Governor Jay Inslee Proclaims August 2 Washington Trails Day

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.

A hiking holiday to honor the importance of Washington's trails

“In Washington, we understand the importance of outdoor recreation to our quality of life and the strength of our economy," said Governor Inslee. "That's why I am committed to protecting our public lands and enhancing the recreation opportunities that Washingtonians love.”

“Washington Trails Association is honored that Governor Inslee has proclaimed August 2^rd as Washington Trails Day. We designated Washington Trails Day to encourage people to go hiking and to share their love for the outdoors with their friends and family,” said Karen Daubert, Washington Trails Association Executive Director. “Washington is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. Hiking is a great way to get healthy and connect with extraordinary natural places.”

Help create an annual tradition: go hiking on the first Saturday in August!

This year is the second Washington Trails Day and WTA hopes peoples will make hiking on the first Saturday in August an annual event—a hiking holiday.

With Washington’s bounty of nature, the snow melting out of the high country and the flowers at their summer peak, there is trail for every type of hiker. Given all of the great benefits of hiking, WTA has asked people to do one (or more) of three things this Saturday:

1. Go hiking! WTA staff will be on trails around the state—if you are spotted sporting the WTA logo you could win a prize.
2. High five your friends and fellow trail users on trail; take a photo, share it on Instagram tagged with @washingtontrails and #highfivewashingtontrails. One will be selected as the winner of a Talus 3 Tent, courtesy of The North Face. To accommodate weekend backpackers who may not have cell service, we will delay selection until noon on August 4.
3. Share your love of trails with others by creating a wta.org trip report.
   
   

The wta.org website is a community-supported resource for hikers. The website offers a full hiking guide and trip reports about current conditions that are submitted by hikers—more than 4,500 submitted already this year. WTA also offers many hiking suggestions for hikers of all abilities.

Where to find WTA staff on Washington Trails Day?

As part of our Washington Trails Day celebration, we want to thank the WTA community for celebrating this hiking holiday on trail. WTA staff members will be hiking on trails statewide and will have prizes to share with folks we spot on trail sporting their support for WTA. So wear your WTA hat or shirt, your trail crew vest, or your Hike-a-Thon shirt proudly. Don't have logowear? Print this badge and attach it to your pack!

If you want to increase your chances of running into a staff member on trail, take a look at these clues for where we'll be toting treats on Saturday (while supplies last).

• Meander around a popular lake off the Mountain Loop Highway.
• Stop by a park in Seattle pre-SeaFair.
• Look for us looping a volcano.
• Head to a summit near Spokane.
• Take a trip to Tahoma.
• Find us giving a toupee to a mountain.
• Amble along a nature trail and lake off I-90.
• Climb a mountain near Issaquah.
• Try a couple of trails off Highway 2.
• Seek us out in the craggy South Cascades.

>> Download a PDF of the Governor’s Proclamation
>> Learn more about Washington Trails Day