Michael Kauffmann
Executive DirectorMichael Kauffmann has been a champion of the Klamath Mountains for more than two decades. He founded the Bigfoot Trail Alliance in 2015 and served as Board President until 2025, when he transitioned into the role of Executive Director. A trained ecologist and longtime educator, Michael brings deep field experience, regional knowledge, and a commitment to youth-centered stewardship. He led the vision for the 360-mile Bigfoot Trail and continues to build partnerships that support equitable outdoor access, trail restoration, and ecological learning across the Klamath Mountains. (see C.V. and follow his Blog).
Mike Splain
Development Director / Klamath Mountains Workforce Training Network Project ManagerAn East Coast native, Mike migrated to the Bay Area in 1991 to work on public land advocacy with Sierra Club and Forests Forever. Believing stewardship is the truest form of advocacy, he joined the Ventana Wilderness Alliance as a volunteer, fundraiser, then executive director. In 2021, he moved north to be closer to the Klamath Mountains and work on a special project with Resources Legacy Fund. Drawn to the Bigfoot Trail Alliance, he first joined the board and now serves on staff. An avid naturalist with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UC Santa Cruz, Mike explores wild places with his wife Gabrielle and cattle dog Juniper.
Jacob Shinners
Trail Crew LeaderBorn and raised in the rugged forests of New Hampshire, Jacob Shinners developed a lifelong connection to wild landscapes from an early age. He now leads Trail Crew operations for the Bigfoot Trail Alliance, where he combines practical field expertise with a deep respect for ecological restoration. Jacob’s work embodies a simple but powerful ethic: to build and maintain trails that invite people into the heart of the Klamath Mountains while protecting the integrity of the land itself.
