April 2016
News from the Trail
AN UPDATE FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRAIL ASSOCIATION

Spring is in the air, where will the trail take you?  Photo by Michael Sawiel. 
We're Searching for PNTA's Next Dynamic Leader
PNTA is seeking a highly qualified individual to be its next dynamic Executive Director. Apply by May 15, 2016. The successful candidate will start on or before August 15, 2016. Learn more on our jobs page
Trail Angels Open Their Doors to PNT Hikers
Team Astro at the Happy House with their newly made hiker bandanas.  
Photo courtesy of Team Astro. 

Trail Angels are the fairy godparents of thru-hikers, providing assistance, love and a home-like welcome to hikers on the move. In Coupeville, Washington, Rebecca and John Roberts have opened their home, The Happy House, to Pacific Northwest Trail thru-hikers.  They have been hosting hikers since 2012 when Rebecca first learned about the PNT via trail markers.  

Read more on our blog. 
Signing in Jefferson County
 
Spot the Difference!
 
Ever picked up a newspaper or puzzle book and found your eyes jumping back and forth as you compare two almost identical photos or drawings?  Play the game below to see if you can notice the difference in the two photos.



Seemed pretty easy, didn't it? 
 
The Larry Scott Trail, which goes coast to coast on Washington's Olympic Peninsula from Port Townsend on Admiralty Inlet to Discovery Bay, now boasts Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail signs and markers. 
 
Making that slight change - getting a sign up - didn't just take a quick minute with a power drill.  It took days, weeks, months; surveying the trail to know where direction was needed, documenting proposed additions to existing trail signs, pursuing permits, coordinating time schedules for installation all took time.  Singing a trail is more than Jeff Selby, Peninsula Trails Coalition Vice President, assisting PNTA's Reed Waite for two hours on the trail April 28 th.  It's advice from Jeff Chapman of the Back Country Horsemen of Washington, quick action by Jefferson County's Engineering Tech Mara Dotson and  Assistant Public Works Director  Eric Kuzma, and a box of signs handed off by Matt McGrath of the US Forest Service.
 
Now that the trailhead sign on the Larry Scott, Olympic Discovery, and Pacific Northwest Traillook complete on this eight mile section of the 1,200 mile National Scenic Trail, what's next?  Planning is just starting on the section to the west, the six mile Eaglemount missing link to the Olympic Discovery Trail with its daunting topographic challenges. It'll be nice to 'spot the difference' when that is completed...years from now.

Jeff Selby does the honors by affixing the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail mark.  
Photo by Reed Waite. 
Advisory Council Subcommittees in Action
As we head into the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail's second Federal Advisory Council meeting in Port Townsend in early May, last minute subcommittee meetings have recently had the chance to wrap up discussions on a variety of in-depth topics.

The Advisory Council's subcommittees allow Council members, in tandem with local experts and interested stakeholders, to dive deep into specific facets of the Pacific Northwest Trail's Comprehensive Management Plan. Besides focusing on regional geographic zones, subcommittees also concentrate on topics such as youth engagement and wildlife. Subcommittees will report back in May at the next Advisory Council meeting with their own respective Comprehensive Management Plan recommendations.  

Read more on our blog. 
Federal Advisory Council Meeting Open to Public
The second meeting of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Federal Advisory Council will be May 4-5 in Port Townsend, WA.  The 8am-5pm meeting is open to the public and will be held at the Northwest Maritime Center.  

More information about the Advisory Council - including members, the October meeting, and Council charter can be found at the U.S. Forest Service website.  
If you've got photos or stories that you'd like to share with the Pacific Northwest Trail Association community, contact [email protected] to be featured in the next addition of the newsletter.