The Pacific Crest Trail Association celebrated a record-setting 2016 on Saturday as members, donors, volunteers, board members, staff and agency and business partners gathered in Sacramento, Calif. for its annual meeting and open house.
More than 120 people attended the event at the PCTA’s headquarters, where Board Chair John Crawford and PCTA staff thanked the community for a year that surpassed expectations. Highlights include more than 2,000 volunteers who maintained and restored more than 2,000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail; 104,269 volunteer hours; $2.5 million in private fundraising; and 2,612 acres of land along the PCT permanently protected, including two parcels through the association’s first successful land acquisitions.
Click here to see PCTA’s 2016 Annual Report
PCTA Director of Philanthropy Angie Williamson reported that the PCTA currently has 12,300 members—with members from all 50 states and the District of Columbia and 41 countries.
PCTA Board Chair John Crawford addresses the crowd.
The emotional highlights of the meeting came when Director of Trail Operations Mike Dawson presented a special 10-Year Achievement Award to Beth Boyst, Pacific Crest Trail program manager for the U.S. Forest Service; and Associate Director of Trail Operations Jennifer Tripp presented an award to honor the achievements and retirement of Mark Conley, wilderness and national conservation lands system program manager for the Bureau of Land Management.
PCTA Trail Operations Director Mike Dawson presents an award to Beth Boyst of the U.S. Forest Service.
Associate Trail Operations Director Jennifer Tripp presents and award to Mark Conley of the BLM.
After the meeting, the audience mixed with staff, board members and partners during an open house in the PCTA’s Sacramento offices. There were several door prizes; Barefoot Wine provided refreshments, and many enjoyed smiling for photos in front of the original PCT Southern Terminus monument, which was recently installed in the office. A new monument was placed at the southern end of the trail last year.