Happy Thanksgiving!
Today I am thankful for you- our volunteers and members. I can see snow outside my window and, since trail folks are always thinking about trails, my mind wanders to my favorite wild places and how most Idaho trails must be blanketed in white by now. Here at ITA, if we aren't working on trails we are planning to work on them, and that's what November through March is all ... Read More
Volunteer Spotlight: Our youngest and oldest volunteers!
By Hobie Swan, ITA communications and trail crew volunteer The holiday season is upon us, and among the many things we at ITA are thankful for is our volunteers! We’d like to introduce you to two of them—one of our oldest, and one of our youngest. Meet Bruce Shaffer. Bruce is 83 years old and has been working on ITA trail crews since our organization was founded back in 2010. ... Read More
Youth Trail Crew: Raising a generation of trail stewards
By Liz Bridges, ITA Advisory Board Member and Youth Trail Program Cook Wilding, grubbing in the dirt, trail crew, fun…however you want to describe them, ITA’s Youth Trail Crews are all that and more. The first Youth Trail Crew took place along the banks of Big Creek in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in the summer of 2019, combining teens from Council – familiar with ranching, hunting, fishing and the best ... Read More
ITA’s Membership Drive has begun!
ITA's Fall Membership Drive starts November 1 and runs through the end of the year. We need your help to reach our goal of $35,000 to support the work of ITA in 2022. You can join or renew for $25, $50, $100 or more! When you become a member of Idaho Trails Association, you are joining a community that cares about Idaho’s wild places. Not only do we need volunteers ... Read More
Introducing ITA’s new logo!
Big news! We are proud to share with you our new logo as part of a larger campaign to refresh our brand! Our previous logo served us well over the past ten years and we wanted to keep many of the same elements and colors while creating an updated design. You will soon see our new logo updated on our website, social media accounts, and in our marketing materials. Want ... Read More
Volunteer Spotlight: Cindy Walker
If you're lucky, you've had the pleasure of being on an ITA trip with Cindy! This year, she took volunteering as an ITA cook to a new level and planned out the meals for many of our trips. Thank you for taking on this new responsibility and keeping our crews fed, Cindy! Could you share a little about your background and how you came to volunteer with ITA? I grew ... Read More
ITA looking for Trail Projects Director
After six years leading and organizing trail projects across Idaho, Clay Jacobson is leaving ITA for new adventures, including hiking the Continental Divide Trail next summer. We will miss Clay and wish him the very best! ITA is now advertising for a Trail Projects Director. This person will oversee the planning, coordination, logistics, and successful completion of our trail maintenance and monitoring projects. They will also train and empower volunteer ... Read More
Volunteer Spotlight: John Platt
John is an ITA crew leader and board member. He retired to the McCall area after living much of his adult life in Boise. His professional career includes working in outdoor sports stores, teaching outdoor sports, and technical writing for a large bicycle manufacturer. His outdoor influences came from growing up in the Forest Service, earning his Eagle rank in the Boy Scouts, and mountain climbing starting in his teen years. ... Read More
Fires, Heat, and Drought: Stay Safe and Prevent Wildfires!
The West is in the grip of a particularly hot, dry summer and a historically severe fire season. We all can do our part to be sure we and our loved ones enjoy our trails while taking precautions to keep ourselves safe and our forests green.Going hiking or camping this weekend? Stage 1 and 2 fire restrictions are now in effect in most of Idaho and it is important be prepared before you head out.Before you go:1. ... Read More
Bagging peaks and goals
Check out part 1 and part 2 of Alexis's journey! On Sunday, June 6, I finished my personal challenge to summit all four of Boise’s Grand Slam peaks in one day. I started at Heinen at 5:20 a.m. and finished Kepros at 6:51 p.m. for a total time of 13 hours and 31 minutes over the course of roughly 35.7 miles and 11,493 vertical feet. Even typing that blows me ... Read More