Signpost Blog
"This little newsletter has been an experiment so far, testing a hunch I've had that such a means of communication among walkers is needed." — Signpost magazine, 1966.
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It is Past Time to Change Racist Names on Public Lands
Apr 20, 2022
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Trip Report Roundup: Shifting from Winter to Spring
Apr 19, 2022
As we leave winter behind and continue deeper into spring, we dug into the trail conditions highlighted in recent trip reports.
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WTA Leadership Transition: Jill Simmons Looks Back at Five Years
Apr 19, 2022
Jill Simmons announces she will be stepping down as CEO after five years of service and she shares her appreciation with the WTA community.
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Where We're Going ... We'll Definitely Still Need Roads
Apr 19, 2022
Hikers need roads. But wild weather takes out roads each year, and land management agencies need funding to repair them. Join WTA's Trail Action Network to speak up for public roads funding so you can continue accessing Washington's forests!
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Rep. Strickland Visits WTA Gear Library and Talks Trail Funding
Apr 18, 2022
WTA met with Representative Marilyn Strickland to tour our Puyallup gear library and talk funding for trails.
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Hiker Headlines: Spring Snow, Wheelchair-friendly Trails, Free Entry
Apr 14, 2022
Spring snow is falling in Eastern Washington and at the major mountain passes. You can now filter WTA’s Hiking Guide to find wheelchair-friendly trails. A new wildfire strategy will be implemented in Central Washington. An unprecedented number of blowdowns has left some areas of the Olympic National Forest temporarily inaccessible. Entry is free to national parks on April 16. And, consider exploring the inland Northwest this spring.
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Hiker Headlines: Avalanche Danger, Permits, Restoration Project
Apr 07, 2022
Avalanche danger is high in the mountains right now. Permits are now available for three popular destinations in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The High Steel Bridge over the South Fork Skokomish River will be closed periodically today. And the Umatilla National Forest is seeking public input on a fire restoration plan.
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Hikers Using Wheelchairs Help Improve Our Hiking Guide
Apr 04, 2022
With the help of hikers using wheelchairs, WTA now has a new way to filter our hiking information.
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Progress Report: Glendale Forest, Building a Neighborhood Trail
Apr 04, 2022
Get the latest on this urban park and see how WTA's Emerging Leaders Program, land managers, and local residents are working to see it opened to the public.
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Hiker Headlines: Olympic Improvements, Conservation Funding, New Place Names
Mar 31, 2022
Ruby Beach will be closed for about three months this spring while access and parking is being improved. The trails along the Ozette triangle are in need of repair. The funding proposal for the Land and Water Conservation Fund meets the minimum but more is needed. A long-awaited trail bridge over the Columbia River will open on April 8. Eighteen derogatory place names in Washington are in the process of being replaced.
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How Wild Whatcom Brings Mindfulness to Trail Work Parties
Mar 29, 2022
Here are three of our favorite ways that Wild Whatcom makes time for mindfulness with youth.
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Hiker Headlines: Spring, State Parks Director, Federal Budget
Mar 24, 2022
Spring has officially sprung! Washington State Parks will welcome a new director next week. And, we take a look at how the federal budget shaped up for trails.
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2022 Federal Budget Trail Investments Good News — Here’s Why We’re Working for More
Mar 24, 2022
Last week, Congress finalized a federal budget for the 2022 fiscal year. Amid the trillions of dollars within Congress’s new budget — what matters for trails? In some good news, the budget increases investments in the Forest Service, but the numbers fall short of what's needed.
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Family and Community: How Trails Help a WTA Volunteer Build Connections
Mar 22, 2022
WTA volunteer and member, Elizabeth Storm, shares how trail work on the Covel Creek trail connects her to childhood, family and community.
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Hiker Headlines: New Trail, Recreation Survey, Legislative Wins, Free Day
Mar 17, 2022
Happy St. Patrick's Day! A new WTA-built trail is now open near Port Angeles. The Recreation and Conservation Office wants to hear from you. Eastrail projects received some incredible funding in the recent state budget. And, don't forget about the upcoming fee-free day on March 19.
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Revel in Green for the Spring Equinox This Weekend
Mar 16, 2022
Spring arrives this weekend and it's a perfect time to take a really close look at the nature around us. Whether it's a tiny patch of moss, a hardy clump of sagebrush or a wide stretch of rainforest, the Pacific Northwest offers an abundance of green — especially in the spring.
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Striped Peak: New Trail on Olympic Peninsula is Ready for Hikers
Mar 14, 2022
After three and a half years and 83 volunteer work parties, there's a new trail on a popular peak outside of Port Angeles.
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We Did It! WTA Celebrates Game-Changing Investments for Trails, Outdoors this Legislative Session
Mar 11, 2022
WTA helped lead the way to a game-changing win at the state Legislature this year. State public land agencies will receive $15 million annually ($5m per agency) to improve outdoor recreation opportunities by addressing crucial maintenance needs. A new pilot project is being funded to provide leadership opportunities for underrepresented communities in the outdoors. We hope you’ll join us in thanking lawmakers for this huge win.
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Hiker Headlines: Spring Forward, National Park Public Input, Good Fire
Mar 10, 2022
Mount Rainier National Park and North Cascades want your input on two new proposals. Learn how GirlTrek is celebrating Harriet Tubman’s 200th birthday. Prescribed burns are scheduled in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Identify trees with the helpful Trees PNW app. And, don’t forget to spring forward on March 13.
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Q&A With a GirlTrek Leader: Harriet Tubman, Walking and Community
Mar 04, 2022
On March 10, GirlTrek encourages folks to walk in honor of Harriet Tubman's 200th birthday. We talked with Trina Baker, a leader for GirlTrek and a member of WTA's board, about why this event is so important — and why she's so passionate about the power of walking and community.
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4 Ways to Practice Mindfulness on Trail
Mar 03, 2022
Mindfulness in the outdoors doesn’t require perfection, simply sharing a thoughtful space with yourself or someone else is practicing mindfulness.
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