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

WTA backcountry crews spend their days together, building connections while they build or repair trails. The cooperation required to complete a project provides good ground to share hiking hacks, create inside jokes and build trust. 

Volunteers come to us chasing a physical challenge or the chance to camp in beautiful places. But they keep coming back because of the people they meet. WTA crews are full of knowledgeable, friendly people ready to welcome newcomers. Some volunteers even return year after year from places like New York and Georgia. Here’s why.

Proud to give back

Asher Levey travels to WTA work parties from New York

The first time I learned about WTA, I was hiking with my dad on the Suiattle River Trail. We were a couple of miles in, just after a swim, when we happened to meet a WTA backcountry response team (BCRT) crew building a rock wall.

Later on, my dad asked me if I would be interested in joining a BCRT. I said no at first but then realized it could be a good test of my body’s limits. So when he asked me again, I said yes.

Asher Levy relishes the challenges and off-time leisure offered on BCRTs. Photo by Tobias Levy

That first year, in 2022, we worked at Marmot Pass with (crew leader) Rick Bennett. It was an intense hike on a steep trail under a sweltering sun. The work was tough. 

But I had fun, and Rick was a great leader. So the next summer I jumped at the opportunity to do another BCRT: a log-out led by Simon Lie on the upper Pratt River Trail. 

We worked hard during the day, then swam in nearby Tuscohatchie Lake in the evening and watched the stars at night. My dad’s really into cooking, so we ate well too.

One of the best moments of the Pratt trip was the appearance of “the pie guy.” Halfway through one of our work days, a mysterious figure approached us. He held a perfectly protected mixed berry pie. It was Mike Read, a WTA volunteer who wasn’t on our work party, but hiked in this amazing treat. It was so great to have that pie after a long day of work.

I’ve learned BCRTs aren’t just about the physical challenge; there is a mental component as well. You have to be ready to improvise. You have to be creative and willing to learn. I’ve learned how to use a handsaw, how to identify different soils and how to use forest materials to build bridges and construct stone steps. I often meet engineers on these trips, and they are more than willing to share their wisdom. This year we will be on Emily Snyder’s log-out at Dorothy Lake. I look forward to learning from Emily about saws and safety.

• Join us on trail
• Whether you’re a Washington resident or living out of state, we’d love to see you on a work party. There’s no experience necessary. The crews are fun, the projects are interesting and the views are gorgeous. See all the places you could go at wta.org/volunteer 

For me, it’s always worth it to make the long journey back to Washington from school in New York and go straight to the woods. I am in awe of the beauty of the Cascades. We spend so much time looking down at our devices that we don’t realize the beauty we can see just by looking up. Washington is one of the places where natural beauty still reigns, and it’s important we preserve that beauty for future generations and our own. I’m proud to be a part of giving back like that.

The people are the best part

Bob Cowdrick travels to work parties from Georgia

I had previously worked on trail crews in Maine, Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina. I enjoyed working on log-outs and read about WTA’s backcountry response teams, specifically the log-out crews.

My first WTA trip was a BCRT at Cathedral Rock on the Pacific Crest Trail. It was a log-out crew led by Gary Zink. After a week with him, I learned that Gary is an excellent sawyer, a patient teacher and a pleasure to spend a week with in the Cascades. Since then, I have traveled to Washington for five other BCRTs and have had the opportunity to work with Gary again.

Bob Cowdrick (right) had such a good time on his first BCRT learning from crew leader Gary Zink (front, center), he returned every year to spend another week gaining wisdom and skills. Photo by Bob Cowdrick

I return to Washington most every year for a BCRT. Yes, I get to explore different parts of Washington’s backcountry, but it is the crew leaders and members that are the best part of the trip. They are very knowledgeable about WTA and the trails, and they are an absolute joy to be with.

This year, I was fortunate enough to be able to register for the Salmo Basin log-out. It will be an enjoyable work crew in the Salmo-Priest Wilderness in northeastern Washington, led by Jane Baker. I am looking forward to logging out some big trees!

A chance to learn every year

Rick Colbert travels to work parties from Maryland

My first awareness of WTA’s volunteer vacations was through my college roommate, Reed Waite. He lived in Seattle, had been a WTA member for some time and was a frequent work party participant. I had backpacked for nearly 50 years, and trying a trail work trip sounded interesting, but it sounded challenging, too. After attending a WTA member get-together with Reed and his wife, Tina, I figured I would give it a try. I am glad I did. I now look forward to those trips as part of my summer routine.

Don't have shade on a work party? Bring your own! Photo by Rick Colbert

My first volunteer vacation was with crew leader Lisa Black at Coldwater Lake near Mount St. Helens. It was a learning experience — how to use the tools, how to perform the tasks. On every trip, I pick up a new skill. And I frequently learn something new that I can pass on. On that first trip, Jim Langdon, another volunteer, showed me how to move heavy rocks by sitting back-to-back with a partner, one providing a backstop for the pusher. Even though it was sometimes strenuous, it was surprisingly doable. I learned to love moving rocks. I have shown that trick to others on several trips. People love it.

The learning is one of the reasons I go back, and it’s not only trail work tricks. On that first trip I discovered a way to provide shade in unshaded areas: umbrellas! Our crew used them during a lunch break. I felt like I was looking at a Monet painting with all the parasols out.

For me, being able to camp in some of the most beautiful places is a real blessing. The people on these trips are great. You get a real diversity of people: different ages, different walks of life, different experiences. I really like watching people grow on these trips. You have first-timers, like we all were, who have no idea what they are in for. By the end of the week, they end up feeling the joy of “I can do this.” People open up and become part of the group. I enjoy becoming a part of this. I was a manager for most of my working life and like to watch other managers and leaders at work.  The crew leaders are all excellent. And of course, I get to meet up with my college roommate. It is a complete vacation.