Meet Sven Haarhoff.

Sven is the Director of Charitable Giving for The San Juan Preservation Trust. Never heard of them??? That's ok a lot of  people haven't but if you've ever sailed though the San Juan Islands and wondered how in this day and age it has kept its pristine beauty then you've seen what they can do. In one of their latest endeavors they took on Turtleback Mountain. The mission??? Save the mountain. Not just a section or a particular coastline but the whole mountain.

You see the mountain, an iconic fixture of the San Juan Islands, was in danger of falling prey to land development. Needless to say this did not sit well with the San Juan residents.



Enter Sven and "The Trust".

In their most ambitious endeavor to date The San Juan Preservation Trust, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land and The San Juan County Land Bank, raised the over 18 million dollars that was needed to purchase the mountain and keep it from being dotted with homes, strip malls and the like. To do so they rallied the troops…and I do mean troops. Girl scouts, local schools, social groups and various local businesses turned out in record numbers for special events, promotions and an outdoor rally that may very well have been the largest community gathering in the history of the San Juans. Even famed cartoonist Gary Larson, creator of "The Far Side" comic, inked a Turtleback-inspired strip which was used to garner interest in the project.

"As the population grows and places like this attract more people, destinations like the San Juans become a victim of their own popularity," says Sven. "We think it is incumbent upon the people who live here to protect the natural resources we have not just for ourselves but for future generations."

Visible from throughout the archipelago, Turtleback Mountain is well-known for providing dramatic views over the San Juan Islands, the Canadian Gulf Islands, the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges, and numerous waterways in between. It is viewed by most to be the most significant and vulnerable property in the area.

On a personal note Sven adds, "I myself don't have children but I take great joy in knowing that we are working to protect places that are going to be enjoyed by my friends children, my nieces and my nephews. I think it's important for people NOT to be selfish and to protect the natural resources we have today."

We salute Sven and The San Juan Trust for all that they are doing to keep the Puget Sound area a place of natural beauty to be enjoyed now and for generations to come.