As the weather cools and the days get shorter, the other PCTA regional representatives and I often find ourselves in the field for an on-the-ground look at the trail before the snow falls. Whether it’s with a volunteer leader to scout a future trail project or an agency partner to ... Read more
By Connor Swift, PCTA Trail Crew Technical Advisor
It’s often difficult to describe our experiences on the Pacific Crest Trail, whether we’ve been hiking or volunteering to do trail maintenance. Some experiences can be summed up with just a word or two, such as exhausting, beautiful or worst day ever. ... Read more
By Ben Barry, PCTA technical advisor
Every year, the Pacific Crest Trail Association offers a series of trail maintenance training events known as Trails Skills College. While many have told of the phenomenal instruction and potential for learning these events provide, few mention the potential for bloated stomachs and full ... Read more
By Dan Sedlacek, founder of Uphill Designs Co. and PCT Class of 2013 thru-hiker
Our team of eight volunteers carpooled from Seattle on an overcast Saturday in June to meet up with Bill Hawley, regional representative for the Pacific Crest Trail Association. In the Snoqualmie Pass trailhead parking lot, Bill ... Read more
By Ellen Ginda, with Jim and Sue Forsman
Four crew leaders joined the PCTA staff for a summer in the Cascades. Starting July 6, Justin Brimer, Ian Connelly, Wes Jones, and Jennica Tamler have been leading PCTA’s Skyline and Sasquatch volunteer vacations in the Oregon and Washington backcountry. These are ... Read more
By Sophia Efremov
Several months ago, I wrote about my experience on the Pacific Crest Trail as an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) volunteer. I wrote during the beginning weeks of my immersion in trail life. I am currently on the tail end of my three-month journey from “squeaky-clean-hopeless-city-girl” ... Read more
Over the years, the arrival of PCTA’s annual Trail Skills College in southern Oregon has meant that the Pacific Crest Trail maintenance season is officially underway. As such, Trail Skills College proves a valuable volunteer outreach tool for PCTA and a great place for veteran and aspiring PCT volunteers to ... Read more
On May 19, six volunteers from the North 350 Blades and I traveled to Chelan, Washington, and caught the Lady of The Lake, a boat that travels the deep, blue waters of Lake Chelan. After enjoying the scenic ride, we were met at the dock in Stehekin by Aaron Robinson ... Read more
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