in her home country and is also the first person to complete a continuous hike on the Quebec National Trail at 1535km.
NIKKI HUGHES "LITE BRITE"
CAMINO DE SANTIAGO PRIMIVITO
Lite Brite is from Florida and hiked most the PCT in 2021. She’s also hiked the small but mighty Trans Catalina Trail off the coast of Southern California. This year, she is hopping overseas to take on the Camino. Lite Brite is a yoga instructor and personal trainer – which has served her well this far (gotta meditate sometimes on the trail, right?). We are so excited to follow along while she experiences trail life in a different country!
ALICIA GRAFE & TUK-TUK
SARDINIA CROSSING & SENTIERO ITALIA
Alicia is a Belgian lawyer turned passionate vagabond! In the last 2 years, she’s been vanlifing, thru-hiking, bike touring, volunteering, and working seasonal jobs while experiencing a lot of inner exploration. Her dog Tuk-Tuk follows her everywhere (or is she following him?). They love immersing themselves in the environment, sleeping under the stars and eating wild plants. In spring, they’ll hike across Sardinia and in autumn – across the Alps (following the “Sentiero Italia”). While they are hiking, a documentary will be made about their adventure called “Fugues” (which means “Runaways”). You can follow these two on Instagram and on their personal blog.
KYLE PELTIER "SHOOTER"
APPALACHIAN TRAIL
Kyle (aka Harrison and “Shooter” on trail) has hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2021 and is now taking on the Appalachian Trail NOBO this year. He loves to thru-hike because the views are amazing (and sometimes…not so amazing). But even epic views can’t compare to how amazing the trail community is! He’s looking forward to meeting other hikers and trail angels, trail magic, messing around in town, swimming holes, dogs, and (of course) more views on the AT this year.
ALYSSA SCHAFER
APPALACHIAN TRAIL
Alyssa is from New York City and will be hiking the Appalachian Trail as her first thru-hike! When not on trail, she works in Early Childhood Education and in her free time likes to read, knit, and try new sushi restaurants. While always enjoying day hikes, her summit of Mt. Fuji in 2017 sparked her interest in backpacking and other outdoor adventures.
RICK POSADA "BONUS TIME"
PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
Rick Posada or “Bonus Time” is a long distance runner and Marine Corps veteran from Texas – who is returning to the Pacific Crest Trail this year! As he makes his way north, he will be updating us via Instagram and his podcast: Journeys From Here To There.
CARLYN SAUNDERS "FOSSEY"
ARIZONA TRAIL
Fossey is a plant-based hiker originally from Pennsylvania but she’s been putting down serious roots in the PNW for over a decade. She’s an environmental education director for a small non-profit where she guides adventure trips for teens and run a K-12 summer camp. Fossey has completed several smaller trails in the past as well as the Appalachian Trail in 2019. She believes that long trails showcase the very best of humanity. Having grown up close to the AT, she learned about thru-hiking from a young age and always knew she would tackle the AT one day, but had no idea the effect it would have on her life!
SANCIA GIMBEL
GREECE, GREENLAND, & CORSICA
Sancia is an adventurous soul who is from Germany. In the last two years she’s hiked the foggy and sheep-rich Pyreenes in Spain (GR11), the breathtaking coastline in Portugal (Fisherman’s Trail), and the boggy – and most challenging so far – Cape Wrath Trail in Scotland (where she lost her heart!). This year she plans to take on the Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland, the Corfu Trail in Greece, and the GR20 in Corsica.
THERESA DALUEG
PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
Theresa is a classic middle child who grew up on the Alberta prairies, on a small farm playing in pastures and round bales. Mountains didn’t come till later in life when she moved to Nunavut. This new place taught her about harsh 24 hour dark winters and breathtaking summer hikes! In 2020 the spark of an idea to hike the Pacific Crest Trail came to her – and never left. Working a stressful and sedentary desk job only added fuel to the dream.
So 2023 is her year to hike the PCT! This will be Theresa’s first thru hike and solo trip. It seems fitting that it’s a high snow year for her, since she’s spent the last few years living in it. The snow will teach her patience, teamwork, and to trust her instincts. She’s excited to meet people from all over the world on the PCT!
ILSE PRAET "CINNAMON"
NORDKALOTTLEDEN (ARCTIC TRAIL)
Ilse Praet or “Cinnamon” is from Belgium, but has spent the last 2 years in the U.S. and Canada – living the van life with her hubby. In 2021, they met on the first week on the PCT. They have also hiked the Oregon Coast Trail and the Great Divide Trail and got married after! This year, Cinnamon and her husband will be hiking the Northern Arctic Trail in Lapland for about 2 months. She’s hoping to experience the native Sami culture, reindeer herding, the different languages and never-ending midsummer sun in the night. It’s the mosquitos, however, that they fear the most… but their mosquito head nets are at the ready!
AMY HUNSUCKER "SLIDER"
PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
After hiking the Appalachian Trail, Slider thought she’d be one and done! She since has hiked the Continental Divide Trail, and now is starting the Pacific Crest Trail to earn her Triple Crown – with her trombone in tow! Can you guess where she got her trail name? Slider had plans to hike the AZT this year as well, but decided to hold off to solely focus on the PCT. One door closes and another one opens…
JEANENE BURKE
PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
The Pacific Crest Trail will be Jeanene’s first long trail, and she’s excited to face the challenge and experience all the ups and downs, literally and figuratively. When not on trail, she runs a small hobby farmstead in Anza (only a few miles from the PCT)! Jeanene is a “retired” stay at home mom– ie, her boys have all grown up and fled the nest. Still in the nest is her husband of more than 20 years and 3 cats, 4 dogs, 5 sheep and a whole bunch of rabbits and chickens. You can keep up with her on Instagram or by clicking the link here for her Trail Journal and more!
MELVIN GAVROY
ARIZONA TRAIL
Melvin is a 26 year old living in Belgium. He hiked the PCT in 2022 and will be attempting the AZT this year. He used to be a motorcycle mechanic (but had to quit to be able to hike the PCT) and is now working for an outfitter. Thru-hiking has always been a dream – living outside and catching every sunset/sunrise is one of the best things in the world to him. Besides the people you meet along the way and the memories you create, of course! Melvin likes to climb indoors and ride his motorcycle – but most of the time he’s somewhere in the forest back home. He likes wildlife photography, shed hunting, and watching the Red Stags during rutting season. Melvin is looking forward to being a hiker again!
TRACEY DEAN
PACIFIC CREST TRAIL
Tracey is from Canada and is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail this year. She is hiking in support of the Soldier On Fund Canada – which helps ill and injured Canadian Force veterans maintain and promote active lifestyles through recreation, sports and other creative activities. You can keep up with her in Instagram and YouTube as she hikes North, and you can support Soldier On by donating here.
PATRICK WRIGHT "MANDO"
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL
Patrick (Mando) started backpacking in 1976 and is still at it. Plant-based and an Air Force veteran, he combines old school backpacking skills and UL to thru hiking. Has hiked the AT, PCT, AZT, CT, OT, OHT and more. When he’s not on trail, he hikes the mountains of his home turf in western NC and plays old time mountain fiddle in a local band.