About

Our Team

Jenna Carroll, Manager & Guide
Jenna leads Blue Ridge Hiking Company’s guide team and day-to-day operations alongside Lindsey. After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2021, Jenna found purpose in helping others experience the blue ridge mountains. Prior to joining BRHC, she was a management consultant for Deloitte, where she worked on human-centered business problems. In her free time, Jenna hikes, runs, and coaches high school basketball.

Kate "Big Catt" Riley, Appalachian Trail-er Caretaker & Guide
Kate is a thru-hiker, trail runner, and gear nerd with a love for sharing outdoor adventure. With experience in environmental geology and performance running footwear, she has backpacked over 5,500 miles on the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Pinhoti Trail, and other trail systems. Kate grew up in Upstate New York and is delighted to roam the lush green valleys and scenic ridgelines of the Appalachian Blue Ridge Mountains for a second season with BRHC.

Tom "Shepard" Williams, Appalachian Trail-er Caretaker & Guide
Originally from Western New York, Tom has hiked close to 10,000 miles including the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Arizona Trail, Long Trail, Pinhoti Trail, and Mount Kilimanjaro. Tom is also an avid runner and is known for seeking out a quick local race during his thru-hikes. With years of experience in outdoor retail, he enjoys sharing gear and backpacking knowledge to those in pursuit of wilderness adventure.  

Melissa Watkins, Private Trip Consultant
Melissa grew up in Florida where she spent many hours watching wildlife and guiding kayak tours. She has also guided many backpacking, canoeing, and rafting trips in Western North Carolina and loves nothing more than sharing the outdoors with new friends. A former college professor, she is an educator at heart. When not at work, she loves to paddle, bake, teach her young son about the outdoors, and bask in the sunshine.

For private backpacking trip inquiries, you can reach Melissa directly at melissa@blueridgehikingco.com.

Melissa “SassyFrass” Gibson, Admin Associate & Guide
Melissa grew up by the beach, but the mountains of Western North Carolina are her true happy place. She brings a rich blend of outdoor experience to her day hikes and backpacking trips, from serving as a Girl Scout leader and swamping on the Colorado River to trekking through Chile and Spain and traveling to over 25 countries. Melissa delights in the culinary side of backcountry adventures, crafting memorable snack experiences and encouraging guests to savor each moment. When not guiding, she volunteers with Make-A-Wish, spends time with her three grandkids, or lifts weights at the gym. She is currently pursuing a certificate in sylvan therapy and studying the traditions of the Appalachian Mountains.

Kacie "Foxy" Ross, Medical Advisor & Guide
Kacie has thru-hiked over 7,000 miles, including the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Te Araroa in New Zealand. For over a decade, she enjoyed outdoor teaching and guiding all over the country. She finally settled in WNC and is now a wilderness certified nurse. Kacie currently works in mental health and volunteers with the Buncombe County Rescue Squad SAR team. Kacie loves fun conversation while hiking and finding all the birds and little critters along the way!

Matt "Gnome" Dobson, Senior Guide & Private Coach
Having moved around the world pursuing other professional interests, Matt has decided Western North Carolina is the place for him and helping to expose others to our natural world is the perfect way to spend his time. A Triple Crowner, with thru-hikes of the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail, he has over 16,000 miles on those legs. Matt has a Plant Sciences degree from the University of Tennessee and has spent many of his hours in nature studying its science and history.

Bev MacDowell, Senior Guide
Backpack with a contemporary! Bev has been a hiking and backpacking leader for adults and youth for more than 10 years. She is an AT Trail Maintainer for the Max Patch section, she has completed Educator Outward Bound, and recently hiked 200 miles of the Spanish Camino del Santiago. She feels most alive when she is active in the forest; it is so empowering! It brings her great joy to introduce others to the wonder of outdoor life in Western NC.

Maria Borisevich, Core Guide
Ditching the corporate life, Maria found her passion for the trail in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, which sparked a love for exploring forests and peaks across the country. As a health coach and personal trainer, she loves empowering others to move well and feel strong in the real world as well as the backcountry. In her free time, she’s a total nutrition nerd and a community builder, hosting sober curious events in Asheville. She is thrilled to share the beauty and awe of the Blue Ridge Mountains with you!

Anna Conard, Core Guide
Originally hailing from Atlanta, Anna settled in Western North Carolina after thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2023. She loves the deep peace she finds only in the forest. As a guide, she aims to help everyone feel the magic of the natural world, whether for the first time or the fiftieth. Outside of being a hiker, Anna also identifies as a music nerd, pastry snob, dog mom, and writer. 

Amy "Slider" Hunsucker, Core Guide
Born and raised in South Carolina, Amy grew up hiking in the Carolinas. Her love for backpacking started on the Appalachian Trail with her first overnight trip in 2012. Since then, she has thru hiked all of the triple crown trails - Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail - along with other trails throughout the US, totaling over 8,000 miles of backpacking. Her trail name, Slider, comes from her background in music and because she is known to take her trombone out on the trail with her.

Adam Kampouris, Core Guide
Born in the Catskills of NY and raised in the Blue Ridge of NC, Adam has always called the mountains of Appalachia home (well…except those 6 years in NYC, but we don’t talk about that). Having survived a childhood of blissful, unsupervised galavanting through the local woods, creeks, and hollers, he derives great joy in sharing his love of the natural world with others, and has yet to meet an outdoor activity he doesn’t like! A jack of all interests and master of none, his curiosities include local flora & fauna, mineral identification, folklore, Shakespearean verse, group singing, and pickin’ on his mandolin. When not on trail, Adam identifies as a professional stage actor, an amateur chef, and an hapless goof.

Lizzy Markman, Core Guide
Lizzy grew up exploring the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where she first fell in love with the great outdoors. Her passion for adventure has led her to backpack through Mexico, join an archaeological dig in New Mexico, and serve as a Park Ranger at Grand Canyon National Park. For the past four years, she has been exploring the trails of the Blue Ridge Mountains, immersing herself in the Appalachian landscape and history. When she’s not on the trail, you can find her at the climbing crag, digging in her garden, checking out a new restaurant, or listening to local music. 

Traci Mohl, Core Guide
Born & raised in Appalachia’s shadow and a wilderness guide & outdoor educator of over a decade, Traci has a diverse interest in all things nature-related - from local ecology to plant folklore, herbalism, birding, earth skills and toad huntin’! A lover of all things wild, weird & green, her trail choices always include a good view, and her favorites have taken her through Hobbit-territory in New Zealand, ancient canyons in Hawaii’ & old growth forests in the Sierra Nevadas.

Nancy "Seal Mom" East, Private Coach
Nancy retired from a career as a vet in 2020 to pursue opportunities that took her outdoors more. She is passionate about sharing the natural world and teaching hikers how to stay "safe and found". She is a Southern Appalachian Naturalist and is on Haywood County's Search and Rescue Team. Nancy has hiked all 800 miles of trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park four times, and co-holds the speed record for the Smokies 900 Miler Challenge. She shares stories and educational content on Hope and Feather Travels.

Heidi "Sketch" Nisbett, Private Coach
Heidi grew up in the foothills in South Carolina and has always been mesmerized by the Blue Ridge Mountains. After receiving a BFA in painting, she thru hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2018, keeping a detailed sketchbook along the way. She has since backpacked an additional 3,000 miles of other long distance trails. She has been guiding for BRHC for 5 years and loves taking people out into nature! Her trail inspired artwork can be viewed at SketchingSummits.com.

Eli "Little Bit" Adams, Guide
Born and raised in South Florida, Eli fell in love with the outdoors during a year-long stay in Hawaii and pursued a career in environmental education. With years of experience in adventure guiding, from kayaking hidden mangrove tunnels to summiting local mountains, she has been a naturalist and hiking guide in the Blue Ridge Mountains for over four years. She earned the trail name "Little Bit" because of her keen eye for small forest discoveries.

Hannah "Chaco" Brock, Guide
Born and raised in Georgia, Hannah’s love for the outdoors started in the red clay and hasn’t let up! She completed a southbound Appalachian Trail thru-hike in 2013 and has been chasing backcountry adventures ever since. She believes the best days end a little bit muddy and a lot fulfilled. Off trail, you might find her working her day job as an occupational therapist, exploring Asheville’s music scene, paddleboarding, adventuring with her dog, Zula, or cross-stitching.

Brooks Coker, Guide
Originally from Northwest Arkansas, Brooks grew up enjoying the vibrant and diverse landscapes of the Ozarks. His passion for the outdoors was stoked by the many summer camps and outdoor programs he attended as a kid. He has worked as an outdoor professional in numerous roles and is currently an 8th-grade associate teacher. Inclusivity in the outdoors is one of the main things that he is focused on going into this guiding season. In his spare time, Brooks enjoys performing and playing music with friends. Brooks strives to bring a childlike awe and wonder of nature into everything that he does.

Jenn "One Day" Gift, Guide
Jenn grew up mid-state and spent her summers enjoying the east coast beaches. It wasn’t until she attended school in western North Carolina that she fell deeply in love with the Appalachian Mountains. She now has over a decade of experience as a wilderness therapy field guide and has logged over 8,250 miles on foot including the Triple Crown of thru-hiking and the Camino de Santiago! As an artist, licensed therapist, and professional backpacker, she views the wilderness as a source of inspiration, healing, and empowerment.

Melinda "Pencils" Irby, Guide
Melinda grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, but has called WNC home for 8 years. She has section hiked the southern half of the Appalachian Trail and loves to explore WNC trails as well. She thoroughly enjoys learning new flora and fauna, and drawing in her nature journal on every hike.  When Melinda isn’t hiking, she creates artwork and loves to hang out with her daughter and dog.

Mary "Newfound" Leavines, Guide
Mary grew up in south Louisiana, and moved to Western North Carolina in 2022 after her Appalachian Trail thru-hike. Since her thru, she ran an AT thru-hiker hostel with her husband, hiked 650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, and has hiked countless other trails across the country. Her trail name, "Newfound," comes from Newfound Gap in the Smokies: where she first set foot on the Appalachian Trail in 2017 and resolved to hike the entire trail one day. When she's not working, you can find her section hiking the rest of the PCT, studying for her clinical counseling program, or writing in one of her favorite coffee shops.

Tamera "Caboosy" Trexler, Guide
Tam has been on many adventures, exploring the Mountains of WNC for 30 plus years. In addition to thru-hiking many long distance trails, Tam is also a world traveler. She can take you to the lesser known trails and landmarks of this region. All the while sharing her knowledge and love of it’s history, geology, wildflowers and animals. She is working on her Blue Ridge Naturalist Certification. Full moon and sunset hikes are her favorite!