Hiker Headlines: Family-Friendly Work Party, Alpine Lakes Wilderness Survey, Wildfires Rage On

It’s Aug 24. Join WTA on a family-friendly work party at Panorama Dome on September 2. Take the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Visitors Survey to help shape the future of the area. Wildfires continue across the state. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

Share your current and desired experience in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness to help shape the future of the area. Photo by Gary Cummins.

Join WTA on at Panorama Dome: Have a kiddo 10 years or older and looking for some family bonding time? Come out to Panorama Dome on Saturday, Sept 2, for a family-friendly trail work party! No experience is necessary — just bring a great attitude for working with a team. WTA provides the training and tools you need. Participants under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. If you can’t make it to this work party but still want to work on trail, head to our volunteer schedule to find more opportunities. 

Share your Alpine Lakes Wilderness experiences: Help shape the future of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. We need to act now to support the growing demand for recreation opportunities in the wilderness. You can make a difference by taking this survey by Sept 1.

Wildfires rage on: We’re deep into wildfire season. Conditions change daily, so be sure to check out the wildfire and AQI forecast layers on WTA’s Hike Finder Map to plan your hikes and check for closure alerts on hikes in the Hiking Guide for the most up-to-date closure information. Start planning your long Labor Day weekend now, with a plan B, plan C and maybe even a plan D. Remember to consider how close an area or trail is to a fire, even if it's not closed — not only could it be dangerous for you, but firefighters may be working in the area and traffic in the area could affect their efforts. The following roads and trails are currently being affected by wildfires, but know that statuses may change at any time:

• The Suiattle River Road is closed due to the Huckleberry Flats Fire. This includes all access to the Huckleberry Mountain, Green Mountain and Downey Creek trailheads, as well as the Buck Creek and Sulphur Creek campgrounds.
• The PCTA has detailed a detour route around two closures on the Pacific Crest Trail:
• The segment from Suiattle Pass (mile 2554.6) north to High Bridge (mile 2574.5) is closed due to the Dome Peak Fire. 
• The segment from the intersection with the McAlester Trail (mile 2588.8) north to the intersection with the Snowy Lakes Trail (mile 2603.4) is closed due to the Blue Lake Fire. 
• The Washington Department of Resources has closed the northern part of the Loomis Natural Resources Conservation Area due to the Crater Creek Fire. The Forest Service has closed several trails and forest roads due to the fire, as well as the Long Swamp Campground. 
• Several trails, roads and campgrounds are closed in the Glacier Peak Wilderness due to the Airplane Lake Fire. 
• Mount Spokane State Park is closed due to the nearby Oregon Fire. 
• Highway 20 is back open as a through-route (stopping is not permitted), but all recreation areas — including all overlooks, trails and camps — east of Newhalem within North Cascades National Park remain closed. Expect single-lane closures between Rainy Pass and the Blue Lake trailhead and delays. Additionally, unexpected closures may occur at any time. The fires are active and firefighters are working along the highway, so avoid the area and find alternate routes if possible.

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• Sign up for Trail Action Network to stay up to date on issues impacting trails and ways to get involved.