Chris Kassar & Mike Klapp: Route Survey Staff

Route Survey Staff
Chris Kassar Chris Kassar was born and raised in New Jersey, and achieved an undergraduate degree in speech pathology from Northwestern. Soon after graduating, Chris realized that the eastern half of the continent was not nearly wild enough for her and she ventured over the Rockies and hasn't looked back. She has worked for the Park Service at Arches National Park, and for the Fish and Wildlife Service on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. She has guided trips for troubled youth in southern Utah and led adventurers of all ages deep into Denali National Park. Most recently, Chris completed her masters degree in Wildlife Biology from Utah State University. Her thesis on the impact of roads on wildlife in Utah, made Chris the perfect person to head up the route survey for the Friends of The Inyo. Filled with a growing knowledge, unceasing energy, and the passion to make an impact, Chris hopes to continue working to protect wild places. Chris can be reached at chris.kassar@gmail.com. hi	Chris in the Mono Craters, showing why she is not to be messed with.
Mike Klapp Mike lived in Oakland for the first 18 years of his life, but really grew up in the Sierra, hiking to Yosemite's May Lake for the first time at age 2. Since then he has climbed many peaks and worked for a number of organizations on the east side, including the Forest Service and the Mono Lake Committee. As a result of all the time spent and the places seen, he has a strong desire to protect these special areas, so he returned to the Sierra this summer to work for Friends of the Inyo. Mike has an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology from UC Davis, a growing knowledge of Eastern Sierra flora and fauna, a familiarity with much of the area and a surprising ability to drive over challenging terrain. These made him not only qualified, but also necessary for the successful completion of this route surveying project. When Mike isn't out surveying routes, he lives in Reno and teaches middle school science, priding himself on challenging his students to think for themselves. In December, he will receive his master's degree in educational psychology. He plans to continue teaching for years to come and hopes to open a school of his own. Mike can be reached at mikeklapp@backpacker.com.	Mike enjoying a walk in Bohler Canyon.