Trail Blaze

From Our Blog:

6 Dec 2023

A message from our Executive Director

2023-12-07T09:01:28-07:00December 6, 2023|0 Comments

Unlike many kids, when I first heard the tale of the tortoise and the hare, I didn’t identify with the flashy, speedy rabbit. “Slow and steady wins the race” resonated with me. The stodgy tortoise’s persistent trudge was inspiring to me, which proved prophetic. Growing up and into my ... Read More

28 Nov 2023

Introducing: the ITA Wall Calendar!

2023-11-28T07:51:06-07:00November 28, 2023|Comments Off on Introducing: the ITA Wall Calendar!

We are excited to be offering a 2024 12-month ITA Wall calendar just in time for the new year! Get this trail-tactic calendar when you give $100 or more to ITA's Annual Membership Drive. Featuring the best photos taken across Idaho on 2023 trail projects, enjoy serene mountain views ... Read More

7 Nov 2023

Trail Spotlight: Lucky Peak via Adelmann Mine Trail

2023-11-07T15:25:46-07:00November 7, 2023|0 Comments

Our Trail Spotlight highlights day trips to multi-day hikes across Idaho. Trail conditions can change quickly- swollen rivers can become impassable, windstorms can knock trees down across trails, and snow can come earlier than expected. Please take these recommendations as a jumping off place and do additional research to understand current ... Read More

16 Oct 2023

Thank you for voting for ITA!

2023-10-26T11:51:42-06:00October 16, 2023|0 Comments

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO VOTED FOR IDAHO TRAILS ASSOCIATION IN THE LAND ROVER DEFENDER SERVICE AWARDS! Your support and words of encouragement meant everything to us throughout this contest. We did not receive enough votes to make it to the top two spots but we are grateful for ... Read More

29 Sep 2023

Volunteer Spotlight: Dave Beck

2023-09-29T13:19:57-06:00September 29, 2023|1 Comment

As a crew leader and photographer, Dave not only works hard on the trail leading trips but also captures some amazing images as well. Dave chronicles his adventures and post his photos on his blog, Davefaitlemonde.com. This summer just a few hours into the three-week Wilderness Immersion project in ... Read More

27 Sep 2023

Trail Spotlight: Divide Trail North

2023-09-27T11:11:25-06:00September 27, 2023|0 Comments

Our Trail Spotlight highlights day trips to multi-day hikes across Idaho. Trail conditions can change quickly- swollen rivers can become impassable, windstorms can knock trees down across trails, and snow can come earlier than expected. Please take these recommendations as a jumping off place and do additional research to understand current ... Read More

7 Sep 2023

Volunteer Spotlight: Dan and Marja Waugh

2023-09-11T11:25:38-06:00September 7, 2023|0 Comments

Dan and Marja are Backcountry Horseman volunteers who pack gear and supplies for ITA projects as well as other groups doing trail work in the Wilderness. We applaud their enthusiasm for protecting and maintaining Idaho's trails and volunteering for seven pack trips across Idaho in 2023 alone! For our backcountry ... Read More

7 Sep 2023

Trail Spotlight: Rainbow Basin Trail

2023-09-07T09:43:27-06:00September 7, 2023|0 Comments

Our Trail Spotlight highlights day trips to multi-day hikes across Idaho. Trail conditions can change quickly- swollen rivers can become impassable, windstorms can knock trees down across trails, and snow can come earlier than expected. Please take these recommendations as a jumping off place and do additional research to understand current ... Read More

7 Aug 2023

Trail Spotlight: Selway River Trail #4

2023-08-10T09:16:16-06:00August 7, 2023|0 Comments

Our Trail Spotlight highlights day trips to multi-day hikes across Idaho. Trail conditions can change quickly- swollen rivers can become impassable, windstorms can knock trees down across trails, and snow can come earlier than expected. Please take these recommendations as a jumping off place and do additional research to understand current ... Read More

12 Jul 2023

Volunteer Spotlight: Elizabeth Bridges

2023-07-12T14:33:37-06:00July 12, 2023|1 Comment

What does Liz not do for ITA?! She serves as a crew leader, Advisory board member, youth program advocate, backcountry cook, event volunteer, writer, and host of ITA functions in her amazing backyard among many roles! Liz is so much fun to be around and brightens up any trail project ... Read More

12 Jul 2023

Trail Spotlight: Station Creek

2023-07-12T14:07:22-06:00July 12, 2023|0 Comments

Our Trail Spotlight highlights day trips to multi-day hikes across Idaho. Trail conditions can change quickly- swollen rivers can become impassable, windstorms can knock trees down across trails, and snow can come earlier than expected. Please take these recommendations as a jumping off place and do additional research to understand current ... Read More

29 Jun 2023

Opening up a lost trail

2023-06-29T11:34:57-06:00June 29, 2023|0 Comments

By Josh Davis, a 17-year-old ITA volunteer, photographer, and recent high school graduate. You can see more of his photos by following him on Instagram.  The South Fork Blackmare Creek trail project was my third and biggest project volunteering with ITA. Although I have worked on a multi-day ... Read More

30 May 2023

Beginner Backpacking Hikes

2023-05-30T17:09:56-06:00May 30, 2023|0 Comments

New to backpacking? Looking for a great spring warm-up? These backpacking trips were hand-picked by our staff and backpacking 101 instructors for being not only beautiful places to visit but also on the easier side of the scale for overnight backpacking trips. Not a beginner? These are all awesome ... Read More

30 May 2023

Trail Spotlight: Salmo Priest Loop

2023-05-30T10:42:40-06:00May 30, 2023|0 Comments

Our Trail Spotlight highlights day trips to multi-day hikes across Idaho. Trail conditions can change quickly- swollen rivers can become impassable, windstorms can knock trees down across trails, and snow can come earlier than expected. Please take these recommendations as a jumping off place and do additional research to understand current ... Read More

22 May 2023

Pack Your Summer Online Auction is Open!

2023-05-22T11:36:59-06:00May 22, 2023|0 Comments

Bidding is now open for ITA’s Second Annual Pack Your Summer Online Auction! We have over twenty unique items and experiences hand-picked just for our outdoor-loving, adventure-seeking members and supporters. Bid on these awesome items: Seven Devils Weekend Pack Trip featuring a gourmet dinner by chef Steve Weston Backpacking ... Read More

2 May 2023

Trail Spotlight: Sheep Creek

2023-05-11T08:31:29-06:00May 2, 2023|0 Comments

Our Trail Spotlight highlights trails across Idaho we think are worth hiking! Ranging from one-day to multi-day trips, these recommendations are for trails recently cleared or hiked by ITA volunteers. Trail conditions can change quickly- swollen rivers can become impassable, windstorms can knock trees down across trails, and snow ... Read More

7 Apr 2023

Volunteer Spotlight: Jim Manning

2023-05-11T13:23:38-06:00April 7, 2023|0 Comments

 ITA volunteer Jim Manning first began leading crews last season and was awarded ITA’s coveted 2022 Crew Leader of the Year award (and given a special ITA mug to prove it!) We’re grateful to Jim for leading crews and making a difference for Idaho’s trails!  Tell me a little ... Read More

15 Mar 2023

Looking for volunteers for 2023!

2023-03-24T09:46:53-06:00March 15, 2023|0 Comments

ITA's 2023 volunteer schedule is out for signups for the public! We have one-day, weekend, and weeklong projects of varying degrees of difficulty scheduled across the state. We also have six projects scheduled for our Youth Trail Crew Program and six for our Women in the Wild Program. If ... Read More

24 Feb 2023

Volunteer Spotlight: Alisa Rettschlag

2023-02-24T16:17:03-07:00February 24, 2023|0 Comments

Alisa Rettschlag is an ITA super volunteer! She and her husband Gregg have been volunteering with ITA for a number of years and last year she took the plunge into crew leading AND teaching our Backpacking 101 class. It's easy to see she has a passion for teaching volunteers new ... Read More

30 Jan 2023

Volunteer Spotlight: Levi Armichardy

2023-01-30T17:04:49-07:00January 30, 2023|0 Comments

Idaho high school seniors must complete a “senior project” as part of their graduation requirements. While the criterion for completion varies from school to school, the basic requirement is that a senior take on a project, learn about it in-depth, then complete it by a certain date. Levi Armichardy, ... Read More

27 Nov 2022

#GivingTuesday is here!

2022-11-29T11:00:19-07:00November 27, 2022|0 Comments

Join us on #GivingTuesday, a day to come together around the causes you care about and communities you want to lift up. Idaho Trails Association is raising support to fund trail projects across Idaho in 2023. We want to inspire more communities and volunteers to come together to make ... Read More

15 Nov 2022

Love Your Idaho Trails!

2022-11-15T11:20:52-07:00November 15, 2022|0 Comments

ITA's Annual Membership Drive starts November 15 and runs through the end of the year. We need your help to reach our goal of $50,000 to support ITA's trail stewardship work in 2023. You can join or renew for $25, $50, $100 or more! Why do trails need our ... Read More

25 Oct 2022

Clay’s CDT Blog Part 10: Bagging Peaks

2022-10-25T10:54:52-06:00October 25, 2022|1 Comment

This summer, ITA crew leader and former employee Clay Jacobson will be hiking the Continental Divide Trail starting north and going south. The CDT spans over 3,000 miles from Canada to Mexico and crosses through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. We’re happy to be following Clay along his journey ... Read More

29 Sep 2022

Volunteer Spotlight: Pauline Irish

2022-09-29T12:44:03-06:00September 29, 2022|1 Comment

ITA member and volunteer Pauline Irish has been working hard on ITA trail maintenance projects since 2021 and this spring was trained to become an ITA backcountry cook. She cooked for her first crew on the Little Queens River Women Only project in July. Pauline is also a skilled outdoor ... Read More

20 Sep 2022

Clay’s CDT Blog Part 8: Winter is Coming

2022-09-20T10:14:26-06:00September 20, 2022|3 Comments

This summer, ITA crew leader and former employee Clay Jacobson will be hiking the Continental Divide Trail starting north and going south. The CDT spans over 3,000 miles from Canada to Mexico and crosses through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. We’re happy to be following Clay along his journey ... Read More

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