Paid Trail Crews
In addition to Alaska Trail Stewards volunteer events each summer, Alaska Trails hires paid trail crews to decrease the backlog of necessary trail construction and maintenance projects in Southcentral Alaska. Trail crews work in coordination with the US Forest Service, Chugach State Park, the BLM, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, and Denali State Park to complete projects that improve our trail systems.
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In 2025, three trail crews will spend the summer out on our trails, working hard to ensure that we can enjoy the trails that make Alaska so special.
Anchorage Trail Crew
This crew will work on multiple technical trail projects this season. The Anchorage Crew will begin their season in Far North Bicentennial Park for a seven week project, then three weeks in Russian Jack Springs Park, and then will work their way north to Pioneer Peak in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and Denali Sate Park for two weeks each. They will construct a bridge, address erosion and redo unsustainable trail alignment, and log out fallen trees to improve accessibility.
Meet the Crew
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Delano Horner, Crew Leader
Delano Horner joined the Alaska Trails South Fork crew in the summer of 2023 after a few years on the Mat-Su Borough trail crew. He was born in Palmer and lives in Fairbanks during the winters while attending UAF for a mechanical engineering degree. Like most of the crew, he loves working outside and building trails. Del is a blacksmith and a mechanic in his free time with far more projects than he can reasonably handle.
Chloe White, Crew Member
Chloe is excited for her first season with Alaska Trails! Originally from Georgia, she has always loved the Appalachian Mountains and spending time outdoors. She is currently studying Mechanical Engineering Technology and has a passion for welding, reading, and exploring new landscapes. She’s looking forward to the adventures ahead with the Alaska Trails team!
Mary Gianotti, Crew Member
Mary Gianotti grew up in Juneau, Alaska. She has over a decade of outdoor job experience. Notably, she was a senior NOLS instructor for ten years mostly working in their mountaineering and winter programs and has assisted in Denali climbing ranger search and rescue patrols as well as guided clients to the summit of Denali for multiple seasons. In the winters, Mary is the Avalanche Specialist for the Chugach State Park and teaches avalanche courses on the side. When Mary is not working, she is exploring Alaska on a big expedition in the middle of nowhere (probably by skis), hanging out with her dog, friends, and family, or doing ceramics or making earrings in Palmer, Alaska.
Nathan Duprey, Crew Member
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​Nathan Duprey was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and previously worked for the California Conservation Corps, maintaining trails in California's Trinity Alps. He joins Alaska Trails for the first time this year and is excited to be along for the ride. In his free time Nathan enjoys playing chess, painting, and reading.
Michelle Crowl, Crew Member
​Michelle Crowl has called Alaska home for the last 13 years. In 2012, she joined a trail crew in Southeast Alaska and loved building and hiking multiple trails around Alaska. Since 2018, Michelle has volunteered as a crew member, assistant crew leader, and crew leader with Alaska Trails, gaining status as a super volunteer. In her free time, she loves participating in the many adventures that Alaska has to offer.
Girdwood Trail Crew
The Girdwood Trail Crew will be working on the Iditarod National Historic Trail for 10 weeks, as well as two weeks each in the Seward Ranger District and Glacier Ranger District of the Chugach National Forest. This crew will work on trail maintenance projects such as brushing and drainage as well as wooden structure work, including new bridge construction.
Meet the Crew
Isaac Rutt, Crew Leader
Isaac grew up in New England and headed west as soon as he was out of high school. He shortly found his love for trails working a season with Montana Conservation Corps and hasn't looked back since. He has spent the last 3 summers working trails and cabins with the US Forest Service in Moose Pass, AK and the winters skiing his heart out in Girdwood, AK or traveling. He is looking forward to putting some good work in on the trails in Girdwood and Seward.
Ellen Eller, Crew Member
Ellen currently calls Homer home, but was born and raised on a homestead in Kasilof, Alaska. Growing up immersed in the Alaskan wilderness, she’s always loved activities like community camping trips in the Chugach National Forest and Seldovia, rafting the Kenai River, and harvesting seaweed! If she’s not frolicking in fields, you can find her building houses with natural materials. Ellen always likes to keep her hands busy with a bit of dirt under her fingernails!
Gibson Barlow, Crew Member
Gibson graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in 2023 where he pursued research interests in ecology and developmental biology. He has worked with the US Forest Service fighting wildfires and with the Oklahoma Wildlife Department conducting surveys for Texas Horned Lizard conservation. In his free-time, he enjoys running, backpacking, and birdwatching.
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Walker Fairbanks, Crew Member
This is Walker’s first year working for Alaska Trails! Walker is a current sophomore at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In his free time you will find him exploring the mountains, eating peanut butter sandwiches and climbing rocks.
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Shaun Gitlin, Crew Member
Born and raised in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, Shaun is passionate about long distance hiking and eventually picked up trail building along the way. This will be Shaun's first season with Alaska Trails as well as his first time in Alaska. He is looking forward to experiencing the midnight sun, the Northern Lights, and other natural marvels of the last frontier.
Williwaw Trail Crew
This crew will spend 13 weeks working on reroutes and structure building on the Williwaw Lakes trail in Chugach State Park. This trail has notorious wet and muddy sections that will be bypassed or built over with step and run and bog bridges. This crew will also spend one week on the Middle Fork trail to open the rerouted trail that has been a work in progress for years.
Meet the Crew
Sarris Harris, Crew Leader
This is the third season that Sarris has worked for Alaska Trails, and the second season they have served as crew lead. Sarris grew up in Anchorage and left the state to get a B.S. in Environmental Science, before moving back home. Sarris has always loved being outside and fell in love with trail work by stumbling into the Conservation Corps in Washington. Aside from their passion for trails, they love to knit, climb, listen to music, and bake.
Jillian Gehman, Crew Member
Jillian is originally from Pennsylvania, but found how much she love hands on, physically demanding work on an environmental restoration crew in California. From there she moved to Colorado to work for the Rocky Mountain Conservancy for two seasons, on their backcountry trail crew. She spent the last two years exploring Colorado and other job fields, but Jillian’s at her peak happiness on trail alongside other crew members! She’s stoked to get back in it! If she’s not working on trail, Jillian’s biking or camping. She also enjoys climbing, although she’s subpar at it. And once snow hits the ground she’s happy to have a day or two or thirty snowboarding!
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Daniel Newell, Crew Member
​Daniel has made his way here all the way from Indiana! A Ball State University Graduate, Daniel studied Zoology + Natural Resources and primarily worked as an animal caretaker for species such as wolves, coyotes, and foxes. Although he has lived his whole life in the Midwest (aside from many memorable vacations), he is ready to take the leap towards Alaska! Many of his hobbies include: hiking, animal identification and observation, bird watching, fishing, and wildlife photography. He is happy to be a part of the team ensuring the quality of Alaska’s trails!
