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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Get ready for youth volunteer vacations this summer
Mar 26, 2024
This summer, youth ages 14-18 can join us on trail for extended volunteer work parties, either in the backcountry or car-camping trips. Here's what you need to know before applications open up on April 1.
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Trip Report Corner : Eagle eyes on the trail
Mar 26, 2024
Trip reports aren't just a way to learn from the hiking community — they're reminders of the stunning beauty found across Washington.
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WTA crew leaders inspire fun and a love for nature in youth volunteers
Mar 22, 2024
On trail in March, WTA's Kaci Darsow celebrated six years as WTA's youth crew leader, but their milestone was only one of many to mark the growth and maturity of WTA's youth program.
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Hiker Headlines: Wildlife March Madness; Enchantments daily lottery change; Heather Lake Trail closed Saturday
Mar 21, 2024
Head to WTA’s Instagram stories over the next few weeks to vote in our March Madness - Washington Wildlife Edition! The daily Enchantments walk-up permit lottery process will be mobile-based this summer. And take note: The Heather Lake Trail and visitor center in Stehekin have upcoming closures.
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Washington’s best-kept secret for funding the outdoors just got better
Mar 18, 2024
You may have never heard of Washington state’s Recreation Conservation Office (RCO), but for the past 60 years it has been protecting and improving our state’s outdoors. To help ecosystems and communities thrive, RCO invests in projects that protect lands and develop parks and trails. This spring, RCO is taking a new equity-focused approach to their grantmaking, so this best-kept secret just keeps getting better.
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Dog mountain permits available now
Mar 14, 2024
Permits for Dog Mountain in 2025 are on sale March 15. If you drive to the trailhead on Saturday, Sundays or on Memorial Day between April 26 and June 15, you will need a Dog Mountain permit in addition to a Northwest Forest Pass.
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Hiker Headlines: Free day, Trails and Ales, legislative wins, warm weekend weather
Mar 14, 2024
Next Tuesday, March 19, is Washington State Parks’ birthday and parking fees will be waived in some areas. Put Trails and Ales with WTA and the annual Washington Coastal Cleanup on your calendars. We’re excited for some wins from the 2024 state legislative session, and we’re also excited that spring is here!
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Wins for trails: Legislature funds forest conservation and work with tribes
Mar 12, 2024
Each year, WTA works with hikers like you, partner organizations and lawmakers during the state legislative session to get trails and public lands the funding they need. The 2024 state legislative session ended on March 7 with good news for trails and public lands. Nearly every priority that WTA was supporting ended up funded in the final state budget.
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Columbia Mountain trail gets a brushing on WTA's first winter BCRT
Mar 11, 2024
In February a crew of 12 plucky volunteer snow camped to address backlogged maintenance on Columbia Mountain. See what a winter BCRT looks like.
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Hiker Headlines: Free day, Mount Rainier National Park turns 125, I-90 closure
Mar 07, 2024
March 9 is Billy Frank Jr.’s birthday, and parking fees will be waived in some areas. Mount Rainier National Park just celebrated its 125th anniversary! Be aware of a couple of closures and some snowy/rainy weather this upcoming week.
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Share a story: A snowy backpacking trip
Mar 04, 2024
From time to time, we like to share memorable moments from our community. Here’s one of those stories, from Hwei Ling Ng, @thenomadicartist on WTA trip reports and Instagram.
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Want to avoid the snow? Hit the beach this winter.
Mar 01, 2024
Beat the snow this winter with these tips and tricks for coastal hiking.
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Hiker Headlines: Mount St. Helens and North Cascades permits, plus a webinar to explain passes and permits
Feb 29, 2024
Happy Leap Day! Mount St. Helens permits will start getting released March 1, and the North Cascades early access lottery opens on March 4. If you're confused about permits, an upcoming webinar can help. And a North Shore Quinault Road closure and snowy weather might affect your upcoming hiking plans.
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Hikers helped win funding that’s fixing Washington state’s longest trail
Feb 28, 2024
Two years ago, hikers like you helped secure a huge win for public lands in Washington state: $15 million of annual funding to tackle the recreation maintenance backlog on our state lands. Ever since, that funding has been improving trails, roads, bathrooms, campgrounds and more. We like to celebrate those wins, including recent work on the Palouse to Cascades Trail.
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Where's the snow? WTA's newest map layer helps winter and spring hikers plan
Feb 27, 2024
WTA's new snow-depth layer helps hikers plan their trips around snow.
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Fun moments from backcountry work parties
Feb 23, 2024
Yeah, we work hard and get a lot done on our backcountry work parties, but we have a lot of fun too!
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Hiker Headlines: Snow coming, avalanche safety event, trip reporting prizes, WTA survey
Feb 22, 2024
It's Feb. 22. Brace for a winter storm this weekend. While you're weathering it, you can sign up for our backcountry trips on Saturday morning, and complete our community survey, which closes on Sunday. And next week marks the end of the Enchantments lottery period as well as our #lovelocaltrails promotion. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.
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WTA visits Washington, D.C., to ask for the funding trails and hikers need
Feb 20, 2024
WTA is advocating for Congress to pass the Transit to Trails Act, which would create a federal grant program to fund more public transportation to trailheads. More than 1,640 people have signed a WTA petition to express their support for this bill. Michael Decramer, WTA’s policy and planning manager, traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to deliver those petition signatures and to participate in the 27th annual Hike the Hill.
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8 tips for land-based whale watching
Feb 16, 2024
Washington has some of the best land-based whale watching opportunities in the United States. Celebrating International Whale Day on Feb. 18 we are sharing with a few tips on best practices for land-based whale watching.
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Hiker Headlines: Rainier and Enchantments lotteries open, WTA launches snow layer, volunteer backcountry trip preview
Feb 15, 2024
Lotteries for early access to permits for Mount Rainier and the Enchantment have opened. WTA's volunteer backcountry trips will be available to preview tomorrow and Mount Rainier’s timed-access reservations open next week. Some closures might affect your hiking plans this week. Plus, we just launched a snow depth layer on our Hike Finder Map to help you plan your weekend.
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How an introductory backcountry work party helped one volunteer feel more comfortable backpacking
Feb 14, 2024
Jess Wolf had never been backpacking before signing up for a 3-day intro BCRT work party. Not only did she gain more trail work experience that weekend, but she left with the confidence to take on more backpacking trips afterward.
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