WTA Honors Howard Carlin's Spirit of Adventure

Howard Carlin was many things: a lifelong Washingtonian, an avid outdoorsman and a longtime WTA member and volunteer. In 2017, WTA learned that our organization was a beneficiary of Howard’s estate. His generous gift will make a significant impact for trails.

Peggy's Pond was one of Howard Carlin's many exciting destinations. Photo by Doug Diekema.

Whether caring for his flower and vegetable garden at home or venturing into the wilderness, Howard loved spending time outside. He especially enjoyed difficult scrambles and wrote up some of his more harrowing adventures in trip reports that he shared with family and friends. Whether dodging flash floods on the way to Peggy’s Pond or practicing ice axe arrests on a trip to Tinkham Peak above Lake Annette, Howard’s write-ups make it clear he never shied away from a challenge—or let misadventures discourage him. Instead, he treated them as learning opportunities.

In one report he wrote, “To the novice or newcomer to outdoor activities, my best advice is to ask lots of questions … You can never know too much or know everything.”

Howard was dedicated to public service and especially loved trail conservation, serving as a commissioner on the Kittitas County Parks and Recreation District No. 1, as well as on the Coal Mines Trail Commission. WTA is extremely grateful to Howard for remembering our organization in his estate plans. His spirit of service will live on in our work to build and maintain trails in Kittitas County and beyond.

Learn more about the legacy giving program at wta.org/legacy.