Congrats to our new 2025 trail crews for earning sawyer certifications!
Our trail crews camped out near Winthrop in the Methow Valley earlier this month, learning about proper bucking techniques and saw safety. The crews spent the first day learning essential safety tips and good practices in a classroom setting and spent the next few days demonstrating their proficiency in those skills in the field. As the wood noodles flew and the logs cracked and groaned, the bond between crew mates steadily strengthened.
Maddie and Ellie practice cross-cutting a log while an instructor assess their skills.
The crews finished their days shoulder to shoulder at picnic tables in the campground, playing cards, laughing and exchanging stories from the day as the sun sank below the mountains. In the evening light, crews made meals together ranging from tofu stir fry to your standard issue camping mac and cheese.
“I am really happy that this year we were able to train all of our seasonal staff and include crosscut saw certifications for everyone — and even a handful of chainsaw certs.” Sterling Collins, the Western Washington Regional Manager at the PNTA said. “We spent a beautiful week in the Methow Valley working with the USFS and volunteer saw instructors logging out some trails on the district. Crews are out there now beginning to clear the PNT and by all accounts the stoke is high.”
PNTA crews are in the field today and maintaining their respective sections. If you see them while you’re out hiking, make sure to thank them! Trail crews are a lot of fun — but not without the hard work. Congrats sawyers!
The Western Washington crew enjoys dinner together at the end of the day.
PNTA Tables at Logger Rodeo
The PNTA will be tabling at the Logger Rodeo in Sedro-Woolley on July 4th!
Our booth will feature opportunities to try out sawing through a log with a crosscut saw, animal identification games for kids, and more information about sections of the PNT near you. We’ll have plenty of stickers, games and fun for everyone.
PNTA will be set-up right outside of our office at 209 Ferry Street. Swing by to meet our staff and learn about volunteering opportunities. See you there!
Featured Volunteer Opportunity
Looking for a way to volunteer on the PNT — but can’t make any of the volunteering opportunities fit in your schedule?
Try out trail scouting! With over 300 trail segments to monitor and maintain, volunteers just like you are our eyes and ears across the PNT. Trail scouting reports let us know about areas of trail which are overgrown with brush, blocked by downed trees, or have erosion problems. Find your favorite section to trail scout at this link.
Check your inbox for an email we sent last Saturday with a comprehensive list of volunteer opportunities, or visit our volunteer page at pnt.org/volunteer-events.
Thanks to our SWITMO Volunteers!
SWITMO (Skagit-Whatcom Trail Maintenance Organization) volunteered on National Trails Day to reinforce a switchback on the trail to Oyster Dome from Samish Overlook. The crew enjoyed a warm summer day working to fit a set of logs on the side of the switchback to encourage proper use of the trail. In the photo above, they're featured standing on their newly finished work.
SWITMO has plenty more volunteer opportunities in the future for all to join on both Blanchard and Anderson Mountain this July and August. Find an event to join in the volunteer calendar!
A view of Baker Lake on an overcast day.
Hike of the Month
As the weather starts warming up, Baker Lake is a beautiful option for a quick weekend backpacking or overnight camping trip. It offers plenty of space for car camping for a relaxing fireside night under the stars — or for more active hikers, you can hike the 14.7 mile point-to-point trail with views of Mount Baker just across the water. Enjoy a dip or roast some s’mores in the thick forest of the PNT.
