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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Planning for Paradise: Your Input on Mount Rainier's Future
Aug 18, 2021
Mount Rainier National Park is looking for your help to improve visitor experiences and reduce congestion in the most trafficked area of the park.
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Young Volunteers Tackle Big Project for Year-Round Trails
Aug 17, 2021
Thanks to dozens of youth volunteers, hikers will have a better experience on easily accessible, year-round trails at Big Finn Hill Park.
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Writing Away the Miles: Poetry & Hiking
Aug 13, 2021
"Hiking, like poetry, gives me the room to explore my own thoughts. And one complements the other."
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Hiker Headlines: Recreate Responsibly Update, Highway 20 Open, Some Trails and State Parks Closed, Changing Air Quality
Aug 12, 2021
The #RecreateResponsibly guidelines have been updated. The North Cascades Highway has reopened. A new fire in the Glacier Peak Wilderness remains small, but several trails are closed in the area. Some state parks have temporarily closed due to wildfires. Smoky air could be moving west across Washington this week.
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You Make Trails Happen: Hikers Speak Up on Washington Trails Day
Aug 10, 2021
On Saturday Aug. 7, several thousand hikers took action at trailheads and online, calling for better funding for the Forest Service in celebration of Washington Trails Day.
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#RecreateResponsibly Updates Guidelines
Aug 10, 2021
The national #RecreateResponsibly coalition is looking beyond the pandemic aiming to build an inclusive and conscientious outdoor culture.The updated guidance focuses on keeping people and outdoor spaces healthy through personal responsibilities and actions.
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Helping Hikers and Collecting Vital Information on the Mountain Loop Highway
Aug 09, 2021
This summer, keep your eyes out for WTA volunteers on the Mountain Loop Highway. They won't be wearing hard hats — these folks will be in Gothic Basin and at Cutthroat Lakes several times this summer, sharing information about recreating responsibly and sustainably and doing visitor counts for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
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One Year Later: How the Great American Outdoors Act Is Funding Trail Fixes
Aug 06, 2021
One year on from the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act, funding for stewardship and maintenance of trails has helped WTA to make great strides in our work. With four more years of GAOA funding to go, we're optimistic at what we can achieve, but we know that making trails for everyone, forever will take a lot more work.
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Hiker Headlines: Washington Trails Day, Cascade River Road Closed, Fire Damage Averted, Hike-a-Thon
Aug 05, 2021
Washington's official state hiking holiday, Washington Trails Day is coming up this weekend. The Cascade River Road is closed again after recent storm damage. The recent fire at Lyle Cherry Orchard doesn't appear to have damaged new trails. Hike-a-Thon has officially kicked off, but it's not too late to join in. Catch the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. A fire near Granite Mountain should be avoided.
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WTA Interviews Miles, Everyone's Favorite Marmot
Aug 03, 2021
What does the furry mascot of Hike-a-Thon have to say about WTA's biggest annual hiking event? Well...
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Hiker Headlines: Celebrate Trails, Park Planning, Maps in Libraries, Wildfires
Jul 29, 2021
Get ready for some upcoming hiking holidays. The public can comment on two different management plans, one for the Olympic National Forest and one for Mount Rainier. Hikers can borrow maps, guidebooks and Discover Passes from Seattle libraries. It’s fire season — keep up to date on the closures and fire bans that remain in place.
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How Do You Enjoy the Olympics? Help Plan the Future of Olympic National Forest
Jul 29, 2021
Olympic National Forest is looking to hear how you create in the region as part of their Sustainable Recreation plan.
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Hiker Headlines: Wildfire Closures, Hike-a-Thon, Public Input, Nature and Health
Jul 22, 2021
All public land east of the Cascades managed by Washington State DNR will be closed starting Friday, July 23. WTA’s annual Hike-a-Thon, when hikers can support the trails they love while they hike, is underway. The public can provide input on two important recreation plans. A new study reaffirms that nature in cities improves health.
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Take This Survey — And Help Make King County Parks More Equitable
Jul 22, 2021
King County Parks is soliciting community feedback via survey on priorities, needs and barriers related to park, trail and natural area access.
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HOV Lanes, Drains, and Automobiles: Carpool to Your Next Work Party
Jul 20, 2021
You don’t have to go it alone: consider carpooling to your next work party. Carpooling is a great way to cut down on congestion on the road and at the trailhead, curb emissions and build community.
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The Power of Loops & Connections
Jul 19, 2021
Creating trail systems that allow for loops makes a better experience for hikers — and it’s easier on the land, too.
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Hiker Headlines: Fire Closures, Burn Bans, Lookout Restoration, New ADA Trail
Jul 15, 2021
Active wildfires have led to the closure of several recreation areas. Burn bans have been extended throughout the state. High Rock Lookout is receiving long-awaited restoration work. The Erinswood trail is looking forward to some upcoming ADA improvements. And, extended gear sizes may be coming to a retailer near you.
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Reviving an Old Route to the Pratt
Jul 13, 2021
WTA has been hosting annual work parties and Backcountry Response Teams along the Pratt River Trail since 2016 as a part of our Lost Trails Found campaign. We're working to save this alternate access point into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and ensure plenty of hiking opportunities in a place that needs it most.
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Outdoors Infrastructure Receives Big Boost in House, Looks for Support in Senate
Jul 09, 2021
The INVEST Act was passed through the U.S. House of Representatives with some legislation important to the outdoors — including the Legacy and Roads Trails Act, the Transit to Trails Act, and the Outdoors for All Act. But they are apart of a larger bill that is now in the hands of the Senate.
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Writing Trip Reports to Remember a Loved One
Jul 09, 2021
Each year, Diego Moreno's sister and mother go backpacking as part of a memorial trip for Diego, Lizzie's son and Alejandra's brother. They find the time spent in nature is a balm for them, and helps them connect with Diego.
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Volunteer Profile: Jade Tabony — Data Scientist, Outdoor Adventurer & Cheez-It Enthusiast
Jul 08, 2021
We talk technology, slacklining and what it's like to give back to a cause you care about.
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