Hokies Outdoors
If you’ve spent a warm afternoon on the Drillfield slacklining or soaking in campus — and the sun — surrounded by falling maroon and orange leaves.
If you’ve ventured out to tackle a few miles of the fabled Appalachian Trail or joined the thousands who participate in the annual Hokie Hike, you are part of a collective Hokie appreciation for the world around us.
From summiting Mount Kilimanjaro to photographing sharks to creating stronger communities for outdoor enthusiasts, Hokies are inspired to explore, study, and protect the great outdoors.
LEISURE OUR EPIC ADVENTURES
George Probst’s passion project started years ago when a serious relationship ended. He took the money he had been saving for an engagement ring and did something he always had dreamed of doing.
“I said, ‘Well, I’m going to look into doing cage diving to see a great white shark,’” Probst said. “So, I took a trip out to Guadalupe Island, which is off the Baja coast of Mexico. I bought a little point-and-shoot Sony camera with an acrylic housing just to bring back some pictures.
“I would say within about 15 minutes of being in the water with the sharks that I knew this wasn’t going to be the last time I did this.”
Probst’s trip eventually led to him getting involved with a white shark photo identification project being carried out by the Marine Conservation Science Institute. His photos are uploaded into a database and today help with research projects involving the species.
Probst, who graduated with a degree in industrial systems engineering and works for New River Computing in Blacksburg, has traveled to Guadalupe Island 27 times and logged more than 200 hours in the water. He has dived off the North Carolina coast to take photos of sand tiger sharks and taken photos of orcas in the Sea of Cortez. He and a friend hope to dive off the coast of the Caribbean island of Dominica in January to photograph sperm whales.
In addition, Probst visits elementary schools to talk about his work and to promote ocean conservation.
“Kids are the future, so we want them to have a pro-ocean mindset, even kids in Southwest Virginia,” Probst said. “Healthy oceans equal a healthy planet.”
Katherine Andersen ’02 had survived a cancer scare a few years ago, but with three children and a new job, she was hesitant to join a group hiking Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, East Africa, to raise money for cancer research.
A conversation with a longtime friend changed her mind.
“I had entirely too much going on to do something so wildly audacious,” Andersen said. “[My friend’s] response to me was direct and immediate, ‘It will never be the right time. Take the trip.’”
In February, Andersen, the head of life science and health care for HSBC Bank USA, joined the 2024 Timmerman Traverse, an annual expedition organized by biotech journalist Luke Timmerman to raise money for select causes.
Jaime Smith '89, also a Virginia Tech alum was among the group of 19 people with the shared goal of summiting Kilimanjaro to support the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.
Smith, who earned an industrial engineering degree and owns Lodestar Energy, joined wife, Erika, the CEO of ReNetX Bio who received the initial trip invitation. Erika’s mother and aunt are both breast cancer survivors.
The adventure netted more than $1 million for the foundation. The Smith family raised more than $100,000, while Andersen, a graduate of the Pamplin College of Business, raised almost $62,000. During the journey, Andersen and Smith learned of their shared Virginia Tech backgrounds.
“I’ve been regularly reminded of the strength of the Hokie connection,” Andersen said. “While I had never met Jaime before this bucket list trip, we had an immediate and now a lasting bond.”
LIVING OUR CAREERS ARE CONNECTED TO THE OUTDOORS
A career that combines skiing and forestry? That’s perfect for Sean Wetterberg ’00. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in forestry, he landed a job as national winter sports program manager with the U.S. Forest Service, supporting Forest Service regions that have ski areas. He also manages the National Avalanche Center, which provides program guidance and support to 13 regional avalanche centers.
There are 127 ski areas located on Forest Service-managed public lands. According to Wetterberg, these sites account for a quarter of the ski areas across the U.S. and make up almost 40 percent of skiers’ visits, bringing in more than $55 million annually to the national treasury.
An avid skier and runner himself, Wetterberg appreciates elevating visitors’ experiences at the ski sites.
“It’s rewarding to help people have these amazing experiences on public lands. People remember that great time they had skiing here, taking in the beauty around them. Those become cherished memories,” he said.
Wetterberg first studied music at Virginia Tech, but he longed for a stronger connection with what he was studying. He took a year off to work at a ski resort in Colorado and found what he was missing in the outdoors. When Wetterberg returned for his sophomore year, he changed his major.
“The forestry program at Virginia Tech was challenging,” he said, “but it gave me the background and the confidence to work on a variety of often controversial environmental and social issues at a national level. There is no ‘9-5 office job’ aspect about it. And when I need to recharge, I just go outside into the forest. How cool is that?"
Growing up, Allysah Fox ’18 spent every summer with her family traveling across the country in an RV and visiting every national park they could. It’s fitting that she now uses her dgree in multimedia journalism to work in communications at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
“The history of Shenandoah National Park traces the lives and communities of past mountain residents, the establishment of the park, the Civilian Conservation Corps, segregation of early park visitors, the shifting role of parks in our society, and much more,” said Fox. “This all has a lasting impact on what Shenandoah is today and what it may become in the future. My job is to share those narratives and create a sense of ownership in the hearts and minds of our visitors.
“I am so fortunate I’ve found a job that combines two loves of mine: the outdoors and communication. Being a park ranger in the media field allows me to show the beauty of Shenandoah National Park through storytelling. It’s incredibly rewarding to foster a deeper appreciation for Shenandoah and the outdoor world.”
Fox’s enthusiasm for the outdoors isn’t limited to her professional life. She is also a runner and a cyclist, finding tranquility in exercising in the Shenandoah mountains and in visits to the coast.
Being outside is a passion she shares with her husband. Together, they spend a lot of time outside fishing, running, cycling, or playing with their three dogs.
“My husband has been an outdoorsman his whole life. Now he’s an owner and head brewer for Hawksbill Brewery. He deepened my love for the outdoors because his connection to it was so different from mine. He believes in ‘field to fork’ and ‘farm to table’ with a genuine respect for food and love for the earth.”
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted more people to get outdoors and explore nature spots within their local communities.
So Brent Laurenz ’02 and his staff have been taking advantage of that shift to emphasize outdoor opportunities.
Laurenz serves as the executive director of the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, a nonprofit organization based in Raleigh, North Carolina that is dedicated to improving and preserving the nearly 1,200-mile hiking trail in North Carolina that runs from the Great Smoky Mountains to Nags Head on the Outer Banks. Laurenz and his six-person staff spent much of the past two years using the renewed enthusiasm for the outdoors to promote the trail.
“It was a great way to keep that momentum going,” Laurenz said. “We can’t track explicitly our numbers, because our trail is so long and unique. But in terms of the usual metrics of people posting on social media or reaching out, asking questions, or getting our trail guides, things like that, I think that interest level has been sustained.”
In 2023, Laurenz, who earned his degree in psychology, and team members spearheaded projects such as a new terminus marker in Jockey’s Ridge State Park near Nags Head and one that opened various miles of trails in different locations. They currently are working on a 200-foot bridge that will span Turnbull Creek in North Carolina’s coastal plain, and they already have begun making preliminary plans for the trail’s 50th birthday in 2027.
As for Laurenz, he’s living the best of both worlds in his role.
“I really did fall in love with the outdoors when I was at Virginia Tech,” he said. “I never really expected or planned for it to be part of my career, but when the job came open, it just seemed like a perfect fit.”
HOKIE HIKE GETTING OUTSIDE AND GIVING BACK
In the fall of 2020, 2,820 Hokies got outside, explored, and had fun in the first Hokie Hike — and five years later, Hokies are still hiking.
Each fall since the virtual hiking event was introduced, alumni, friends, students, faculty, and staff have recorded thousands of miles in locations across the country and as far away as Germany.
Registering is easy, and there's still time to join in.
There are options for adults, children, and even pets. A portion of your registration fee supports recreational opportunities for students. Since the Hokie Hike started together we have raised more than $75,000.
RESEARCH FACULTY WORK TO UNDERSTAND AND PROTECT HABITATS
“Virginia Tech has access to some incredible facilities, state-of-the art equipment, and unique computational resources,” said David Schmale, professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “Other people at other institutions should be able to share in this.”
Schmale and Shane Ross, professor in the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering in the College of Engineering, partner each summer with other institutions, including historically Black colleges and universities, to offer an undergraduate research program in data sciences. Since the program was established in 2021, it has provided opportunities for 88 students in 12 labs with more than half of the students coming from partner institutions.
During the 10 weeks of summer research, students are supported by their peers, graduate students, and faculty experts. Students work in teams and are encouraged to bring their own ideas, design and conduct their own field research, and learn to make decisions from the data they collect. For example, during one summer program, participants used robots to track the movement of hazardous agents in the water.
In the three years of the program, Eddie Red, interim dean of the science, technology, engineering, mathematics division at Morehouse College, has seen the positive impact immersive research has on his students. Red is also a co-principal investigator on the National Science Foundation grant that supports the summer program.
“It gives them that extra level of hands-on experience that they wouldn’t necessarily get just sitting in the classroom,” Red said. “We want them to become these future leaders who are very diverse, but in order for them to mature and really grow, they have to go out.”
Thousands of people lean on technology to support their outdoor adventures, studying online trail guides, tracking remote locations via satellite, and connecting with those who have adventured before them. As they move from the city into the woods, the right technology also can be an essential resource.
An isolated, natural environment is a great place to unplug and disconnect, but hikers and other outdoor adventurers still crave a way to create community and communicate with friends and family. Virginia Tech researchers are working to create meaningful technology to use on the trail, and you can help. The Technology on the Trail initiative seeks to understand the influences of technology on extended trail hikes and other activities. Researchers are focused on three main areas:
- Preparation: The learning, purchasing, connecting, and redundancy important in planning for outside endeavors
- Experience: The use of technology during the activity
- Reflection: The role technology plays in remembering, processing, visualizing, and understanding the experience afterward
“We’re gathering information to develop ways we can get the needs of hikers in front of the people that are ready and willing to provide services, like hostel owners, restaurateurs, and those who maintain the Appalachian Trail system,” said Scott McCrickard, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science. “There’s not a great communication channel right now, and we’re hoping to provide that.”
This initiative is supported by the National Science Foundation and Virginia Tech’s Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology; Center for Human Computer Interaction; and Department of Computer Science.
In spring 2025, students in McCrickard’s senior capstone course will launch an app to gather information from hikers, including their needs, emotions, and thoughts, as they travel the Appalachian Trail. This information will be used to inform new channels designed to improve the hiking experience.
LEARNING SUPPORTING OUR PASSION FOR OUTDOORS
Some of Amber Wendler’s favorite activities are backpacking, trail running, kayaking, biking, and birdwatching, and she wants to spread the joy of these activities among other people of color.
Wendler is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biological Sciences as well as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program awardee and an Interfaces of Global Change Fellow. Her studies reflect the exuberance she feels while exploring and enjoying the outdoors.
“I feel most at peace outdoors and everything I do is grounded in my love of nature. It fuels my desire to research nature and aid in its conservation, make the outdoors more accessible for people of color and other marginalized groups, and tell more inclusive outdoor stories,” Wendler said.
After exploring many aspects of biology, Wendler focused on pursuing research that combines behavioral ecology, physiology, and population genetics to better understand how different environments affect birds and the role climate change may play in shaping bird populations over time. Her current research investigates differences between Puerto Rican tody populations in rainforest and dry forest environments.
“I’m passionate about making STEM and the outdoors more inclusive, and I love to use storytelling to amplify voices that have been silenced and excluded,” said Wendler. “ I co-organized the inaugural Black Birders Week a few years ago, which inspired a host of other events celebrating Black scientists and nature enthusiasts and led me to co-edit the book, ‘Been Outside: Adventures of Black Women, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming People in Nature.’”
Also, Wendler is a committee member for Humble Hikes, which empowers and engages Black youth in outdoor activities right here in Southwest Virginia.
“It’s been really rewarding to see the positive impact nature has on these kids’ lives,” she said.
Kylie Harris ’24 grew up boating, crabbing, and fishing in Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach. She spent summers working as a deckhand on fishing and ecotourism boats, where she encountered marine police who enforced regulations set to protect fish and the environment. As college decisions arrived, that memory moved Harris toward a major in wildlife conservation.
“I found it admirable that these officers cared so much,” said Harris. “I knew I wanted to enter into the environmental field in some capacity.”
Through courses and internships, Harris nourished a love for field work and interacting with people. She spent summers with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation at the Brock Environmental Center. She helped the Virginia Oyster Team collect recycled oyster shells from restaurants to be used as homes for new baby oysters. Harris also worked with volunteers in the Oyster Gardening program where residents raise baby oysters in their back- yards or neighborhood waterways for a year and return them the following year to be planted on sanctuary reefs.
“These internships were incredible experiences with amazing mentors that taught me even more about environmental science and provided me with a new underwater appreciation for the outdoors,” Harris said.
Through her internships, Harris interacted with Virginia Marine Resources Commission staff. She also met representatives from the organization at the College of Natural Resources and Environment Career Fair this past spring, where she learned about an upcoming position. When it was posted online, Harris applied and was hired.
“I’m taking my education and applying it to real world scenarios,” said Harris, who visits sites and does compliance checks on shoreline work to protect wetlands in Virginia. “This position serves as a happy medium where I get to work with the public, protect our environment, and spend time in the field.”
Anyone can cultivate a passion for the outdoors by simply putting their hands in the dirt.
When gardening questions arise in communities around the commonwealth, Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardeners are ready to help people of all levels of experience grow plants, trees, flowers, and vegetables.
Beth Umberger '69 originally joined the Master Gardeners in Virginia’s New River Valley in 1986 as a way to help out with the garden at her daughter’s elementary school.
“I figured I would be taken more seriously if I had a title,” she said.
Today, Umberger maintains the Native Plant Habitat she started in 1989 at the Montgomery Museum in Christiansburg, Virginia. She also fights invasive plants in the Old Growth Forest at Virginia Tech and conducts home visits to help residents identify plants on their properties.
“Weeding, watering, pruning, and planting in a garden levels the playing field and allows for time to talk and share life’s experiences both joyful and sad,” she said. “We discover together all the creatures in gardens and their interactions with plants.”
Umberger is among the nearly 5,000 Extension Master Gardeners across the commonwealth today.
“Virginia Extension Master Gardeners are actively improving their communities by providing unbiased, scientific horticultural information and education,” said Ed Olsen '90, M.S.Ed '10, the program’s director. “Our volunteers are essential to our residential horticulture education efforts, extending horticulture and environmental outreach across the commonwealth.”
STAY SAFE A PACKING GUIDE FOR THE OUTDOORS
SOME EQUIPMENT MAY VARY BY ACTIVITY. CHECK OUT LOCAL OUTFITTERS, REGIONAL RESOURCES, AND WEATHER FORECASTS TO INFORM YOUR PREPARATIONS.
CLOTHING
- Short or long sleeve T-shirt and/or fleece sweatshirt: Avoid cotton. Cotton absorbs sweat and water and does not dry quickly. Synthetic fabrics allow moisture to evaporate away while still insulating you.
- Rain jacket and rain pants
- Leggings: Synthetic layers are more breathable than sweatpants or jeans.
- Quick-dry shorts
- Socks: Wool retains heat even when wet.
- Appropriate footwear
- Sunhat
GEAR
- Water bottles
- Bring two liters of water for an average four hour hike.
- Medications
- Any prescription or over- the-counter medication(s) you need to take including asthma inhaler, allergy meds, or epi-pen.
- Sunscreen: SPF 30 or above and re-apply every two hours.
OTHER ITEMS
- Camera
- Lip balm/chapstick
- First aid kit
- Maps
- Snacks, meals, eating utensils
- Soap, hand sanitizer, and personal hygiene products
GEAR UP VENTURE OUT
Hokies can explore the great outdoors while staying active with Virginia Tech’s Recreational Sports program Venture Out.
“We proudly serve the needs of Virginia Tech students, alumni, and the community for adventures in the Southwest Virginia region and beyond,” said Matthew Lattis, associate director of programs and assessment for Recreational Sports.
Alumni and community members can enjoy the wide array of activities Venture Out has to offer: equipment rentals, an indoor bouldering wall, outdoor challenge courses, and outdoor group trips.
Interested adventurers may choose to build confidence and bolster morale by tackling Venture Out’s outdoor challenge course, which features rock walls, ziplining, and elevated obstacle climbing. The program also offers specialized activities for individuals and teams. And the indoor bouldering wall offers a low-pressure option for those who may want to try climbing.
Equipment for outdoor activities is available to rent through the Venture Out Center. Biking and boating packages are available, as well needed items for outdoor games, organized team sports, and camping.
Throughout the year, Venture Out offers guided recreational trips including canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, backpacking, biking, caving, hiking, and horseback riding. The trips range in duration from a hike of just a few hours to an overnight camping adventure in the woods. Trip participants can learn about outdoor safety and education from trained Virginia Tech recreation leaders. Venture Out’s leaders are required to pass the nationally recognized Wilderness First Responder course as well as skill clinics in topics such as Leave No Trace, campcraft, and natural history.
“Getting outdoors with a group of like-minded individuals is a great way to connect both with nature and the community,” Lattis said.
