My Backpack Tips and FAQs

What is My Backpack?

My Backpack is a feature of the wta.org site that allows you to collect Trip Reports, hikes and your photo gallery contributions all in one place.

Whether you've been a Trip Reporter for years or are brand new to the site, you can fill your backpack with great hiking possibilities.

Click on the My Backpack hiker in the orange box to get started!

If you don't find an answer to a question below, or if you have any suggestions for how WTA might improve My Backpack in the future, please email mybackpack@wta.org.

How to register or log in

By registering a free user profile on wta.org, you will be able to use My Backpack every time you return to the site. You may be prompted to register or log in from many places on the site when you want to submit a photo, save a hike or file a trip report.

If you have filed Trip Reports before, log in as you normally would. If you are new to the site, click Register, and fill in the few required fields. It's free, only takes a minute, and you'll be registered for life.

Registering as a new user

Some things to keep in mind as you register. While your name and email are private (and will never be sold or rented), your Screen Name is visible to other users of the site on your Trip Reports and My Backpack page. Your User Name (which you use to log in the next time you visit wta.org) will be visible in the URL of your My Backpack page. When you've filled in the fields, hit the green Save button at the bottom of the page.

How to save or remove a hike

If you don't have any hikes or Trip Reports saved in your backpack, your backpack will look like this:

You can search for hikes in the Hiking Guide, by using the Hike Finder map, by scanning recent trip reports, or choosing one of the WTA recommended seasonal hikes. Every hike on the site will have a Save to My Backpack button (see the blue arrow below).

Once your have saved your hike, you can continue searching for hikes or return to your backpack by clicking the hiker icon in the navigation or using the Go to My Backpack link (see the first blue arrow below). You can also remove the hike from your backpack by clicking on the red Remove link next to the hike description (see the second blue arrow below).

Now the hike will appear in your backpack:

See all your saved hikes

You can save as many hikes to you backpack as you'd like. Keep a list of hikes you'd like to do, or hikes you have already completed. We'll leave it up to you. To see the full list of hikes saved, click on the link under My Saved Hikes.

From here, you can Submit a Trip Report, see your most recent Trip Report on that hike (if you've already filed one), or remove the hike from your backpack.

After you've made changes, click on the My Backpack hiker in the navigation to return to your backpack. (Note: if you use the back button, you may need to hit refresh in order to see any changes in your list of Saved Hikes.)

We have lots of ideas for improving the My Saved Hikes page, but right now, the last hike you saved will appear at the top of the list, and your My Saved Hikes list is not sortable. If you have suggestions about changes you'd like to see to this page next year, please send them to mybackpack@wta.org. WTA would love to know how to make this page more useful to you (and your hiking adventures.)

How to file a trip report from My Backpack

Filing a Trip Report works just the same as it did before. The only difference is that when you file a Trip Report from your Saved Hikes list, the hike will automatically populate in the Trip Report form page. Once you save your Trip Report, it will appear in your backpack.

How to edit your profile:

If you want to change your profile picture or edit your bio, click the green Edit Profile button.

Make your changes on the form, and hit the green save button at the bottom of the form. You can return to your backpack using the hiker icon in the orange navigation box or by hitting the Go to your backpack link in the Info bar at the top of the page. If your profile changes don't appear, try hitting refresh. If they still don't appear, you may have to enter them again.

No matter where you are on wta.org, you can always get back to your My Backpack page (and with your Trip Reports, Saved Hikes and Photos) by clicking on the My Backpack hiker in the orange box.

What's the difference between registering for My Backpack on wta.org and membership of Washington Trails Association?

Registering to use wta.org's My Backpack is free, and means that you are a member of our online community. You can sign up for one of our newsletters, and submit Trip Reports on your hikes.

By becoming an official member of Washington Trails Association, your support directly benefits the trails and wildlands you love. Members also receive great benefits, including a one-year subscription to Washington Trails magazine. Become a member or renew your membership now.

How to delete your My Backpack account

To delete your profile, email mybackpack@wta.org and a website administrator will be able to delete your account for you.