Hiker Headlines: New Names, King Tides, Family Fair

It’s Jan.19. Nine geographic locations have had their names officially changed. Washington is getting hit with king tides this weekend. Check out the Outdoor Family Fair next weekend on Jan. 28. And, we've got a snowy weekend in the mountains ahead. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

Big waves will be rolling in this weekend. Photo by geezerhiker.

New names: Nine geographic locations have had their proposed name changes — approved by the Washington State Committee on Geographic Names back in October 2022 — officially approved by the Board of Natural Resources. One of the name changes was a spelling correction. The other names, which have been renamed to Indigenous names‚ were changed to remove a derogatory term. 

King tides: If you’re heading to the beach in the next few days, you’ll probably get a glimpse of some huge tides — king tides are expected to hit Washington’s shores this weekend. If you decide to go to the coast to check them out — Cape Disappointment or Westport Light are listed as good locations to check out — make sure to stay safe and out of the range of the high tides. 

Outdoors Family Fair: Join Alison Mariella Désir, author of "Running While Black," and local organizations to learn more about getting active outdoors on Jan. 28 from 1-4 p.m. at this family-friendly community event in Seattle. There will be interactive tables, adventure gear giveaways and mini-workshops for people of all ages to find out about opportunities to engage with nature and the organizations advocating for BIPOC reclamation of outdoor spaces. Register online to attend this free event.

Snowy weekend forecast: There's snow predicted in the mountains this weekend! Make sure to check the avalanche forecast for wherever you're heading, pack your Ten Essentials and know how to be safe on your winter hike. And be sure to file a trip report after your hike so others know what to expect.

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