Hiker Headlines: Fire Restrictions, Equitable Outdoors, Tiger Mountain, New Website Feature
Fire restrictions have tightened across much of Washington. A new chief of the Forest Service has been named. There is a new opportunity for public comment about equity and access to public lands services. Portions of some trails on West Tiger Mountain will be temporarily closed. A new tool on wta.org suggests new hikes.
It’s July 1. Fire restrictions have tightened across much of Washington. A new chief of the Forest Service has been named. There is a new opportunity for public comment about equity and access to public lands services. Portions of some trails on West Tiger Mountain will be temporarily closed. A new tool on wta.org suggests new hikes. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.
Prevent wildfires this summer by following all fire restrictions on public lands. Photo by Allison Webster.
Fire restrictions: Burn bans (which include restrictions on campfires, charcoal grills, torches and liquid fuel lanterns) are in place on most public lands across the state, including all state parks, Department of Natural Resources land and many national forests and national parks. Always check with the land manager for the latest fire restrictions before heading out to camp. With the July 4 weekend approaching, a reminder that fireworks are prohibited year-round on most public lands, including national forests, national parks, state parks, and county and city parks.
New forest service chief: Randy Moore was named as the new Chief of the Forest Service. In this new role he will oversee operations of the nation’s 154 national forests. Once sworn in, he will be the first African American to serve in this role.
Equitable outdoors: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, who oversee the U.S. Forest Service, is seeking input to identify barriers preventing people and communities from accessing programs and services from the USDA.
Tiger Mountain temporary closures: Effective on Tuesday July 6, 2021, portions of several DNR-managed trails (TMT, West Tiger #3, Cable Line, Seattle View, Section Line, Poo Top, and Preston Trail) that access privately owned forest lands surrounding the summits of West Tiger Mountain will be temporarily closed until further notice while road work and timber harvesting occur. A list of trail closures and more information is available on DNR’s website. For your safety, please respect the closure area.
New tool to find new hikes: With the release of a new personalized hike suggestion feature on wta.org, discovering trails you enjoy just got a lot easier. The recommender looks at hikes you have saved in your My Backpack and suggests similar hikes that you might like. It's a great tool to find new places you might not have heard of before so you can add them to your 'to-hike' list. Look for the new feature on the My Hikes page of your My Backpack account. (Don't have one? It's easy to create an account.) WTA designed the tool to educate hikers, spark curiosity and shift focus from a small number of often-recommended trails to the many trails that Washington has to offer.
BE IN THE KNOW
- Keep up to date with Trail News, our monthly email newsletter.
- Check our Hiking Guide for information on what trails are open.
- Check trip reports for latest conditions on trails. And if you go for a hike, file your own trip report.
- Sign up for Families Go Hiking, our email newsletter for families with plenty of tips on keeping kids busy.
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