Some people meet the Klamath Mountains only once or twice in their lives. Others feel the call so strongly that it becomes a kind of compass. Dr. Brad Marston — physicist, professor at Brown University, and our 2025 Volunteer of the Year — is one of those people whose life keeps bending back toward this rugged, rain-washed country. In this episode of Bigfoot Trail Tales, we sit down with Brad to explore the winding path that brought him from the world of theoretical physics to the deep canyons, marble caverns, and trail corridors of the Klamath Range. Brad talks about his early spark: a geology book that nudged him west in 1985, turning curiosity into a lifelong connection. From that first backpack in the Salmon Mountains to long days of trail work in the Yolla Bollys, he’s carried a scientist’s eye and a trail worker’s heart. Over the years, Brad has blended both worlds with clarity and wonder. He speaks about the therapy of swinging tools, the joy of wandering off-trail to discover rare plants on Marble Mountain, and the strange beauty of places like the Yellow Bullies where fire, time, and limestone shape whole stories in stone. He’s even woven the mountains into his academic life, sharing how limestone dissolution in the Marbles pulls carbon from the atmosphere — a quiet process of healing hidden inside the range. Brad also reminds us why long-distance trails matter. They knit ecosystems together. They help wildlife move. They help people understand change, especially in a time when fire is rewriting the map. As he points out, more than half of the Bigfoot Trail has burned since 2015, a living lesson in resilience and transformation. And behind all of it is a simple truth: trail work is a form of care. It’s physical, grounding, mindful, and joyful — a way of tending the land that has given him so much. As Brad looks toward retirement, he and his wife hope to move to Northwest California to be closer to the mountains that have shaped him. We could not imagine a more fitting homecoming. Join us for this conversation — a blend of science, story, stewardship, and the steady pull of a landscape powerful enough to reroute a life’s trajectory. Transcript Summary Brad Marston, the 2025 Volunteer of the Year, discussed his extensive experience with trail stewardship and his deep connection to the Klamath Mountains. He shared his journey from a physicist to a trail enthusiast, inspired by a book on California geology. Brad highlighted his work with the Bigfoot Trail Alliance, including a memorable trip in the Yellow Bullies and his passion for exploring Marble Mountain. He emphasized the therapeutic benefits of trail work and the importance of long-distance trails for public climate awareness. Brad also expressed his interest in moving to Northwest California to be closer to the Klamath Mountains and continue his trail work. Introduction to the Podcast Bigfoot Trail Alliance congratulates Brad Marston on being the 2025 Volunteer of the Year and thanks him for participating in the podcast. Brad shares his background as a physicist and how his scientific mindset shapes his thinking about landscapes and ecosystems. Brad recounts his first backpack trip to the Klamath mountains in 1985, inspired by a book on California geology, and his subsequent interest in the area's geology and ecology. Trail Stewardship and Mindfulness

A Life in the Saddle For nearly five decades, Ken Graves has ridden into the wilderness with horses at his side and purpose in his heart. As a seasoned horse packer on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Ken has spent most of his career navigating the rugged beauty of the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness — hauling tools, gear, and stories into the backcountry. A Conversation with Ken Graves In our latest podcast episode, we sit down with Ken to talk about his remarkable journey. He shares memories from a lifetime on the trail, reflections on the changing nature of public lands, and his commitment to training the next generation of packers — people who will carry on this vital, behind-the-scenes work that makes modern trail stewardship possible. The Backbone of Backcountry Work Horse packers like Ken are the unsung heroes of trail work. Machines aren't allowed in wilderness so it's the hoofbeats of mules and horses that bring in what’s needed to get the job done. Their contribution to trail conservation is quiet, powerful, and essential. How You Can Get Involved We invite you to listen in, be inspired by Ken’s story, and consider how you can support the trail — not just by hiking it, but by helping care for it. The Bigfoot Trail Alliance offers opportunities for all skill levels to get involved, whether on remote volunteer vacations deep in the Klamath Mountains or weekend work trips near the trailhead. Every hand, hoof, and heart counts. Listen to the episode and learn more at bigfoottrail.org/podcast Sign up to volunteer at bigfoottrail.org/volunteer

Congratulations to Sylas and Oliver! We are excited to announce that our 2024 Volunteers of the Year are Sylas Kauffmann and Oliver Bullwinkle. They each volunteered 118 hours doing trail work across two week-long trips. The first trip was into the Siskiyou Wilderness where they worked on the Bigfoot Trail from Poker Flat toward Young’s Valley. Their second trip of the summer was to the Russian Wilderness where they worked on five miles of the Pacific Crest Trail — after our Marble Mountain trip was rerouted due to the Shelly Fire. In this episode of the Bigfoot Trail Tales, proud dad Michael Kauffmann interview Sylas and Oliver about their adventures working and exploring along the Bigfoot Trail. They share tales of food, tools, and friends made along the way. Oliver Bullwinkle (left) and Sylas Kauffmann (right) enjoy a fine backcountry meal during a volunteer work trip in the summer of 2024.

For this episode we spoke with Eva Pointkowski who solo hiked around 200 miles of the Bigfoot Trail this summer. Eva grew up in the San Francisco area and nurtured her love of the outdoors in the Sierra Nevada. On a hike in the Marble Mountain Wilderness last year she learned of the Bigfoot Trail when she met one of our Trail Crews. In June 2024 she set out to do the southern half of the trail from the Yolla Bollys to the Marble Mountains. On her trip she encountered California Conservation Corp crews out in the backcountry, overgrown sections of the trail, high river crossings, snow fields in the high mountains, and even a too close rattlesnake encounter. She also discusses conifer highlights and the impact of fires along the trail. Eva also came out in the fall to join on a volunteer trail work trip on Wooley Creek. This particular trip was a 13 mile hike to camp with work being done beyond that. She discusses working with the tools and crosscut saws, and how much work goes into maintaining these trails. She wanted to give back and become a part of the “Bigfoot Family.” We are happy to have her as an addition to the family and thank her for bringing her passion and great attitude to the trail. Eva Piontkowski and Karen Orso working a cross-cut saw deep in the Marble Mountain Wilderness.

We are re-launching our podcast here at the Bigfoot Trail Alliance with a redux of one we recorded in 2015. Mary Kwart, now a board member, ended her adventure in August 2015 and sat down with Michael Kauffmann to tell her Bigfoot Trail Tales. In this episode we explore details of Mary’s hike and the affects of fire on the long distance hiking community. Mary’s PostHoler Report