MEET THE CREW

Christine Byl
​Co-owner

Christine Byl has been working on trails since her first season in Glacier NP in 1996. She and Gabe started Interior Trails in 2008. See more here. 

Gabe Travis
​Co-owner

Gabe Travis got his start building trails in Glacier NP in 1996. 2022 will be his 27th field season. See more here.
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2023 Trail Crew

Our crew hails from around the state of Alaska and has a wealth of work experience in rugged locations and challenging conditions. This year we will finish up a project that has spanned 4 seasons: the Curry to K'esugi Trail. We're really glad to have these all-stars on board to build this one-of-a-kind trail on Dena'ina lands.

Blaine Smith 
Crew Leader ​

Blaine Smith is a lifelong Alaskan who enjoys being outside for work and play. His first trail job was in 1976 as a teenage boyscout working in the recently formed Chugach State Park, and he retired as the trails foreman of Chugach State Park. Blaine is a carpenter, mountain guide, avalanche skills instructor, trail worker, husband and dog companion. He lives in Eagle River.

Luke Konarzewski 
​​Crew Member

Anne Beaulaurier 
Logistics/Camp Manager/Cook

Anne Beaulaurier has spent the past twenty years working jobs in far flung places between Greenland and Antarctica, but calls Denali National Park home.  A self-described Jane of Many Trades and master of none, she can often be found baking croissants, boiling down stock, tending her garden, swinging a hammer, leading natural history trips, working logistics with fixed wing or helicopter aircraft supported camps, or running (or skiing!) for the mountains to try to make sense of it all.
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Julie Howk
Crew Member

Julie Howk lives in Palmer and started her trail building career on the Curry Ridge Trail in Denali State Park and spent the past two working for Interior Trails. She has worked as a glacier guide and an EMT-1 for a private ambulance company. In her off-time she can usually be found hiking, rock climbing, split-boarding, and packrafting in alpine lakes. She’s also an artist who loves world travel.

Luke originally hails from the flatlands of the
​Midwest. Upon graduating early from high
school, he bought a van, put a bed in it, and
drove to Alaska. He’s spent three years working
on the Curry Ridge trail with Alaska State Parks
and knows just how special it is. When he's not
working, his life revolves around travel,
photography, backcountry skiing, and all things
​climbing.

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Crew Alumni

These previous employees pinch hit and provide short term assistance on special projects.

Kristen Mrozowski 
Crew Member
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Kristen Mrozowski has spent the past two summers working for Interior Trails, and three summers prior delving into the program and project management side of trail work with Alaska Trails in Anchorage, as well as working towards a career in nursing in the off-season. Prior to arriving in Anchorage, she spent seasons working trails in Kachemak Bay, Southeast AK, and in many locations in the Lower 48. Kristen is from Michigan and loves running, hiking, Nordic skiing, water, and waking up in a tent as many mornings as possible.  

Bill Byl
​Crew Member

Bill Byl lives in Anchorage with his wife Emily and their dogs Kima & Leo. He loves split boarding, Nordic skiing, backpacking, fishing, hunting and being in the mountains as much as possible. He is the co-owner of Boreal Tree Care LLP, and an ISA certified arborist who has spent the last 17 years doing tree work in MI and AK. He has worked for Interior Trails in the past as a chainsaw instructor, a sawyer, and a general laborer.