New to the forum, but not to hiking
Posted: April 23rd, 2018, 9:34 am
I have lived in the Portland area all of my life and have been camping/hiking since I was a kid. As an adult almost all of my camping trips have been backpack trips.
I have been reading these forums for most of the time they have been up but haven't posted anything. That is just how I usually roll. I am very impressed with much of what I have seen here.
I had long thought of volunteering for trail maintenance work parties, but at one point I read a blog that made it sound like you have to be exceptionally tough to handle it. I like to exercise but that blog post put me off doing trail work. Then last year I got an email from MSHI advertising a work party with Washington Trails Association that had the 3 magic words: "no experience necessary". I went with them to Independence Pass trail and spent most of a day removing an alder from the trail. I had a great time.
Since them I have done several work parties for TKO and I intend to keep doing it. The last month or so I have gone on work parties more often than I have gone hiking. I have even met some of the frequent posters on the forum.
In a couple of weeks I will go to a PCTA trail skills college near McKenzie Bridge.
I have been reading these forums for most of the time they have been up but haven't posted anything. That is just how I usually roll. I am very impressed with much of what I have seen here.
I had long thought of volunteering for trail maintenance work parties, but at one point I read a blog that made it sound like you have to be exceptionally tough to handle it. I like to exercise but that blog post put me off doing trail work. Then last year I got an email from MSHI advertising a work party with Washington Trails Association that had the 3 magic words: "no experience necessary". I went with them to Independence Pass trail and spent most of a day removing an alder from the trail. I had a great time.
Since them I have done several work parties for TKO and I intend to keep doing it. The last month or so I have gone on work parties more often than I have gone hiking. I have even met some of the frequent posters on the forum.
In a couple of weeks I will go to a PCTA trail skills college near McKenzie Bridge.