Dear Trailkeepers,
I hope this letter finds you well, with some time recently spent outside, soaking in the beauty of Oregon’s scenic landscapes. As fall settles in, I find myself reflecting on the past year—both personally and in the context of our work at Trailkeepers of Oregon. For me, it has been a year of profound change and challenge.
Earlier this year, I lost my father to lung cancer, just three months after his diagnosis. As you can imagine, it was a shock and a difficult time for my family and me. Along with my mom and three older sisters, my 81-year old dad influenced so much of my life, instilling in me core values that have shaped the man I am today—values that guide me in my work with TKO.
Goodness, service to others, and quality craftsmanship are things that my dad always got excited about when it came to TKO. A Navy veteran and a fine woodworker in his retirement, he always appreciated how community members stepped up and, in particular, loved seeing photos from our more technical projects. One project in particular that I shared about came to completion during his illness: TKO’s efforts, over the last year, to help reopen Shellburg Falls.
TKO is still piecing together our capacity in the Willamette Valley region, and yours truly had to dust off my ranger boots to support. Amazing TKO crew leaders in the region had the expertise, but not all the time and energy to work through land manager approvals and recruit community members to join them. I don’t get to put on a hard hat and join a trail party as often as I like, but it was necessary for the bridge-building trail parties at Shellburg Falls, a beloved natural area near Salem that was impacted by the historic 2020 Labor Day fires. But as nature begins to heal, we step in to help rebuild. I’ll never forget watching a team of volunteers carefully rig a 30-foot glulam stringer across Shellburg Creek, restoring hikers’ connection to the waterfall, a natural and scenic site in the Santiam Canyon. The park reopened in May after a nearly four-year closure. The restorative power at work in these woods and compassionate volunteers were doing their part in me, as I came to grips with losing my dad.
While the speed of my dad’s departure was too quick, I was fortunate in having time to say goodbye. I was able to make a number of trips over the spring and almost daily video calls in his final days. The day before his passing, I gave him a call. My mom tried to wake him, and while it seemed he was too sleepy, he heard my voice, grabbed the phone, and said, “Hi honey, how are you?” nearly as clear as ever. I did most of the talking, rambling on about life, my 8-year-old son’s endeavors, and things happening at TKO. I remember specifically sharing about a successful proposal I had just made at the State Forests Trust of Oregon to work on a trail extension of the Wilson River Trail. “Good show!” my dad said, sounding like his old self. That familiar phrase was his way of letting me know that he was proud of me and that he wanted me to keep it up. Along with a goodbye and “I love you,” those were the last words I heard from my dad. He passed away the next morning.
He has always been proud of our accomplishments since I joined TKO as its first paid staff member in 2017. Now, just over seven years later, we continue to increase our statewide presence. The Krugers from Wisconsin are annual donors to TKO. They have seen the impact of wildfires on the landscapes we aim to protect. Yet, with resilience, thoughtful planning, and the commitment of people like them and you, we’re managing to build new trails, reopen lost and damaged trails, and keep people like you engaged in caring for their public lands while growing new skills and creating community.
As we move into 2025, we face new challenges and new opportunities. The Forest Service’s budget crisis has placed increasing pressure on organizations like ours to step in and fill critical gaps. We’re committed to doing our part, but this requires strategic planning and scalable growth.
In total, the volunteer hours donated to our efforts over the past year represent more than $800,000 of in-kind service—a testament to the dedication of our volunteers and the power of community support. Your contribution, no matter the size, directly supports these volunteers and the essential work they do to keep Oregon’s trails open and safe. As my dad, Jerry Ray Kruger, would say, “Good show!”
Whether through your time or financial support, you are a crucial part of our community, and we couldn’t do this work without you. Let’s keep on keeping Oregon’s trails. Thank you for your ongoing generosity and support. Together, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive, and more resilient Oregon.
Happy trails,
Steve Kruger
TKO Executive Director
P.S. 2024 TKO Legacy Builders End of Year Giving Campaign is underway. Stay tuned for ways to be inspired to donate each week November 4th – December 31st!