Help Us Celebrate 20 Years of Giving Back to Trails

By Leina Seeley

WTA’s annual fundraiser, Hike-a-Thon, is back this August. Hike-a-Thon is a community fundraising event that gives hikers the opportunity to raise funds for our work. Throughout August, Hike-a-Thon participants hit the trail, share stories of their outdoor adventures and raise funds that directly support trails in Washington. This year is extra special — it’s the 20th anniversary of Hike-a-Thon! We’re really excited to celebrate with you, but for now, we’re taking a look at some of the highlights from the past 20 years of community, hiking and fun.

• 15 participants registered for the first Hike-a-Thon in 2004. They hiked 700 miles and raised over $5,000 for trails. One of the prizes WTA offered was National Geographic’s Back Roads Explorer, a 17-disc set of map software for the U.S.

• Hike-a-Thoners hit a big milestone in 2012 — it was the first time more than 10,000 miles were hiked and logged! Hike-a-Thoners have been ambitious ever since.

• Miles the Marmot joined Hike-a-Thon in 2015 and hasn’t stopped hiking — well, unless he’s hibernating.

Get ready for the 20th annual Hike-a-Thon!

Hike-a-Thon is a community fundraising event that gives hikers the opportunity to raise funds for Washington Trails Association.

Throughout August, Hike-aThon participants hike, share their outdoor adventures and raise funds that directly support trails in Washington. You can participate as an individual or a team. Registration will open on July 1 and the fun begins on Aug. 1. Once you register, you will receive a welcome packet in the mail that will set you up for a successful and fun Hike-a-Thon.

We’re celebrating this special anniversary year by bringing back past prize categories like “most hikes on volcanoes” and “environmental MVP.”

We also have a great assortment of prizes from WTA’s partners!

There will be opportunities to connect with your fellow Hike-a-Thoners — like WTAcoordinated group hikes throughout the state. And at the very end of Hike-a-Thon, we will host a fun closing event celebrating your contributions to trails. You can also share your Hike-a-Thon adventures in the active Facebook group throughout the month.

We can’t wait to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hike-a-Thon with you in August.

Please join us when registration opens on July 1 wta.org/hikeathon