Blog Posts of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association

Washington End of Year Round- Ups Bring Trail Communities Closer

PNTA and trailside communities in Washington enjoyed two end-of-year Round-Ups to close out the 2024 trail season. On the evening of Thursday, October 10, 2024, over thirty members, trail angels, volunteers, curious community members, and trail users joined the PNTA staff and board to fill Wander Brewing in Bellingham, Washington. It was an enthusiastic crowd…

October Trail Notes

Fall is my favorite time to hike. The crisp, clear air and fewer people on the trail are ideal for steeper treks to spectacular views. But it’s also the time of year when I am reminded of the importance of emergency preparedness and training. Many years ago, I broke my leg and dislocated my shoulder…

What Heroes Look Like

Several recent articles and stories referenced a Facebook post. Here’s that piece in its entirety. I feel compelled to make this statement in regard to the rescue of the missing hiker, Robert Schock, in North Cascades National Park this past week, because I think there are some important details that are missing from recent public…

September Trail Notes

Development Manager Robyn Lynn kicked off September with a new monthly feature emailed to PNTA members called Trail Notes where she writes about the PNT, our work on it, and the people who use and love it. Members have an opportunity to have their questions about the topic answered when we post an expanded version…

Recovering the PNT in the Cascades

Since September 2022, when a lightning storm ignited the Brush Creek Fire in the North Cascades, our trail community has faced a temporary but serious setback. Access to a crucial part of the PNT has remained closed by the National Park Service since the fall of 2022. Although out-and-back trips into the heart of the…

PNT Historical Archive Project

In the late 1970’s, a backpacking trip taken by a young thru-hiker and a notable guidebook author sparked the vision for a new hiking trail between the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Ocean and a life-long commitment to earn it a place in the National Trails System. One day soon, visitors to our Sedro-Woolley headquarters will…

Keeping the Trail Open No Matter the Challenge

Just as every mile on the PNT provides a unique hiking experience, it also creates a unique set of challenges for trail maintainers. To create a continuous pathway from Crown to Coast, we’ve made it our mission to ensure that every mile gets its due no matter how challenging it may be to service. For…

Draft Pacific Northwest Trail Comprehensive Management Plan Available for Public Comment

Summary The Forest Service has released a draft of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Comprehensive Management plan for public comment. The plan is currently undergoing an Environmental Assessment, which is an important step in the plan’s development and required before the plan can be approved by the Secretary of Agriculture. Public comments collected in…

26th Annual Hike the Hill Event

Each February, advocates from the Partnership for the National Trails System, American Hiking Society and the member organizations and affiliates who represent our 30 national scenic and historic trails assemble in Washington DC to Hike the Hill. This year, the Pacific Northwest Trail Association was represented by Executive Director, Jeff Kish and Senior Consultant, Mike…

PNT Comprehensive Plan Update

What is the PNT comprehensive plan? In 2009, the US Congress designated the Pacific Northwest Trail as a national scenic trail, making it one of the newest trails to be added to America’s 55,000-mile National Trails System. As a national scenic trail, the PNT is subject to the legislative requirements of The National Trails System…

Six Ways Volunteers Reshaped the PNT in 2021

Shared stewardship of the PNT is a partner and community-driven process. It involves coordinating a large and diverse community of professional and volunteer trail stewards, trail users, and many local stakeholders. With their help, the PNTA is working to maintain and enhance the Pacific Northwest Trail for generations to come. It’s no secret that…

Restoring the Bogachiel Trail

The trail’s founder once said that the journey along the Pacific Northwest Trail is a lot like that of a raindrop that falls on the Continental Divide. They both start high in the Rocky Mountains and flow west until they reach the Pacific Ocean. On the final leg of that 1200-mile journey, it’s easy to…

Blog Posts of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association

Your donation helps perfect the PNT