Hiker Headlines: WTA on Dirtbag Diaries, safety alert for Rainier, Rainy Pass parking lot closure, Dosewallips Road wildfire

It’s Aug. 14. WTA was featured on the most recent episode of the Dirtbag Diaries podcast about the Forest Service staffing and funding cuts earlier this year. If you're planning to visit Mount Rainier soon, there's a safety warning for rivers you should know about. There are some major upcoming parking lot closures on Highway 20, including at Rainy Pass. The Dosewallips Flats Fire is burning on Dosewallips Road, and the Bear Gulch Fire is growing. And Hike-a-Thon is in full swing! Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

Smoke from the Bear Gulch Fire as seen from Port Townsend on Tuesday this week. Photo by Jessi Loerch.

WTA in the Dirtbag Diaries: The podcast's latest Endangered Spaces episode tells the story of what's happening to the national forest and other public lands after the staffing and funding cuts earlier this year. WTA's trail programs director, Jen Gradisher, is one of two featured voices (the main story is a former Forest Service ranger out of Darrington), talking about the legacy of our trail program, our incredible volunteers and how the staffing and funding uncertainty is showing up on the ground. Give the episode a listen and learn how organizations like WTA are trying to help fill the gaps and how you can help.

Mount Rainier safety: Mount Rainier National Park is warning of the risk for debris flows from Friday, Aug. 15, to Sunday, Aug. 17. Unusually heavy rain is expected and the park is encouraging visitors to reconsider any activities near river corridors. They also provide information on what a debris flow is, and safety tips if you do ever encounter one.  

Highway 20 parking lot closures: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest will be doing trailhead and parking lot repairs along Highway 20, which will close the Washington Pass Overlook and Bridge Creek trailhead parking lots between Aug. 18–Sept. 7, and the Rainy Pass picnic area (Heather - Maple Pass Loop trailhead) and the Rainy Pass north trailhead (Pacific Crest Trail trailhead) between Sept. 8–25. 

Olympic Peninsula wildfires: The Dosewallips Flats Fire started on Dosewallips Road earlier this week, which has closed Dosewallips Road to the public. This restricts access to multiple trails, such as the Dosewallips River Road and West Fork Dosewallips River trails. Additionally, the Bear Gulch Fire in the Staircase/Lake Cushman area continues to burn, and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is warning that air quality could deteriorate on Thursday night, Aug. 14, in Western Washington. 

Hike-a-Thon: We're halfway through Hike-a-Thon, our annual community fundraising event that takes place throughout August and gives hikers the opportunity to raise funds for the at-risk trails and public lands they love. Over 520 people have stepped up for trails so far, helping to raise over $145,000 and getting us almost 75% of the way to reaching our goal. Want to help? Sign up as a fundraiser or donate to support a Hike-a-Thon participant!

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