Staff – Board Of Directors

Zack grew up in North Carolina and developed a love for the outdoors wandering nearby forests and creeks before pursuing a B.S in Geography from Appalachian State University. After several years working for local government in North Carolina, Zack moved to New Mexico to combine his passions for maps and public lands. He spent five years as a Wilderness Ranger on the Santa Fe National Forest, conducting inventories, making public contacts, clearing trail, and protecting Wilderness Character. In 2018, Zack received the USDA’s Wilderness Partnership Champion Award for his efforts. As GIS Specialist, he looks forward to continuing to be a steward of the trail and public lands, and help tell the story of the Continental Divide.

L Fisher is an educator and community organizer who grew up in rural Indiana. They received dual degrees in Philosophy and Political Science before earning their Masters in Political Science from Indiana University. Before moving out west, they worked on campaigns and in policy advocacy throughout Indiana and parts of Texas. L’s passion for environmental policy eventually took them to Montana, where they worked as a conservationist and outdoor educator along the Rocky Mountain Front. When they are not working, L is dedicated to being an avid reader, amateur chef, and hiking enthusiast.

Dan grew up in rural Tennessee climbing trees and wandering creeks and woods on foot, bike, and horseback. Before heading west, he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering, respectively, from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Dan has been based in New Mexico for the past 11 years, where he’s worked as an engineer, field biologist, and GIS analyst. He earned another Master’s degree in Applied Geography from New Mexico State University. Dan co-founded and serves as President of the Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance. Dan got his first taste of the CDT in 2010, when he joined his friend Peter to hike from Las Cruces to the CDT in the Black Range of the Gila. Since then, Dan has run trail races, backpacked, bikepacked, and maintained trails along sections of the CDT. He’s completed the Pacific Crest Trail, Pyrenees Traverse, and the Monumental Loop bikepacking route. When not on a trail, Dan is usually fixing up his “shack” in the desert, petting his two dogs, rock climbing, or still trying to learn to play music.

Haley Gamertsfelder (she/her) grew up in the mid-Atlantic, with the privilege of frequent visits out west where she was left awestruck by bears and geysers in Yellowstone, towering granite faces in Yosemite, and wide sweeping valleys dotted with mesas in the Southwest. She went on to pursue a degree in Environmental Science and Technology from the University of Maryland. Following college she traveled abroad with her sister for 4 months. In 2018 she moved to Montana for a 3 month long internship and hasn’t left since. She considers herself lucky to have been involved in many facets of western Montana conservation, from the wilderness of the Montana/Idaho border to the seldom visited middle fork of the Flathead in Glacier National Park. When Haley is not in the field or working from home you can find her backpacking, skiing, or gravel biking around her home in western Montana.

Danny grew up in Washington D.C. and was introduced to the National Scenic Trails at an early age. He would frequently hike in the nearby Appalachian Mountains which later inspired him to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and finally the Continental Divide Trail in 2016. After he earned his degree in Business Administration from Valparaiso University he went on to do a variety of things working as a backcountry guide, outdoor educator, wildland firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service, and even a scuba instructor in various locations around the world. Danny is now thrilled to be working with the CDTC and involved in protecting the trail that has had such a profound impact on his life.

communications at cdtcoalition.org

Audra grew up in Central Montana and still calls the region home. She began her career working along the Continental Divide in the Bob Marshall Wilderness but has done various things in her professional life, from Wilderness Ranger to farmer, backcountry guide, and yoga teacher. Audra developed her niche several years ago in the communications and marketing realm, and she loves the creative and storytelling aspects of the work.

With such an amazing backyard, Audra spends as much time outside as possible with her family and border collie Echo. She also loves exploring the desert wildlands of the Southwest.

Allie grew up in Bend, Oregon, where she spent her time roaming the high desert with her dogs. Allie’s fascination with how people interact with their landscape led her to complete her undergraduate and graduate degrees in anthropology and archaeology. After graduating, she spent several years switching between seasonal park ranger jobs for the National Park Service and extended trips abroad with her husband before working as an assistant park manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Allie and her husband run a hobby cherry orchard in Bigfork, Montana, where they live with their two young children, two dogs, and lots of chickens. Allie is deeply passionate about sharing her love of the outdoors with her children, and she spends her time hiking, camping, skiing, and boating with her family.

Michael “Peacock” McDaniel grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. He left home to voyage across international borders during his young adulthood, traveling to all continents but Antartica. In 2015, he stumbled upon the Appalachian Trail, an adventure so grand it became the basis for a nearly decade long love affair with long distance hiking. He moved to Colorado later that year and began exploring many of America’s long distance trails, including the Continental Divide Trail.

Becca grew up in the land of 10,000 lakes (and even more mosquitos). Her passion for the water and the outdoors deepened in 2014 when her aunt took her on her first backpacking trip to Glacier National Park. She was captivated by the landscape, wildflowers and mountain culture. When deciding where to go to college, she felt drawn to the West and found herself at the University of Montana. Becca graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, concentrating on RTV Production. Her goal is to combine her storytelling skills with her passion for wild places to advocate for conservation and the protection of our natural landscapes.

Liz Schmit joined the CDTC in November 2022. Growing up in Chicago, she had nothing but big city dreams. That is, until she moved to Colorado in 2014 and was introduced to the awe- inspiring Rocky Mountain backcountry when her love of hiking began. Liz received her Bachelor of Arts from George Washington University. Her time in Washington, DC allowed her opportunities to work with a wide array of both cultural nonprofits and federal agencies that pivoted her interests towards public and civic engagement. Prior to coming on-board with the CDTC, Liz worked with Colorado state agencies under the Department of Education and the Department of Natural Resources. Liz has also worked in community engagement with Denver Center for the Performing Arts, strengthening outreach and collaborating with local partners to ensure arts accessibility in Denver-Metro communities. New to thru-hiking, Liz has completed the Colorado Trail, the Tour du Mont Blanc, and can’t wait for her time to hike along the CDT. When not working, Liz enjoys spending time outside with her dog (Jack), riding her bike down new paths, experimenting with recipes, and generally attempting to create an adventure out of the mundane. She is a firm believer that community has no geographical boundaries and is inspired by the interdependence of community well-being and environmental health along trail communities.

Cornell “Corey” Torivio was born in San Bernardino, CA. He is Native American from the Pueblo of Acoma, NM. Corey has a BA in Culinary Arts and a passion for the outdoors, particularly wilderness and desert areas, and has devoted his life to giving Native youth an opportunity to be successful in the ever-changing world. The founder of Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps, he has built a strong foundation that, to this day, continues to change the lives of Native youth. Corey has been in the preservation and conservation field for more than 20 years. Having worked with Acoma’s Historic Preservation Office, he received the Heritage Preservation Award from former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson for his outstanding work on the San Estevan Del Rey Mission at Old Acoma. He also has devoted his time to working with the National Park Service in the preservation of Native and Non-Native Historic and prehistoric sites in the El Malpais/El Morro conservation area and monument, Petrified Forest National Park, and Aztec Ruins National Monument. He continues to advocate for the protection of all culturally sensitive areas in and around the Four Corners Region, both Native and Non-Native. Corey began conservation work with the Southwest Conservation Corps in 2006, and he played a key role in SCC’s transformation to Conservation Legacy. Having served as a vice chair and board member for more than 13 years, he has been instrumental to conservation and trail efforts in the Southwest. Corey brings his knowledge and expertise in working with Indigenous communities, preservation, and conservation, with him to the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. Corey’s most successful effort was having Ancestral Lands Youth Corps be the model of the Native American Conservation Act. Working with former Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), and many others, Corey helped guide this act through Congress, and it now provides opportunities for all Indigenous communities across the United States to build community conservation organizations. Corey believes in giving his 110% to CDTC and hopes to help build a stronger, brighter future, not only for CDTC but for the trail itself.

Jordan calls the Pacific Northwest home, but the sunshine and mountains have kept him in Colorado for over ten years now. After graduating from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, Jordan received his Master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado and currently lives in Fort Collins, CO with his wife and their Australian Cattle Dog. Jordan’s professional background includes stints in college athletics, community recreation, and natural resources. While working for the Poudre Heritage Alliance (the nonprofit partner of the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area), his wife had the crazy idea to hike the Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango with their dog. After 31 days of backpacking, Jordan had officially fallen in love with the Continental Divide. Now he looks forward to promoting and protecting that landscape throughout Colorado with CDTC. Jordan spends his free time volunteering in the Northern Colorado community, trail running with his dog, trying to become a better skier, and supporting his wife’s love of rock climbing.