Uwharrie Trailblazers Leadership
David Craft
Born, raised and Scouted in Greensboro. I hiked the Uwharries at a young age and kept coming back. I hiked the entire trail as a Scout in the late seventies and early eighties. I returned in the late nineties to help with the 50 miler and found a large section of the trail almost gone. So, here I am. I have acted as the Committee Chair of the Uwharrie Trailblazers since it's inception in 2012. Let's finish this trail, Onward!
jared Byrd
Born and raised in rural southern Randolph County, Jared spent a lot of time outdoors. Growing up, he tagged along with his grandparents, Mike and Judy Chisholm on many hiking, backpacking, canoeing and camping trips with the now-defunct Uwharrie Trail Club. Jared works full time for Randolph County Emergency Services, therefore when someone was hurt or lost in the Birkhead Wilderness, his knowledge of the Birkhead Wilderness allowed him to assist the search and rescue team to quickly get them out. Jared joined the Uwharrie Trailblazers in 2015.
jim Plant
I began life a Yankee; probably the worst kind, a Connecticut Yankee. That all changed in the mid 1970’s upon moving to North Carolina to work in a family business. For 30 years I was in the glove business; manufacturing gloves, importing gloves and selling gloves. What was an ex-glovemaker to do? I loved hiking, paddling, bicycling, birding, wildflowers, mushrooms and just about everything to do with being outside, surrounded by nature. That was all fun but I was naturally drawn to doing volunteer work and land conservation. So, when David Craft asked me if I’d be interested in helping start up Uwharrie support group; well that was right up my alley. I was already treasurer of another organization, so I already had all the financial statement forms and ledger set up. It was an easy transition.
kim Andersen
A native North Carolinian from Rockingham, NC State graduate, and Wolfpack fan for life, Kim is a retired archivist and historian who has been camping and hiking all her life. The Uwharries have been special to me from the first time I camped in them many years ago, and when my sister began spending more and more time on Badin Lake a while back she heard about the thru-hike and invited me to come along. I did and I was hooked! I look forward to learning all about the Uwharries in the years to come and hopefully helping to make positive contributions to the trails.
steve chase
A Rhode Islander transplanted to Pittsboro, NC, Steve has been doing trail work with the Uwharrie Trailblazers and other groups for quite a while. See “From Saunterer to Sawyer: The Path to Giving Back” - Steve is a US Marine, 2X Appalachian Trail Thru Hiker, Wilderness First Aid/CPR & Certified Sawyer…still learning!
mary joan pugh
Mary Joan has been a part of the trail’s reconnection efforts since the late 1990s, having been instrumental in a lot of the land acquisition projects which made the reestablishment of the trail possible, and she was named the Spring 2021 Uwharrie Trail Champion. Mary Joan retired from being Deputy Director at the NC Zoo and is now the Randolph County Trails and Natural Heritage Coordinator. She worked tirelessly with the late Congressman Howard Coble in the early 2000s to see several earmarks go towards purchase of tracts such as the Klaussner Property in the northern Birkheads and the King Mountain Property in southern Randolph County, filling two of the four gaps in the historic Uwharrie Trail. She also was instrumental in the Zoo Society’s purchase of the Walker’s Creek Trailhead property which was just transferred over to US Forest Service ownership in Fall of 2020, opening a new trailhead and over 8 miles of new trail.
matt mcarthur
I started my outdoor adventures growing up in Montana, Utah, and Arizona. High country skiing and hiking was something my family did on such a regular basis that I considered, or thought it was the “norm” for everyone. Our Family moved to NC in the 1980s, we landed in a place on NC HWY 134 near Howard Avenue. After graduating from Southwest Randolph High School in 1985, I spent 4 years in the 10th Mountain Division Light Infantry Division, 1st BN 22nd INF. It also gave me ample opportunity to develop outdoor skill craft in a different way. I returned to Asheboro in 1990 and met my wonderful wife. I will have to blame Gifford Del Grande for introducing me to the Uwharrie Trailblazers. Several years ago, my son and I started hiking and camping. Gifford had also invited my son to several boy scout hiking adventures. Then he asked me if I would be interested in doing trail maintenance work one Saturday. It has been an adventure ever since.
CIARA WILDER
I live in Asheboro, NC, and am a stay at home mom, UTB board member, trail and ultrarunner, Uwharrie National Forest and trail enthusiast, amateur nature photographer, BJJ practitioner, and Wilder Uwharrie Trail Running founder. I am passionate about building community around trails and encouraging folks of all ages to enjoy and to protect the trails!
dave Gardener
Dave was looking for a place to take Scouts hiking & backpacking and came across the Uwharrie Trail and found out it was started by an Asheboro Troop lead by Joe Moffitt. Looked up Joe in the phone book, went and visited him and has been a big fan of the Uwharrie Trail ever since. Dave is a regular at workdays and drives from Cary to join the fun.
A retired IBMer, Dave likes to volunteer at a lot of places that keeps him on the go. He enjoys hog hunting at Howell Woods and bear hunting in Hyde County but hasn’t had any success in the latter.
JOE WHITE
I am a Guilford County local and have never lived outside NC. I have spent a lifetime in the Uwharries and hold the area dear to my heart. I love being part of the conservation effort with the Uwharrie Trailblazers. I am one of the trail bosses and help arrange workdays.
gifford Del Grande
Growing up in NJ makes one quickly value open space and our public lands. I’ve been a resident of Asheboro for over 15 years…It’s home to me and my family. I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors. Having the Uwharries practically in my backyard puts me in a fortunate position. Spending time in the forest exploring, especially off trail is a great way to recharge the batteries. Hooking up with the Trailblazers a few years back has opened me to a whole new group of diverse friends. I’ve learned a ton from the UTB members, forest service staff and SAWS. As a UTB trail boss, I try to pass on that knowledge during our work days. Seeing the trail fully reconnected is an absolute passion. Aside from my UTB interests, I am also an assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 527 as well as a board member at Mt. Shepherd. I am employed with Asheboro based, AEC Narrow Fabrics.
bruce kolkebeck
I was introduced to the Uwharrie's in the late 1970s while chasing whitetail deer as a first time hunter. The deer were left in the woods unmolested but I came home with an appreciation of the recreational opportunities of the Uwharrie National Forest. I hiked the UT in the early 80's and as soon as my kids were old enough we spent countless days jeeping, fishing for white bass, canoeing or just hiking along the Uwharrie River and Forest. I was invited to work with the Uwharrie Trailblazers in 2009 and have been working with them as a trail worker and eventually as a Trail Adopter in 2020. I have enjoyed meeting the fellow adopters and workers of the Trailblazers. All of us share a great love of this place. As regular visitors we are all very aware of the changes and development encroaching on this jewel surrounded by a growing metropolis. The Uwharrie Trail is the thread that joins it all together.
kathryn waple
I have always loved being out in the woods. I was barely more than a toddler when I started quail hunting in the woods of the New Jersey Pine Barrens with my Dad and Grandpa. I was introduced to backpacking while studying in New Zealand. About a year ago a coworker and I decided to expand our adventures into backpacking with our children and we learned about this super welcoming patch of woods not too far from where we lived. I thus had my first experience in the Birkhead Mountains. Soon after, while on another Birkhead trip with my friend Denise, she told me about this crazy event — the UT Thru Hike! She said it rained the whole time, people gave out free food and she had a blast and learned a lot from some hammock campers she met on the hike. Sounded fabulous, I was in! Through the Thru Hike community I was connected with the Trailblazers. I have really enjoyed giving back to the trail, learning more about trail maintenance, meeting new people and having an(other) excuse to go spend a weekend in the woods every month.