About Island Trails Network

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About Us

Island Trails Network is a 501c3 non-profit corporation formed in October 2006 to develop, maintain, and promote sustainable trail systems and wilderness recreation throughout the Kodiak Island Borough of Alaska. Our Board of Directors represent a cross-section of recreational interests in the Kodiak community. We are:

Erin Whipple, President & Founding director

Erin is the assistant manager of lands and natural resources for Koniag regional native corporation. Though she grew up in Alaska, she earned bachelor of science in Abused Land Rehabilitation from Montana State University before returning to make her home in Kodiak. Erin’s family—her husband Wes, daughter Tessa and a menagerie of animals too numerous to list—are avid trail users in both motorized and non-motorized activities.

Term Expires 12/31/2010

Patrick Saltonstall, Secretary & Founding director.

Patrick is curator of the Alutiiq museum in Kodiak and a registered professional archaeologist. He holds a BA from Harvard University and a MA from the University of Wisconsin. He serves on the borough Parks & Recreation committee and recently completed service on the Alaska State Parks advisory board where he advocated for land use easements and trail creation. Patrick is an accomplished cross-country and downhill skier, boasting a ski ascent of Mt. Shishaldin, several first descents on Kodiak and skiing 209 days one year. Patrick and his wife Zoya have a 3-year old daughter Nora, 1 year old son Stuart, and 2 dogs.

Term Expires 12/31/2010

Pam Foreman, Founding director.

Pam works as Community Relations Director for the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce. Originally from Minnesota, she has made the island her home for 18 years and spent as much of that time as possible outside. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, birding, wildlife viewing, fishing and camping. Pam writes and produces a weekly radio show on outdoor events called Island Byways, and serves on the KIB Parks & Recreation Committee. Pam's emphasis in serving on the board is building partnerships with land owners and agencies to preserve public access to existing trails, beaches and waterways.

Term Expires 12/31/2012

Brian Glaspell

Brian (the one on the left) moved from Anchorage to Kodiak in July 2007 to take the position of supervisory ranger/visitor services manager for Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. He has been working in land management/recreation management for ten years, first as a researcher at the University of Montana Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, then at the USFS Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, as an outdoor recreation planner/crew leader for the BLM, and most recently with the US Fish & Wildlife Service. He holds a Ph.D. from the School of Forestry at the University of Montana. Brian is a competitive skier and runner, has lived in Alaska his whole life and stood atop Denali, it’s highest peak. He's proud to have been promoted from mountaineer to father--he and his wife Tanya have two kids, Ava (4) and Kitson (almost 2).

Term Expires 12/31/2011

Bree Witteveen

Bree works for the University of Alaska Fairbanks as a whale biologist. She grew up in Colorado Springs and Seattle before moving to Alaska in 2000. She holds a BS in Zoology from the University of Washington, an MS in Fisheries from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a PhD in Conservation Biology from the University of Central Florida. When not chasing whales in the Gulf of Alaska, Bree enjoys training for and racing in triathlons and marathons. She lives in
Kodiak with her husband Mark, who is a metal artist and fisheries biologist, and their chocolate lab, Jitney, and cat, Kai.

Term Expires 12/31/2011

Laura Slater

Laura is a crab research biologist for Alaska Department of Fish and Game. After living in Michigan, Washington, and Hawaii, she found her way to Alaska 8 years ago and hasn't looked back (though she does miss the Hawaiian sun from time to time...). She has found enjoyment exploring Kodiak over the last 3 years and loves the numerous opportunities to hike to scenic viewpoints or walk along coastal shores. She's looking forward to many more adventures by foot, kayak, ski, and skate with her fiance Mark and mutt Toolee. She has a BS from Hawaii Pacific University and a MS from the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Term Expires 12/31/2011

David George

Dave is a native of the West Virginia mountains. He recently moved to Alaska with his wife Rebecca, a registered nurse, via Hawaii and Northern California. He serves as the Readiness Officer at the Coast Guard Base Support Unit in Kodiak where he currently assesses environmental remediation and manages prevention for Alaska's coastal resources and shipping lanes. He joined the Coast Guard in 1996 which enabled him to travel extensively and respect the seas. He and Rebecca are enjoying the outdoor adventures Kodiak has to offer especially fishing, hiking, and running. Dave is a competitive cross-country off-road motorcycle racer and enjoys Motocross.

Term Expires 12/31/2012

Philip Tschersich

Philip has lived in Kodiak since 1990s, first working fishing for salmon and halibut during the derby days, then completing his Master's Degree though UAF at the Fisheries Industrial Technology Center on Near Island. Since 1999 he has worked the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in salmon management on the Alaska Peninsula, and more recently as a marine research biologist for crab and groundfish in Kodiak. An enthusiastic and active user of the Kodiak area trails, about ten years ago he wrote a mountain biking guide to the road system trail network, which is now on its fourth edition. In researching the book and his personal pursuit of outdoor recreation he has traveled and documented most of the existing trails on the Kodiak road system. In addition to his road system travels, Ihe has been all throughout the archipelago on fishing and research vessels, as well as by sea kayak

Term Expires 12/31/2012

Sara Francis

Sara is a petty officer first class in the U.S. Coast Guard and supervisor of the District 17 Public Affairs Detachment in Kodiak. She has been in Alaska for eight years. Sara grew up in Colorado's Rocky Mountains and has always had an affinity for the outdoors. She treks Kodiak with her daughter Abbey and their dog Oberon. She recently began kayaking.

Term Expires 12/31/2010

Island Trails Network Staff:

Andy Schroeder, Executive Director, Founder

Andy is an enthusiastic outdoorsman, hitting the trails, skiing, and paddling several times a week with his girlfriend Betsy and their adopted dog, Gage. Andy owns & operates an ecotourism business and research charter vessel during the summers. He served two tours in the Coast Guard, which is what brought him to Kodiak. He serves or has served on the Kodiak Island Parks & Recreation Committee, the Kodiak Gateway Communities team, and Fort Abercrombie Trails Committee. Andy holds a BS degree in Government from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He hails from the Little Miami watershed of Ohio, where his parents are advocates for parks and recreation.

Mike Banasiak, Senior Crew Leader

Mike graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville in 2009, and has since then has traveled the country leading trail crews for the Student Conservation Association (SCA) in places destinations ranging from Delaware Water Gap, PA, to Denali NP, to the Kisatchie Forest, LA. He first worked in Kodiak as an SCA in 2009 and spent last winter rock climbing at Potrero Chico, Mexico.

Tom Banasiak, Crew Leader, SCA

Tom is a senior at Notre Dame studying Mechanical Engineering. He has led service youth crews throughout college, most notably in response to the 2008 floods at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He recently completed a 2-week solo trek on the south island of New Zealand. He an accomplished climber and President of Notre Dame Climbing Club. Tom hails from Chicago, Illinois.

Allison Pasch, Crew Leader, SCA

Allison is a junior at Texas State University studying Geography, with a focus in Resource and Environmental studies. She enjoys working with high school youth and prior to joining ITN shared her passion for the outdoors as a camp counselor. She is pursing certification in environmental interpretation. She is an experienced backpacker, and has logged some extensive trekking of the Appalachian Trail.

Island Trails Network- PO Box 301- Kodiak, Alaska - 99615 - 907.539.1979 - info@islandtrails.org