The Pacific Crest Trail Association’s annual awards recognize people and partners for their extraordinary dedication to the Pacific Crest Trail. Below is a summary of those recognized throughout 2021. Some award winners listed were selected in previous years but were unable to be recognized until this year. The PCT will benefit from these trail champions’ outstanding contributions for years to come. Congratulations and thank you to all!
Alice Krueper Award
This is the PCTA’s top honor recognizing outstanding trail maintenance volunteers. The award represents the spirit of dedication exemplified by Alice Krueper, who devoted the latter part of her life to organizing volunteer work parties in Southern California and built the foundation for the PCTA’s Southern California Trail Gorillas volunteer chapters.
Robert “Pace” Caldwell
Robert “Pace” Caldwell received the Alice Krueper Award in November after a day on the trail with fellow Mount Hood Chapter volunteers. Photo by Paloma Ayala.
The Alice Krueper Award was presented to Robert Caldwell for his outstanding dedication to the trail and its stewardship. His commitment to the trail, especially through the historic challenges and fears of 2020, epitomize the spirit of dedication. Whether caring for his adopted section of trail in the Mount Hood National Forest, lending support on other trail sections, mentoring fellow trail maintainers and sawyers, or leading efforts to clear hundreds of fallen trees from the trail, his quiet but strong support and guidance is deeply appreciated. Robert’s achievements will continue to benefit the trail and the hikers and horseback riders who love it for years to come.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors extraordinary commitment and service to the PCT over many years. This award is not presented every year.
Lee Terkelsen
Lee Terkelsen was recognized in April during an online gathering with PCTA staff and fellow Communicator magazine contributors.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Lee Terkelsen for his steadfast dedication to the PCT and the PCTA. His decades of creativity and commitment as a PCTA board member, magazine editor and lead judge of PCTA’s annual photo contest set a high bar for promotion of the trail and the experience it provides. We thank Lee for inspiring generations of trail lovers through his work.
Luminary Award
This award recognizes individuals and groups of people for their extraordinary contributions to the Pacific Crest Trail community. These award winners inspire all those who love the PCT because they make the trail a better place. This award is given to thank the recipient for the many ways they give.
Lon “Halfmile” Cooper
Lon “Halfmile” Cooper was recognized with the PCTA’s first Luminary Award during the Association’s virtual annual meeting in May. Photo by Jack Haskel.
The inaugural Luminary Award was presented to Lon Cooper with deep appreciation for the many ways he gives to the PCT and the PCTA. By mapping the trail at unprecedented detail and stewarding and sharing that data for more than a decade, Lon has supported innumerable trail users and trail lovers. Lon has also contributed generously as a trail angel, trail maintainer, a PCTA donor and more. Lon exemplifies a life connected to the PCT and with purpose to give back.
Extra Mile Award
The title of this award speaks for itself—it is meant to honor those who have gone “the extra mile,” beyond the scope of normal volunteering, for the benefit of the organization or the trail.
Sandra Plato and the 2020 American Conservation Experience PCT Team
Sandra Plato and the 2020 American Conservation Experience PCT team (not pictured) received the Extra Mile Award in December. Photo by Johnny Wilke.
The Extra Mile Award was presented to Sandra Plato and the 2020 American Conservation Experience (ACE) PCT team, including ACE staff, corps crew leader Russell Souder and corps crew members Hannah Diffenderfer, Kalvin Murphy, Mary Roedel, Patrick Toomey and Johnny Wilke. This group was recognized for outstanding dedication to the PCT through historic and unprecedented challenges. We thank them for their tireless efforts and remarkable ability to adapt during the Covid-19 pandemic and 2020’s devastating wildfire season.
Labor of Love Award
The Labor of Love Award recognizes individuals for their work on particular projects that benefit the organization.
Dave Harrison
Dave Harrison was presented the Labor of Love Award in November during an online gathering of PCTA’s Northern Sierra volunteers. Photo by Alice Su.
Dave Harrison received the Labor of Love Award in recognition of more than a decade of remarkable volunteer service and leadership. His commitment to the PCTA’s Saw Program and the Carsonora Trail Crew is unparalleled. His dedication to the art of the crosscut saw and axe, and the joy with which he shares his knowledge, is invaluable to the PCT and trail community.
Partner Agency Employee Award
This award is given to an agency employee who has been very helpful to the PCTA. Often, more than one Agency Partner Employee Award is given each year.
George Winters
PCTA’s Michael DeCramer presented the Partner Agency Employee Award to George Winters in December. Photo from PCTA’s 2017 North Cascades Trail Skills College.
The Partner Agency Employee Award was presented to George Winters from the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in gratitude for his excellent public service, dedication and commitment to the PCT in Glacier Peak Wilderness. We thank him for his outstanding contribution to understanding backcountry travel patterns on the PCT and visitor use management. His stewardship of the trail will benefit PCT hikers and horseback riders for generations to come.
Partnership Award
This award is given to a partner who has provided exceptional assistance to the PCTA and contributed to our mission.
Backcountry Horsemen of California Red Shank Riders
PCTA’s Anitra Kass presented the Backcountry Horsemen of California Red Shank Riders with the Partnership Award in August.
The Partnership Award was presented to the Backcountry Horsemen of California Red Shank Riders in gratitude for their commitment to collaborative stewardship of the PCT across agency boundaries. Their partnership and professional, friendly and reliable support have enabled critical trail maintenance and restoration efforts over the last decade. Their tireless efforts bringing tools and supplies to remote places for maintenance projects will benefit the trail for many years to come.
Regional Trail Maintainer of the Year Award
This award is given to an individual in each region who has distinguished themself in hours and service to trail maintenance during the past year.
Southern California:
Ken Bonus and San Diego Ultra Running Friends (SURF)
PCTA’s Anitra Kass presented Ken Bonus with the Regional Trail Maintainer of the Year Award in November.
The Southern California Regional Trail Maintainer of the Year Award was presented to Ken Bonus and the San Diego Ultra Running Friends (SURF) in recognition of their exceptional support for the PCT through the Cleveland National Forest. Their remarkable contributions and stewardship improve the condition of the trail and the experience it provides. PCTA staff, partners and fellow volunteers recognize and celebrate their commitment, sense of purpose and reliability.
Southern Sierra:
Karl Krummel
Karl Krummel was presented the Regional Trail Maintainer of the Year Award in November in thanks for his support in the PCTA’s Southern Sierra region.
The Southern Sierra Regional Trail Maintainer of the Year Award was presented to Karl Krummel with sincere appreciation for his creative and enthusiastic efforts in growing the region’s infrastructure, particularly PCTA’s new volunteer tool cache in Kernville, California. PCTA staff and fellow volunteers recognize and celebrate Karl’s trail stewardship, sense of purpose and kindness.
Northern Sierra:
Bryan Wright
Bryan Wright (not pictured) was presented the Regional Trail Maintainer of the Year Award in October for his outstanding dedication in the Northern Sierra region. Photo by Sandra Gascoin.
The Northern Sierra Regional Trail Maintainer of the Year Award was presented to Bryan Wright for his outstanding dedication to the PCT and the Tahoe Rim Trail. Bryan’s commitment to the trail, desire to learn and his support for the trail community is inspirational. He is an integral part of the PCTA and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association. The trail, hikers, horseback riders and the PCTA thank him for his exceptional contributions.
Northern California/Southern Oregon:
High Desert Trail Riders Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of Oregon
PCTA’s Ian Nelson presented the Regional Trail Maintainer of the Year Award to the High Desert Trail Riders Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of Oregon in October. Photo by Ian Nelson.
The Northern California/Southern Oregon Regional Trail Maintainer of the Year Award was presented to the High Desert Trail Riders Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of Oregon for their outstanding partnership with the PCTA and the Fremont-Winema National Forest. The support they provide is crucial and enabled crews to complete work in the Sky Lakes Wilderness thanks to volunteers from the chapter who pack gear, tools and food into the backcountry. We would like to give a special thanks to Betty Applebaker, Jim Icenbice, Ron Stewart and the late Brenda Cordonnier.
Columbia Cascades:
Ginny Elliott
Ginny Elliott (front row, far right) was awarded the Regional Trail Maintainer of the Year Award during an online gathering in April. Photo from March 2019.
The Columbia Cascades Regional Trail Maintainer of the Year Award was presented to Ginny Elliott for her steady devotion to volunteer stewardship of the PCT. Her sense of purpose in connecting people with our magnificent landscapes hasn’t been swayed by obstacles large or small—not even a global pandemic. Her leadership and initiative will benefit the trail, and the wild places it travels through, for generations to come.
North Cascades:
Eric Lee
Eric Lee (third row, far left) was presented the Regional Trail Maintainer of the Year Award in November during an online gathering with PCTA’s North 350 Blades volunteers.
The North Cascades Regional Trail Maintainer of the Year Award was presented to Eric Lee in appreciation for more than a decade of service to the PCT and the PCTA’s North 350 Blades, with special recognition for his resilience and leadership during the historic challenges of 2020. Eric’s commitment to trail stewardship is exemplary and his leadership and kindness are appreciated by volunteers and staff alike.
We’re now accepting nominations for volunteers and partners who made outstanding contributions in 2021. If you would like to nominate an individual for an award, please fill out the online Annual Awards Nomination Form by Jan. 10, 2022.