And the winning hiker is...

Have you checked out WTA's Gear Up Member Sweepstakes yet? Any one who joins WTA during the month of May is eligible to win. Today, we announce our first winner and each week until June 5, we will award another great hiking-friendly prize to a lucky new member! 

This week's fabulous prize is a DownMat 7 Deluxe from Outdoor Research. This is the Rolls-Royce of sleeping pads, an inflatable matress with down padding for an extra-cozy and restful night in the wilderness. And the winner is... [cue the drumrolll]...Martha Scott of Seattle. Congratulations, Martha! Sleep well on that trip into the Pasayten this summer, or wherever your boots may lead you.

Beyond the chance to win gear, there are many reasons to join WTA now. If you're a regular visitor to WTA's website, you've probably turned to our hiking trip reports. Our user-generated reports are a great way to keep up on conditions, especially in spring. Is the snow melted from Snow Lake? Is it muddy at Boulder River? Getting these details ahead of time help you look like you know what you're doing out in the woods!

Do you read lots of trip reports? Hundreds? Thousands? Then you should definitely become a member of WTA, because it's thanks to contributions from hikers like you that we can offer these and other resources on our website. In addition, your membership supports all the great work WTA does for trails--from leading 80,000 hours of volunteer trail work to speaking up for trail funding in Olympia and D.C. Join today!

Next week, we will draw for an Outdoor Reseach jacket, either a Women’s Aspire or Men’s Foray jacket based on the winner. You have a better chance of winning if you become a member now, as you'll be entered in each subsequent drawing all month until you win or the contest ends.

Thanks and welcome to all our new members!