Hiker Headlines: Emerging Leaders Program hiring, photo contest ending soon, Sunrise Visitor Center closed for the season

It’s Sept. 26. WTA is hiring. And our photo contest ends soon! Mount Rainier National Park is transitioning to winter operations. Be aware of some big road closures in the Seattle-Tacoma area this weekend, as well as a closed bridge on the Pacific Crest Trail in the North Cascades. Here’s some news you might have missed while out on trail this week.

WTA is looking for its 2025 Emerging Leaders cohort! Cohort members learn about trail maintenance and have opportunities for networking and professional development. Photo by Tiffany Chou.

Come work with us: WTA is currently hiring! 

• We are looking for our next Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) cohort! ELP is a paid, 14-week program designed for a diverse cohort of individuals — including Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) individuals and other shared identities — and offers hands-on learning in trail maintenance and leadership-building skills to support future career interests in natural resource stewardship, outdoor recreation and environmental nonprofit work. The program will run from Jan. 21 through April 25, 2025. The priority application due date is Nov. 1 this year.
• We are hiring for a full-time Salesforce administrator. This role is essential to ensuring the smooth operation and optimization of WTA's Salesforce platform, while providing broader technical support, including light system administration and staff training. This position will be based in WTA’s downtown Seattle office with flexibility to work remotely on designated days.

Show us your best shots: WTA’s Northwest Exposure Photo Contest is closing to submissions on Oct. 6, so make sure to get your photos in! Before submitting your photos, look over the rules and frequently asked questions. 

Winter is coming: Mount Rainier National Park is heading into its winter season. 

• Bear poles are being taken down on Oct. 1, so be prepared with a bear canister if you’re planning to spend the night in the park. 
• Sunrise and Ohanapecosh visitor centers are closed for the season. The Sunrise Day Lodge is also closed. 
• Mount Rainier has announced estimated closing dates for park roads. Sunrise Road is estimated to close for the season on Oct. 8. Paradise Valley, Stevens Canyon and Mowich Lake roads are expected to close on Oct. 14. Chinook and Cayuse passes are estimated to close in mid-November. 

Big road closures: If you’re in the Seattle-Tacoma area, be prepared for big road closures this weekend (Friday, Sept. 27, through Sunday, Sept. 29)! 

• SR 520 will be closed for all vehicles and pedestrians from 11 p.m. on Friday through 5 a.m. on Monday. 
• Northbound I-405 will be closed from exit 5 to Coal Creek Parkway SE from 11 p.m. on Friday through 4 a.m. on Monday. The closure includes exit ramps for exits 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10. 
• Southbound SR 167 will be closed between SR 516 and S 277th Street from 11:59 p.m. on Friday to 4 a.m. on Monday. The closure includes the SR 516 on-ramp to southbound ST 167 and the southbound SR 167 off-ramp to S 277th Street. 
• I-5 will be closed in both directions between Federal Way and Fife over both nights this weekend. Northbound lanes will close at 10:30 p.m. and southbound lanes will close at 11 p.m. All lanes are expected to be open by 11 a.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday. There will be a detour on SR 99 to Fife, and other detours for other destinations. 
• The Mercer Street on-ramps to both directions of I-5 in Seattle will be closed from 10 p.m. on Friday through 5 a.m. on Monday. 

PCT bridge closure: The North Fork Bridge on the Pacific Crest Trail at milepost 2,583 northbound is undergoing repairs after collapsing in 2021. Due to the repair work, the temporary hiker bridge nearby will not be accessible. Hikers should use the McAlester Lake and Rainbow Creek trails from the Upper Rainbow Loop Trailhead. 

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