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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Slideshow: Fungus Among Us
Oct 10, 2013
We've combed your trip reports and found a spectacular diversity of mushrooms you've spotted on trail. Get inspired to go outside and look ... down.
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Q&A: The Shutdown and Hikers
Oct 09, 2013
Questions and answers to common questions about the impact the federal government shutdown is having on hikers in Washington state.
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It's a Party! Celebrating WTA Volunteers
Oct 09, 2013
We couldn't do the trail maintenance that we're so well known for without volunteers like you! So we'd like to thank you in the sincerest way we know how -- with food! See when we're having a Volunteer Appreciation event near you.
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Photo Tips: Capturing a Trailscape
Oct 03, 2013
Last year, WTA introduced a brand-new category, Trailscapes, into our annual Northwest Exposure Photo Contest. Learn how to shoot a great trailscape and then enter the contest by Oct. 20.
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Gear Review: Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Vest
Oct 03, 2013
Dogs' biology makes them more susceptible to overheating and dehydration than human hikers, so even though things are cooling down across Washington, 70 degree weather with no shade can be plenty hot enough to put some dogs in the danger zone. John Soltys and his dog Treen put the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Cooling Vest to the test, to see how it performed cooling hot dogs on the trail.
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Cooperative Effort Secures 50K Acres of Teanaway Land
Oct 02, 2013
Hikers and other recreational trail users have something big to celebrate today, the purchase of 50,272 acres in the Teanaway region by Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
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Federal Shutdown: What it Means for Hikers, Campers, Volunteers
Oct 01, 2013
Due to an impasse in Congress, the federal government shut down at midnight last night. Aside from the many impacts to federal employees and programs, the shutdown also impacts hikers, campers and trail volunteers.
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Trail Talk: How to Volunteer with the USFS
Sep 30, 2013
Hike anywhere in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and you’re bound to eventually run into friendly folks in U.S. Forest Service uniforms. We wanted to learn more about how to get that coveted job, where your commute is on a trail and your office is the wilderness, so we talked to Marta Sheridan, coordinator of the North Bend Volunteer Ranger Program, to learn more about getting involved with the program.
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Keeping Watch: A Weekend in Granite Mountain Lookout
Sep 30, 2013
What it's like to man one of Washington's fire lookouts for a weekend through the U.S. Forest Service's Volunteer Ranger Program.
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Video Tour: Olympic National Park Wild Soundscape
Sep 27, 2013
This week, the National Park Service released another latest in a series of videos celebrating wilderness, this time in Olympic National Park wilderness. Take a virtual walk through one of our state's most diverse land- and soundscapes.
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Change Your Plans? Heavy Rain, Winds Expected in Southwest
Sep 27, 2013
Hiking on a rainy day can be a delight. But with the National Weather Service calling for heavy rain and high winds in areas of Southwest Washington, including the coast, hikers should probably take their autumn hiking elsewhere this weekend.
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National Public Lands Day (Sept. 28) a Fee-Free Day
Sep 26, 2013
This Saturday, Sept. 28, marks National Public Lands Day, a national day honoring public lands across the country. Coming at the very end of summer, it's the perfect day for hikers, climbers, trail runners, birders, and nature photographers to get outside and play, for free, in National Parks, State Parks, and on National Forests and BLM land.
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How To Get Your Disney Princess-Obsessed Kid Out Hiking
Sep 25, 2013
Do princesses hike? In Washington, they do. From Tiana to Merida, Ariel to Princess Leia, if your kid can't get enough of Disney princesses, then use our princess guide to Washington trails to get your little one out hiking.
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Take a Scavenger Hunt
Sep 23, 2013
How do you keep kids connected to nature when school and sports activities compete for attention? Launch a scavenger hunt between soccer games in a city park! WTA's Hiker Scavenger hunt allows kids to look, listen, touch and explore their local environment - all in an hour.
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Nature On Trail: Great Horned Owl, Western Toad, Chanterelle Mushroom
Sep 19, 2013
Northwest forests are teeming with life—much of which may go overlooked or unseen. On your next hike, look out for the little things and discover something new on your favorite trails.
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A Fungus Right Out of 'A Game of Thrones'
Sep 17, 2013
The Red Juice Tooth Fungus, recently spotted on the Silver Falls Loop, is a spectacularly creepy specimen that seems like it might be related to the fictional Weirwood tree in A Game of Thrones series. When you're hiking this fall, keep your eyes peeled for mushrooms and cool fungi.
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Video Tour: North Cascades Wilderness
Sep 12, 2013
Whether you already love the North Cascades or haven't made it there yet, take five minutes for seasonal ranger Masyih Ford to take you on a tour of his North Cascades.
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Get a Grip: Trekking Poles Worth Trying
Sep 12, 2013
Walking sticks may be a retro way to hike, but modern trekking poles offer so much more in the way of comfort and support for hikers. Take a look at which ones our gear reviewers can't get enough of.
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Spaces Still Open on 20th Anniversary Work Parties
Sep 11, 2013
This Saturday is WTA's 20th anniversary of trail work, and we're celebrating all over the state. If you haven't had a chance to sign up yet, never fear - there are still spaces on these work parties and we would love to see you there!
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Volunteer and Earn Your Northwest Forest Pass
Sep 11, 2013
Volunteers join WTA work parties for many reasons, but here's a great one that many people may be unaware of. When you attend two work parties on National Forest land, you earn an annual Northwest Forest Pass - you know, the $30 one that you need at most trailheads in the state!
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Shooting the Land of Landscapes
Sep 09, 2013
Tips on how to capture Washington's stunning landscapes, whether you’re shooting with an iPhone or an expensive DSLR. The key: remember the “F” words.
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