Profiles, Interviews & Perspectives

Volunteer Spotlight: Maridee BonaDea

Aug 18, 2017

Meet Maridee—recently retired and heading to Bangkok to pursue her Master's degree, she wanted to spend a little time volunteering with WTA before heading out.

Bree Loewen: 20 Years in Search and Rescue

Jul 20, 2017

Meet Bree, a 20-year vet of search-and-rescue and author of Found: A Life in Mountain Rescue.

Hiking with New Eyes: A First-Timer's Experience on a BCRT

Jul 13, 2017

Amy Redmond was inspired by her friend and assistant crew leader, Joni Johnson to try out a BCRT. Here's her telling of the experience out on the Olympic Peninsula.

Father's Day: Life Lessons from Time on the Trail with Dad

Jun 16, 2017

From how to start a fire to developing a sense of wonder, outdoor fathers have a lot to give.

Recipes and Tips for Allergic Hikers

Jun 06, 2017

Got an allergy-prone little one? You'll want to read Sarah Kirkconnell's tips and recipes for keeping them healthy and happy on trail.

Patience and Pragmatism: How One Man's Approach to Work Shaped Lives, Trails and WTA

Hikers all across Washington owe thanks to Alan Carter Mortimer, WTA’s field programs manager. Alan retired recently and while he's definitely not leaving the WTA community, we wanted to celebrate the work he's done in 15 years on staff and, before that, 11 years as a volunteer. By Anna Roth

Hiking With Kids: It's All About the Cupcakes

May 12, 2017

A hiking-obsessed mom gets her reluctant 6-year-old out on trail. And, amazingly, everyone has fun.

Volunteer Spotlight: Carmen Zavala

Mar 06, 2017

Meet Carmen Zavala -- a recently-settled Seattle resident who wanted to learn more about where trail comes from and who takes care of them.

What Inspires You to Care for Trails?

Feb 27, 2017

Caring for trails and wild places for the next generation is important, but why wait? Let's care for those places right now and enjoy them now, too.

Advice From a Pro: Keep Your Kids (and Yourself) Comfortable on Trail

Feb 07, 2017

Käryn Gaffney, Branch Ambassador for the Seattle chapter of Hike It Baby, shares what sorts of tips or gear she packs when she hits the trail with her two-year-old.

Youth Ambassador Spotlight: Julianna Hoza

Feb 03, 2017

Learn how this Youth Ambassador has been making big waves in her local hiking community.

The Outdoors Needs Us -- ALL of Us

Jan 10, 2017

If we want to protect are natural places, particularly our national parks, well into the future, we must find a way to reach our increasingly diverse society.

Meet the Trail Community: Birder

Jan 09, 2017

Learn how one birder went from novice to manager of a monthly bird count in a now-lush Seattle park.

Meet the Trail Community: Gear Designer

Dec 28, 2016

Gear designers help you get out with the best equipment. Meet a product developer with Atlas Snowshoes whose connection to trails runs deep.

12 Inspiring Trip Reports from 2016

Dec 22, 2016

We find inspiration from trip reporters all year long. They help us discover new wonders and revisit our old favorites. Here are 12 trip reports that kept us inspired in 2016.

Upcycle DIY: Plastic Bag to Stuff Sack

Dec 06, 2016

Try this fun project with your kids! Use cracker, cereal, or candy bags and some old shoelaces to create bags that are great for hiking excursions.

Russian Ecotourism Project Learns from WTA's Model

Nov 01, 2016

This summer, volunteers from Russia participated in a work party on the Slab Camp trail. They did so as part of a Sustainable Travel Group dedicated to learning about more sustainable trail practices.

Meet the Trail Community: Volunteer

Oct 31, 2016

Three years ago, Bev Stoll joined her first work party at Mount Walker. Now, with 95 days of volunteer trail work under her boots, we ask her what she thinks is the future of volunteers on trails.

Meet the Trail Community: Bow Hunter

Oct 20, 2016

Gregg Bafundo hunts and forages on trails near his home in Tonasket. Read how he uses trails to participate more fully in the natural world.

Highlights from Washington State Trails Conference

Oct 19, 2016

The 2016 Trails Conference was abuzz with talk of transit and tech, as well as engaging the next generation.

Meet the Trail Community: Girl Scouts

Oct 10, 2016

The Girl Scouts empower young women to become people of courage, confidence and character. Anishka Kanjilal and Elena Boyle are two such girls, learning about the importance of nature, trails, and our place in the world.

Meet the Trail Community: Environmental Educator

Oct 05, 2016

Khavin Debbs has loved being in nature since he was a boy. Now, as an educator with Seattle-based outdoor preschool Tiny Trees, he's helping spark that love in the next generation.

The Wonderland Trail: Mission Accomplished

Sep 29, 2016

After 10 years, a family of five achieves their goal of completing Mount Rainier’s Wonderland Trail together.

A Family Quest to the Hike 7 Trails Built by WTA in the Southwest

Sep 15, 2016

Ryan Ojerio, WTA's Southwest Regional Manager, set out with his kids to hike the 7 new trails built by WTA volunteers in one month. Here's their story.

Meet the Trail Community: Equestrian

Sep 14, 2016

Horses have provided Kathy Young, president of Back Country Horsemen of Washington, the opportunity to immerse herself in nature all her life. Hear what spurred her connection to trails.

Meet the Trail Community: Politician

Sep 13, 2016

As the Policy Advisor for Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development, Jon Snyder is tasked with evaluating the role Washington’s outdoor recreation industry plays in bolstering the state’s economy as a whole.

Interview with Bill Sunderland and Alyssa Kreider

Sep 08, 2016

We sat down with, long-time supporters Bill Sunderland and Alyssa Kreider, to learn more about their history with WTA and what inspired them to contribute to the Greg Ball Trail Fund.

Meet the Trail Community: Outdoor Technologist

Sep 02, 2016

What role does outdoor technology have in protecting trails or building community? Ryan Branciforte of Trailhead Labs talks about the future of trails, maps, apps and tech.

Meet the Trail Community: Dog

Jul 28, 2016

Madigan's a 60-pound mutt who learned to love the outdoors and share trails with people and other pups. Now, his humans are learning how to take an older dog hiking.

Meet the Trail Community: Geocacher

Jul 14, 2016

What do you get when you take a geek to the woods? According to Tomoe Wilfong, (Geocaching username Kiborin) you end up with a geocacher.