Statewide Celebration
Thank you from you WTA Board!
Bhavna Chauhan, board secretary and trail maintenance volunteer
Halley Knigge, VP development and trail maintenance volunteer
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It moose be time for our first raffle!
Communications Highlights
Volunteers help you go hiking:
10 Years of Hiking Guide Correspondents
● 49 people on this team since 2014
● 1152 Hiking Guide entries written
● 11,520 hours of research
● 6 million hikers informed
Communications Highlights
Map and App team
Six awesome volunteers keep our maps and app accurate for the millions of users who rely on them every year! This year we added a snow layer to our Hike Finder Map and some major updates to our app.
Volunteer magazine editors
6,400 photos reviewed by 2 volunteers who are also trail maintenance volunteers! Photo Reviewers
This year, editors read more than 80,000 words, 208 magazine pages , and reviewed 28 calendar pages.
Jim Cavin (pictured) has been editing the mag since 1988 and this is his last year doing it!
Advocacy Highlights: Volunteers are a voice for the future of trails
Helping fund public lands
● 1,200 hikers shared feedback on Forest Road conditions to help WTA advocate for more funding to fix roads to trailheads
● Over 350 hikers emailed their state representatives, thanking them for supporting public lands during the 2024 state legislative session
Protecting outdoor places
● Nearly 1,000 hikers took a pledge to stay on trail to protect trails and the landscapes they travel through
Ambassador Highlights: Outreach volunteers spread the joys of hiking
By the numbers:
● 62 ambassadors
● More than 70 events (and counting!)
● Over 7,500 connections made
The Highlights:
● Trailhead Outreach - a favorite!
● WA Trails Day
● Supporting important partners
● Ambassador trail work party
● Lead ambassadors
Outdoor Leadership Training Program Highlights: Helping youth gear up and get outside
Small but mighty:
Volunteers helped us complete various gear maintenance tasks throughout the seasons:
● Clean and waterproof 213 pairs of boots
● Inspect and patch all 106 tents
● Wash and waterproof 35 tents
● Unpack and label 20 tents
● Compile and create 92 curriculum binders
● New storage structures in Pierce County
Many hands make light work!
Big thanks to our volunteers:
● Alisa Claeys, John Mackenzie and J Roe
● The members of Girl scout troops 42013, 44446 and 40597
Development Team Office Volunteer Highlights:
Small office crew is a huge help
Stamping, sealing and so much more!
Our office volunteers support WTA’s work in many ways, helping with everything from mailing out donor letters, hand saws and prizes to keeping our supply of Hike-a-Thon t-shirts organized.
This year, volunteers have also provided support for an upcoming office remodel by organizing magazine archives, sorting inventory and assembling workstations.
Thanks so much to all our office volunteers!
Bill Corriston
Cathy Darrow
J Russell Roe
Pat Limberg
Look into my eyes, repeat after me… it’s raffle time!
Above & Beyond Awards
So much of WTA’s work hinges on volunteers, and we appreciate each person, whether they join us for one day or a thousand. But each year, we acknowledge a handful of folks who have gone the extra mile. We deeply appreciate them. They’ll join past Above and Beyond award winners in our Rock Wall of Fame online.
Lisa Holmes
Advocacy volunteer since 2018
As a graphic designer, Lisa has donated her time and expertise to create maps for key WTA reports such as the Silver Star Vision Plan and the Mountain Loop Highway Trail Vision.
Rolan Shomber
Communications volunteer since 2015
Rolan has been a meticulous, hardworking Hiking Guide contributor. In addition to writing most of the trails in the Methow Valley Ranger District up for the Hiking Guide, Rolan goes the extra mile by adding nuanced information about wildfire closures, and does next level research to confirm his write ups.
Kathleen Lange
Ambassador and trail maintenance volunteer since 2002
Kathleen has been with the ambassador program since the start and this year stepped into the newly created lead ambassador role. She continues to prove herself as an enthusiastic learner and consistently takes initiative on all the events she is a part of.
Stephanie Shadbolt
Communications volunteer since 2012 and trail maintenance volunteer since 2004
Stephanie does it all! She has been a tester for both app and website improvements for years, but this year began helping WTA’s communications team sort the hundreds of photos we get from our trail maintenance crews. She’s also a Hike-a-Thoner and WTA member.
Above & Beyond Awards
So much of WTA’s work hinges on volunteers, and we appreciate each person, whether they join us for one day or a thousand. But each year, we acknowledge a handful of folks who have gone the extra mile. We deeply appreciate them. They’ll join past Above and Beyond award winners in our Rock Wall of Fame online
Finn Gilbert
Trail maintenance volunteer since 2023 Finn is very welcoming to new volunteers and has become a natural mentor to new and younger members of each crew. He is quick to learn new skills and share with his fellow volunteers. He is highly engaged in WTA’s youth trail maintenance program and has recruited his whole family to join!
Mercedes Quinn-Blair
Trail maintenance volunteer since 2022
Mercedes is a relatively new assistant crew leader who has been an integral support to the NW Region. She is always willing to take on challenges and teach new volunteers. She is a delight to work with!
Trail Maintenance Volunteer Highlights: Getting
back to the
basics!
Thank you to the 2,964 + volunteers, including 523 youth volunteers, who joined us on trail and supported trail maintenance operations in 2024.
With over 1291 work parties, including trainings and contributions to our packing facility and tool caches, volunteers dedicated over 109,541 hours to the trail maintenance program.
This year also saw a training focus on trail maintenance basics, the launch of a revamped Assistant Crew Leader pathway, the construction and operation of two new tool caches, and the re-launch of backcountry youth volunteer vacations! Not to mention:
● Over 1593 new volunteers
● 37 new assistant crew leaders
● 6 new crew leaders
● 41 youth day work parties and 8 youth volunteers vacations
● 40 shared identity work parties
Trail Maintenance Volunteer
Greg Sanders
Trail Maintenance Volunteer
Since 2007
Karin Plagens
Trail Maintenance Volunteer
Since 2018
Trail Maintenance Golden “Rock Bar” Award (1000+ Work Parties)
Jay Schram
Trail Maintenance Volunteer
Since 2005
Retirement Recognition: Thank you Charlie!
Charlie Romine
Volunteer Since 2009, Seasonal
Crew Leader Since 2012
Thank you prize sponsors!
Who has room for one more raffle?
Don’t forget to join us at one or all of our exciting events throughout the week!
