I’m proud to announce the winners of the 2019 PCTA Photo Contest. This is a great contest because it showcases the beauty and majesty of the Pacific Crest Trail, it reminds us of the incredible spirit of the people who are out enjoying the trail, and it’s a great collection donated to the organization by volunteers. We received 1,145 entries this year. Many thanks for all your submissions!
The winners of the contest are:
- 1st – From the Bottom of My… by Ido Dayan
Descending from Forester Pass, we didn’t realize how important is to get up early and get to the pass quick as possible. Photo by Ido Dayan.
- 2nd – The Knife Edge by William Rushin
Gazing at Mount Rainier from the Knife’s Edge. Photo by William Rushin.
- 3rd – Tenting Under the Stars by Mark Bruening
Stars above the Sierra. Photo by Mark Bruening.
Congratulations to our three winners! They will receive prize packages from out contest sponsor, LEKI.
View the slide show
Thank you
The PCTA wishes to thank our volunteer judges for their effort. Sorting through and considering all of your submissions takes a lot of time and effort. Lee Terkelsen has been organizing this work as a volunteer for more than two decades. Lee, we cannot thank you enough for your continued support.
Our volunteer judging panel includes:
- Lee Terkelsen: A former PCTA board member and editor of the PCT Communicator
- Peter Amend: A professional commercial photographer whose clients include Sierra Designs and Thule
- Roger Gong and Medelyn Serpa: A professional photographer team whose work includes a significant collection from Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite national parks.
- David Velasquez: A high school photography teacher who also operates his own photography business and saunters on Sierra trails whenever possible
- Linda Wozniczka: A courier who takes her camera along on her work and recently published a book of her “On The Road” photographs
Special thanks to our contest sponsor, LEKI. The company’s dedication to conservation and outdoor recreation is amazing. LEKI provided prize packages totaling $1,000 that are being awarded to the top three overall winners.
Finally, to all our photographers, thanks again for your contributions. Your photos will be used in perpetuity to promote the PCT and the important work we all are doing at the PCTA to protect the trail. Congrats to all!
Here is the complete list of winners in each category:
TRAIL MAJESTY
An awesome morning at Thousand Island Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, California. Photo by Jeff Louch.
1st — Wow by Jeff Louch
2nd — Winter in Bucks Lake Wilderness by Kelly Weintraub
3rd — Mount Shasta by Stephan George
Honorable mention — Gold Meadows on the PCT by Travis LaCoss
Honorable mention — Burney Falls by Dominik Neugebauer
Honorable mention — Berry Heaven by Husein Pistoljevic
HUMAN SPIRIT
A regrowing burned area in Washington provides insight to the cycle of life. Photo by Amanda Shipley
1st — Burning Anew on The Trail by Amanda Shpeley
2nd — Elixir of Life by Alexander Hormann
3rd — Hiking into the Clouds by Connor Rafferty
Honorable mention — Space Cowboy by Zola Doyle
Honorable mention — Hikers Silhouetted at Sunrise by Rob Thwaites
Honorable mention — Paintbrush Leaps by Michael Irving
FLORA/FAUNA
While taking a break at Crater Lake, I caught a chipmunk trying to steal food out of my hip belt pocket. Photo by Alexandra Waga.
1st — Chipmunk Attack at Crater Lake by Alexandra Waga
2nd — Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel by Larry Bettinger
3rd — White Lined Sphynx Caterpillar by Tom Standley
Honorable mention — Clearance for Take Off by Damien Delteil
Honorable mention — Tarantula Hawk Wasp by Mark Bruening
TRAIL WORK
The Old Snowy Blast Crew cleared boulder after boulder off the high alpine trail. Photo by Brianna Leahy.
1st — Rocks Will Roll by Brianna Leahy
2nd — Lunchtime Equals Friend Time by Mick McBride
3rd — Sawing with a Crosscut Saw by Jennifer Stewart
Honorable mention — Trail Boss by Laurie Meade
Honorable mention — Keeping Up With the CCC by Sean Day
EQUESTRIAN
A man rides through a field of Western Anemones in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, Washington. Photo by Stephan Miser.
1st — Lonely Cowboy by Stephan Miser
2nd — Leader by Kyle Soeltz
3rd — Good Thing He Can Read by Alison Meyn
Honorable mention — Switchbacks by Damien Delteil
Honorable mention — Nigel Checking in by Rhonda Marquis
Honorable mention — Woman and Two Llamas by Kane Hernandez