The 2025 Footprint Award
Trails throughout the Portland Trails network are visited over one million times each year. But how did we arrive at that number? We’re not just guessing; we have devices—trail counters—that tell us how many people visit certain trails each day.
David von Seggern, a volunteer and member of our Trails and Trail Users Committee, leads our trail counter program. Each month, he installs three small counters throughout the trail network, monitors the data, analyzes the findings, and then moves them to their next locations.
At this year’s Annual Member Summit on April 16th, David received Portland Trails’ first annual Footprint Award, a distinction presented to an individual who has devoted a significant amount of time, energy, and effort to furthering Portland Trails’ mission.
David sharing remarks at the 2025 Annual Member Summit while Lindsay Conrad, Portland Trails’ Development Director, presents him with the Footprint Award
David, who is 81 and “long retired,” he says, arrived at his role at Portland Trails after a winding and impressive career. Originally from a farm in a small town in Nebraska, he has detected underground nuclear explosions, developed technology to find oil deposits, and worked as a seismologist (a.k.a. earthquake scientist) for a nuclear waste repository. (Needless to say, he’s pretty qualified to lead our trail counter program!)
However, David’s interest in environmental conservation began during his time at college in St. Louis, Missouri when he started spelunking, or exploring the region’s caves. “I got involved with cave preservation at that time. Caves can be damaged very easily, so it’s important to preserve their pristine identity,” he says.
A few decades later, he joined the Sierra Club while living in Oklahoma. “I was probably the only Sierra Club member working for an oil company!” he says. Soon after, he left his job because he didn’t agree with the harm being done to the environment.
After 30 years in Nevada, David moved to Portland in 2022. “I found Portland Trails immediately after moving,” he says. “First thing that spring, I joined a trail work day in the Fore River Sanctuary with Daniel. Daniel is the best person I’ve seen at getting volunteers working and feeling useful immediately. I don’t know if you can clone him, but it might be worth a try!” David joined the Trails and Trail Users Committee within the year.
One trail counter David discreetly installed on a tree next to a trail
His time as a seismologist installing sensors to detect earthquakes “was a natural link to what I do with the trail counters for Portland Trails,” he says. After setting up a counter in a discreet location—usually attached to a tree—he leaves it for about a month to get a good sample and then takes it down and bring it to the next location.
But the data the counters collect is what’s so valuable about them. The counters have infrared sensors (not cameras) that can detect whether people passing by are walking or biking based on their speed. “I’m sure a few deer have been counted, too,” says David. This data, he says, “is useful for writing grant proposals, planning trail upgrades, determining where we need better connectivity, and seeing how much usage new trails are getting.”
His dedication to the trail counter program made him an easy candidate for Portland Trails’ Footprint Award. Upon receiving his award, David shared some remarks about his admiration for the trail system. Then he pulled a trail counter out of his pocket to show everyone in attendance the little device that makes such a difference to the organization.
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, you can explore our volunteer opportunities here.