250,000 trip reports! A quarter million acts of kindness for the common good

Today, we hit an incredible milestone: 250,000 trip reports!

Posting a trip report after a hike takes, on average, about four minutes. After a day on trail when you want nothing more than a shower and some french fries, it takes extra intention and effort to post a trip report. To think about what someone following in your footsteps might want to know and to share back. Researching the latest info on trail and road conditions takes work. But, if you've ever tried to hike outside of Washington, you know that we've got it pretty good here.

So you take a few minutes and file a report.

The 250,000th trip report came from outstanding trip reporter and trail maintenance volunteer, RichP, reporting on access and conditions on the Flume Creek Trail (above) in the Selkirk Range. Whether it is your first report, or you've earned a badge for more than 200 reports, every report matters.

• These hikes need reports…
• Did you know you can search the WTA Hiking Guide for places that haven’t seen a trip report this season (or even longer)?
  
  If you’re the kind of person who has a tolerance for heading out into the unknown, these are places that need eyes-on-the-ground. 
  
  

As of 5:18 p.m. today, we have collectively taken a million minutes on wta.org to help each other out.

There’s a special kind of generosity among the hiking community here in Washington. Sometimes that shows up by posting a trip report. It’s a small act of kindness, done for strangers. It’s a contribution to the common good. It’s a tiny habit that, when taken together, creates an outsized impact. For our community. For the rangers and land managers who rely on hiker eyes and ears. For the researchers trying to understand trends in trail use or understand our changing ecosystems. 

So thank you, trip reporters. For each and every report over the years. We can't wait to see where you hike next.