{"id":16687,"date":"2021-12-29T05:00:18","date_gmt":"2021-12-29T10:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pnts.org\/new\/?p=16687"},"modified":"2021-12-29T17:20:48","modified_gmt":"2021-12-29T22:20:48","slug":"pacific-crest-national-scenic-trail-2021-highlights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pnts.org\/new\/pacific-crest-national-scenic-trail-2021-highlights\/","title":{"rendered":"Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail 2021 Highlights"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) provided the following highlights for the Pacific Crest NST during the 2021 calendar year:<\/p>\n

Collaboration and Engagement<\/h2>\n
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Crystal Gail Welcome: photo by Crystal Gail Welcome.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The PCTA sponsored Crystal Gail Welcome\u2019s “Footprints for Change Hike for Justice” this summer on the Pacific Crest Trail portion of the Great Western Loop. Crystal shared her experience in PCTA\u2019s Communicator magazine and on the organization’s blog (https:\/\/www.pcta.org\/author\/cgail\/<\/a>), to encourage members of the PCT community to become more aware and more mindful of ourselves.<\/p>\n

After a lengthy battle with a rare brain disease, Crystal Gail Welcome came to recognize the healing power of nature. She now uses her experience to break down barriers so more people can access the outdoors. Crystal is an experiential educator, author, storyteller, activist, backpacker, and Black outdoor leader. She chooses to speak out against racial injustice in the United States by hiking and giving voice to her experiences.<\/p>\n

In her first blog post for PCTA, Crystal wrote, “The systems of oppression and disadvantages that excluded BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) from the outdoors is detrimental to the future of our trails and our planet. As humans, our experience with the land reflects how we treat it, a meaningful connection with Nature instills a desire to protect it and maintain her.<\/p>\n

“I think about the future of the trails and of our Earth. I know for a fact I want us to have both\u2014and I want them to thrive. For that to occur, people must work to maintain our trails and protect Nature. This starts with relationships to the Earth and with one another.<\/p>\n

“Today I invite everyone to start a new relationship with a trail and a human. Walk a trail, attend a trail clean up, and get to know your neighbor in the process.”<\/p>\n

Education, Interpretation and Cultural Expression<\/h2>\n
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Screenshot of PCTA interactive map courtesy of PCTA.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n