Washington Trails Association

Do you hike with a first aid kit? And if you carry one, have you taken inventory of it lately? Now is the perfect time to build one OR to check that your existing first aid kit is still suiting your hiking needs.

How to build a hiker's first aid kit A first aid kit is an essential part of your hiking equipment. Prepackaged kits contain much of what you need, at a reasonable price. But you should consider supplementing those kits with personal medications, a flexible splint, a small roll of duct tape, povidone iodine, irrigation syringe, forceps...

Our Outdoor Leadership Training program supports educators to get youth outside. We recently connected with partners at Tacoma Public Schools to learn more about how they're building a better future for their students.

Outdoor educators who inspire: Tacoma Online Assistant Principal Ruth Schlattmann on why it's vital for all kids to have the opportunity to experience community, set goals and stretch their comfort zones with outdoor experiences, even when they go to school in a largely online environment.

Keep an eye out for wildfires, bugs and air quality with this week's hiking news 🔥

Hiker Headlines: Heat wave, new fires near North Cascades Hwy, Cascade Crest 100, bugs & beauty A heat wave and poor air quality hit central and eastern Washington. A new wildfire near Rainy Pass temporarily closed a section of the North Cascades Hwy. It's reopened, but unplanned pass closures are possible due to wildfire activity. New fire flares up in the SE corner of the state. The Cascade....

WTA is hiring a Donor Relations Officer!

We are looking for candidates who are passionate about deepening relationships with key donors, fostering an equitable and inclusive hiking community and inspiring trail users to invest in our vision of Trails for Everyone, Forever. This position is full-time, exempt and based in Seattle.

The priority deadline is August 7. Learn more at wta.org/careers

In his exclusive interview with WTA, Miles the Marmot discussed the much anticipated hiking event of the season, Hike-a-Thon.

When asked about his favorite Hike-a-Thon prize he told us:

"I just love the Hike-a-Thon T-shirts so much! When you’re born with cryptic coloration, you love anything that helps you stand out. Plus, it’s fun to spot other Hike-a-Thoners and know you’re part of a community that’s making sure there will always be trails for everyone, forever."

Hear more on what he has to say about WTA's signature hiking event in the link below.

📸 Photo by Jenny Stuart

Moments with Miles, the Hike-a-Thon spokesmarmot Hike-a-Thon’s spokesmarmot chats with WTA staff about his favorite event of the year!

We recently hit an incredible milestone: 250,000 trip reports!

That is a quarter million acts of kindness, in the form of trip reports, that have helped empower hikers like you to get outside. Let's celebrate them 🎉🙌🏼

Finally, THANK YOU to all of the trip reporters who make our community so great. We can't wait to see where you hike next 👀

250,000 trip reports! A quarter million acts of kindness for the common good How one tiny, generous habit has had a big impact for public lands and the trail community in Washington.

We've got 22 hikes to add to your summer bucket list! By gathering some the best mileage to view ratios in Washington, it's hard to go wrong with any of these trails.⁠
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Which one are you checking out first? We can't wait to see your trip reports 🗻🥾

22 Short Summer Hikes with Giant Views Find big summer views without putting in long miles.

Join WTA at the 17th annual Pacific Crest Trail Days on August 16th & 17th, 2024 at the Marine Park of Cascade Locks, Oregon!

PCT Days celebrates and promotes hiking, camping, backpacking & outdoor stewardship. Attendees are invited to check out WTA and over 100 other exhibiting sponsors to connect with other hikers and to participate in activities, games, presentations, gear raffles and more.

Learn more about PCT days at www.pctdays.com. We hope to see you there!

Crossing streams, rivers or creeks can seem intimidating, but these tips will help make your next crossing a safe and enjoyable one.

How to Navigate Water Crossings: Fording Rivers, Streams and Creeks Safely

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a... drone?!

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, drones are here to stay. Use this guide to learn the latest rules and regulations for drone usage on Washington trails before you leave for your next outdoor adventure: www.wta.org/go-outside/trail-smarts/hikers-guide-to-drones

Want to know what all these photos have in common? They were taken from land!⁠
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It’s World Orca Day and with the help of the Orca Network whale sightings viewpoint map, we've tracked down seven of the best trails in Washington for viewing whales. ⁠
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Find out why you should add watching whales from land to your summer bucket list:
https://www.wta.org/go-outside/seasonal-hikes/spring-destinations/7-best-trails-to-view-whales-from-land

📸 Photos by Victoria Obermeyer
📍 Land of the Coast Salish People

Calling all adventurers and trivia buffs 📣

Join us for an epic night of brain-teasing fun at Acorn Brewery on July 18th at 7:00 PM! Test your knowledge, sip on some amazing brews, and help support Sahale Outdoors' mission to get more people outdoors.

Tag your trivia team and get ready for a night of laughs, learning, and a whole lot of fun!

Safety warning for Mount St. Helens’ crater rim, updates on trail closures and state-wide fire restrictions are in this week’s Hiker Headlines.

Hiker Headlines: Mount St. Helens crater rim collapse, Lake 22 and Shoofly Fire trail closures A large piece of the Mount St. Helens crater rim has collapsed, resulting in danger and instability at the top of the Monitor Ridge route. July 16 is the Bureau of Land Management’s birthday, and parking fees will be waived on its lands. Over a thousand hikers pledged to stay on trail on Washingto...

Our Outdoor Leadership Training program supports educators to get youth outside. We recently connected with partners at Swiftwater Learning Center to learn more about how they're building a better future for their students.

Outdoor educators who inspire: Swiftwater Learning Center Educator Michele Montgomery on how she uses hands-on learning and the outdoor classroom to share a sense of place and comfort and the outdoors. For high school students growing up in a recreation and tourism town at the foot of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, those lessons can lead to lifelong passions...

We know hikers have an impact. How we hike affects the other people sharing the trail with us, the wildlife that lives nearby and surrounding nature.

We can all do our part to protect the places we love, and staying on trail is an essential piece. Here are four of the biggest reasons why it’s important to stay on trail.

How we hike matters: 4 good reasons why staying on trail helps trails and public lands How we hike affects the other people sharing the trail with us, the wildlife that lives nearby and surrounding nature. We can all do our part to protect the places we love, and staying on trail is an essential piece. Here are four of the biggest reasons why it’s important to stay on trail.

This June, Washington Trails Association celebrated the 58th anniversary of the first issue of Signpost magazine and the origin story of WTA. It all started in 1966, when the late guidebook author, hiker and mountaineer Louise Marshall founded WTA as Signpost, a grassroots newsletter where trail lovers in the Northwest could share their backcountry adventures and trail conditions.

To celebrate 58 years of being a part of Washington's hiking and trail community, we delved into our archive for a few vintage finds. Click the story to enjoy some fun WTA projects from over the years.

58 years of Signpost magazine: Vintage finds from the early years of WTA We delve into the archives to celebrate the 58th anniversary of the first issue of Signpost magazine and the origin story of Washington Trails Association.

3,618 people volunteered on trail with us last year. But, we recognize that people’s time and energy are valuable and scarce.

Here are four reasons it can be hard to get out to volunteer — and how we’re trying to break down those barriers.

Volunteering made easy Learn 4 things that keep people from volunteering — and what we’re doing about it. By Loren Drummond

Snag one of the few remaining spots left to climb the tallest peak in Washington, Mount Rainier, THIS MONTH as part of an annual partnership between WTA and 🗻
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Participants will signup at the discounted price of $1,705 and raise funds that will go directly back to WTA's work to support trails. The climb is led by a spectacular group of Kaf Adventure guides, who rank among the best in the business, to help you every step of the way. Grab a friend or two and do something challenging, rewarding and truly unforgettable.

More info below:
https://www.kafadventures.com/mountaineering/mt-rainier-summit-climb/

Trip reporters Bob and Barb have been sharing their stories and helping other hikers get on trail for decades. They've collectively written more than 1,400 trip reports, from 2005 to today.

Learn more about these outstanding trip reporters and how they've nourished the WTA hiking community ⬇️

Trip report corner: Decades of hikes and stories Peer into years of hiking experience with longtime WTA trip reporters Bob and Barb.

Frustrated you missed out on reserving your favorite campsites ahead of time this summer? We've got plenty of tips for finding your perfect campsite, but there's another option you shoulder consider (if you're willing to get your hands dirty): joining a day work party that offers camping!

Read more about the benefits of joining summer day work parties (or sign up for one) below.

Go camping with a WTA work party this summer Having a hard time snagging a campsite this summer? WTA may be hosting a work party with camping right where you want to be. Check out the schedule today!

The newest update to our app, WTA Trailblazer, is now available for iPhone and Android! We've added our hike recommender, which gives you personalized hiking suggestions based on your saved trails🎉⁠
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You can also:⁠
🥾 Save hikes so you can access maps and descriptions offline⁠
🥾 Get current info on snow levels, fires and air quality⁠
🥾 Check trip reports for current conditions⁠
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Follow the link to download Washington's trusted hiking app!
https://www.wta.org/our-work/about/trailblazer-mobile-app

Wild Society is hiring a new Executive Director position. Check out their job announcement to learn more about the role, the program and how to apply!

Job Opportunities Job Opportunities Wild Society is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applications from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color), women, non-cis-gendered people, and other people underrepresented in outdoor organizations. In ecosystems and human societies alike, we know that diversity s...

5 days left to register for Trails & Ales! Meet with folks who love the outdoors for an evening of talking trails with WTA and friends. RSVP to join us Tuesday, July 16 at Gearhouse's Basecamp Cafe from 6:00–7:30 p.m. We hope to see you there!

Send a message to learn more

Congrats to the winners of our trip reporter giveaway, trip reporters SavvyExploring and Beohmer! Their journeys took them to scenic trails across Washington, inspired by this year's Hike the State presentation.

Get inspiration of your own and see what 12 trails WTA staff picked from this year's Hike the State: www.wta.org/go-outside/seasonal-hikes/summer-destinations/hike-the-state-2024-12-trails-picked-for-you-by-wta-staff

📸 Photos by trip reporters SavvyExploring and Beohmer

📍 Land of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Yakama, Wenatchi and Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Peoples

Looking for a fun corner of the Mount Rainier National Park area to visit without worrying about timed entry reservations? Just check out the Carbon Glacier Corridor's new visitor access map to guide your visit, as developed in part by WTA and other partners 🏔️

New local map makes the Carbon River corner of Rainier easier to explore On the Northwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park is a series of communities and outdoor experiences that make an ideal getaway for visiting the park, even when you don’t have reservations. The town of Wilkeson has collaborated with partners, including WTA, to create a locally-designed visito...

WTA's community partnerships and leadership development director, Krista Dooley, sat down with Osprey Packs to chat about our Outdoor Leadership Program and Gear Lending Libraries.

Learn about how our Outdoor Leadership Program helps get youth outside by putting community first.

Washington Trails Association’s Gear Library Puts Community First When Krista Dooley at Washington Trails Association(Opens in a new window) (WTA)

Happy ! We hope this post inspires you to keep cool this week as warmer temps arrive.

Excited to get outside this weekend? You're not the only one. Don't forget to and:

🗺️ Plan ahead
🥾 Travel and camp on durable surfaces
🧻 Dispose of waste properly
🌼 Leave what you find
🔥 Minimize campfire impacts aka DON'T START A WILDFIRE
🐻 Respect wildlife
👋🏽 Be considerate of other visitors

Find more information on leave no trace at www.wta.org/go-outside/trail-smarts/no-trace

📸 Photo by Matthew Martens
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📍 Land of the Puyallup People

Are you a green hat trail maintenance volunteer interested in becoming an assistant crew leader (ACL)? Join us on July 9 for a virtual ACL Q&A to learn more about the application process (and have a bit of fun). Register here: www.wta.org/volunteer/schedule/workparty/a2mPB000000eLQk/

Whether you are planning on applying soon, or if you are curious to hear the requirements and application process, all green hats are welcome!

Community and shared space with other people is a key part of a healthy life, but sometimes it's nice to take a break from human-generated noise in favor of the healing qualities of nature.

Here are a few places we recommend for hikers hoping to find quiet 🌲

Escape the noise: Hike somewhere quiet this weekend If summer weekends in town are just way too noisy for you, head outside. While camping and backpacking is popular in Washington and you're likely to share the trail with a few folks, here are some likely quieter locations you might find respite.

WTA: happy new year!

Larry David: the statute of limitations has kind of run out on the new year. Three days is plenty.

Sorry Larry, here are our Ins & Outs for 2024: Washington Trails edition 🌲

What would you add?