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Idaho Trails Association holding membership
drive |
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November 15, 2016 |
Idaho’s network of backcountry trails leads
hikers to and through some of our state’s most
beautiful, hidden places. As one of the state’s
fastest growing volunteer-driven organizations
dedicated to clearing backcountry trails, Idaho
Trails Association needs you to help restore
and maintain this invaluable legacy.
That’s why, from November 15th to December 31st,
the association is kicking off their seventh
annual membership drive to get more people
involved in preserving our state’s vast trail
system.
In the coming year, their goal is to increase
trail work projects by 40 percent. This means
that not only will they be returning to some of
Idaho’s most popular hiking destinations, but
expanding their reach into new areas as well.
In 2017, weekend and weeklong ‘work vacations’
will include the Seven Devils and Gospel Hump
Wilderness Areas, some of Idaho’s most rugged
and pristine outdoor playgrounds. Wherever they
work, ITA’s mission is to promote the continued
enjoyment of Idaho’s hiking trails through:
* Stewardship projects on Idaho’s great hiking trails, including trail
construction and maintenance
* Development of traditional trails maintenance skills using hand tools
* Education, understanding, and appreciation of Idaho’s unique trail
resources
* Preservation, protection and access to Idaho’s hiking trails through
outreach and advocacy
The Idaho Trails Association started in 2010. In
their first year, members conducted two trail
maintenance projects with volunteers
contributing about 200 hours of their time
working on the trails. Fast forward to 2016, and
200 volunteers contributed almost 4,000 hours to
complete 17 projects, including five weeklong
‘work vacations.’
These projects are rich with Idaho heritage,
featuring mule trains, traditional tools, and
backcountry cooking. From 2015 to 2016 alone,
the value of ITA’s volunteer labor to land
managers climbed from $48,000 to over $128,000!
Whether you want to get out on the trails or
provide material support, we ask you to join,
renew your membership, give a membership to
someone you know cares about the backcountry, or
give a donation!
Just go to
www.IdahoTrailsAssociation.org for more
information. No matter where you live in Idaho,
or in the U.S. for that matter, you can do your
part to help preserve our wild lands. |
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