Hiking In Kind

I like to put my money (and occasionally other people's money too-more on that to come) where my boots are. I support a handful of recreation and conservation groups that work on behalf of keeping our trails and parks open and in good shape; and in purchasing new lands for conservation and helping to protect the ones we have already secured. In addition to making monetary donations, I often give in kind donations to help out some of my favorite organizations. Through in kind donations I can often leverage more money for these groups than I can provide on my own.

Four groups that recently benefited from my in kind donations are the Skagit Land Trust, Columbia Land Trust, Washington Trails Association and the Washington National Parks Foundation. In three of these cases I put myself up for auction to personally guide folks on some of their favorite trails, In addition to receiving my hiking service  for the day, my publisher throws some books in too! For the Columbia Land Trust we extended the auction to allow other folks to buy a spot on the hike that I lead. We raised $1,000 on that hike! At the Skagit Land Trust auction, my hike secured $250; and for the Washington National Parks Fund, my hike brought in $400.
I also spend the day hiking with one of the winning groups in Washington Trails Association's annual Hike-a-Thon. And my 50 for 50 run last year raised $4,240 for WTA.

Collectively all of these events that I participate in raise some serious money for our trails and special places. WTA's Hike-a-Thon raised $67,000 in 2011. The Skagit Land Trust's 2012 auction brought in over $100,000. Washington National Parks Fund's recent auction raised $65,000 and the Columbia Land Trust's auction last year brought in an amazing $150,000! In these time of fiscal austerity, it is nice to see that folks are still generous and care enough to continue protecting our special places and leaving a natural legacy. I hope you too are finding ways to give back to your favorite trails, parks and wild places!

(Photo-A great day hiking the Weldon Wagon Road Trail and raising money for the Columbia Land Trust-photo courtesy of the Columbia Land Trust)

Alice Walker

on why writer's should care

Pulitzer Prize winner, Alice Walker recently said in an interview by Jessica Strawser in Writer's Digest Magazine (October 2010):

"I don't like writer's who don't care. I think writers should care desperately."

Strawser then asked her:

"Do you feel writers have a responsibility to address issues facing the world?"

Walker's response:

If they call to them--not, of course, if they don't. But I would think nine times out of 10, something would call to a writer, because that's just the way it is. And it doesn't have to be something dreadful; it can be just something exquisite, or something that you want to share with the world, and you feel they're not paying enough attention. It could be about anything, but you should care always about what it is that you're offering: I care, and therefore I offer this.

Which led to me to some introspective thinking on my own writings and whether I care too little or too much when expressing myself. Many guidebook authors take a safer route of just explaining the trail and what you will see and not offer their own opinions on what are often controversial and political views on land management and environmental issues. A few other guidebook authors can be rather polemic (and therefore dividing) when presenting their views. I try to take a more middle of the trail approach. I do indeed have strong opinions on conservation issues and I feel it is my duty as a guidebook author to go beyond just describing a trail and park. But, I also acknowledge other views and opinions that differ from mine and I do not want to denigrate or dismiss folks (who may be my readers) who hold those opinions. I welcome dialogue-safe and healthy and respectful so that we all may come to some kind of agreement on solutions to the pressing environmental issues we are confronted with.

So I ask you. Should I care? Should I take strong stands? What if I take a stand you don't agree with-do I lose you as a reader or do I make you think about your position? What about you? If you're a writer, do you freely express your views on something that could lead to possibly losing readers. Do you think in this current highly divided and partisan atmosphere that we can even have real, thoughtful and respectful dialogue anymore that will result in real change and reform?

I know that I welcome your opinion. Do you welcome mine? Feel free to respond, I'm truly interested in what you have to say.

(photo from Alice Walker's official website)