Submit your photos now to Northwest Exposure - WTA's photo contest

Got a great photo from the trail? Submit it to Washington Trails Association's ninth annual Northwest Exposure Photo Contest between now and October 10th.

Photos can play such an important role in the enjoyment and the protection of trails. I use the pictures from recent Trip Reports to help me decide where my next hike should be. I try to capture my favorite moments on trail, be it a blossom emerging from the snow or a breathtaking vista, to share with my friends. As WTA's Engagement Manager, I use images to inspire hikers to protect unique landscapes and speak out for place that have captured their imagination.

If you like to take photos when you're out hiking, I encourage you to enter WTA's Northwest Exposure Photo Contest. Not only will could you be inspire people to hike or take action to protect a trail, you have the chance to win some amazing prizes, such as cool camera bags from Lowepro and trips from EverGreen Escapes. Plus, The winners will be featured online and in Washington Trails magazine, with the grand prize photo on the cover of the January/February 2012 issue.

This year's categories include:

Wild Landscapes - Highlight the amazing places you have visited on trails in Washington.
Flora & Fauna - Photos of native plants or animals encountered while hiking in Washington —from marmot to bears, from moss to lupine.
Hikers in Action - Try to capture hikers in their natural habitat, from ascending a trail to enjoying the perfect backcountry camp.
Families on Trail - Showcase generations (young & old) enjoying hiking in Washington together.
Offbeat - Crazy, weird or humorous photos taken on the trails in Washington.

Entering your photos in Northwest Exposure is a fun way to help protect trails by sharing with others the many great qualities of hiking in Washington. Entries are being accepted until 8am on October 10, 2011, which gives you plenty of time to go hiking and capture that perfect picture (if you haven't already).

So what are you waiting for? Grab your camera, hit the trail and go.