Signpost Blog
"This little newsletter has been an experiment so far, testing a hunch I've had that such a means of communication among walkers is needed." — Signpost magazine, 1966.
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Hiker Headlines: 2 Chances to Use Your Voice, Creating Virtual Community, Clever Trip Reporters
Apr 16, 2020
It's April 16. Snohomish County Parks wants to hear from you. You can now share your opinion with the federal government on how you feel about e-bikes in national park. And even though we can't be in the same place, the WTA community is showing that it doesn't mean we have to be alone. Here's some new you might have missed this week.
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Virtual BCRTs and Sawyer Songs — Our Trail Maintenance Community Stays Connected
Apr 15, 2020
Friendships forged doing volunteer trail work find a way to endure and thrive online.
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Plan Now, Hike Later
Apr 14, 2020
Take some time now to daydream about your adventures that await you. Then plan it all out.
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Trip Reporters Keep It Local: Neighborhood Adventures Full of Imagination, Humor and Hope
Apr 13, 2020
Even though faraway trails are currently out of reach, hikers are exploring countless miles of neighborhood streets and backyard paths to keep our legs moving and our spirits up.
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10 Hiker Qualities Coming in Super Handy Right Now
Apr 13, 2020
The surprising ways that being a hiker has helped prepare us for a stay-at-home lifestyle.
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WTA Youth Ambassadors: Adaptable and Driven
Apr 13, 2020
It's been an interesting year for our latest cohort of youth ambassadors — but we've been immensely proud of everything these tireless teens have already been able to accomplish for trails.
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Macro Photography Tips: Small Wonders on Neighborhood Strolls
Apr 10, 2020
Get tips to snap your very own macro photography shots of plants, flowers, or anything else that catches your eye!
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Hiker Headlines: Staying Safe, Virtual Visit to Mount Rainier, Cascade Designs Makes Masks
Apr 09, 2020
It’s April 9: Many public lands (including some Seattle city parks this weekend) are closed through at least May 4. Learn about national parks from home. Cascade Designs joins outdoor community to make a difference. Weigh in on park names and North Cascades relocation plans.
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Spring Cleaning Project: #GearClosetChallenge
Apr 07, 2020
Spring is a great time to take stock of gear, to mend rips and attend to the general chaos that is your hiking and camping gear. Use these tips and share your results with the hiking community.
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Missing Washington's National Parks? Here are 3 Events for You
Apr 07, 2020
Join our friends at the National Parks Conservation Association to learn more about the history of our state's national parks ... from the comfort of your home.
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For When You Just Can't — 3 Ways to Get Outdoors While Doing Absolutely Nothing
Apr 06, 2020
Stare, sip, sleep. It all counts.
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An Update: Our Community & Coronavirus
Apr 03, 2020
An update on how coronavirus is impacting WTA, our community, and our plan for moving forward and delivering on our mission.
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Hiker Headlines: North Cascades Closures, National Role Models, Local Trip Reports, Vote for the Cutest Animal
Apr 02, 2020
It's April 2. North Cascades National Park complex is closing to park visitors and all national forests in Washington and Oregon have closures now. Our best advice for getting outdoors in the time of coronavirus. Outdoor companies are making masks. It's time to vote for the cutest animal in the Northwest.
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Celebrate National Poetry Month by Writing Hiker Haiku
Mar 31, 2020
Now, as the great outdoors temporarily shrink to our backyards and neighborhoods, take time to capture your thoughts in a poem to see your world transform in creative new ways.
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Nature on Trail: Yellow Warbler and Salmonberry
Mar 31, 2020
Washington's wild places are teeming with life. Learn a bit more about two local species, the yellow warbler and salmonberry, and where you can find them.
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Homebound Hiking Workout: Ideas for Staying Trail-Ready
Mar 27, 2020
Burn off cabin fever and build strength for hiking season while sticking close to home.
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10 Webcams for Your Nature Fix
Mar 26, 2020
Stream nature scenes from the comfort of your couch.
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Hiker Headlines: Marmot vs Pika, Closures, Burns Take a Backseat, Outdoor Companies Shift Gears
Mar 26, 2020
It’s March 26. Tonight is the final tense/adorable round-one contest between pikas and marmots in our own version of March Madness. Agencies temporarily close parks and trails across the state. The Forest Service curtails prescribed burns to help people with vulnerable lungs. Gear companies try to help with the medical supplies shortage.
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Jay Inslee to Washingtonians: Stay Home, Stay Healthy
Mar 23, 2020
How the order affects hiker: stick close to home and hike with who you live with.
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3 Trail-Worthy Skills to Teach Your Hiking Pup at Home
Mar 23, 2020
Here are three essential skills that all good hiking dogs need to know when you hit the trails. They are surprisingly easy to work on in your living room or on strolls around the blog.
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Keep Your Distance On Trails and In Parks, Stay in Your Neighborhood
Mar 23, 2020
These three things are essential right now: stay 6 feet apart, only go outside with people in your household and hike with extra caution. Also, stay close to home for your outdoor time.
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