For episode 211, we've got Willie Bittner, founder of Great Lakes Trail Builders, and current President of the Professional Trail Builders Association. Willie has been trail building nearly his entire life, starting out with Boy Scout projects, then working for various Conservation Corps organizations on, and alongside various trail builders before Founding WisCorps, and Great Lakes Trail Builders. Willie brings some insight and stories not commonly found with other guests here on Trail EAffect.
Topics Include:
How Willie got into Trail Building
Leaving Wisconsin to work for the California Backcountry Program
Getting into hand build stonework in the California Wilderness
Hand built trail vs Machine Built trail
Heading to the East Coast to work for the Vermont Conservation Corps
Transitioning from working with Conservation Corps to working with Peter S Jenson & Associates.
Accessible Trails
Starting Great Lakes Trail Builders and Co-Founding WisCORPS in La Crosse, WI
Meeting Willie for the first time
WisCORPS is and what it was like rebooting a Conservation Corps in WI.
The transition back to running Great Lakes Trail Builders
Going to South Argentina / Patagonia Region to build trails
The challenges of building in this region
Moving his family to Argentina for trail building
Being covered by National Geographic for Trail Building
Trail Building as a legit trade
Reflecting on the past 50 years of the Professional Trail Builders Association
The 2026 PTBA Conference in Boise
Becoming a PTBA member company
Willie becoming president of the PTBA
Training people in traditional stone work
Building in Superior National Forest in Northern MN
Rebuilding stairs out of stone (from wood)
The 2027 International Trail Summit in North Carolina
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