Meet the 2026 Ridgerunners
By Abbie Fine
Every summer, PATC deploys a team of Ridgerunners to patrol our 240-mile section of the Appalachian Trail — from Shenandoah National Park through Maryland to Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Pennsylvania. These passionate, experienced trail ambassadors educate hikers, protect fragile resources, and serve as the human face of stewardship on the trail. We're thrilled to introduce this season's team.
Becky ("Time Crunch") — Michaux, Regular Season A 2022 AT thru-hiker who has also paddled the full length of the Mississippi River, Becky looks forward to meeting hikers along the trail and sharing her love of conservation with the community.
Josh ("Soulslosher") — Maryland, Early Season (Returning) A 2011 AT thru-hiker with over 8,000 miles of long trails under his belt, Josh returns to Maryland bringing his trademark passion, deep trail knowledge, and collaborative spirit.
Dillon Utter “Dreamsicle “— is a Maryland Regular Season Ridgerunner originally from Upstate New York. Dillon completed a NOBO AT thru-hike in 2023 and enjoyed learning the history and conservation of the trail. Dillon works with a guide service in the Catskills, volunteers doing trail and boundary work for the NY/NJ Trail Conference, the DEC, and the Finger Lakes Trail. Dillon is a returning Ridgerunner from last year and we are so excited to have him back!
Sam ("Lucky") — Northern Virginia, Regular Season A 2024 AT thru-hiker who has led wilderness camps serving at-risk youth and adults, Sam brings formal training and a deep enjoyment of working with people to the trail community this season.
Marissa ("Mosey") — Shenandoah National Park, Early Season (Returning) Returning for another season in SNP, Marissa looks forward to encouraging and educating people on the trail — and to the onion rings at SNP's Waysides.
Karen ("Half Pint") — Shenandoah National Park, Late Season An AT and PCT thru-hiker who has led on-the-ground disaster relief efforts following hurricanes, wildfires, and the war in Ukraine, Karen sees Ridgerunning in Shenandoah as her dream job.
Want to get to know the Ridgerunners better?
This season, PATC is launching a new program called Friends of the Ridgerunners — an opportunity to personally support the people who make this work possible. Friends receive field updates from the trail, an invitation to the Ridgerunner Welcome Lunch, and the chance to connect directly with the Ridgerunners they sponsor. It's trail stewardship made personal.
Learn more and become a Friend of the Ridgerunners
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