HOPPY HIKERS SHARE THE WONDER: FROM TRAILS TO TRIUMPH
In an inspiring demonstration of collective passion and community spirit, the “Hoppy Hikers” have blazed a new trail in creative giving. This enthusiastic hiking group recently collectively raised $25,000 to support Friends of the Columbia Gorge, helping to preserve a spectacular parcel of land known as Heartleaf Bluffs, Friends’ newest preserve and the centerpiece of the Share the Wonder campaign. With its grand twin bluffs, sweeping views, pristine stands of climate-resilient Oregon white oak, and the charming heartleaf buckwheat that inspired its name, Heartleaf Bluffs is an irreplaceable gem that calls for protection.
To secure the 100-acre Heartleaf Bluffs property for $2.5 million, the Wonderful Acre Club was created as part of Share the Wonder. This initiative allows each $25,000 donation to symbolically represent the preservation of one acre of this extraordinary land, ensuring it remains safe from the threat of irresponsible development. The Hoppy Hikers’ challenge successfully raised $25,000 for the Wonderful Acre Club and serves as a creative model for community spirit and collective impact. By turning their passion for hiking in the Gorge into a generous donation, they are helping ensure this heart-grabbing landscape endures for the next generation of hikers.
THE STORY OF THE HOPPY HIKERS
In 2014, a group of retirees came together with the idea of taking a hike once a week. They established a few guidelines: the hikes should be within a 90-minute drive from home, the group should always stop at a fork in the trail to make sure they stay together, and whenever possible, they should enjoy a beer at a local pub after the hike. It took about a year to settle on a name, but eventually, they toasted to becoming the “Hoppy Hikers.” Recently, the Hoppy Hikers celebrated 10 years of hiking, which when added up, means they’ve hiked the distance from Portland to Boston. In celebration of that milestone, one member initiated a match challenge for the Share the Wonder campaign. The Hoppies rallied together and pitched in $25,000 in support of the Gorge and the Wonderful Acre challenge.
One group member describes her experience with the Hoppy Hikers as transformative, sharing that she knew little of the Columbia River Gorge and all its wonders before joining the group in late 2017. Through the weekly group outings, she realized just how many different hikes there were, where the lesser-known waterfalls could be found, and the ideal times and locations for taking in the awe of the Gorge’s unique spring wildflowers. Thanks to the group’s collective knowledge and encouragement, she became confident in hiking independently and developed
her own favorite Gorge spots.
Their success in transforming hiking adventures into a significant conservation effort is a powerful reminder that groups, large or small, can achieve extraordinary things
when driven by a common passion. To date, the Wonderful Acre Club has secured 60% of its $2.5 million goal to preserve Heartleaf Bluffs. If the Hoppy Hikers have motivated you to organize your own group initiative, please get in touch—I’d be eager to collaborate with you. Together, we can all preserve the remarkable landscapes that make the Gorge a place of wonder.
Lori Warner | Director of Philanthropy
lori@gorgefriends.org
971.634.0594
P.S. There are many ways to join Share the Wonder at any giving level! Explore options such as the Wonderful Oaks Club, Wonderful Trails Club, budget-friendly
monthly giving, gifts of stock, QCDs, and more here.