February eNews
In This Issue

  • Youth Crew Heroes Update
  • 2nd Annual Bellingham Ruck
  • REI Awards Grant to Restore Pasayten
  • New Trailhead Shuttle Available
  • PNTA is Hiring!
  • Hike the Hill Update
Youth crew members play an important role in the upkeep of the PNT.
Youth Crew Heroes Update

Last Giving Tuesday, we launched our Youth Crew Heroes fundraising campaign with the goal of growing our youth service program and making the PNT even better in 2019. 

Thanks to you and other generous donors to our Youth Crew Heroes campaign — and our corporate partners, REI and Hydro Flask — PNTA raised over $60,000 for our trail crews! 

With your support, the Association will double the number of professional crew members who will work on the Pasayten Wilderness this year from spring’s snow melt, to autumn's snowfall.

Our Performance Trail Crews play a critical role in the maintenance of the PNT and perform at a professional level so that we can make the very most of the short season. Each summer, our crews travel to work wherever they are needed most, restoring the trail from nature’s toll and working to improve the trail system for up to ten days at a time.

The program does more than build trail, it helps youth from gateway communities develop trail and outdoor leadership skills and make lifelong connections to our scenic lands. The PNTA performs over 80% of our maintenance and construction on the Pacific Northwest Trail with youth and young adults from trailside communities and schools near the PNT. 

Thanks to you, PNTA will operate an additional Performance Trail Crews this season, giving more people the chance to unplug from life as usual and spend the summer outdoors traveling to wild places while working on the Pacific Northwest Trail.
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2nd Annual Bellingham Ruck

Are you preparing for a long-distance hike?
Are you interested in learning new backpacking skills?

Then join PNTA and ALDHA-West for a fun day of: backpacking presentations, break-out Q & A sessions, and community panel discussions on all things long-distance hiking at the second annual ALDHA-West Ruck in Bellingham! 

Each year, the American Long Distance Hiking Association-West brings together a diverse group of hikers for a series of fun backpacking clinics, called “Rucks” across the Western States. This year, rucks will also be held in Oakland, California, Golden, Colorado, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Stevenson, Washington. 

The mission of ALDHA-West is to inspire, educate and promote fellowship among long distance hikers and those who support long distance hiking. Rucks help fulfill this three part mission; first- time backpackers and experienced thru-hikers come together for a full day of hiking-themed fun, education, and fellowship.

PNTA members are eligible for discounted tickets at the Bellingham Ruck . If you are a member, contact us to receive your coupon code.


Limited Edition Tumbler
Thanks to our generous sponsor, Hydro Flask , you'll receive a free collectible Pacific Northwest Trail 10th Anniversary tumbler at the door. Register soon to get yours before supplies run out!
The PNT includes a 116 mile roadless section in the Wilderness. Photo by Tyler Yates.
REI Awards PNTA Grant to Restore Pasayten

On December 2nd, 2018, REI, the national outdoor specialty retailer and the nation’s largest consumer co-op with 6 million active members, announced grant recipients of their National Trails System Act Grant program.

The Pacific Northwest Trail Association was awarded $25,000 in grant funding to support trail restoration on the Pasayten Wilderness and to strengthen our youth service programs.

As the longest roadless stretch of the Pacific Northwest Trail, this section offers a spectacular immersive wilderness experience, earning it a place on the life lists of many backpackers and riders. Yet, while its remoteness makes it appealing to the adventurous, it also makes it exceptionally challenging to maintain.

In the Pasayten Wilderness’ interior, this stunning 116 mile roadless expanse may only be accessed by other trails, such as the 16 mile long Andrew’s Creek Trail on the east side, or the legendary Pacific Crest Trail on the west. To provide access to the Wilderness and resupply trail crews in the interior, maintaining these equestrian-friendly trails is mission critical to the maintenance of the PNT and the safety of its users.

Following the Diamond Creek Megafire in 2017, and other recent fires, this grant program will allow PNTA to allocate the significant resources needed to continue trail restoration work on the Wilderness and this scenic highlight of the PNT on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Thru-hikers from the Class of 2015 celebrate at Cape Alava. Photo by Alex Maier.
New Trailhead Shuttle Available

As America’s wildest and most remote National Scenic Trail, simply getting to the Pacific Northwest Trail can be an adventure, especially for those traveling without personal transportation. On the west end of the trail, a new shuttle will make it a lot easier to reach the trailhead.

Although bus service is available between Seattle and all major trail towns on the Olympic Peninsula, it is not possible to reach the trailhead at the Ozette Campground using public transit. This has left a challenging 30 mile gap between the nearest bus stop and the western terminus in Olympic National Park.

Fortunately for thru-hikers and section hikers, getting to and from Ozette (and Cape Alava) will be a lot easier in 2019.

Anticipating the needs of our users, the Association has coordinated with a private shuttle operator on the Olympic Peninsula to accommodate visitors in Section 10. Whether your PNT adventure begins or comes to a triumphant end at Cape Alava, it is now possible to book a shuttle to travel between the Ozette Campground in Olympic National Park and trail side communities with public transit stations, like Forks, Washington.
PNTA is Hiring!

Join a PNTA trail crew and spend the summer caring for the Pacific Northwest Trail. Our Performance Trail Crews are seasonal trail maintenance and construction teams that play a critical role in the upkeep of the 1,200 mile Pacific Northwest Trail.

Located high in the rugged mountain ranges of the Northwest, access to many trailheads along the PNT is limited most of the year and our Performance Trail Crews help us make the most of the short season. Each summer, they travel to work wherever they are needed most, restoring the trail from nature’s toll and working to improve the trail system.

The PNTA performs over 80% of our maintenance and construction on the Pacific Northwest Trail with youth and young adults from trailside communities and schools near the PNT.

We still have opportunities available on five trail crews spread across the trail in Washington state. This season, our crews will be based out of Port Angeles, Sedro-Woolley, Tonasket, Kettle Falls and Newport.

Trail Crew Leaders
The PNTA is now hiring experienced Crew Leaders and Assistant Crew Leaders.

Our certified Crew Leaders mentor the next generation of outdoor leaders, training their crews to tend trails and guiding them on long backcountry hitches in spectacular wild places.
Trail Crew Members
Performance Trail Crew Members spend the summer outdoors discovering our scenic public lands while working on the PNT.

Teams of 3-6 people are guided by certified PNTA Crew Leaders on projects that are fun and challenging. Recruitment for Crew Members will begin in the spring followed by interviews in May. 
Executive Director, Jeff Kish and Senior Consultant, Mike Dawson advocated on behalf of the Association and public lands in Washington D.C. this February.
Hike the Hill Update

Each February, advocates from the Partnership for the National Trails System , the American Hiking Society , and the member organizations who represent our 30 national scenic and historic trails flock to Washington DC for the annual Hike the Hill event.

In 2019, the Pacific Northwest Trail Association was represented by Executive Director, Jeff Kish, President, Charley Carpenter and Senior Consultant, Mike Dawson, who visited the 6 Senate offices and 13 House offices that represent the states of Montana, Idaho, and Washington as well as the Departments of Agriculture and Interior. 

PNTA representatives demonstrated the economic benefits congressional appropriations for the national trails system returns to American taxpayers and advocated for additional funding for the maintenance and protection of the Pacific Northwest Trail, public lands, and helped to ensure that the future of the national trails system remains secure.

Follow us on social media for trail updates, pictures and fun!
Use the hashtag #crowntocoast and we'll share your PNT pictures. 
You can support the Pacific Northwest Trail Association just by shopping at  REI.com  and  REI-OUTLET.com . All you have to do is click on the REI logo in this email and shop!
Fred Meyer Community Rewards  is "where shopping and giving unite." You can support the Pacific Northwest Trail Association just by shopping at Fred Meyer with your Rewards Card. All you have to do is link your Rewards Card and scan it every time you shop at Fred Meyer.
AmazonSmile   is a simple and automatic way for you to support the Pacific Northwest Trail Association every time you shop, at no cost to you.