A Walk in the Woods

It started with a through-hike of the Smokies, and turned into the proverbial labor of love...

Although we have always been avid naturalists, we both had successful careers. Erik has a BBA in Accounting and worked as a Controller for a video post-production house for ten years. Vesna has a BS in Communications and was working towards her Masters in Education. She worked in television as both a reporter and a producer for nine years.

However, our careers became less satisfying and as we struggled to find meaning on this path, our trips to the mountains became more frequent and important.

We began discussing an alternative in which we would be doing something we believed in, raising people’s environmental awareness. We were drawn to the Appalachian Mountains and loved being outdoors, but were unclear of how to make this our life's work, instead of just a passion.

Then in late August of 1996, Erik took a backpacking trip through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park alone. During this vision quest, he found the answer. Why not share this magic with others?  A Walk in the Woods was born.

As children, we had both wanted to become naturalists, but for various reasons had gotten off of that path. We now have come full circle, and invite you to share the wonders that this beautiful park has to offer.

Our guides make A Walk in the Woods the best. We have always had the top guides in the business, known for their expertise in the botany, geology, culture and history of the Great Smoky Mountains. Our mission is raising environmental awareness through direct, fun, positive experiences with nature. Anyone can walk you down a trail through the woods. When you go with us, it will be the best day of your vacation.

Our Guides Include :

A Walk in the Woods is owned and operated by the husband and wife team Erik and Vesna Plakanis. Between them, they have over 60 years experience in hiking the Appalachian Mountains, covering thousands of miles of trails. They have both been full time trail guides in the Great Smoky Mountains since 1998. These two naturalists have taken courses on medicinal and edible uses of plants, animal tracking and stalking, wilderness survival and primitive arts, as well as years spent studying the natural world from within.  They are also both accomplished storytellers, specializing in Cherokee legends and settler tall tales.  They have been featured in publications including Outside Magazine, Backpacker, National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler Magazine, USA Today, Washington Post, Shape Magazine, Women’s Health, Southern Living, AAA's Magazine Home and Away, and many others.  They have appeared on the Discovery Channel, Travel Channel and NBC Nightly News.

Erik was awarded REI Adventures Top Guide for 2012.

Both Erik and Vesna are Wilderness First Responders, National Registry First Responders and certified in Non-lethal Aversive Bear Conditioning.

Born in Louisiana, the timeworn mountains of East Tennessee did not start calling to Samantha Ray until her parents began vacationing here while she was in middle school, after a family move to South Carolina. Who knows if it was simply the beauty of the mountains, an innate love of history, or a long forgotten family tie to the land that fueled her eventual interest in these mountains. As both her grandfather and aunt hold degrees in History, some might say a love of the subject was passed down through her family. In 2009, Samantha received her Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of Tennessee. Following that pursuit, she interned with the National Park and worked as an interpretive ranger while she completed a Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation from the Savannah College of Art & Design. Her two research projects for that degree centered on the Elkmont Section of Great Smoky Mountains. (Her next goal is a Master’s Degree!) Samantha loves the Great Smoky Mountains National Park not only for all its beauty and opportunities for outdoor education and recreation, but its vast cultural history as well. Everywhere one looks, there’s a story to be found. Another one of Samantha’s interests is photography and the mountains of East Tennessee provide wonderful chances to learn as well as fantastic artistic opportunities. Samantha is certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR.

Susan Ehrenclou (pronounced AIR-en-cloh) spent much of her childhood outdoors exploring in Wisconsin, and first fell in love with the Appalachians on a trail crew at Cumberland Gap. She majored in Environmental Studies at Middlebury College in Vermont, taught and studied in Ecuador, and spent each summer working for the National Park Service or leading backcountry youth trail crews with the Student Conservation Association. She earned graduate degrees in Geography and Writing (and got to wander in the mountains) in Arizona, worked as an interpreter at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and met her husband on a flood recovery project at Mount Rainier National Park. Then they came back to the Appalachians, where Susan worked bringing science to the public at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She recently earned a masters in elementary education. When she's not in the woods, Susan enjoys baking, canoeing, and urban trekking with her dog and baby boy. She is excited for each day meeting new people and hiking in the Smokies, because every trip brings new discoveries. She is certified in CPR and as a Wilderness First Responder.

Growing up in Indiana, Charles Savidge fell in love with the outdoors from a young age. During high school his passion was continued as the president of the Venture crew 007, with whom he helped lead monthly trips around the Midwest. In 2010 Charles went to Arizona where he spent his time backpacking and rock climbing with the National Outdoor Leadership School and graduated from the Outdoor Educator program. Before becoming a guide for A Walk in the Woods in 2010, Charles led many trips to the Smoky Mountains. Now it is his honor to pass on his love for these mountains, nature and all that it has to offer. Chalres is certified in CPR and as a Wilderness First Responder.

Jaimie Matzko has been a naturalist in the GSMNP since 2003 when she began teaching environmental education at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. Before that, she taught environmental education at the Hocking Woods Nature Center and  Wahkeena Nature Preserve in Ohio and worked as an Outdoor Educator at Lindsay Outdoor Center in Pennsylvania.  Jaimie has a degree in Natural and Cultural Interpretation from Hocking College and also received certifications in Backpacking and Survivor Skills and Advanced Survival Techniques.  She has been certified as a Wilderness First Responder since 2003.  Jaimie is currently pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Tennessee.  Her passions include exploring the mountains, backpacking, birdwatching, gardening, practicing yoga and nature photography.

Michael Matzko grew up in western Pennsylvania and developed a passion for wild places while exploring the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park. After graduating from Hocking College with a degree in Recreation and Wildlife, he became an Outdoor Instructor leading adventure based activities, such as rock climbing, caving and mountain biking at Linsly Outdoor Center. In 2003, Michael began working at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont as a Teacher Naturalist where he gained a love and sense of wonderment of the Smokies natural and cultural history. Michael enjoys playing music and backpacking/hiking in his free time. Michael is certified in CPR and as a Wilderness First Responder.

*Note : A Walk in the Woods is a guide service, not a store. Our Walks and Hikes meet at spots convenient to the program NOT at this office. We only meet clients at our office to Rent Gear and for guided Backpacking Trips. Please call for an appointment.

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