Our Story
Ira Spring and his wife Pat dedicated their lives to the beauty of wilderness and mountain photography. Their passion transformed into activism, advocating for non-motorized access to the wild areas of the Pacific Northwest. In the 1960s, Ira played a pivotal role in securing wilderness legislation, tirelessly engaging with lawmakers and land managers to preserve hiking opportunities. Together with co-author Harvey Manning, they published over 40 hiking guidebooks, sharing their love for the trails.
As a co-founder of the Washington Trails Association, Ira was instrumental in its early funding. By the 1990s, the organization expanded from advocacy to hands-on trail maintenance, a mission initially supported by Ira's generous contributions. Today, the Washington Trails Association dedicates over 100,000 volunteer hours annually to maintain and enhance trails.