HIKING CREW
RYAN CRAWLEY
Hiking Guide
Ryan grew up exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains and learning the art of backpacking from his grandfather, who thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in the early ‘80s. Since then, Ryan has thru-hiked both the Appalachian Trail and the John Muir Trail, coordinated and led two and three-week backpacking trips for teens, and has an innate ability to spread a passion for the outdoors and the sport to others. With over 4,000 miles of backpacking under his belt, he brings a ton of experience to the team. He is both a natural teacher and a supportive leader. As a result, when his (then) eight-year-old daughter became interested in the sport, he brought her along through every step of planning and executing the multi-day trips. At age 10, she has successfully completed both the Foothills Trail and the Shenandoah National Park section of the AT, has backpacked over 200 miles, and is currently sponsored by Osprey. Ryan sees hiking as both an art and a skill. He believes in being prepared and making sound decisions so that you can have the adventure of a lifetime during the trip.
becca nenow
Hiking Guide
Becca grew up exploring the woods around Boone and still prefers being outside to inside. She graduated from the UNC School of the Arts high school with a concentration in visual art, and from UNC Chapel Hill with a major in psychology and minors in biology and art. In 2019, she thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, and then returned home to Boone for other adventures. In 2020 she started Resupply, a local refillery for sustainable products, and in 2021, she was elected to Boone Town Council for a two year term. She has guided in the backcountry for four organizations since 2014, mostly in wilderness therapy with at-risk youth. She enjoys snowboarding, painting, learning new earthskills, and exploring the woods with her dog. She holds a Wilderness First Responder certification.
emery matthews
Hiking Guide
Emery is a complete Nature Nerd that loves to live life outside. They enjoy hiking, backpacking, bushcraft/survival skills, rock climbing, playing guitar, and quite literally anything involving their dogs. They have been in the High Country since 2011 when they came to App State, and have been obsessed with these mountains ever since. They have been certified as a Wilderness First Responder since 2015, as well as, in herbal medicine making and Ecopsychology. Not only do they love being outside, but it is also a life priority to live WITH the Earth, not just on it. Currently, they spend most of their time teaching Earth Skills at a local outdoor education center but are always excited to teach the art of the trail ~ making sure to enjoy all the nature nuggets along the way!
TRISTAN THOMAS
Hiking Guide
Tristan has been hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains all her life. She has called herself a High Country local for the last 8 years after attending Appalachian State University. Tristan is a lover of all things outdoors: hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, trail running, plein air watercolor painting, skiing, conservation, nature photography, just to name a few. Her main passion in the outdoor space is hiking and sharing the magic of the outdoors with others no matter your experience or skill level. She is constantly naming wildflowers and critters she sees on the trail and has a special knack for seeing what others might miss.
Tristan or “Treats” thru-hiked all 2,198.4 miles of Appalachian Trail in 2023 and got her trail name because she knows all the best treats in town. Not only will she help you have fun on the trail, but she’ll help you decide on the best spot in town to celebrate with a treat after your adventure.
JADEN EALY
Hiking Guide
Jaden has spent most of her life in North Carolina. A big part of her life is enjoying the outdoors. She spent her childhood hiking and camping with her family. She spends the summers hiking, tubing, and rafting and the winters snowboarding. She just started backpacking a few years ago and hiked around 2,000 miles on the Appalachian Trail. She loves challenging herself and teaching others(talking about hiking is one of her favorite things). She is enthusiastic about people new to the sport as she was new at one time too. She believes hiking should be fun and wants to help you have as much fun as she does!
lauren feeney
Hiking Guide
Lauren spent her first 11 years of life growing up on Long Island, playing outside, riding bikes, building snow forts, and getting dirty like all kids should. This was no doubt a prediction of the many adventures to come. After moving to the Piedmont of North Carolina in 1995, Lauren finished up primary school, then later attended UNCG to study photography. Lauren, and her camera, then moved to the Outer Banks to experience the beautiful NC coast. She spent several years working as an ocean rescue lifeguard and later an EMT. And of course, picking up photo gigs along the way. But surprisingly, it was her discovery and love of roller derby that brought her to Boone and the Appalachian Mountains. Travel with teammates evolved into weekend section hikes along the Appalachian Trail. And so, after 11 years on the coast, Lauren took the opportunity, joined the Appalachian Roller Derby team, and moved west. Now living in the area, Lauren spends much of her free time hiking with her dog… and her camera.
georgie rydson
Hiking Guide
Georgie Rydson is a student at Appalachian State University, and she is from Melbourne Beach, Florida. She found her love for the outdoors climbing and hiking near Brevard, North Carolina, where she teaches children about the outdoors during the summer. Georgie is double majoring in Recreation Management and Marketing in hopes of spending her time after college working for businesses that promote a love for the outdoors. She believes that the outdoors are an incredible outlet to learn about oneself and wants to learn as much as she can so she can help others find their place outside.