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Meghan (she/her) moved to Juneau in 2019 to attend the University of Alaska Southeast. She graduated May 2021 with a degree in Environmental Studies. As part of the Outdoor Studies Program at UAS, she became familiar with the trails of Juneau and enjoys using them to ski in the winter and hike in the summer. Meghan has been with Trail Mix since May 2020. She spent the summer shoveling gravel, chainsawing fallen trees, and working with her crew. Now, she spends her time coordinating Trail Mix's crews, volunteers, and trail program.
Nick (he/him) is originally from Anchorage, AK, and after spending a couple of summers working the tourism season, he moved to Juneau permanently in 2017. In his free time, Nick enjoys skiing, hiking, and lounging around in Juneau's wonderful natural spaces. Nick has a degree in Environmental Science and Ecology from Oregon State. Over the pandemic, Nick saw firsthand how uneven access to wilderness spaces can have a major impact on individual health. Motivated by this experience and the slogan "Trails for all, all for trails," Nick joined Trail Mix in 2022 and has been in his role as program coordinator since April 2023. Nick is proud to be part of the community-led effort to keep Juneau’s natural space accessible.
Originally from Pocatello, Idaho, Mark (he/him) served 6 years in the Army, after which he received a degree in Geography from Utah State University before moving to Juneau in 2019 and receiving a Certificate in Outdoor Studies from the University of Alaska Southeast. Mark joined Trail Mix in 2020 as a Crew Lead and spent one summer as a Trail Crew Lead for the USFS in Southeast Idaho. Along with managing field crews, Mark manages all of Trail Mix's geospatial data and mapping needs. In the winter, Mark is an avalanche instructor, ski patroller, and heli-ski guide.
Originally from Philadelphia, Alex (she/they) moved to Juneau in 2023. A lover of all things outdoors, she can often be found exploring Juneau's vast and intricate trail systems and feels grateful to be part of the team at Trail Mix. Her favorite trail is wherever she can find something to harvest! She is passionate about stewardship, accessibility, community building, trails, and storytelling. She graduated from Williams College in 2022 and is in awe of Lingít Aaní every day.
Mark Pusich is a born and raised Juneauite who joined the Trail Mix board in 2015. Growing up on Douglas, Mark had quick access to the Treadwell Ditch trail and the Treadwell Mine Ruins. At a young age, he understood the importance of these trails and what they mean for our community. Mark is an avid trail user, who still considers the Treadwell Ditch to be his favorite trail in Juneau. You can find Mark out on the trails hiking, biking, or cross-country skiing, often accompanied by his wife, kids, friends, and dogs. Mark believes in giving back to our wonderful community and is able to show his appreciation and dedication to Juneau’s world-class trails by volunteering as a Trail Mix board member. As a civil and structural engineer, Mark brings to the team years of experience in trail permitting and design.
Originally from North Tonawanda, New York, Ron has called Juneau home for the past 47 years. During his career, Ron worked as a Deck Officer with the Alaska Marine Highway System. Ron enjoys exploring Juneau through hiking, biking, and cross country skiing with family and friends. With its sweeping views and great accessibility, Perseverance is Ron’s favorite trail. Ron joined the Trail Mix board in 2017. Ron decided to join our board because of his appreciation for the work that Trail Mix provides for the community and he wanted to get involved in those efforts.
Jill Smith moved to Juneau seven years ago, trading in the big skies of Montana for the vastness of Alaska. Jill works as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Her expertise and experience make her an excellent Treasurer for our board. Jill has been on the Trail Mix board since 2020. Her deep appreciation of Juneau’s exceptional trails spurred her interest in joining Trail Mix’s board. Jill enjoys hiking and running Juneau’s trails with her trusty companion, Oxford the Rhodesian Ridgeback. Oxford and Jill often explore the Dredge Lakes trail system, where there is plenty of fun to be had for Oxford and plenty of loops and links in the trail to “choose your own adventure.”
Jack Kreinheder joined the Trail Mix board in 2010. He has lived in Juneau for over 35 years and enjoys hiking, mountain biking, trail running, and cross country skiing on Juneau’s trails. The Treadwell Ditch trail is Jack’s favorite trail. He retired in 2011 from a career with the State of Alaska and now keeps himself busy with volunteering for several nonprofit organizations and doing volunteer trail work.
Diane began her career with the Forest Service, bushwhacking through national forests in Wisconsin, Oregon, and Alaska, went on to lead interagency, environmental reviews of coastal development projects for the State of Alaska, then ran the Southeast Alaska Land Trust. Now retired, Diane “really appreciates Trail Mix for keeping trail access to Juneau’s forests in such great condition, funding its efforts by working across agency lines, and managing it all as a non-profit.” Gracie keeps her out on the trails, rain or shine.
Born and raised in Juneau, Ami has 40+ years of experience utilizing (and loving) the trail system. When not working as a nurse and educator at the hospital, Ami is often out on trails and hiking to cabins with family or friends (both the two-legged and four-legged types). . With a love for the mountains, forests, and ocean, Ami finds an incredible amount of fulfillment when she is out snowboarding, hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing, and in general just taking in the magic of the outdoors, especially when she is sharing it with her family. Although Ami’s favorite trail is Boy Scout Beach Trail, her dogs seem to get her out on the Dredge Lake Trail System on most days! Ami has been inspired by all the work trail mix has done for our community and looks forward to contributing to a cause so close to her heart and so important for health and well-being.
Chris Meade grew up in Jersey and after attending the University of Alaska (Fairbanks and Anchorage), he and his wife joined the Peace Corps. He knew he wanted to come back to Alaska, where the quietude and connection to the land resonated with him. Like many who move here, one of the first things that struck him about Juneau was the trail system, and its trails have become an integral part of his family life. Some of the places they frequent include Under Thunder, Nugget Falls, Brotherhood Bridge, Airport Dike, Twin Lakes, and Point Caroline, a new favorite.
Kim has called Juneau home since 1971. She grew up in the valley and spent many hours exploring the trails in Dredge Lake area and around the Mendenhall glacier. She realized then what a special place we live in and how important it is to have trails that are available for all abilities. Since her retirement in 2016 she has looked to give back to the community. She joined the Trail Mx Board in 2023 because she believes in the mission of Trail Mix and appreciates the multi-agency and collaborative approach. You’ll find her on the trails usually with her camera and binoculars as well as other 2- and 4-legged family and friends. When asked about her favorite trails she said, “it depends on the time of the year, fall it’s Granite Creek, winter Montana Creek, spring Airport Dike trail, and summer Perseverance trail.”
While originally from Michigan, Peggy Cowan has called Juneau home for the past 37 years. Living in Juneau gives Peggy access to many different ways to recreate. She enjoys spending her time outside hiking, skiing, biking, running, kayaking, and camping. Peggy’s favorite hike is the scenic Juneau Ridge to Granite Creek. Peggy joined the Trail Mix board in the fall of 2021 to contribute to Juneau being a place with a high quality of life for generations to come. Peggy recognizes that trails provide access to the outdoors, wild places, and beaches for all in Juneau. That access enhances the quality of life of Juneau residents. Peggy particularly likes the partnerships that Trail Mix facilitates and the organization’s emphasis on environmental stewardship.
