A local middle school teacher for 32 years, Joe retired in 2015 and upped his involvement in the community when he started DNTA in 2019. An avid hiker, backpacker, and cyclist, he saw a need to invigorate local youth and families with a bike park and mountain bike trails. He works closely with the Smith River National Recreation Area as a member of the Smith River Collaborative and DNTA advocating for more recreation infrastructure and stewardship of the forest and trails. Joe has also been a leader in conservation locally for nearly fifty years. He lives with his wife Sally on the South Fork Smith River at Rock Creek.

Kristen has always been an outdoors enthusiast. In her home state of Virginia, she studied Biology and Chemistry with a focus on Plant Sciences. She graduated from Old Dominion University in 2006 and quickly began a life of travel and long distance hiking. Reveling in the mystery and excitement of challenges like thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, The Appalachian Trail, The Colorado Trail, and many others. She met her husband on the PCT in 2012 and they decided that the Redwood coast would be a perfect home base for all of their outdoor adventures. She works for Redwood Parks Conservancy while continuing to explore and support wilderness and the trails that take you there.

Tony Ellsworth was born in Eugene, Oregon, where he spent his early days exploring the meandering pathways and trails around the city. Nature and motion continue to influence Tony as he pursues the same purity and efficiency within the products he designs today, for his own brands and other known brands all around the world.

In 1991, Tony’s love for cycling combined with his natural, mechanical aptitude, and the first Ellsworth bicycle frame rolled out of his suburban garage. With a move to California, Tony began to see his bike business grow with frames being shipped by the hundreds. By the mid 1990s, Ellsworth Bikes were featured in some of the biggest magazines in the world, garnering critical acclaim for their supreme craftsmanship and technological advancements. The design process and carefully bringing his line of bikes into reality brought Tony incredible joy. Throughout this period Tony learned that he could share this happiness with others through his craft.

Natahna loves to give back to the community that she was born and raised in. Hiking has always been one of her greatest passions. Her hope is to maintain and expand trail systems so her daughter and future generations can share in her love for nature. Although she’s never summited Everest, her love for cresting coastal hills has fueled her continued exploration of the Del Norte wilderness. As a real estate agent with Investment Realty, Natahna enjoys showing people the beauty of our area.

rik grew up exploring the wilderness of Del Norte County, but as an adult he recognized the lack of development of outdoor activities in our local area. After graduating from Del Norte High school, he attended Shasta College in Redding, CA. There his love for mountain biking, backpacking, and rock climbing exploded. He later transferred to Humboldt State University where he studied Outdoor Education and Recreation Administration. There he was involved with their Leadership Education Adventure Program (LEAP) and in the summers he was a backpacking, tree/rock climbing guide with Deer Crossing Camp in the High Sierras.

After graduating from HSU, he taught as a middle school English teacher for 7 years and ran an outdoor after school program with his students. During those summers as a teacher, Erik guided on the Smith River with Redwood Rides and enjoyed highlighting the area to tourists.

Most recently, Erik joined his wife at Investment Realty as a realtor. He enjoys seeing the diverse landscape of Del Norte County, the unique dwellings within it, and continuing his exploration of our wild landscape. He’s excited to help cultivate outdoor opportunities for children growing up in the Crescent City area.