Ever wondered how you can do more for public lands but you aren’t sure where to start? Outdoor Alliance’s Outdoor Allies series explores how other outdoor adventurers got their start in advocacy work and their advice for how you can harness your passion for the outdoors into advocacy for the land and water you love. Shalin Desai, of Frederick, Maryland, is the Vice President of Advancement for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), whose mission is to manage, protect and advocate for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T.). In his role, he oversees the organization’s development, communications, education, outreach and visitor services work. Prior to starting this role in late 2019, he served on ATC’s Board of Directors for several years and, before that, spent a decade working as an operations and sales consultant in the private sector. He is the first person of South Asian descent to complete the Triple Crown of hiking, which includes end-to-end hikes of the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail.