Our Team - Backcountry Wilderness Area

Mark Giebel, Director

If you’re curious about the nooks and crannies of the Backcountry Wilderness Area, ask Mark. He started as a lifeguard with the HRCA 24 years ago, began conducting research in the Backcountry in 2001, and became the director of the Backcountry Wilderness Area in 2006. 

• Born & Raised: Lone Tree, Colorado
• Educated: Trinity University San Antonio, Texas: Biology
• Where He Can Be Found Outside the Backcountry: Outdoors with his wife

• He Did What?!?: Studied ecology in Ecuador for a semester in college

[email protected]  |  303-471-8885 

AnnaKate Hein, Program Supervisor

Most often spotted leading a troop of kid explorers from Camp Backcountry’s Base Camp, AnnaKate oversees all of Backcountry’s programs including Camp Backcountry, youth programs, and school groups

• Born & Raised: Athens, Georgia
• Educated: University of Georgia: Political Science, minor in Music and Environmental Ethics; Vermont Law School: Masters in Environmental Law and Policy
• Where She Can be Found Outside the Backcountry: Adventuring down rivers via a paddle board, mountain biking, and camping
• She Did What?!?: Studied marine ecology and human environmental impacts in Antarctica

[email protected]  |  303-471-8876 

Carly Steiger, Equine Supervisor 

• Born & Raised: Burbank, California
• Educated: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo: Agricultural Communication, minor in Sustainable Agriculture; Colorado State University: Masters in Integrated Resource Management
• Where She Can Be Found Outside the Backcountry: Horseback riding, hiking, and snowboarding
• She Did What?!? Has worked as a trail guide/wrangler at a dude ranch

[email protected]  |  303-471-7078

Gus Brunger, Property Maintenance Coordinator

If it needs built or fixed in the Backcountry Wilderness Area, Gus is on it.

• Born & Raised: Castle Rock, Colorado
• Educated: Colorado State University: Natural Resource Recreation & Tourism
• Where He Can Be Found Outside the Backcountry: Fly Fishing & Hunting
• He Did What?!?: Played lacrosse for 14 years

[email protected]  |  303-471-7042  

Lindsey McKissick, Outreach Coordinator

You’ll find Lindsey trying to capture the best of the Backcountry Wilderness Area with words and photos along with bringing awareness to it through the Backcountry Conservation & Education Fund nonprofit.

• Born & Raised: Colorado & Illinois
• Educated: University of Wyoming: Journalism; Masters in Communication
• Where She Can Be Found Outside the Backcountry: Exploring, rafting, camping, and mountain biking with her husband and two daughters
• She Did What?!?: Interviewed pro athletes like Yao Ming, Nolan Arenado, & Von Miller in her former life as a sports reporter.

[email protected]  |  303-471-7076 

Becca Venable, Environmental Education Coordinator

• Born & Raised: Orange County, California
• Educated: Colorado State University: Human Dimensions of Natural Resources & Conservation Biology
• Where She Can Be Found Outside the Backcountry: Hiking, backpacking, fishing, camping, and snowboarding
• She Did What?!?: Released baby olive ridley sea turtles as a part of a conservation project in Mexico

[email protected]  |  303-471-7054

Ellen Dolph, Environmental Education Coordinator

• Born & Raised: Lincoln, Nebraska
• Educated: University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Fisheries and Wildlife, Environmental Studies, minors in Grasslands Ecology and Management, Environmental Education; University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point: Masters in Environmental Education and Interpretation
• Where She Can Be Found Outside the Backcountry: Hiking, camping, taking her cats on walks.
• She Did What?!?: Spent a summer in remote Namibia teaching about sustainability and wildlife.

[email protected]