An incredible year: PCTA Annual Meeting video, Open House and Annual Report

More than 100 people attended the Pacific Crest Trail Association’s 2016 annual meeting on April 16 at our headquarters in Sacramento. It was great to see all of you. Your support truly matters to the trail and the people who use it, and your attendance – the largest group we’ve seen at an annual meeting – proves that our association is strong and getting stronger.

“If we don’t have people who love the trail, we aren’t going to get the support we need to take care of the trail,” Liz Bergeron, PCTA executive director and CEO, told the gathering.

Just look at the numbers. You can read more about them in our 2015 Annual Report, but it’s remarkable that you volunteered more than 96,000 hours of your time last year and collectively gave $2.3 million to support the association’s work in trail maintenance, protection and promotion.

Click the image or this link to download the 2015 PCTA Annual Report.

Click the image or this link to download the 2015 PCTA Annual Report.

“You all are the people who make the difference,” said Beth Boyst, PCT program manager for the U.S. Forest Service. “In terms of service to the country and protection of the experience, you make that happen.”

Mike Dawson, director of trail operations, echoed those sentiments. “It’s been a great year and we’ve accomplished a lot and we’re ready for 2016,” he said.

One of those accomplishments was the replacement of a new PCT monument at the southern terminus near Campo, California. Mark Conley, wilderness and National Conservation Lands System program manager for the Bureau of Land Management, took a moment to thank all the volunteers who worked to make the project a success.

Watch a recording of the Annual Meeting

John Crawford, PCTA Board of Directors chair, certified the results of the association’s recent board elections. You reelected Crawford, Denise Gilbert, and John Hoffnagle for additional three-year terms and elected Priscilla Franco and Ken Schwarz for their first three-year terms.

Crawford also had an emotional goodbye to board member Eric Ryback, whose second term expires this month. Ryback, famous for the first thru-hike in 1970 and his book about it, The High Adventure of Eric Ryback, will be missed, Crawford said. Ryback, who created and sponsors the PCT completion medals program was unable to attend the meeting.

“I read his book as a high school senior and said I’m going to do the trail someday,” Crawford said.  “He’s been very important to the history of the trail, and especially for my generation, inspiring people to hike it.”

Angie Williamson, director of philanthropy, noted the increase in membership, “up 18 percent to 11,600 members at the end of 2015. “

“This growing membership is a stronger voice for the trail,” she said. “It’s no coincidence that we were able to do more for the trail. It’s because of your generosity.”

After the meeting, folks gathered for an open house to socialize and enjoy some refreshments, including wine from PCTA corporate sponsor Barefoot Winery.

Many thanks for all you do for the trail.

The day started with a board meeting

John-E.-Crawford-PCTA-board-of-directors

The day started with a meeting of the Board of Directors. All photos by Jack Haskel

Jim Newman and John Hoffnagle discuss details after a board meeting.

Jim Newman and John Hoffnagle discuss details after a board meeting.

John E. Crawford and Ken Schwarz.

John E. Crawford and Ken Schwarz.

Chip Herzig and Liz Bergeron.

Chip Herzig and Liz Bergeron.

Scott Jacobsmeyer.

Scott Jacobsmeyer.

Then transitioned to the Annual Meeting

Alice Tulloch and John Hoffnagle discuss trail registers before the annual meeting.

Alice Tulloch and John Hoffnagle discuss trail registers.

Liz Bergeron chats with Joe Wirth.

Liz Bergeron chats with Joe Wirth.

Jan and Mike Jinings, PCTA volunteers.

Jan and Matthew Jinings, PCTA volunteers.

Habitual thru-hiker Nancy "Why Not?" Huber enters the annual meeting.

Habitual thru-hiker Nancy “Why Not?” Huber enters the annual meeting.

Liz Bergeron starting the meeting.

Liz Bergeron starting the meeting.

John Crawford, board chair, ratifies the board election.

John Crawford, board chair, ratifies the board election.

A full house at the 2016 Annual Meeting.

A full house at the 2016 Annual Meeting.

Jordan Summers, PCT guidebook author.

Jordan Summers, PCT guidebook author.

Alice "Stone Dancer" Tulloch asking a question about the increasing popularity of the trail.

Alice “Stone Dancer” Tulloch asking a question about the increasing popularity of the trail.

Beth Boyst, PCT Program Manager for the U.S. Forest Service, chats with a guest after the meeting.

Beth Boyst, PCT Program Manager for the U.S. Forest Service, chats with a guest after the meeting.

And ended with our open house gathering

Barney Scout Mann and Rob Eskridge at the start of the open house.

Barney Scout Mann and Rob Eskridge at the start of the open house.

Pierre Del Prato and Ken Schwarz.

Pierre Del Prato and Ken Schwarz.

Thanks for supporting the trail and for the donation of wine Barefoot Wines & Bubbly!

Nice donation of wine from our friends at Barefoot Wines & Bubbly!

Lanz Nalagan calling off numbers for door prizes.

Lanz Nalagan calling off numbers for door prizes.

Paul Newhagen with a winning ticket.

Paul Newhagen with a winning ticket.

Wrapping up the open house. What fun!

Wrapping up the open house. What fun!

Author: Mark Larabee

Mark Larabee is the PCTA's Advocacy Director. He is the former editor of the "PCT Communicator" magazine and co-author of "The Pacific Crest Trail: Exploring America's Wilderness Trail" published in 2016. Larabee is a journalist, part of a team who won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news for The Oregonian newspaper. He hiked the PCT across Oregon for a 2005 series for the paper and has been with PCTA since 2010. He lives in Portland.