Hiker Headlines: Mount Rainier Access, WTA Hiring, Free Science Talks

It’s Jan. 18. Mount Rainier is piloting a system this summer that will limit entry to the park. WTA is hiring for a position in Central Washington. A couple of closures might affect your hiking plans. And join the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy and Yakima Valley College for their free Winter Talks. Here’s some news you might have missed while out on trail this week.

Washington got a new layer of snow this week, and there might be more coming for some places in the state soon. Photo by MeLuckyTarns.

Mount Rainier access: WTA believes everyone deserves to have opportunities to recreate outdoors, and a core part of that work is ensuring equitable access to Washington's iconic landscapes. Timed entry systems, like the one being piloted this summer at Mount Rainier, require people to know in advance about access restrictions, and to understand and navigate a reservation system. We're engaging with Mount Rainier National Park’s staff to learn more about the recently-released plan, which will limit access at some entrances of the park. We are committed to working with park staff to ensure the new system balances the Park's goals of providing visitors with enjoyable experiences without reducing overall visitation to Mount Rainier. For more information about the new entry system, please see Mount Rainier's website.

Now hiring: WTA is hiring for a full-time Central Washington regional coordinator! This position will continue to advance WTA’s long-time involvement with the Teanaway Community Forest, with a focus on advancing the West Fork Trails Plan in partnership with land managers and other stakeholders and in increasing involvement from the local community. It will be a remote position in the Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Leavenworth, Yakima and Wenatchee areas. The priority application date is Feb. 14. 

Closures: Be aware of the following closures before making your hiking plans:

• The Taylor Mountain parking lot will be closed Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 for construction. The park will still be open but there will only be limited shoulder parking for small vehicles. 
• Flaming Geyser and Kanaskat-Palmer State Parks are closed until further due to icy conditions. 

Free science talks: The Cowiche Canyon Conservancy and Yakima Valley College (YVC) are offering the public a series of live free Winter Talks at YVC’s Conference Center. The talks will also be live-streamed on the college’s YouTube channel. There will be three Tuesday evening talks:

• Ice Age Megafloods of the Pacific Northwest — Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.
• Elk, Then & Now: The History of Elk in Yakima County and Current Perspective on Management — Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.
• The Roots of Restoration: Plant-Soil-Microbe Interactions in Native Plant Restoration — March 12 at 7 p.m.

Chilly weather: There’s snow, freezing rain and low temperatures in various parts of the state this upcoming week, so be extra careful if you’re heading to higher elevations and check the weather before traveling away from home. 

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