I'm raising funds on #GivingTuesday for Washington's National Park Fund because our national parks deserve our support. I'm inviting you to join me as I celebrate 20 years of Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks in my life. As some of you know, in August 2002 I embarked on the biggest backpacking journey I've ever done--hiking the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier. Hiking the 94-mile Wonderland Trail was an epic undertaking for a girl from New Jersey who loved to backpack and invited several of her friends along to join on the 12-day trip. That trip changed my life and my passion for our national parks in a big way. Fast forward to 2022...here I am with the fortunate opportunity to work every day to help keep Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades National Parks special for everyone.

Since moving to Seattle in 2020, I've had many opportunities to hike the same trails I hiked 20 years ago and also to visit so many incredible new ones. I invite you to join me to make a gift in honor of all the memories you have and to provide assurance that our parks will be there for many more decades to come!

Here's a little photo montage of few 2002 photos and some new ones on the Wonderland.

In 2002, my friend Chris Rapacki made a bracelet for me out of little blocks that says "Wonderlandrea" that I wore on the entire trip, and I still have it!

Please join me in supporting these special places so they can remain vibrant and thriving well into the future.