March eNews
In This Issue

  • Celebrating Ten Years as a National Scenic Trail 
  • America’s Best Conservation Program Reauthorized
  • The Second Annual Bellingham Ruck
  • New PNT Caps Available
  • 2019 Mapset Update
  • PNTA is Hiring!
In 2008, the PNTA’s former Director of Trail Operations, Jon Knechtel delivered testimony before congress advocating for the Pacific Northwest Trail to join the national trails system.
Celebrating Ten Years as a National Scenic Trail

As Pacific Northwest Trail enthusiasts, we owe a lot to our friends in our trail community. Over the last forty odd years, many have made important contributions to the PNT. Creating what trail founder Ron Strickland imagined would be “America’s finest national scenic trail” has been a colossal effort that has touched and enriched many lives. 

All of the tread and trail information that we enjoy today were built on the bedrock foundation of those who came before us. Ron Strickland’s observation that every PNT hiker “walks with the ghosts of those who walked the trail before them,” rings true today in the pages of the Pacific Northwest Trail Digest , as well as hiker’s comments left in online forums and in Guthook’s Guide to the PNT .

While Strickland must be considered the father of the trail and acknowledged as the author of the first book-length guide, Ted Hitzroth, should be considered the creator supreme of all PNT maps. A professional cartographer, Hitzroth scouted and hand sketched what would become the first maps of the trail on his historic 1983 thru-hike with Strickland. For the 2012 season, he produced the first set of strip maps that the Association distributed as a volunteer. 

In 2019 every member of our trail community should also give thanks to an unsung hero in the trail’s history. In 2008, the PNTA’s former Director of Trail Operations, Jon Knechtel delivered testimony before congress advocating for the PNT to join the national trails system. Ultimately, he succeeded. On March 30th, 2009 President Barack Obama signed into law the Omnibus Public Lands Act of 2009 , and the Pacific Northwest Trail became the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail, after decades of advocacy work by the Association... 
Sunset on the Purcell Mountains. Photo by Tyler Yates.
America’s Best Conservation Program Reauthorized

The Land and Water Conservation Fund has provided vital funding to the national trails system and our public lands for over fifty years. This month, LWCF was permanently reauthorized as part of a landmark public lands package signed into law by President Trump.

We're thankful for your advocacy which helped legislators understand the importance that our national trails system holds for people and communities across the nation. Contact your Senators and Representatives today and thank them for a job well done and for protecting our cherished public lands.
Students from the Oak Harbor Backpacking Class participated in a crosscut saw bucking demonstration led by PNTA Regional Coordinator, Sterling Collins-Hill.
Photo by Jessica "Dustbunny" Foster.
Second Annual Bellingham Ruck

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. 

The second annual Bellingham Ruck was made possible through a partnership between ALDHA-West and the Pacific Northwest Trail Association. We had a great day celebrating backpacking, community, and trail skills at the Bellingham Ruck with backpackers of all ages from across the Northwest. Scholarships were provided to six Oak Harbor High School students from the school’s backpacking class so they could join in the fun. 

Special thanks to everyone who came out to join us, our friends at ALDHA-West, author Lauren Danner, and all of our event volunteers who shared their first-hand knowledge of our national scenic trails.
Visit our web store to see our complete line of PNT caps and hats.
New PNT Cap Available

Help support trail maintenance and show your love of the Pacific Northwest Trail with one of these high-quality caps. Our best-selling, snapback Ranger caps are back in stock, and this new sublimated print cap features a stylish flat brim design.
2019 Mapset Update

With the prime hiking season just around the corner — thanks to a lighter than average snow year — our staff and partners are hard at work updating our mapset for the 2019 season.

The new and improved version of our strip maps will be released in early May for digital download, but there is no reason to wait to place an order for a printed mapset. We’re taking pre-orders now through June 11th. 

PNTA strip maps are revised annually to show the most up-to-date information about the Pacific Northwest Trail available. The 2019 edition of our mapset includes new waypoints, and updated page notes and field-verified track files. Ten new section overview are maps have been added to the set to aid in trip planning and in route selection.
PNTA is Hiring!

The Pacific Northwest Trail Association is accepting applications for seasonal Trail Crew Members, now through May!

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. 

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.