May eNews
In This Issue

  • Preparing for the Season Ahead
  • Get to Know our Crew Leaders
  • New Volunteer Opportunities
  • 2019 Mapset Update
  • Now Hiring Crew Members!
Crew leaders Cat Sullivan and Carly Tryon build trail skills with Regional Coordinator, Sterling Collins-Hill on the Pipsissewa Trail during our annual crew leader training.
Preparing for the Season Ahead

Each spring, before the trail melts out on the high passes or the first log of the season is cut, Pacific Northwest Trail Association staff come together for our annual crew leader training .
This year’s training was made possible in part through grant funding provided by Hydro Flask , under the Parks for All Program , a “charitable grant and advocacy program which supports the development, maintenance and accessibility of public green spaces in the U.S. and beyond so people everywhere can live healthier, happier and more fulfilled lives.”
For our 2019 season, the Association is fortunate to see the return of experienced crew leaders, Forest Reeves and Kameron Walton, now in their fifth season with PNTA, as well as the arrival of many new faces to the organization. A shared passion for the PNT and outdoor education has inspired young professionals from across the country to travel to the Northwest and make their mark on the Pacific Northwest Trail.

The training was led by Kristin Ackerman and Sterling Collins-Hill, the Association’s Eastern and Western Washington Regional Coordinators who drew upon 17 years of combined experience in outdoor leadership to provide a combination of classroom trainings and field exercises. PNTA crew leaders and seasonal staff received valuable education in trail maintenance practices and outdoor leadership theory, Leave No Trace Principles, and other important skills that ensure crew safety and benefit the Pacific Northwest Trail.
Our perennial partners, the Back Country Horsemen of Washington , generously donated their time to teach, evaluate and certify PNTA crew leaders in both crosscut and chainsaw bucking techniques. Darrell Wallace, BCHA Chairman and Ken Elliot shared their decades of expertise, teaching seasoned saw veterans and first-timers the ins and out of saw safety and strategy.
Beyond skills training, the week that the 2019 class of PNTA crew leaders spent preparing for the season ahead provided invaluable opportunities to build fellowship among the Association’s staff. Coming together to share our passion and expertise facilitating meaningful outdoor experiences was truly inspiring and marked the beginning of another productive, empowering and fun summer working and recreating on the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail.
Association staff joined the 2019 class of Performance Crew Leaders at Camp Ortoha at our annual week-long crew leader training.
Get to Know our 2019 Crew Leaders

Meet Pete Riewald, our Olympic National Forest trail crew leader and intern. The Association is fortunate to have Pete join our team for the summer between semesters at Western Washington University, where he majors in Recreation Management.

As our community development intern, Pete is currently based in Oroville, near the midpoint of the PNT, where he is engaging local stakeholders to improve trail information resources on the ground in their community. Later this summer, he will “chisel trail for future generations” while leading a Performance Trail Crew in Western Washington!

Pete brings considerable outdoor leadership skills to the Pacific Northwest Trail Association, having spent five years working with RMI Expeditions and American Alpine Institute mountain guiding services, and as NOLS graduate.
“On my thru-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2014 and 2016, I experienced the type of generosity and kindness from strangers that words just cannot do justice. Years later, I am establishing connections in the communities along the Pacific Northwest Trail that foster grassroots support from the good samaritans long-distance hikers meet along their journeys. As an outdoor professional, I am passionate about leading inclusive outdoor programs where people from all walks of life can reap the benefits of time in nature,” said Pete.
When not leading trail crews, Pete enjoys being outside for long periods of time, whether it’s strapping up his pack for a thru-hike, scaling up one of the many glaciated peaks in the Pacific Northwest or going on trail runs spanning a full cycle around the sun.
Reserve your spot for a volunteer trail work party at pnt.org
New Volunteer Opportunities

Have you seen our list of volunteer opportunities? Help us celebrate our #trailversary by joining us for a volunteer work party on the Pacific Northwest Trail this year! Our first work party falls on June 1st, on National Trails Day , and we’ll announce more opportunities to get involved throughout the season.
  
Our volunteer work parties are a great way to show your love for the PNT and to build fellowship with other folks in our trail community. No experience is needed for most trips. Volunteer trail stewards, from beginners to experts, will have the chance to work alongside PNTA crew leaders and help us make the most of the short season on the Pacific Northwest Trail.
The latest edition of our mapset is coming soon with some major new additions!
2019 Mapset Update

On this special anniversary year of the Pacific Northwest Trail, it’s easy to appreciate how new and dynamic the trail corridor is. Just ten years ago, President 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.

Just as we lead the effort to make on-the-ground improvements to the trail system, PNTA works with key partners to continuously refine our data set and to update it with the most current information available. 

We’re excited to announce that the latest edition of our mapset is coming soon with some major new additions! The 2019 edition includes crucial new waypoints, updated page notes and new field-verified track files that show the newest realignments to the trail corridor. 

To better help all of our users plan trips on the Pacific Northwest Trail, we have developed a set of new Overview Maps which describe the trail as 50 consecutive stages. These maps are ideal for trip planning and for “choosing your adventure” by exploring the many popular alternate routes along the trail corridor.


RELEASE DATES  

Your adventures on the PNT inspire us. We at the Pacific Northwest Trail Association would like to express our gratitude to all of our new and renewing members who participated in our bulk print run this year. Your support helps make our work possible.

We are currently shipping 2019 mapsets to PNT hikers near and far. If you haven’t ordered a copy yet, it’s not too late! Visit our web store to order a copy of your very own, while supplies last. 

And as always, members and non-members alike can download a digital version of our mapset for home or commercial printing. Look for the new and improved version for digital download in mid-June at pnt.org.
PNTA is Hiring!

The Pacific Northwest Trail Association is now hiring seasonal trail crew members!

Our Performance Trail Crews spend the summer outdoors discovering our scenic public lands while working on the Pacific Northwest Trail. Teams of 3-6 people are guided by experienced PNTA crew leaders on projects that are fun and challenging. A pathway to a lifetime of adventure or a future career working in the outdoor industry begins here.

The Pacific Northwest Trail Association is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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.