PNTA history

In 1977, Strickland founded the Pacific Northwest Trail Association to develop, preserve, and protect the Pacific Northwest Trail.

The first-hand account of two of those journeys made the cover of Backpacker Magazine #34, which was published in 1979.

The feasibility study was completed in 1980, and though it found that the PNT met all the criteria for a National Scenic Trail, the estimated cost of implementing the trail was astronomical.

The Enabling Legislation was amended several times over the years, and in 1993 the taxing authority was revoked.

In 1998 the legislation was re-codified and the name was changed to the Charlotte County Airport Authority.

Out comes a yellow pamphlet, which Strickland flips in his fingers to expose the prominent title to the dayhikers.” -“The Prophet of the PNT” Backpacker Magazine 2000.

In 2008, Congressman Norm Dicks and Senator Maria Cantwell introduced legislation to designate the full length of the Pacific Northwest Trail as a national scenic trail.

During July 2010, the Authority approved a name change of the airport facility (not the Authority itself) to Punta Gorda Airport.

In 2011 legislation was re-codified again that allowed for the Airport Authority to change the name of the airport from the Charlotte County Airport to the Punta Gorda Airport.

In August 2015, the US Forest Service established the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Advisory Committee.