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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Poop Week: Puppies, Poo and Plastic Bags
Jul 31, 2014
If you hike with a dog, removing your dog's waste from the trail is your responsibility. Besides reducing the impact on Washington's most beautiful places, when you do the right thing, you are helping to create a more welcoming trail culture for your dog in the future.
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Poop Week: Dealing with Diapers, Training Toddlers
Jul 30, 2014
It's one thing to dig a cathole or pack out your waste when you're only responsible for yourself. When you add an infant or young child to the mix, things get slightly more complicated. Below are just a few tips to help your family get outside and teach your little ones to grow into great stewards of our beautiful trails.
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Governor Jay Inslee Proclaims August 2 Washington Trails Day
Jul 30, 2014
Washington Governor Jay Inslee has signed an official proclamation recognizing Saturday, August 2, 2014 as Washington Trails Day. He encouraged all Washingtonians to join him in recognizing the importance of hiking to Washington’s quality of life and economy, and singled out the contributions of Washington Trails Association (WTA) and its volunteers for their efforts on Washington’s hiking trails.
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Poop Week: Real Talk on a Backcountry Basic
Jul 29, 2014
Welcome to Poop Week, the week where we get real about No. 2. From diapers to dogs, the conservation science of scat to the best backcountry privies in Washington, we're digging into the subject of poop on trail all week long.
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Hacking Your Mac and Cheese
Jul 28, 2014
Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food—at home, dining out and even in camp. Spice up your camp mac & cheese with some of these tasty additions, courtesy of WTA’s online community.
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Instagram Weekly Roundup: July Adventuring
Jul 24, 2014
What did you see on trail this week? Everything from the summit of Mount Baker to a porcupine on the Pacific Crest Trail. Now, that's some serious adventuring, Washington.
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Spend the Weekend with WTA
Jul 23, 2014
Gather some close friends or family and join WTA on an overnight trip! Volunteering on weekend work parties is a great way to give back to trails, have a fun camping experience and get to know other people who love being outdoors, all at the same time.
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Do You Want Hiking Trails in the Teanaway?
Jul 18, 2014
The new Teanaway Community Forest has endless possibilities for a world-class trail system for hikers. The forest does not have an official trail system to call its own, but planning is underway right now. Make sure your voice is heard on the future of trails in the Teanaway.
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Website Improvements Inspired by Hikers
Jul 17, 2014
You may have noticed a few changes on wta.org in the last week—including larger photos and maps on hiking pages and new features in trip reports. The changes were directly inspired by the hiking community!
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Greenway National Heritage Area Legislation Introduced in Senate
Jul 17, 2014
On July 15th Senator Maria Cantwell and co-sponsor Senator Patty Murray introduced a bill (S.2602) in the U.S. Senate to designate the Mountains to Sound Greenway as a national heritage area. The legislation joins Rep. Dave Reichert’s companion bill (H.R. 1785) in the U.S. House. WTA supports the Greenway’s efforts to become a national heritage area.
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New Wildfire Closes Trails, Highway 2
Jul 17, 2014
The Chiwaukum Creek fire near Lake Wenatchee and Coles Corner has closed a section of Highway 2, as well as the Tumwater Campground and trails in the area.
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Which National Forest Roads Mattered Most to Hikers
Jul 16, 2014
The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, WTA and a coalition of groups have been working with hikers and other forest users to create a sustainable road strategy for the future. The data about which roads you used most is in, and are hosting a series of meetings to share their findings. The next meeting is on July 17 in Monroe.
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Sleeping Bag Review: 4 Bags, 1 Pad
Jul 15, 2014
A good night’s sleep is not as elusive as it seems—the key is a good sleeping bag. We review a few new and notable offerings from Sierra Designs, Selk'bag, Therm-a-Rest, NEMO and Klymit.
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Washington Wildfires: Tips for Hikers, Campers
Jul 11, 2014
Several wildfires are burning in Central and Eastern Washington, the largest of which is the Mills Canyon fire burning on about 20K acres near Wenatchee and the Entiat Mountains. The fire has prompted evacuations and closed roads that lead to trails in the area.
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Instagram Weekly Roundup: Summer Hiking
Jul 04, 2014
With the summer hiking season officially underway, this week's shots and stories on our Instagram roundup revolve around everything that makes summer in Washington so amazing.
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Artist Point, Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier Roads Open to Hikers
Jul 03, 2014
Roads leading into three great recreation areas—Artist Point, Mount Rainier, and the east side of Mount St. Helens—have opened in time for the Fourth of July weekend. Get the details and remember: just because a road may be open, it doesn't mean hiking trails will be clear or snow-free.
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Drones Banned (for Now) in Washington's National Parks
Jul 02, 2014
The National Park Service has banned drones on National Park lands, including Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park and North Cascades National Park. Do you think drones have a place on Washington's hiking trails?
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Instagram Weekly Roundup: Portrait of a Hiker
Jun 27, 2014
This week's shots and stories on our Instagram roundup revolve around you. From family camping snapshots to dramatic selfies, we love seeing you making memories on Washington's trails.
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Camp Before a Work Party, Shorten Your Time to the Trailhead
Jun 26, 2014
As the snow melts, WTA's work parties move up into the mountains. This can add a bit of driving time the trailhead in the morning, making for an early start to the day in order to meet the crew at 8:30 a.m. Fortunately, for some of our summer locations, you are welcome to camp at the trailhead, either the evening before the work party, or stay and sleep after we've stashed the tools for the day. Whether you are an early-riser of a night owl you can still join a WTA work party, enjoy your beauty sleep and be on time.
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Four Trails That Need Your Help in July
Jun 25, 2014
Monthly Trail Work Picks: We're working in several locations that need some special attention this month and we'd love to have your help! Join us for a day full of safety, fun, and work, and make your mark on the trails you love.
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Remembering Hiker, Writer Karen Sykes
Jun 22, 2014
The Washington hiking community lost an inspiration with the sad death of Karen Sykes, a local hiking guidebook author and columnist.
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