Vital funding for our national parks has been slashed. 4,500 National Park and Forest Service employees were cut (24%), including biologists, climate specialists, archeologists, and park superintendents. Now, Trump is proposing an additional $1.4 billion funding cut (a 37% reduction) in 2026. That means fewer rangers, fewer scientists, and fewer trail crews to protect the spaces already at risk from climate change.

Maintenance and research are falling behind. Trails are deteriorating. Wildlife protection is catastrophic. Clean air and water protections are gone. Staffing in my favorite hiking area dropped from 11 Rangers to 1. Our parks deserve better.

Over the past year, I’ve felt helpless as I’ve watched the conditions in my favorite places deteriorate due to these funding cuts. So I’m partnering with Alpine Ascents to climb Mount Rainier to raise $5,000 for Washington’s National Park Fund (WNPF), which directly supports preservation, restoration, and access to Washington’s national parks. 🏔️🌲

If you’ve ever hiked, camped, climbed, or simply found peace in these places, I’d love your support.