NED MACKAY

MacKay is one of California’s greatest ambassadors to parklands. As a 15-year member of the volunteer Trail Safety Patrol, he has spent more than 7,500 hours providing assistance of any kind to those in need, ranging from guiding them to safety, directions, water or interpretive information about parks.

He is best known at the East Bay Regional Park District, where he is one of a handful to have hiked all of the district’s 65 parks. MacKay has also participated in hikes of all levels, from easy strolls to ambitious backpacking trips across Yosemite National Park and much of the Sierra Nevada, and beyond across the western U.S. With a group of friends, he has rafted rivers in California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Alaska.

His outreach to the public includes writing stories in many newspapers that detail park programs and natural history. While MacKay’s scope of travel ranges far, his accomplishments in the outdoors come second to him: He seeks always to help anybody in need, and in turn, he has shared his love for nature and wild places with thousands.

JUSTIN LICHTER

In the past 15 years, Justin Lichter has hiked more than 35,000 miles. Lichter has hiked the Triple Crown — the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail and Appalachian Trail. He also swam unsupported around Lake Tahoe without a wetsuit.

His expeditions span the globe: Lichter developed a route from the southern Rocky Mountains to Las Vegas, traversed Iceland on foot, hiked solo and unsupported 1,800 miles through Ethiopia and Kenya (where his trip ended when he was stalked by lions), and traversed the Himalayas from Nepal to the India/Pakistan border. As a resident of Truckee, he works in the public arena as a ski patroller, coming to the aid and assistance of Tahoe skiers.

He and Shawn Forry were the first hikers to complete the 2,660-mile Pacific Crest Trail in winter, completed in 132 days, faster than many complete the trail in summer.

Justin Lichter and Shawn Forry

SHAWN FORRY

Justin Lichter and Shawn Forry

Shawn Forry and Justin Lichter became the first hikers in history to complete the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail during winter. They faced Arctic-like conditions in the High Sierra, including extreme winds, and overcame frostbite while traversing in snowshoes, skis and boots with crampons.

Utilizing ultra-light techniques, they covered more than 20 miles per day and went more than 1,700 miles without seeing another person on the trail. They completed the trek in 132 days, faster than many complete the trail in summer. He has hiked more than 20,000 miles through 26 states and seven countries, and his legendary status among hikers has inspired others around the world. For more than a decade,

Forry has been the program director for Outward Bound California, where he has inspired confidence and leadership and developed character in youth. Attempting something for the first time requires a lot of flexibility, problem solving, determination and stubbornness.

CHRIS KORICK

Chris Korich is considered the greatest casting coach in the world. His life achievement came in 2016 when he mentored McCormick, the youngest world champion in the history of any world sporting event, according to Korich and others who researched it. Korich has also won 12 gold medals for the U.S. in his career.

Korich is the coach of casting clubs in San Francisco and Oakland that have dominated casting competition in all phases in national and world competitions. He is sought out by casters from throughout the world, which overshadows his own abilities as a national and world-class medalist in both accuracy and distance casting for over 40 years.

Korich has also worked behind the scenes with tackle designers and major manufacturers, testing and refining products for anglers worldwide. As Korich’s friend Fred Reicker of San Leandro wrote: “I know that Korich shares with his father (a former baseball coach) a philosophy about coaching; that is: Enable your players/students to achieve their potential; experience with joy your God-given abilities; relish competition and test what you’ve got; and take loss gracefully, knowing that you have not been diminished as a person.”