American Long Distance Hiking Association–West

American Long Distance Hiking Association–West
Name	American Long Distance Hiking Association–West
Formation	1983
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	California
Region served	Western United States
Leader title	Executive Director

American Long Distance Hiking Association–West is a nonprofit membership organization that serves hikers, trailbuilders, volunteers, and advocates focused on long-distance trails and thru-hiking in the western United States. It connects participants on routes such as the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and John Muir Trail with resources, awards, and community networks. The association liaises with land managers, trail organizations, and conservation groups to promote stewardship, safety, and historical awareness.

History

The association was founded in 1983 amid growing interest in long-distance routes exemplified by the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail. Early supporters included figures from the Pacific Crest Trail Association, Sierra Club, and backcountry pioneers who had hiked routes like the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Northwest Trail. During the 1980s and 1990s the organization interacted with agencies such as the United States Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation to address permitting, trail maintenance, and wilderness ethics. Over decades it has engaged with projects linked to the National Trails System Act, volunteers from AmeriCorps crews, and corridor planning efforts associated with regional initiatives like the Great Western Trail and the Tahoe Rim Trail.

Mission and Activities

The association’s mission emphasizes education, safety, recognition, and advocacy for long-distance hikers on western corridors such as the Pacific Crest Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Colorado Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and the John Muir Trail. Activities include awarding lifetime achievement recognitions, promoting Leave No Trace ethics popularized by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, and fostering partnerships with nonprofits such as the Wilderness Society, The Nature Conservancy, and local trail conservancies. The organization works with search and rescue teams, the American Alpine Club, and regional outdoor industry partners to improve trail safety, emergency response, and public awareness campaigns modeled after projects like the Outdoor Alliance and the National Outdoor Leadership School.

Membership and Organization

Membership comprises thru-hikers, section hikers, trail maintainers, outfitting businesses, and institutional partners from universities, hiking clubs, and civic organizations. The governance model includes a board of directors, volunteer committees, and coordinators who liaise with entities such as the Pacific Crest Trail Association, Continental Divide Trail Coalition, Sierra Club, and local trail associations. Members include authors, photographers, and historians who have contributed to works associated with publishers and institutions like Wilderness Press, National Geographic, Patagonia, and REI. Institutional collaboration extends to emergency services, land management agencies, and community organizations in states including California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona.

Events and Programs

The association organizes annual conferences, awards banquets, slide shows, and panel discussions featuring speakers who have completed routes such as the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Continental Divide Trail. Programs include trail stewardship events coordinated with groups like the Pacific Crest Trail Association, American Hiking Society, and volunteer trail crews aligned with AmeriCorps and Student Conservation Association projects. Educational offerings often involve training on wilderness first aid from organizations like the Wilderness Medical Society and backcountry navigation instruction referencing maps and data from the United States Geological Survey and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for weather preparedness.

Publications and Resources

The association publishes awards lists, newsletters, trail registers, and bibliographies that highlight guidebooks, trail journals, and maps used by thru-hikers, including field references comparable to works by authors associated with Mountaineers Books, Wilderness Press, and National Geographic Society. It maintains archives of trail histories, oral histories, and trip reports that reference historical expeditions, famous routes, and notable figures tied to trails such as the John Muir, Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, and Pacific Northwest Trail. Resource links connect members to permit information from the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, state parks agencies, and volunteer opportunities with trail organizations and conservancies.

Conservation and Advocacy

Advocacy efforts prioritize protection of trail corridors, habitat connectivity, and wilderness character on lands managed by the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and state parks systems. The association partners with conservation organizations including The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, and local land trusts to address threats like wildfire impacts, invasive species, and land-use change. Engagement includes testimony at public meetings, participation in planning processes for corridors such as those under the National Trails System Act, and collaboration with research institutions, universities, and citizen science programs to promote resilient trail management and long-term preservation of backcountry experiences.

Category:Hiking organizations of the United States