Congratulations to our north Idaho Volunteer of the Year, Ken Dueis, for his great work in helping co-lead his first projects this summer for Idaho Trails Association. “Ken is a high energy, very active volunteer with ITA. During 2024, he worked on multiple projects up north, served as Deputy Crew Leader on several, and volunteered for more in other parts of the state. In addition, he helped scout trails that were scheduled for future projects.” – Tom Dabrowski, ITA Board Member and Crew Leader.

What is your background in? What are some of the things you enjoy doing for fun?

I started my working life as a production machinist, working my entire 40 year career at the same manufacturing facility, progressing into manufacturing engineering and finishing up the final 15 years in plant management. The firm designs and manufactures large rotating electrical machinery such as AC synchronous generator sets and large DC motors mainly for the gas and oil industry but also has large defense contracts to supply prime power on Naval vessels.

I really prefer to be outside as much as possible after spending so many years working indoors 60 hours a week. My wife and I enjoy hiking, biking, camping, kayaking, snowshoeing, classic movies, and travel. To that list I like to add fishing, some hunting and peak bagging with friends. However, I also enjoy working hard outdoors, so…

How and why did you first get involved with ITA? What are the different ways you’ve volunteered for ITA over the years?

After moving to Blanchard, ID from southern Minnesota, I was looking for outdoor volunteer opportunities and began working with the ID Master Naturalist program as well as the Friends of Scotchman Peak group. Through folks at FSPW and the Sandpoint Monday Hikers I met several people that pointed me towards ITA. Again, I enjoy working hard outside and was looking for just this kind of activity.

To be honest, I am very much a newcomer to ITA having just started in late summer of 2023. My first project was up the Pack River brushing out the east access trail to Chimney Rock. I was hooked. Since then I have spent many hours working hard with North Idaho’s best folks—everything from logging out, brushing and renewing tread on trails to assisting in cleaning highway ditches. I have also completed a WFA training as well as the North Idaho CLEM school. Big thanks to Tom Dabrowski for hosting the training and encouraging me to participate.

What do you like about volunteering with ITA?

It turns out ITA is perfect for satisfying my need for physical activity and desire to do something productive for the community. However, I had no idea going in that doing this work would also be so dang much fun.

Secondly, ITA provides a perfect avenue to explore (new to me) trails as the projects are scattered across the entire state. I hope to do at least two projects in southern ID in ‘25.

Most memorable backcountry or ITA experience? (Looking for a funny/scary/interesting story here!)

I’m new to the group so I am still in the process of building memories every time out on a new project. So, neither funny nor scary, one of the better memories from my first full season with ITA was building the small bridge at Boulder Meadows with Jim Manning and Dave Ingle. Although not a huge project, it was completed in steady rain, turned out very well and was just a great experience.

Why are trails worth protecting?

This newsletter goes out to many avid hikers, trail crew volunteers and trail crew leaders, so I really don’t need to “preach to the choir”. That said, I am a big proponent of public lands and hope to not lose outdoor America’s best legacy so we all need to pitch in to not only maintain the trails, but to promote them as well.