Hiker Headlines: Refuge Outdoor Festival and Film Release, Mount Rainier Survey

It's Sept. 17. Many outdoor areas continue to be closed due to fires and smoke. Find your joy at (online) Refuge Outdoor Festival or with a film release about Washington's Dark Divide area. Also: the future of Paradise is in your hands.

Experience the Dark Divide in a new movie out this week. Photo of Juniper Ridge. Photo by kaymizzle

Fire and smoke continues: Wildfires continue to burn in many areas across the state and our region. Burn bans remain in most of the state. We are updating our Hiking Guide with closure information, but be aware that conditions can change quickly. Once air quality control conditions make it healthy to be outdoors again, be sure to research your plans carefully, consider how thinly stretched our land managers are and take extra steps stay safe.

Joyful weekend! This weekend is the penultimate Sundae Sermon and Refuge Outdoor Festival, an incredible 3-day experience geared toward people of color created by Chevon Powell. Centered on building community through outdoor recreation, conversations (community talks, workshops), music, and art that appeal to a diverse and inclusive audience. This year the Refuge Festival is going virtual for a fun-filled online weekend of workshops, DJs, performances, art and so much more.

Film famous range: The Dark Divide movie releases for virtual screening this weekend. "The Dark Divide” is based on the true story of renowned butterfly expert Dr. Robert Pyle’s (David Cross) perilous 1995 journey across one of America’s largest undeveloped wildlands. A feel-good biographical dramedy starring David Cross.

Tell Mount Rainier what you think: Mount Rainier National Park wants to hear from hikers and visitors about the most popular access point to the park: Paradise Road, and the facilities along it, from the Nisqually entrance near Ashford, all the way up to Paradise. The public has until Oct. 5 to comment on the visitor use management plan for the area. This comment period is the first phase of an effort to engage the public and explore potential improvements to the area.

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.