Now it’s not just us singing the praises of our Big Bend Regional Representative.
Ian Nelson has been guiding the details of community organizing, trail maintenance and policy for years. We’re proud to announce that PCTA’s work, through the passion and leadership of our Regional Reps, has received the nationally significant Bob Marshall Award for Group Champion of Wilderness Stewardship.
More than 50 percent of the Pacific Crest Trail is in federally designated Wilderness. We manage the entire trail for its wilderness character. This award sends us into 2014, the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, with renewed energy and pride.
Ian humbly shares, “It was a complete surprise. I know that all of our other Reps could have easily been named as well. This is really an award for our entire organization. Personally, getting into wilderness has been such an integral part of my entire life.” Ian has worked at PCTA for almost nine years.
To have received an award named after Bob Marshall, who is hugely important to the history of wilderness, is an honor for all of us at PCTA.
Read the appreciative commendation from Leslie Weldon, Deputy Chief of the U.S. Forest Service:
“Mr. Nelson and the PCTA are being recognized for their great enthusiasm and ability to mobilize volunteers for trail maintenance in the Sky Lakes and Red Butte Wilderness Areas. Their efforts have led to improved conditions on the ground as well as more public contacts with Wilderness users by informed and knowledgeable volunteers.
Specifically, Mr. Nelson and PCTA have promoted and organized an annual Trails Skills College that trains a host of volunteers in a variety of topics, such as basic trail maintenance, tread and drainage techniques, new trail construction, trail decommissioning, and chain saw and cross cut saw bucking certification and recertification. Their efforts to pursue new partnerships with individuals and groups throughout southern Oregon and northern California have been incredibly successful and are a wonderful example of “championing wilderness stewardship.”
Ian with his wife Amy enjoying the afternoon on Boulder Peak in Marble Mountain Wilderness.