Hiker Headlines: Federal Advocacy, Closed Trails, Drought and Ferry County

It's June 13. WTA has been in the other Washington. A number of toilets are closed at trailheads in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It's really, really dry out on the Olympic Peninsula. And Ferry County is making the most of the recreation economy. 

Here's some hiker news you may have missed while out on trail this week. 

WTA and two partners headed to Washington, D.C., this week to advocate for public lands. 

The other Washington: WTA’s Andrea Imler, our advocacy director, headed to the nation's capital last week to speak up in support of public lands and trails. Andrea journeyed with Kathy Young of Back Country Horsemen of Washington and Yvonne Kraus of Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance. The trip is a good example of the power of partnerships and how we can accomplish so much more when we all work together.  

Closed for the season: Because of continuing funding challenges, trail washouts and hazards, some facilities at trailheads in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest will be closed. Mostly, this means toilets are closed, but in a few areas, it means trailheads or parking areas aren’t accessible to vehicles. We have updated our Hiking Guide to reflect this information, and you can find the full list on a downloadable Word file. 

It’s really dry: It’s only June, yet the Olympic Peninsula area is in a drought, which was recently upgraded from moderate to severe, as determined by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Many rivers are expected to be low and conditions will be dry. It’s yet another reminder to be careful out there and check on fire conditions before hiking in the summer.

The power of recreation: Ferry County has a ton of public land. That’s a big boon for outdoor recreation and a new festival is helping to make it a big boon for the economy, as well. Get Out Fest kicks of June 27 and events are planned through June 30. We’ll be there, so if you go, come say hi!

BE IN THE KNOW

• Keep up to date with Trail News, our monthly email newsletter. 
• For the most up-to-date information on trails, check out our trip reports. And then write your own.