A letter from EMBA Board President, Tony Hickock.
I recently rode at Squilchuck State Park outside of Wenatchee with my two daughters. My oldest, now 7, was on 24-inch wheels for the first time. My youngest, 3, was gripping tightly to my handlebars, bouncing along on her shotgun seat.
This is our go-to ride. A perfect way to start the season. The kind of morning that makes everything else fall away.
I never forget, though, that this ride might not have ever been.
About a decade ago, Squilchuck faced an uncertain future. Like many recreation areas across Washington, it was dealing with real challenges around funding, maintenance, and long-term viability. The park wasn't dying, but it wasn't thriving, either. It needed someone to see what it could be and put in the work to get there.
Evergreen played a central role during that time. Trail building that improved the riding experience. Advocacy that helped make sure the park remained a destination for our community. The kind of quiet, persistent effort that doesn't make headlines but changes what's possible for the riders who show up years later.
My daughters don't know any of that history. They just know they love riding at Squilchuck. And that's the whole point.
Support the trails you love to ride.
The work behind the ride
We all think the season begins with that first ride. The first stretch of dirt after a long winter. The first climb that burns a little more than you remember. The first descent that reminds you why you love this.
But the truth is, the season starts long before any of that.
Right now, across Washington, Evergreen's crews are already out. Before most riders have put tires to dirt, crews and volunteers are clearing downed trees, repairing winter damage, rebuilding tread, and getting trails ready. From Tiger Mountain to the Methow to Swan Creek, the work is happening in every corner of the state.
It's physical work. It's often unseen. And it happens because this community makes it possible.
A moment that calls for commitment
This spring, Evergreen has 11 trail projects across all 10 chapters. Storm recovery in Central Washington. Maintenance on Tiger and Raging River after the DNR stepped back from its contract. A new education zone at Swan Creek in Tacoma. The final phase of Naneum Ridge. Professional crews at Port Gamble and the Yacolt Burn.
The needs are real. The permits are in hand. The crews are scheduled. What's left is the funding to keep them on the ground long enough to finish the work.
That's where this community comes in. Donate here.
What sets Evergreen apart
We're not just riders who show up for the good days. We're a community that shows up for the work behind them.
We come together so that crews can go out tomorrow and do the trail work. Work that makes sure our trails are ready this season, and that they're still here years from now for the next generation of riders.
For me, that next generation is a 7-year-old on 24-inch wheels and a 3-year-old bouncing on a shotgun seat. For you, it might be something different. But the feeling is the same.
Your season starts here
If you've ever had a day on the trail that reminded you why you ride, this is your chance to give that back. To put something into the places that have given so much to all of us.
The campaign runs through April 19. Every dollar goes to trail crews already scheduled across all ten chapters.
Give now at give.evergreenmtb.org
Your season doesn't start on your first ride. It starts here.
Tony Hickok is the President of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance's Board of Directors. He lives in Wenatchee with his family and rides at Squilchuck whenever his daughters let him.