Volunteer News

The stories of our volunteers and trail maintenance around the state.

Stories about volunteers and trail maintenance.

You can also read WTA volunteer stories, meet our hardworking crew leaders, and see standout volunteers at the Rock Wall of Fame.

Volunteer in Mount Rainier this Weekend!

Jun 12, 2013

We need your help on trails in one of Washington's most beloved National Parks this weekend. Consider spending one, two or three days on trail with us near the Carbon River entrance of Mount Rainier.

Volunteer on National Trails Day (Jun 1)

May 17, 2013

This June 1, rally together with hikers across the nation to celebrate National Trails Day by volunteering on a work party with WTA on a number of great trails from Ape Cave to Beckler Peak.

Lopez Island Locals Trained in the Art of Trail Maintenance

Apr 23, 2013

The San Juan Islands are a treasure trove of hiking trails and natural wonders. But it can be a logistical challenge to get regular trail maintenance volunteers onto the San Juan Islands, so Washington Trails Association recently traveled to Lopez Island to train the Lopez Community Trails Network (LCTN) in leadership and trail skills.

Giving Back to Trails: A First Time Volunteer Experience

Apr 19, 2013

Sara Kiesler recently signed up to volunteer for her first day of trail maintenance, and then she blogged about the experience. From carpooling to learning about a cross-cut saw, read what it's like the first time you put on a green hat with Washington Trails Association.

Join Zachary, WTA's New Seattle-Area Blue Hat, on Trail

Apr 09, 2013

Meet Zachary McBride, an experienced crew leader who will be leading most day trips in the Puget Sound area all year long. When you end up on trail with Zachary, you're guaranteed to have fun while you get the work done.

First Volunteer Vacation: Sun, Fun on Second Beach Trail

Apr 03, 2013

The first WTA Volunteer Vacation of the season set out this week, working under blue skies to rebuild a trail on Second Beach. Read about the trip and check out the featured Volunteer Vacations that still have a few spots available.

Crew Leader Mike Owens Retires

Mar 21, 2013

After 13 years of crew leading day trips in the Puget Sound area, Mike Owens is finally retiring from Washington Trails Association. What's next for this trail work legend? Volunteering on trail, of course.

A Trail Is ... Made by You

Mar 14, 2013

A trail is made with laughter, with family and with friends. A trail is made by hikers, by climbers, by runners, by students and grandparents. A trail is made by all of us, together. A trail is made by you.

Then and Now: 100 Years at Kayak Point Park

Mar 19, 2013

With short beach strolls, evergreen forest, views of picturesque Port Susan and yurt camping, Kayak Point Park has attracted fun and families for more than a century. Explore a slideshow of scenes from the park in the early 1900's, and then sign up for a volunteer work party to take part in shaping the modern day trails on Kayak Point.

Volunteer for Two New Trail Projects in Local Parks

Feb 26, 2013

Be the first to leave your mark on two new-for-WTA projects. Both Cedar Creek and Kayak Point are day trips working in small neighborhood parks, and both trails are in critical need of your help to make them accessible to local trail users. Read more about each of these project below to figure out which one to tackle this March!

Volunteers to Improve Trails at Coyote Wall

Feb 12, 2013

Through a project made possible by the National Forest Foundation and Skamania Lodge, WTA is restoring trails in the popular Coyote Wall and Catherine Creek areas in the Columbia River Gorge.

WTA Unveils Backcountry Schedule 2013

Jan 25, 2013

Preview WTA's Volunteer Vacation, Youth Vacation and Back Country Response Team schedule for 2013. Sign-ups will open Feb 4, so review our schedule and decide which trips to sign up for this year!

WTA Is Hiring Seasonal Field Staff

Jan 10, 2013

Do you love working outdoors with great people? Do you have a passion for hiking trails and teaching others how to maintain them? Do you dream about spending the summer in Washington's wild places? Are you looking for seasonal employment?

Two Teens Advocate for Getting Outside, WTA

Nov 28, 2012

Meet two high school seniors (and long-term volunteers) who will be adding their voices to the Youth Committee at Washington Trails Association. In the coming gear, Helen Miller and Tzuria Falkenberg will work with WTA board members and staff to develop and improve WTA’s youth programs for families, teens, and young adults.

WTA Celebrates Volunteers in 2012

Nov 12, 2012

Washington Trails Association celebrates the 2,600 volunteers who worked to keep 170 trails passable this year at events around the state. In 2012, WTA saw a record number of 1,700 first-time volunteers. After venturing out on five work parties, more than 300 volunteers earned their hard hats this year. Check out the volunteer hall of fame and upcoming events.

Wildfires and Trails: Q&A with WTA Field Programs Manager

Sep 19, 2012

Until the wildfires burning across Washington are out and the Forest Service begins to assess their damage, we won't know the impact to hikers' favorite trails. But WTA has a lot of experience helping reestablish trails in burned forests. So, we sat down for five minutes with Alan Carter Mortimer, WTA's Field Programs Manager, to ask about the impact fires can have on trails and what helping a trail recover involves.

Thank You for Protecting Our Trails

Sep 14, 2012

Every volunteer, member, and person who uses and values our trails is absolutely essential to the mission of Washington Trails Association. Thank you for protecting our trails.

Governor Gregoire Supports Trail Funding

Aug 28, 2012

In a major victory for Washington trails this month, Governor Gregoire determined that Washington would use important Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funds focused where they belong: on trails.

August on the Trail: Where We're Working

Aug 08, 2012

From the Colville to the Colonel Bob wilderness, from the Columbia River Gorge to Mount Baker (and everywhere in between) — we've got our work cut out for us in the coming weeks. This August, join us on a work party near you, or explore a part of the state you've never been to by volunteering on trail with WTA!

Duckabush Trail Opens To Hikers

Jul 24, 2012

Yesterday the Olympic National Forest re-opened the Duckabush River trail to hikers after almost a year of closure. (The trail remains closed to stock for now.) The trail has been closed since last September because of severe hazards after the Big Hump fire. Washington Trails Association and other volunteer organizations have been hard at work repairing the popular trail.

Community Partners Get Youth on Trails

Jul 05, 2012

WTA appreciates the effort our community partners put into organizing a day of volunteer trail maintenance for youth.

Duckabush Trail Closed, Getting Repairs

Jun 11, 2012

On August 31 last year, an abandoned campfire triggered a wildfire that consumed over 1,300 acres along the Duckabush Trail. The fire began at Five-Mile Camp, burning the steep slopes to the north in a patchy swath between Two-Mile Camp and up and over Big Hump. Over the past few weeks, WTA has put two Backcountry Response Team crews to work on the trail to log out the charred snags and repair the tread.

Getting to Work at Catherine Creek

May 07, 2012

The past two weekends, Washington Trails Association kicked off the first of what promises to be many trail work parties at Catherine Creek in the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area.

The Grand Ridge ribbon is cut

Apr 07, 2012

After 11 years of working at Grand Ridge, WTA volunteers hiked the entire trail. At the end of the hike, King County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the official completion of Grand Ridge.

Hard Hats Off to the Korean Mountaineers

Mar 28, 2012

Hard hats off to the Korean Mountaineers! At a recent work party, seven members of the group received their green hard hats, which are given to volunteers upon their fifth day of work with WTA. No one at WTA can remember a time when so many green hats were presented at a single work party.

WTA Volunteer Vacation Sets Sail

Mar 26, 2012

Washington Trails Association's first Volunteer Vacation of the 2012 season set sail on Saturday for a week on Vendovi Island in the San Juans. It's the first of 26 week-long volunteer trips planned for this year.

WTA Completes Grand Ridge Boardwalk

Feb 29, 2012

After two years of work, WTA has completed a 600-ft boardwalk at Grand Ridge.

Registration Begins Today for Volunteer Vacations

Feb 06, 2012

Registration for Washington Trails Association's backcountry work parties opens today at 10am. On the agenda for 2012 are 28 adult Volunteer Vacations, 16 Youth Vacations and 39 Backcountry Response Team (BCRT) trips.

Program that Helps Fund Volunteer Vacations on the Chopping Block

Jan 31, 2012

Dueling federal Surface Transportation Funding bills create uncertainly for the Recreation Trails Program that helps fund Washington Trails Association's Volunteer Vacations, Backcountry Response Teams and Youth trail work.

Summer Backcountry Trips Unveiled

Jan 27, 2012

Washington Trails Association's 2012 backcountry schedule is revealed. On the agenda for 2012 are 28 adult Volunteer Vacations, 16 Youth Vacations and 39 Backcountry Response Team (BCRT) trips. Sign-ups begin February 6 at 10am sharp.