Volunteer News

The stories of our volunteers and trail maintenance around the state.

Stories about volunteers and trail maintenance.

You can also read WTA volunteer stories, meet our hardworking crew leaders, and see standout volunteers at the Rock Wall of Fame.

Volunteers chip away at early season trail projects

Mar 03, 2025

WTA crews made progress on several early-season projects in the first couple months of the year.

Tiny tents and tool time: 20 years of marriage, 18 years of volunteering

Sep 22, 2025

Spokane-area assistant crew leaders Mary Beth and Jim Fitzgerald celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on-trail last fall by joining a day work party. Their shared love of the outdoors has shaped their relationship and shines through in their commitment to both each other and to trails. WTA gives them a way to spend time together and give back to trails at the same time.

Hiker Headlines: WTA backcountry trips, Enchantments permit lottery, sign up for Hiker Rally Day

Feb 13, 2025

The Enchantments permit advanced lottery opens Feb. 15 at 7 a.m. Join WTA and the Northwest Symphony for live music and beautiful photos. We need your help to vote for a renewal of the King County Parks Levy. Join us for in Olympia on March 18 to advocate for trails and public lands! And registration for WTA’s backcountry trips is starting soon.

What's the Tee? The scoop on WTA's backcountry shirts

Feb 05, 2025

WTA's backcountry t-shirts are a favorite with our volunteers. Get a peek behind the scenes with graphic designer Jenica Nordstrom and preview this year's design.

12 Women and 4 Horses Fix a Trail

WTA and Back Country Horsemen of Washington team up for their first all-women volunteer trip. By Victoria Obermeyer.

How WTA ambassadors helped hikers across the state this year

WTA’s dedicated ambassadors spread the joy of hiking in 2024 through connection, awareness and education. By Nicole Masih-Théberge.

Thank you, Jim, for 35 years of copy editing!

Dec 09, 2024

After 35 years of volunteer editing Washington Trails magazine, Jim Cavin is finally enjoying a well-earned retirement. Join us in thanking him! By WTA staff

Partnership With Kalispel Tribe Creates New Trails North of Spokane

Dec 30, 2024

A trail system at Indian Creek Community Forest is helping the Kalispel Tribe provide education, recreation, and community to the Tribe and broader community members.

Join WTA on trail and start a new family tradition

Dec 04, 2024

Family trail work, trail work for families, family tradition, work parties, youth, youth and families.

Celebrating 10 years of real hikers writing for WTA

If you've used our Hiking Guide to access Mount Si, Rattlesnake Ledge, Oyster Dome or Beacon Rock, you can thank a volunteer writer. Now, we're celebrating that team, and reflecting on 10 years of their generous contributions to the hiking community in Washington. | By Anna Roth

WTA helps open new Mount Spokane trail, builds bridges, trains trail and saw skills, celebrates one of our own

Nov 14, 2024

WTA has had a busy few months, training folks at Snohomish County and Washington Conservation Corps, working on trails across the state and celebrating one of our own winning an award from the Washington State Trails Coalition.

Slate Creek: Not lost, but not quite found

Oct 31, 2024

I recently visited the Slate Creek Trail for a backcountry work party. I walked away from the experience with a new appreciation for trails in Eastern Washington — and for our volunteer community.

Volunteer Appreciation 2024: Celebrating our incredible community

Oct 28, 2024

Our gratitude for our volunteers happens every day. Once a year though, we dedicate one week to celebrate them especially — Volunteer Appreciation Week. Here's a roundup of how we welcomed longtime and new volunteers to celebrate their efforts this year.

Volunteer appreciation 2025: Celebrating the people who give back

Nov 10, 2025

Our gratitude for our volunteers happens every day. Once a year though, we dedicate one week to celebrate volunteers and members who fuel our work — Volunteer Appreciation Week. Here's a roundup of how we welcomed longtime and new volunteers to celebrate their efforts this year.

A celebration of Jim Langdon and 100 volunteer vacations

Nearly 20 years ago, Jim Langdon decided to try out a volunteer vacation, figuring he could leave if it wasn't fun. Over 100 trips later, he still hasn't left. By Erin McMillin

Community and generosity: WTA volunteers are amazing

Volunteers power WTA, and they do it all. Trail work. Hike research. Public education. Tool cache construction, trail advocacy, app development … the list goes on (and even includes unexpected things like pie delivery and 3-D printing). | By Anna Roth

Mount St. Helens Jamboree: 3 days of heat, trail work and fun

Jul 31, 2024

3 days, 23 people, 7 miles of trail cleared at Washington's most active volcano.

Angry Mountain: One trail's role in a sustainable system

Trails need routine maintenance and trail systems need innovative, intentional updates to accommodate the changing needs of Washington's hikers. The Gifford Pinchot National Forest is taking proactive steps to make that happen | By Joseph Gonzalez and Anna Roth

Representation and horse power: WTA and Back Country Horsemen of Washington team up for first joint all-women's trip

Aug 29, 2024

Watch a short film about the first all-women's backcountry trail work trip by longtime partners, Back Country Horsemen of Washington and Washington Trails Association.

The five most commonly asked questions received by ambassadors

Aug 07, 2024

WTA outreach volunteers support WTA and hikers by conducting outreach at events and trailheads all over the state. They connect directly with the public about hiking and get asked a lot of questions. Here are the top five questions they recieve: By Nicole Masih-Theberge

Share a story: Forest bathing at Heather Meadows

Jul 29, 2024

Enjoy a snapshot from the WTA trip reporter and Instagram community, brought to you by volunteer, trip reporter and photographer Derek Posey.

How WTA’s behind-the-scenes work elevates our backcountry trail maintenance

Backcountry trail maintenance is more than trail tools and long days outside — it's the massive efforts of seasonal crew members, land managers and office coordination, and Zack Sklar helps make it happen. By Joseph Gonzalez

Partnerships and Cooperation Expand Impact of WTA's work

Aug 30, 2024

WTA has completed several fantastic projects thanks to partnerships with land managers. Between weekend work parties, land manager trainings in exchange for rent and new trails, we're excited to share some updates with you.

WTA youth program wins national recognition

Jul 16, 2024

WTA's youth trail maintenance program recently won an award for efficient management of funds!

Go camping with a WTA work party this summer

Jun 20, 2024

Having a hard time snagging a campsite this summer? WTA may be hosting a work party with camping right where you want to be. Check out the schedule today!

Meet the 2024 Lost Trails Found paid crews

Jun 04, 2024

WTA's Lost Trails Found paid crews have a big summer of trail work planned. Meet some of the maintainers doing this tough work and learn what they're looking forward to in 2024. By Joseph Gonzalez

Volunteering is worth the trip: Why three volunteers travel interstate for Washington trails

WTA’s backcountry trips draw volunteers back year after year from across the country. Three volunteers explain why they make the trip to spend time on trail with WTA. By Anna Roth

Before and after: Trails get a glow-up from WTA crews

May 24, 2024

Nearly halfway through the year (what, how is that possible), WTA has done more than 350 work parties. We've opened trails, improved staircases and even improved a climbing area!

Partnership helps WTA get more done for Mount St. Helens trails

May 17, 2024

Washington Trails Association and the Mount St. Helens Institute team up to make it easier to hike near the iconic volcano.

WTA's Emerging Leaders Program ends on a high note

May 16, 2024

"It has been fulfilling to see where ELP alumni interests propel them on their endeavors after completing this program."