Hike The Hill Wrap-Up

American Hiking Society’s Hike the Hill: Trails Advocacy Week 2010 welcomed 100+ trails advocates and hiking enthusiasts from across the nation to Washington, DC February 20-25 to promote and protect our nation's system of trails. HTH Advocates spent the week developing their advocacy skills, getting up to speed on important legislative and policy issues, and educating and urging Congress to protect trails and the hiking experience from coast to coast!

The Weekend

Opening weekend was packed with events: many participants attended Partnership for the National Trails System meetings, while others geared up at Issues Briefings and Advocacy Trainings - two days of presentations from trails, conservation and youth stewardship organizations, and agency and Congressional staff.

At Sunday evening's Welcome Reception, special guest Christine Fanning, Executive Director of The Outdoor Foundation announced their new initiative, Outdoor Nation, and introduced Youth Ambassadors Julia Lopez and Sasha DiGiulian. American Hiking is a proud partner of Outdoor Nation, a community of young Outsider athletes, artists, advocates, and ambassadors who are champions of our treasured landscapes. The backdrop to the festivities was an amazing trails video show provided by Virtual Active, producer of first person, interactive hiking, running, and biking experiential videos set in the most beautiful trail locations around the world.

The Week

We kicked off the week Monday morning with our Opening event, a Hike on the National Mall. Click here for photos and video!

Trails Advocacy Week is a rare and important opportunity to educate our political decisionmakers and advocate for increased funding, protection and promotion of trails and our natural heritage.  HTH Advocates spend long hours and many months prior to coming to Washington, DC preparing for meetings with their Congressmen and Senators. This year, Advocates held over 500 individual meetings on Capitol Hill, with Congressional leadership, USDA/Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Office of Management and Budget, Senate and House Interior Appropriations Committees, and Department of the Interior's Office of Youth Employment. A big thanks to Congressional and agency staff who assisted us in scheduling these important meetings – your continued support is critical for trails and the hiking experience of the 75 million Americans who hike each year!

As the week drew to a close, HTH participants, conservation partners, and Congressional and agency leadership and staff convened outside of the halls of Capitol to compare notes on legislative initiatives, policy issues, and lessons learned during hundreds of meetings…and enjoy a cold one! The Congressional Trails Caucus Reception was co-hosted by the Caucus, American Hiking and the Partnership for the National Trails System in the elegant Members Room at the Library of Congress. The Caucus is a geographically diverse, bipartisan group that exists to increase awareness about the treasure that is our National Trails System, which is especially important at a time when Americans need as many opportunities as possible to get active, get healthy, and get back to work. Learn more about the Caucus and check the list of Caucus members to see if your representative supports trails. Special thanks to American Hiking sponsor Fetzer for their generous donation of a delicious wine selection for the evening.

We have much to celebrate in 2010!

Hike the Hill 2010 demonstrated the contributions and commitment of our national community of trails and hiking enthusiasts and their conservation and youth stewardship partners who work tirelessly to promote, protect and maintain our national system of trails. We thank our HTH Advocates and their trail organizations’ leadership, staff and volunteers who’s help throughout the year enables them to spend this important week in Washington, DC.

This year, Hike the Hill:

-Increased number and diversity of Advocates over previous years, including leaders and volunteer advocates from National Scenic, Historic and Recreation Trails organizations, conservation and youth stewardship/employment organizations, outdoor industry, recreation social networkers, and local high school and university students.

-Expanded the advocacy agenda beyond the trail tread and wagon rut to include legislative and policy issues addressing threats to trails, landscape level conservation and management, youth stewardship and employment opportunities, and funding mechanisms and partnerships to support maintenance and expansion of urban and backcountry trails across the nation.

-Amplified the trails advocacy message to new audiences and constituencies through new Hike the Hill events, such as the First Annual Hike on the National Mall, and through new social media and networking avenues, such as Facebook, Twitter, texting, trails and hiking blogs.

Did you come to Hike the Hill this year? Check out photos on our Facebook page, and please share any photos you took!

Join us in 2011! Why Should Trails Advocates Attend Hike the Hill? It’s Your Opportunity To…

• Network and share best practices with other trails advocates and organizations.
• Get training in lobbying and advocacy at the national level.
• Increase federal funding for your local trail as well as trails nationwide.
• Shape policies that promote and protect the hiking experience.
• Develop better relationships with the federal land management agencies.
• Meet influential decision-makers.
• Develop a better relationship with your Senators and Representatives.
• Let President Obama and his Administration know how important trails and the hiking experience are to you, your family and community, and America!

Here’s what some trails advocates & partners had to say about their Hike the Hill 2010 experience:

“Hike the Hill: Trails Advocacy Week was terrific!”  Dr. Elizabeth Warren, Old Spanish Trail Association

“It was a great session - and so many eager questions.”  Denise Ryan, National Trust for Historic Preservation

“Thanks for organizing and conducting a great week!  Of great benefit to us are the agency contacts / meetings. I accomplished my goals for this trip.”  Daniel Aynesworth, Carson Valley Trails Association

“Thanks for all your collaborative work as you promote youth on the National Trails!”  Ashley Hansen, Student Conservation Association

Check out the Hike the Hill 2010 Schedule of Events

Check out the Issues Briefings and Advocacy Trainings presentations and fact sheets

Check out photos of our first annual Hike on the National Mall.

Check out the coverage of the Hike on the National Mall by Fox 5 WTTG TV , including interviews with Rep. Connolly and American Hiking's own Greg Miller.

For more information about Hike the Hill: Trails Advocacy Week, email policy@americanhiking.org.