Many Hands, One Trail: Celebrating Our 2026 Volunteers
From ambitious backcountry projects to behind-the-scenes contributions, PNTA volunteers made a difference in more ways than ever this season.
What a season! From rebuilding trail structures in the Pasayten Wilderness to clearing overgrown trails near the Salish Sea, PNTA volunteers made their mark across the Northwest in 2026.
Along the way, they welcomed new faces, reconnected with old friends, learned new skills, and took on some impressive challenges. And while much of that work happened out on the trail, some of this year’s most valuable contributions happened behind the scenes.
Whether they joined us for a day, spent a week in the backcountry, or contributed their expertise from home, our volunteers helped make 2026 a season worth celebrating.
Making a Lasting Difference on the Trail
Across 18 trails in four national forests, PNTA volunteers rolled up their sleeves to tackle some challenging projects this season. They rebuilt deteriorating trail structures, repaired damaged tread, improved drainage, cleared fallen trees, and reclaimed stretches of trail from encroaching vegetation.
Some of the most impressive accomplishments weren’t measured in miles or numbers of logs cleared, but in the lasting improvements volunteers left behind.
In the Pasayten Wilderness, a crew working with the American Hiking Society took on the reconstruction of a badly deteriorated turnpike. What had become a jumble of rotting logs and displaced rocks was transformed into a sturdy trail structure, reinforced with large stones and built to accommodate pack stock. Volunteers also tackled erosion problems, installing drainage features designed to protect the trail for years to come.
It was demanding work, requiring teamwork, patience, and plenty of muscle. But the results speak for themselves.
Elsewhere, volunteers took on the persistent challenges of keeping trails open through the Northwest’s rugged terrain. On the Elbow Lake Trail, experienced sawyers Roger and Linda of the North 350 Blades helped lead a crew of ten volunteers through a combination of log clearing and brushing. Their expertise helped the group make substantial progress on an overgrown section of trail.
Near the Salish Sea, volunteers continued improving trails on Blanchard and Anderson Mountains, repairing drainage structures, clearing vegetation, and building rock features along popular routes near Lily and Lizard Lakes and Oyster Dome.
These projects represent just a portion of the work accomplished by the individuals who joined PNTA trail crews throughout the season. Some were experienced trail stewards who returned for another year. Others were newcomers learning to use trail tools for the first time. Together, they made improvements that will benefit trail users long after the season’s last crew headed home.
Good Work, Good Company
There’s a special kind of satisfaction that comes from spending a day working outdoors with good people. For many of our volunteers, the camaraderie, shared experiences, and new friendships are every bit as rewarding as the work itself.
Just ask Tom Emrich.
After a lifetime of hiking around the Pacific Northwest, Tom decided to spend some of his retirement giving back to the trails he’d enjoyed for so many years. But before joining his first crew, he wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.
“I’ve seen some pretty serious work crews. They’re doing a lot of work and the impression that I had was that it looks hard,” Tom recalled. “But it’s the classic case of more hands makes quicker work and once you get into talking to people and learning and laughing — the time goes quickly.”
Tom, shown kneeling in the photo to the below, joined his first PNTA project in the spring and went on to participate in three stewardship trips. He also helped Volunteer Coordinator Seher Khan organize a volunteer outing for the Skagit Whatcom Adventure Group, a hiking group he belongs to.
After years of thanking trail crews he encountered on his hikes, Tom found himself on the receiving end of that gratitude.
“Now, as I’m out moving rocks and maintaining tread, it feels really good to be on the receiving end of those ‘Thank you’s.”
And his advice for anyone who’s considered volunteering but hasn’t quite taken the plunge?
“I really enjoy it. It makes me feel good physically, mentally and emotionally. I would encourage anyone to give it a go.”
That spirit of connection was on full display at the Baker Lake Jamboree, one of two events we organized in collaboration with Washington Trails Association this summer.
Thirty-six volunteers spent their days brushing and improving drainage along the Baker Lake and Swift Creek Trails. In the evenings, the group gathered for a potluck, stories of Antarctic adventures, a nighttime fluorescence hike, and demonstrations of mule and goat packing.
At Mazama Park, another collaborative event brought together ten women for a project in the North Cascades. Surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery, the crew developed their trail skills while repairing tread, improving water crossings, digging drains, and clearing overgrown vegetation.
Both events offered opportunities to get meaningful work done, learn something new, and enjoy the company of people who share a love of the outdoors.
Bringing People Together
Most PNTA volunteer trips are open to individuals who simply sign up and join a crew. Some volunteers come with friends, while others arrive knowing no one and leave with new connections.
We also love helping schools, businesses, and community organizations bring their members together for a shared stewardship experience.
In May, 14 students and three chaperones from the Western Michigan Academy of Environmental Sciences traveled halfway across the country for a week of hands-on trail work. Read the story: Western Michigan Academy of Environmental Sciences Volunteers With PNTA
For the students, the experience offered lessons that went well beyond trail maintenance.
“We’re not only giving students the opportunity to go out and do impactful work with their hands, getting dirty; we’re giving them the opportunity to improvise and adapt and overcome any situation that might get thrown at them that they normally don’t experience,” explained environmental science teacher Joseph Figurski.
The students developed teamwork, problem-solving skills, and confidence while making a tangible contribution to the trail.
On National Trails Day in June, 55 members of the Boeing Employees Alpine Society joined us for their annual volunteer outing along Baker Lake shown in the photo to the left. Together, they cleared brush, improved trail tread, and removed fallen trees along the PNT.
These group projects are a great way to introduce new people to trail stewardship, strengthen relationships, and accomplish work that benefits everyone who uses the trail.
This year also marked a new chapter in our decades-long partnership with the Skagit Whatcom Island Trail Maintenance Organization (SWITMO). After years of working together to maintain trails on Blanchard and Anderson Mountains, SWITMO brought its volunteer operations under the PNTA umbrella, along with its dedicated volunteers, tools, and resources. Together, we’re building on a long history of stewardship and creating more opportunities for volunteers to care for the trails near the Salish Sea.
More Than Trail Work
Not every contribution to the PNT involves a shovel, saw, or pair of work gloves. This season, volunteers put an impressive range of skills and interests to work supporting the trail and our organization.
Volunteer trail scouts helped us keep tabs on conditions across the PNT, documenting what they encountered and sharing their observations. Their reports help us identify maintenance needs and prioritize future projects — especially in remote areas where our crews can’t regularly visit every mile.
Other volunteers helped maintain trail cameras and counters, contributing to our growing understanding of how people use the trail. This information helps us make more informed decisions about trail management and future improvements.
Behind the scenes, volunteers brought specialized talents to projects that might never be visible from the trail itself.
One volunteer helped preserve the PNT’s history by transcribing handwritten documents into searchable digital files. Another analyzed trail data, created infographics, and developed code for our website.
And volunteer Jeff Wright continued putting his expertise as a crosscut saw sharpener to work, keeping our saws ready for the crews who rely on them in the backcountry. It’s a specialized and time-consuming craft that makes an enormous difference to the people using those tools. Read Jeff’s story: The Sharper the Saw, the Stronger the Trail Crew.
We also offered citizen science opportunities to survey the health of whitebark pine and sword ferns, inviting volunteers to contribute to our understanding of the ecosystems surrounding the trail.
And, of course, our volunteer Board of Directors continued providing the leadership, guidance, and oversight that help keep PNTA moving forward. We’re looking to welcome new voices and expertise to the board in the coming year.
From fieldwork to research, technology, and organizational leadership, these contributions remind us just how many different talents go into caring for the PNT.
Looking Ahead to 2027
As we wrap up another field season, we’re grateful for everyone who helped make it possible.
To the volunteers who joined us for the first time, the familiar faces who returned for another season, the experienced crew leaders who shared their skills, and the people who contributed their talents behind the scenes: thank you.
Your work has made a lasting difference on the PNT, and we’re looking forward to building on those accomplishments next year.
If you’ve been thinking about volunteering with PNTA, we hope 2027 will be your year to join us. Whether you’re interested in joining a trail crew, scouting a section of trail, contributing a specialized skill, or bringing a group together for a stewardship project, there are plenty of ways to get involved.
You don’t need previous trail maintenance experience, and you don’t need to commit an entire week. Just bring your enthusiasm and a willingness to help.
We’d love to see you out there.
Explore PNTA Volunteer Opportunities
Interested in making a difference through leadership? We’re also recruiting new members for PNTA’s volunteer Board of Directors.