This summer, our volunteers had our busiest summer yet, completing two major bridge replacements, clearing almost 1,300 trees blocking trails, providing over 20 trail-work days and over 300 patrols and trailhead host sessions, and even surveying for boreal toads!

 

We trained 22 new Volunteer Wilderness Rangers (VWRs) and 101 of our individual VWRs encountered 8,929 Wilderness users with 4,813 meaningful interactions over 1,684 patrol hours. They held 644 fire-safety conversations and helped to increase dog leash compliance to 74%.

 

Our Trailhead Hosts (THH) conducted 42 host sessions totaling 238 hours at 24 different Wilderness trailheads.

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We provided $41,084 in funding to help the USFS hire Wilderness Ranger interns providing additional boots on the ground in our Wilderness areas. These interns also gained critical experience that will help guide their future endeavors.

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Our Sawyers spent 1,185 hours clearing 1,284 trees from Wilderness trails. Our Trail Crews supported the USFS with our largest ever trail projects, which included 1,014 volunteer hours and project funding for the Rock Creek Bridge, Grouse Creek Bridge, and enhanced trail signage on numerous trails.​

 

Our Advocacy Committee supported key initiatives to keep Wilderness Wild with submitting comments to agencies, supporting letter-writing campaigns, and keeping ESWA members apprised of key issues affecting Wilderness. Our ongoing Wilderness education campaign wrote weekly "Get Wild" articles for the Summit Daily Newspaper.

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ESWA's Outreach and Education Committee held several events, with speakers on topics from backcountry safety to wildfire risk. Our July 12 celebration of the Eagles Nest Wilderness 50th Anniversary drew almost 100 attendees, and featured prominent speakers and an official State Senate Commendation for ESWA's work protecting Wilderness!

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Thanks to Frances Hartogh for her tireless dedication to leading ESWA as the 2026 Chair! Please give a warm welcome to our incoming 2027 Chair, Mike Sharp!

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Most importantly, thanks to all of our VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, and PARTNERS including the USFS! We couldn't have done it without you!