Hiker Headlines: Photo contest starts soon, free day, more Staircase-area fire closures

It’s Aug. 7. This Saturday is Smokey Bear’s birthday, so you can leave your Discover Pass at home. WTA is hiring! The Northwest Exposure Photo Contest starts Aug. 11. There are several fires burning across Washington state right now — here’s what to be aware of. And the King County Parks Levy passed! Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

It's photo contest time! WTA's annual Northwest Exposure Photo Contest opens Aug. 11. Photo by Annie Melcher.

Fee-free day: This Saturday, Aug. 9, is Smokey Bear’s birthday, and you can leave your Discover Pass at home — parking fees will be waived on Washington State Parks, Washington Department of Natural Resources and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lands. 

WTA is hiring: We are currently hiring for a full-time foundation and corporate relations manager, based in our downtown Seattle office. This position will lead and implement annual and multi-year strategies across foundation, corporate and government funders. As a leader and frontline fundraiser within the development team, they will lead a mature grants program and identify, cultivate, solicit and steward funders, as well as ensure compliance and reporting. The priority application deadline is Aug. 24. 

Photo Contest! Starting Aug. 11, photographers can begin submitting photos to WTA’s annual Northwest Exposure Photo Contest. Winners earn prizes and will be featured in WTA's annual calendar. All photos entered have the opportunity to be featured on WTA's social media, website and in Washington Trails magazine. This year, there are four main categories and two bonus categories: Trailscapes, Hikers in Action, Trail Family, Flora and Fauna, Instagram and Random Acts of Kindness. The contest closes Oct. 6. 

Fires continue to burn across Washington state: 

• The Bear Gulch Fire in the Staircase Area has closed more trails in Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park, including Mildred Lakes and Six Ridge Primitive Trail. 
• The East Creek Fire in the North Cascades has closed the Boulder Creek, Mill Creek and Azurite trails, as well as the East Creek trail from a quarter mile east of the trailhead to the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). 
• A part of the Rex Derr Trail in Pearrygin Lake State Park is closed due to the Stud Horse Mountain Fire. 
• The Twin Peaks Fire is burning near the Bedal Campground on the Mountain Loop Highway. Firefighters are actively fighting the fire; please keep clear of the area and be aware that there may be smoke if you are anywhere in the vicinity. 
• There are multiple small fires burning in the Methow Valley Ranger District near the PCT — please be aware if you are hiking along the PCT or in the area. 

King County Parks Levy passes! In the Aug. 5 election, residents voted "yes" to renewing the King County Parks Levy for 6 more years. As part of the coalition supporting the levy, WTA is glad to see this result! Levy funding is 85% of King County Parks' budget. It will allow the county, with the help of partners like WTA, to maintain popular trails (like at Cougar Mountain) and bring nature within reach for more people by extending regional trails (such as Green River) and creating new green spaces.

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