Thank You, WTA, From a Hiker

By Patrick Myers

Binny Marwaha is a WTA member and an avid hiker and backpacker. She left an especially touching note on a recent donation. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the work you do to maintain trails, educate about outdoors and everything else. Trails made it possible to get through the pandemic without losing sanity,” she wrote.

Binny Marwaha shares a morning cuppa and incredible scenery with her friend Elise at Hidden Lake. Photo courtesy Binny Marwaha.

After reading that, we caught up with her to learn a bit about why she chooses to support WTA as a member. Here is a snippet of our conversation with her.

How has hiking and time outdoors been important to you in 2020?

The magic of nature was fully understood in 2020, the year of the pandemic. It was not important to get out and hike; it was necessary. Connection with nature has been my solace in these trying times. 

• Become a member
• You can give back to trails at wta.org/donate.

How has WTA helped you get outdoors?

It was my lucky day when I stumbled upon wta.org. It became my only resource for trails in the area. I found hikes using the wonderful Hike Finder tool. Trip reports were extremely helpful for planning. I am grateful to hikers for sharing their experiences.

Meeting a WTA trail crew while hiking filled me with an appreciation for all the work WTA does to protect the hikes. WTA will always be my trusted partner in exploring Washington’s outdoors. I am impressed by WTA’s advocacy for the outdoors.  

Can you share a specific outdoor experience that was particularly meaningful to you in 2020?

Backpacking Gem Lake. Backpacking with my teen son was one of the best experiences of 2020. We enjoyed each other’s company without distractions, shared laughs at his silly jokes and contemplated life in general. And backpacking Hidden Lake Lookout. It was an uplifting experience to sleep under a star-studded sky and wake up to a beautiful sunrise. I backpacked with my amazing hiking buddy. We found each other in early summer and hiked together each week. Trip reports on wta.org helped us navigate the rough access road to the trailhead. Thanks again, WTA!