Idaho Trails Association seeking new members

The Idaho Trails Association, non-profit organization founded in 2010 to promote the continued enjoyment of Idaho’s hiking trails, is conducting its annual membership drive.

ITA accomplishes that mission by leading field projects to maintain or construct non-motorized trails and by teaching trail maintenance skills to volunteer workers. The purpose of this membership drive is to get more people to help maintain Idaho’s spectacular hiking trails.

“Idaho is blessed with over 10,000 miles of non-motorized hiking trails on public lands throughout the state,” ITA member Tom Dabrowski said. “These trails are a valuable resource that takes visitors to some of the most beautiful parts of Idaho. Unfortunately, funding for the care and upkeep of the trails is far short of what is needed to keep them open and usable.”

ITA was formed in 2010 to help deal with this challenge. ITA uses volunteer workers who devote their time and efforts to help keep hiking trails usable. In their first year of operation, ITA led one trail project with a total of 13 volunteers, Dabrowski said.

Only eight years later, in 2018, ITA completed 33 projects throughout Idaho. Dabrowski said a total of 262 volunteers contributed about 7,600 hours of work time in the field sawing 1,100 logs off the trails, fixing water bars, cutting back brush, and repairing trail treads. Those 7,600 hours of volunteer work also saved a lot of our taxpayer money and enabled even more trail maintenance.

The projects that ITA is planning for 2019 range from easy to more difficult. There will be lots of one-day, two-day, and week-long projects.

“All of ITA’s projects are in beautiful locations located in some of Idaho’s most spectacular backcountry. About half of the week long projects will be fully supported with a packer, all your food, and a great cook,” he said. “There will be a project suited for everyone on the schedule.”

By joining ITA, Dabrowski said individuals will be able to sign up ahead of non-members for the most popular week-long projects. In addition, for each $25 an individual donates during the 2018 membership drive, they’ll get one entry into ITA’s drawing for a chance to win a coveted spot on the spring Salmon River trail maintenance trip. Six lucky winners will start and end their trip with a scenic jet boat ride on the Salmon River (near Riggins) with a group of experienced ITA crew leaders and members of the group’s board of directors, said Dabrowski. Spend a week working along Sheep Creek in the Gospel Hump Wilderness and camp on a beautiful beach right on the Main Salmon. The trip is tentatively slated for March 16-24, 2019.

“Food and fun provided,” he added.

“Plus, it’s just a great feeling as you hike along to know that you’ve done your part to keep Idaho’s trails open and accessible to all,” said Dabrowski.

You can join or renew your membership with ITA by visiting IdahoTrailsAssociation.org and using the membership link.