Meet Your Guide
Our Award Winning Trail Guides are the Secret Ingredients to your perfect Smoky Mountain Adventure!
Deb Troutman
A former Park Ranger and current Girl Scout leader, Debbie loves sharing the natural environment with all who want to explore its beauty. Coincidently, one of her first seasonal ranger positions was here in the Smokies. Deb volunteers for Citizen Scientist projects in the park and art outreach classes at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. She enjoys canoeing and rafting with her family. Her life goal is to visit all 400 plus National Park units in the USA. Deb has been a guide with A Walk in the Woods since 2016.
Ansley Still
Ansley grew up in the city of Atlanta and spent weekends and holidays in the southern Appalachian mountains. After college she worked in Wilderness Therapy in the North Carolina mountains with troubled youth. In the winters, Ansley goes out west to Utah to ski. She has hiked all around the United States, but the Smoky Mountains always call her back. Her favorite activities include, rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, rafting, scuba diving, yoga, canyoneering, skiing and of course backpacking.
Jack Lloyd
Jack Lloyd was raised in Shelby, North Carolina. He grew up playing in creeks and chasing critters in the foothills of Western North Carolina. Before coming to A Walk in the Woods, Jack was a head guide for the Nantahala Outdoor Center, leading ziplining trips and guiding rafts down the river. Over the winters, Jack is a ski instructor working with kids on the slopes. As an avid whitewater paddler, he loves spending hot summer days on the water. He also enjoys gardening, cooking and foraging.
Luci Breeding
Luci has loved and cherished the Smoky Mountains her entire life. She completed her undergraduate degree in elementary education from the University of Tennessee and completed her Master’s Degree from Tusculum University. Luci retired in May of 2022 with 35 years of teaching elementary children. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, camping, journaling, and reading. Luci has completed over 500 miles in the Smokies, having also done some hiking in Colorado, Wyoming, North Carolina and Virginia.
China Whitmire
China Whitmire, a Chattanooga native, spent 15 years in Chicago working in non-profit theater and higher education upon completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago. In 2021, China returned to her Appalachian roots by thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. Now, leveraging her skills, China brings a unique blend of creativity and expertise to her role as a guide. Her love of storytelling and connection with the southern Appalachian region ultimately led her to A Walk in the Woods.
Kelly Hiscock
Kelly (or Kels) loves being outside! She went to school for Wildlife Sciences and spent her time then working with inner-city children, getting them outdoors. Since then, she has worked at nature centers, group camps; anywhere to stay connected to the outdoors. Kelly is a mother to a 2 year old boy, wife to an outdoor enthusiast and dog mom of 3. Kelly likes whitewater paddling and rock climbing. When not outside, she’s finding fun projects to get into, playing video games and reading books past bedtime!
Andy Troutman
Andy Troutman has been living an outdoor lifestyle his whole life. Having grown up in National Parks such as Kenai Fjords, Arches, and the Great Smoky Mountains and visiting over 60 other national park units he quickly fell in love. Before coming to A Walk in the Woods, Andy worked as a naturalist at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. Additionally, he also worked as a multisport guide at the University of Tennessee.
Ken Voorhis
Ken Voorhis has been connecting people and nature for 40 years. He has worked for and led a number of environmental learning centers across the county. Ken has a M.S. in Experiential Education and a B.S. in Nature Interpretation. He recently retired from Yellowstone Forever, the park’s educational and philanthropic partner. Before that, Ken was Executive Director at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont for nearly 30 years. Ken was named as one of the “most 100 influential people” in Park history.
Bob Miller
Bob has been recognized as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People” in the Smokies’ development, growth and protection. He came to A Walk in the Woods following a 38-year career with the National Park Service. This includes 23 years as a Ranger in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Bob was a member of the Park’s Management Team as a Smokies’ Public Affairs Officer.
If you’re interested in what makes a national park tick, Bob’s your ticket.
Raena Caton
Raena was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and got a B.S. in Adventure and Outdoor Programming from the University of Utah. She has been guiding since 2012, starting with trips in Italy, Iceland and Hawaii! Since then she has continued to guide canyoneering, kayaking, backpacking and hiking trips during the summers and travel or ski during the winters. For a personal hobby, she loves rock climbing above all! She spent about 2 years living in a small bus with her husband and dog then traveled out to the east coast where they got married and decided to settle down (kinda;)!
Keith Watson
A native to Sevier County, Keith has over 40 years of national birding experience. He began as a conservationist and birder in the mid-1970’s, at the University of Tennessee. During his career with the NPS and US Fish and Wildlife Service, he advanced bird conservation in many places. He developed an Avian Conservation Implementation Plan for each unit in the southeastern region of the NPS. Keith also established the Southern Appalachian Bird Conservancy.
Randy Manuel
Randy is an EMT/Wilderness EMT, Volunteer Firefighter, Rescue Swimmer, and Captain with the local Search/Rescue team. His main job is teaching Wilderness Medicine and Swiftwater Rescue, which is rewarding beyond words. Randy can frequently be found guiding river rafting and hiking trips. He works, plays and vacations outdoors. He’s happy and thankful not to be stuck in a cubicle! Randy and his wife live in WNC with a few pets, who supervise them fairly diligently.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Mike Matzko
Michael grew up in western Pennsylvania. He developed a passion for wild places while exploring Yellowstone National Park. After graduating from Hocking College with a degree in recreation and wildlife, he became an Outdoor Instructor. Michael led adventure based activities at Lindsay Outdoor Center. He also worked at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont as a Teacher Naturalist where he gained a love of the Smokies. Michael enjoys playing music, hiking and backpacking.
Samantha Suttles
Born in Louisiana, East Tennessee didn’t start calling to Samantha until her parents began vacationing here during middle school. In 2009, Samantha received her Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of Tennessee. She then completed a Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation from the Savannah College of Art & Design. Samantha loves the Smokies. Not only for all its beauty and opportunities for outdoor education and recreation, but its vast cultural history as well.
Patricia Kersey
Raised in the shadow of Smoky Mountains, Patricia spent her free time exploring the mountains on foot and horseback. As an adult, Patricia took her love of the mountains and equines and became a trail guide for a local riding stable. She’s now a mother of two young hikers, miniature horses, a goat, cats and dogs. When she’s not juggling her job at AWITW, she enjoys hiking, horseback riding, gardening, DIY projects and spending time with her family on their small farm.
Jacob Judd
Jacob was born in Ohio and later moved to TN. He spent his childhood years hiking and exploring the Smokies. Most of his adult life was spent traveling and living all over the country. Jacob is a whitewater guide, musician and videographer. He now spends his days working and building his off-grid homestead in Del Rio, TN. Jacob enjoys gardening, beekeeping, fermenting, carpentry and most things creative.
Meet Our Owners
Meet the Hospitality Staff
Maggie Plakanis
Our full time office dog! When she is not answering your Smoky Mountain questions her main role is as an educator. Maggie loves teaching bears, raccoons, possums, squirrels and UPS drivers about property rights and respecting boundaries. In addition, she loves long walks, playing frisbees, canoeing and cuddling on the couch. Maggie is a very good girl!
RIP Little Bear Plakanis
Little Bear was the brains behind the operation. As the manager, she kept all of the other office dogs in line and made sure that our staff had plenty of chances to pet her. Little Bear enjoyed long walks on the beach, relaxing by the pool, canoeing and licking faces. She was a very good girl and we will miss her dearly!
Interested in joining our team? Head over to our Careers Page for more information on what it takes to guide with A Walk in the Woods.