VIEW FROM THE RIM
Tahoe Rim Trail Association
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n 1981 the cool kids drove Camaros, the Talking Heads sang “My God? What have I done!”, and Indiana Jones recovered a lost ark. In our little corner of the world, passionate outdoor enthusiasts came together to establish the Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA) to make the Tahoe Rim Trail dream a reality. In 2021 we’re celebrating our 40th anniversary by taking a look back at our history, the incredible people who have made all our work possible, and the epic trail we’ve created. The Tahoe Rim Trail was the brainchild of Glenn Hampton, a by Morgan Steel Forest Service Recreation Officer, transferred from the Angeles Executive Director National Forest to the Lake Tahoe Basin in the late 1970s. Glenn spent several summers exploring Tahoe’s trails and mountain peaks, learning the intricacies of the Basin’s trail system. As time wore on, he kept coming back to the same gnawing question—why, with all of the incredible public land surrounding Tahoe—was there no continuous loop trail around the lake? Glenn was onto something special and in 1981 trail supporters gathered to create an organization to implement his vision. By 1982 the Tahoe Rim Trail Fund, Inc. (later changed to the Tahoe Rim Trail Association) had its first official board meeting and applied for nonprofit status. Around the same time, the USFS included the Tahoe Rim Trail Project in the Basin’s 1982 planning process. With backing from the Forest Service and seed money coming in from the Alpine Winter Foundation, Glenn and the Tahoe Rim Trail Fund moved forward with the completion of the initial environmental assessment and started trail construction in 1984. It would take another seventeen years and hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours to connect the initial loop and officially open the Tahoe Rim Trail. The final section of trail built was near Martis Peak on the north end of the lake, a spot we now affectionately call Celebration Point. On September 22, 2001, the TRTA gathered together to mark the occasion. Glenn Hampton even flew in from his new home on the East Coast to deliver the keynote address. The following two decades have been a whirlwind of expansions, reroutes, improvements, and growth. The organization has transformed. In addition to its essential function to maintain and enhance the trail system, the TRTA works to address and improve all aspects of the TRT experience. This includes everything from connecting population centers to the trail through new connectors and providing guided hiking opportunities for adults and children, to advocating for public transit to trailheads and ensuring the trail is preserved for future generations. Over 40 years, we have been honored to have your support in achieving our mission. Personally, I’m thrilled to be a part of this work. Like many of our volunteers and supporters, I have fond memories of time spent with some of my favorite people on the trail. I also have those special pieces of trail, often marked by a rock I fought to fit perfectly into place, that will remind me of my contribution each time I visit. We’re looking forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary this year with you. We’re hopeful the continued gains made in addressing the pandemic will ensure we can celebrate in person reflecting on our success, honoring our history, and strategizing how to create another four decades of success. While we don’t know what challenges and opportunities lie ahead, we’ll continue to carry our mission forward to provide incredible recreational opportunities so everyone can be inspired by Tahoe’s wild places today and in the future! Happy Trails,
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TRAIL BLAZER | Summer 2021 | Tahoe Rim Trail Association
The Trail Blazer is the official publication of the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to maintain and enhance the Tahoe Rim Trail system, practice and inspire stewardship, and preserve access to the natural beauty of the Lake Tahoe Region.
STAFF Executive Director Morgan Steel Development Director Veronica Palmer Outdoor Programs Director Lindsey Schultz Office Administrator Laurie Buffington Trail Operations Manager Kristine Koran Youth Programs Manager Julia Kaseta
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Tom Fullerton Vice President Tricia Tong Treasurer Dave Schnake Secretary Michelle Glickert Vice President of Trail Ops Shannon Foley Vice President of Trail Use Carl Woods Board Members Marissa Fox, Joe Irvin, Justin Knowles, Ro Martinoni, and John McCall
The Tahoe Rim Trail Association works in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and Nevada Division of State Parks
