Following 14 years of service, the PNTA’s Director of Trail Operations, Lewis Trout retired this September. His departure will create new opportunities within the Association and allow for organizational changes in the trail’s management. Executive Director, Jeff Kish will continue to provide oversight, and two new Regional Coordinator positions will allow the Association to…
An Interview with Two Eastbound Hikers “Although most use of long-distance trails is for day hiking, the romantic lure and ultimate justification of such routes lie over the horizon.” -Ron Strickland, The Pacific Northwest Trail Guide, 1983 Even before trail founder, Ron Strickland had proven a path for the Pacific Northwest Trail, he imagined that…
The Land and Water Conservation Fund is America’s most important conservation program, yet without action from Congress, it will expire on September 30, 2018. For over fifty years, the LCWF has provided vital funding to protect irreplaceable lands, and create access to outdoor recreation opportunities in nearly every state, including Montana, Idaho and Washington….
Back in 1992, before smartphones and life online, the US Forest Service created the Quilcene Ranger Corps program. Middle school students from Quilcene, a small town nestled between the Olympic National Forest and Hood Canal, could apply to the free program, which offered the chance to spend the summer working outdoors with schoolmates. Together, they…
The Association’s Performance Crew took a day off from trail work this month to help volunteers with the Lands Council and Kettle Range Conservation Group with whitebark pine conservation efforts at the annual Kettle Range Rendezvous. The Kettle River Range is one of several mountain ranges along the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. On…
Restoring the Pacific Northwest Trail in the Pasayten Wilderness after last year’s Diamond Creek Fire is a priority for the Association and our partners in 2018. Nearly 100 miles of the PNT falls within the 531,000-acre Wilderness, a highlight of the trail in Washington which offers the longest roadless stretch of the National…
Do you have questions about the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (PNT)? The Pacific Northwest Trail Association has a long-standing partnership with the US Forest Service in the management of the Pacific Northwest Trail. As the lead agency responsible for the administration of the PNT, the Forest Service is responsible for providing trailwide coordination,…
After thru-hiking the Pacific Northwest Trail from end-to-end last year, Christian “Blues Clues” Frey returned to the PNT for his Fourth of July holiday, not to hike the trail, but to lend a hand with maintaining it. Thoughtful and unassuming, Christian earned the trail name, Blues Clues for his ability to reunite other thru-hikers…
If NICC forecasts prove to be accurate, fire danger ratings could become elevated across the Pacific Northwest Trail this year. Areas from the Rocky Mountains to the North Cascades are expected to have “significant wildfire potential.” Yet, with a few basic precautions, elevated fire danger does not have to lead to a wildfire. Although wildfires caused by lightning…
10 years ago today, legislation was introduced to both houses of Congress, which led to the designation of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. Though the history of the Pacific Northwest Trail extends back to the early 1970’s, the journey through Congress that culminated in the Trail’s designation as a national scenic trail began on…
The Pacific Northwest Trail tours some of the most outstanding public lands in Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Yet, many PNT visitors avoid large stretches of the trail in Washington’s Skagit and Whatcom Counties, home to some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world. Scenic beauty is not the problem, it’s the route of…
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. New for the 2018 season, ALDHA-West and the Pacific Northwest Trail Association formed a partnership to host the first-ever Ruck in Northwest Washington. The mission of ALDHA-West…
Inspired by the Packing It Out team, Granite Gear’s Grounds Keepers Program was created to inspire others to value our outdoor areas and pack out trash as they hike along. Every Grounds Keeper has previously completed a thru-hike or various section hikes, has a passion for Leave No Trace ethics, is strong in mind and…
Did you know? You can find a great trip somewhere on the Pacific Northwest Trail in any season. Low-elevation sections of trail, like those in the temperate Puget Sound, can be hiked any time of year. For those prepared for snow travel, there are opportunities to #GetOutside and enjoy skiing, snowshoeing, and backcountry camping along…
Above: A hiker follows the congressional route of the PNT on DNR lands near Mount Josephine. Over 300 concerned citizens, including PNTA staff and members, joined Washington DNR to review maps, watch presentations, and submit comments at two community meetings as part of the ongoing Baker to Bellingham recreation planning process this February. With…