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Backcountry Trailblazer

Meet Christine Hoyer, Backcountry Management Specialist at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

No two days are ever alikeĀ for Christine Hoyer.Ā AsĀ aĀ Backcountry Management SpecialistĀ atĀ Great SmokyĀ MountainsĀ NationalĀ Park,Ā she feels fortunate toĀ be inĀ aĀ positionĀ thatĀ encompassesĀ every cornerĀ of the park– ā€œit is an extraordinary and diverse office to have.ā€

ChristineĀ oversees the backcountry office and field operations, manages permits and fees associated with backcountry backpacking,Ā maintainsĀ resources like signage and campsites,Ā measuresĀ visitorĀ impactĀ on the trails, andĀ evenĀ occasionally assists with bear issues.

Mountains covered in vegetation

If thatĀ wasn’tĀ enough,Ā ChristineĀ is also theĀ wilderness coordinator for all projects within theĀ 89% of the park that isĀ managedĀ as wilderness.Ā She oversees backcountry volunteer programs, coordinatesĀ projectsĀ in the backcountry of the park,Ā andĀ actsĀ as the liaison withĀ state agencies andĀ trail partners responsible forĀ three trails that pass through Great SmokyĀ Mountains National Park.

One advantage toĀ a job this wide-ranging is that it does allow forĀ some moments of levity, especially when it comes to people staying in the open-air backcountry shelters – ā€œpeople ask me where the electrical outlets or showers are – nope, no electricity… nope, no showers.ā€

Trees with yellow leaves line a small, boulder-filled river

An avid visitor of national parks for many years, ChristineĀ finallyĀ decided to turn that love of parks into a career with the National Park Service after ā€œfinding that trail work offered me a way to see a problem and solve it in a tangible way.ā€Ā Since arriving at both the National Park Service andĀ Great Smoky Mountains National ParkĀ in 2008,Ā ChristineĀ hasĀ servedĀ asĀ TrailĀ CrewĀ Leader,Ā Trails andĀ FacilitiesĀ VolunteerĀ Coordinator,Ā andĀ ParkwideĀ VolunteerĀ CoordinatorĀ beforeĀ beginning her current role,Ā where she enjoysĀ the opportunity toĀ ā€œwork with colleagues from all divisions, work groups, and levels in the park.ā€Ā 

Christine’s passion for the outdoors can be seen in everything she does, and it’sĀ muchĀ more than a job for her -Ā ā€œI firmlyĀ believe there is no higher order than working for the protectionĀ of the special, fragile natural places.ā€


Behind every national park is a team of ordinary people dedicated to maintaining the extraordinary. They maintain habitats, educate visitors, and preserve history. They’re volunteers, rangers, museum curators, engineers, architects, and more. They’re our Park Ambassadors – linking us to these treasured places and all the stories they hold.Ā Send thanks to an NPS employee or volunteer today.Ā 

The ā€œNational Park Ambassadorsā€Ā video series is produced by the National Park Foundation and its Find Your Park premier partners Budweiser,Ā HanesBrands, L.L.Bean, Nature Valley, Subaru of America and Union Pacific Railroad, with additional support fromĀ The Coca-Cola Company and Winnebago Industries.Ā 

Woman holding a camera walking in a field
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