Hiker Headlines: Email Congress for public lands; last call for #lovelocaltrails; register for backcountry volunteer trips

It’s Feb. 20. A reduction in Forest Service and National Park Service staff is putting our public lands and hikers at risk — take a few minutes to email your members of Congress. Registration for WTA's backcountry trips opens Saturday, Feb. 22, at 10 a.m.! Don’t forget to enter our #LoveLocalTrails giveaway by the end of the month. Fort Worden Historical State Park will start requiring Discover Passes. And we’ve got some warm, wet weather on the way. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

Enter our #LoveLocalTrails giveaway before the end of February by submitting a trip report of a local hike for a chance to win a fun picnic set! Photo by trip reporter Crazy4Birds on a #LoveLocalTrails hike. 

Speak up now: Last week, the Trump Administration began the termination of over 4,000 Forest Service and National Park Service staff across the country. The people who were fired are not nameless individuals — these are hard-working folks who maintain our trails, campgrounds and wilderness areas. This move leaves our public lands unsafe and underresourced. Hikers can help by taking a few minutes to contact their members of Congress (we’ve made it easy for you!) and letting them know that we must keep our public lands safe and accessible, and that means reversing these staffing cuts.

Last call for #LoveLocalTrails: Our annual #LoveLocalTrails giveaway is open through Feb. 28, so there’s still time left to enter! Leave a trip report after visiting your favorite Trail Next Door and include the hashtag #LoveLocalTrails to enter. 

Backcountry trips: If you'd like to spend a few nights under the stars and give back to trails and public lands, join us for a backcountry volunteer trip this summer. Registration opens on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 10 a.m. Before then, check out the trip schedule, and get your backcountry experience and medical history forms turned in, so you’ll be able to register right away on Saturday morning! 

Fort Worden: Discover Passes will be required to park at any day-use area at Fort Worden Historical State Park starting March 1 — the requirement had been waived when it was under the management of the Fort Worden Public Development Authority. This change does not affect overnight campers. Discover Passes can be bought online, at the Fort Worden park office, at a self-serve kiosk at the beach or at a self-serve kiosk near the park’s main entrance. 

Wet weather: We’ve got some warm temperatures coming this weekend — with the snow line rising to nearly 6,000 feet in the Cascades — and a lot of rain (and snow at higher elevations) incoming, so expect a lot of snowmelt and potential flooding, poor drainage and mud if you’re hitting the trail. Pack lots of dry layers and rain gear (and snow gear if you’re heading into the high country)! 

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