Cape Horn Conservancy is an all volunteer non-profit dedicated to providing thoughtful stewardship of the Cape Horn Trail and surrounding public lands in the Washougal to Stevenson corridor. We work closely with the United States Forest Service (USFS), Washington Trails Association (WTA), and Friends of the Columbia Gorge (FOCG) to maintain and improve the existing trail and to plan for its eventual integration into a Washougal to Stevenson trail system. We have a vision of this trail as a world-class hiking destination, a jewel of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area trail system.  Please join us in this effort.  

History of the Conservancy
Major Accomplishments
Annual Reports
Video of the dedication of the Nancy Russell Overlook, with lots of history of the trail and the Cape Horn area

Board of Directors

President - Cyndi Soliz
Cyndi grew up on the banks of the Columbia River and admits to having river water running through her veins. She is a founding member of the Cape Horn Conservancy. She works as a partnership Specialist for the Skamania County Noxious Weed Program and is committed to protecting and improving native habitat. She is deeply committed to Skamania County and serves her community through volunteer work for the Cape Horn Conservancy, Gorge Refuge Stewards, County Planning Commission, and as a board supervisor for the Underwood Conservation District. 

​

Vice-President – Jill Turner
As an Oregon native, and an avid hiker and cyclist, Jill has spent many delightful hours in the Columbia River Gorge, where she has grown to cherish the biological and aesthetic richness it offers. She is particularly fond of the Cape Horn Trail and is deeply dedicated to enhancing and protecting it for future generations. Her experience as a community college biology instructor has led her to appreciate the importance of sharing the beauty and ecological importance of our natural world with others and, hopefully, inspiring them to enjoy and care for it, as well. 
​

Secretary – Sharon Ross
Sharon is an avid hiker, cross country skier and snow shoer. She has hiked all over the world including the Dolomites, Japan, Morocco, and Patagonia. The Cape Horn Trail, right in her back yard, is as memorable as trails in these other countries. She wants her two grandchildren and future generations to enjoy the wildflowers, water falls, and Columbia Gorge views which the Cape Horn Trail offers. Volunteering for work parties, leading hikes and serving on the Cape Horn Conservancy board are some of the ways she supports what she loves. 

​

​
Treasurer – Elaine Pfeifer
Elaine's professional background is in accounting and office administration. She currently works for a company in Vancouver. She has served as a Director on the Washougal School Board for over 10 years and has been with Cape Horn conservancy for over five years. "We are so fortunate to live in the beautiful Columbia Gorge and have this trail in our back yard. I am honored to do what I can to support the mission of the Cape Horn Conservancy in preserving and maintaining this trail for the benefit of all of us." 

​

​Barb Seaman
When Barb moved to Washougal from suburban Chicago in 2003, she was amazed to find so many opportunities to hike and explore the many landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. Inspired by the beauty of the gorge, and later by the commitment and energy of the Cape Horn Conservancy, she happily joined the board in the fall of 2015. Barb’s professional background is in public relations and television production, but in recent years has been more involved with volunteering and substituting for the Washougal School District. 

Shawn Mathiesen
Shawn and her husband moved to Camas, WA from Maryland in 2016 to enjoy the endless outdoor opportunities of the Columbia River Gorge.  While hiking the Cape Horn Trail, they ran into Teresa Robbins and learned of the Cape Horn Conservancy, and immediately became volunteers to support a trail they so much enjoy hiking, that is so close to home.  Shawn's professional background is in information technology and she is using that background to update and maintain the CHC website, email, and member database.

   

​Logan Forgey
Born and raised in Camas, WA, Logan spent most of his youth up in the Gorge exploring during Boy Scout
outings. With an Eagle Scout award and a major in Recreation Management from Eastern Washington
University, he enjoys supporting Columbia River Gorge outdoor organizations that promote recreation,
conservation, and stewardship. On any given weekend, you can expect him to be hiking, backpacking,
snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or perhaps paying a visit to one of the local Gorge breweries.

Becky McClain
Born in the Midwest, Becky moved to the Southeast and Southwest, until landing in the Pacific Northwest in the 1990's. As a lover of the outdoors, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, x country skiing and sea kayaking, which makes the Northwest a wonderful playground. Since retiring, she volunteers for the Washington Trails Association and Cape Horn Conservancy performing trail maintenance; and walks shelter dogs for the Southwest Washington Humane Society. Discovering the Cape Horn trail many years ago, she's noticed the abundance of changes from the rudimentary trail of the past, and has seen how hikers have flocked to this area for its variety of wildflowers, waterfalls and scenic overlooks of the Columbia Gorge.