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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8 Crafty Projects by WTA Staff to Inspire Your Own Handmade Gifts
Dec 12, 2023
Time on trail is inspirational. And for WTA staff, we're often inspired in a very tangible way. (Maybe because we build trails for a living?) We like to get our hands on things, to tinker with gear, pack our paints and experiment. As the days get shorter, and we spend a bit more time warm and cozy indoors, it seemed like a good time to share some of the beautiful things that WTA staff are making by hand.
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In-Person Connections: 5 Ways WTA's Volunteer Ambassadors Helped Hikers
Dec 08, 2023
Community building happens on trail, online and in-person and it's an integral part fulfilling WTA’s mission. One way we're doing that work is thanks to our amazing WTA volunteer ambassadors, who are regularly making in-person connections.
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“In Awe of All That WTA Does” — Members Tell Us Why They Support Trails
Dec 08, 2023
Six hikers tell us why they are WTA members.
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Hiker Headlines: WTA Gift Memberships, Outdoor Jobs, Lake 22 Closure, Natural Area Grows
Dec 07, 2023
If you’re still looking for holiday gifts, consider gifting your loved ones a WTA membership! Several organizations are hiring for outdoor positions right now. The Lake 22 trail closure has been extended through December. Nearly 800 acres of land was added to Dabob Bay Natural Area earlier this week. And expect some snow and rain storms this weekend!
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12 Essentials of Christmas Hiking
Dec 04, 2023
It's almost officially winter. Do you have these 12 Essentials?
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Hiker Headlines: Highway 20 Closure, America the Beautiful Pass Update, Snowy Forecasts
Nov 30, 2023
Thank you for your support during GivingTuesday! Highway 20 is closing for the season. The America the Beautiful Pass, also known as the Interagency Annual Pass, is changing to allow a single cardholder in 2024. Expect snow in and east of the mountains this weekend. And Bronka Sundstrom, once the oldest woman to summit Mount Rainier, has passed away at the age of 98.
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WTA Completes New Tiger Mountain Reroute
Nov 29, 2023
In November, WTA crews finished up a 2-year project on Tiger Mountain, clearing hundreds of downed trees and wrenching more than 40 stumps out of the ground.
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5 WTA Community Partners to Support this GivingTuesday
Nov 27, 2023
Washington Trails Association believes that trails are for everyone, forever. We seek to create a community of avid outdoor enthusiasts who love natural spaces. This year for Giving Tuesday, we are highlighting five community partners that are making waves, rewriting narratives in the outdoors and making sure everyone has access to connect with nature and experience joy in the outdoors. Please consider sharing your generosity with these community partner organizations.
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Hiker Headlines: Hurricane Ridge Area Reopening, Chinook & Cayuse Passes Closed for Winter, Meteor Shower
Nov 16, 2023
Nov. 24 is Autumn Day and parking fees will be waived in some areas, and Hurricane Ridge will reopen for the winter recreating season, too. Chinook and Cayuse Passes are closed for the season. North Cascades National Park wants your input as they put together a plan to increase accessibility in the park. And you might be able to catch a meteor shower this weekend.
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Found in Trip Reports: Kindness, Rescue and a Community of People Helping Each Other
Nov 15, 2023
What does it look like when hikers help hikers? When we take care of trails and each other? These trip reports paint a picture of what's possible.
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New Trails for the Teanaway Community Forest
Nov 14, 2023
We’re excited to start trail work in the Teanaway Community Forest — thanks to years of collaboration and careful planning.
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A Vision for the Future of the South Mountain Loop Highway
Nov 13, 2023
After 5 years of work, WTA and a cadre of regional experts have completed the south Mountain Loop Highway Trails Vision. This report sets out a vision for the future of this beloved recreation area that is within a one hour drive to 4 million people. It makes suggestions for maintaining key access roads, increasing wheelchair-friendly trail options, maintaining currently inaccessible trails and more.
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Hiker Headlines: WTA Named Kitsap County Partner of the Year, Longmire to Paradise Road to Stay Open 5 Days a Week
Nov 09, 2023
WTA is hiring for a Mount Rainier National Park trail crew leader. The Longmire to Paradise Road will be open 5 days a week this winter. Nov. 11 is Veteran’s Day, and parking fees will be waived in some areas. A Draft Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan for the North Cascades has been released, and you can comment. And WTA is very proud to be the recipient of Kitsap County’s Partner of the Year award!
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The Plans for Grizzly Bear Recovery in the North Cascades
Nov 09, 2023
The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released a Draft Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan/Environmental Impact Statement with different strategies for recovering this keystone species in the North Cascades Ecosystem. You can read the draft restoration plan and make public comment by the deadline of Nov. 13, 2023.
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Index-Galena Road Reopens After 17 Years
Nov 07, 2023
Major flooding washed out the road in 2016. On a drenching November morning, the road reopened, restoring access to popular trails in the Wild Sky Wilderness.
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Hiker Headlines: Franklin Falls, Denny Creek and Road to Heliotrope Ridge Reopen; Sno-Park Permits On Sale
Nov 02, 2023
Great news — Franklin Falls, Denny Creek and the road to Heliotrope Ridge are all open again! The Snoqualmie Tunnel on the Palouse to Cascades Trail is closed for the winter. And speaking of winter: sno-park permit season is here, and we’ve got a lot of rain in the forecast.
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Trip Report Roundup: Happy Halloween!
Oct 31, 2023
It's Halloween! We asked you to share trip reports from your costumed, spooky hikes. Here are a few of them.
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Hiker Headlines: WTA is Hiring, Artist Point and Cascade River Roads Closed, Chilly Weather is Here
Oct 27, 2023
Next Tuesday is Halloween; we want to see your costume hikes in trip reports! It’s trail and road closure season, so get ready to plan around some closures that may affect your hikes. Olympic National Forest wants to hear from you about the future of Klahanie Campground. It's Seattle Forest Week, there's cold weather on the way, and we're hiring!
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Video: Spotlight on WTA's Outdoor Leadership Training Program
Oct 25, 2023
Hear from WTA staff and partners about how the program has made 18,000 outdoor experiences possible.
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Snapshot: Family Time and a Pensive Porcupine
Oct 24, 2023
National wildlife refuges are great for wildlife photography. Photographer Gabi Randall and her grandmother might not have found the wildlife they were looking for, but they did get an unexpectedly fun encounter instead.
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Hiker Headlines: WTA is Hiring, Lake 22 Trail & Rainier Winter Road Closures, Orionids
Oct 19, 2023
WTA is now hiring for a full-time development coordinator. Many places — including Mount Rainier and North Cascades National Parks — are transitioning to winter operations, so expect some road and trail closures. And Mount Rainier National Park is asking for the public’s input on future plans to improve accessibility. Plus, meteors.
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