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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Celebrate National Poetry Month by Writing Hiker Haiku
Mar 31, 2020
Now, as the great outdoors temporarily shrink to our backyards and neighborhoods, take time to capture your thoughts in a poem to see your world transform in creative new ways.
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Nature on Trail: Yellow Warbler and Salmonberry
Mar 31, 2020
Washington's wild places are teeming with life. Learn a bit more about two local species, the yellow warbler and salmonberry, and where you can find them.
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Homebound Hiking Workout: Ideas for Staying Trail-Ready
Mar 27, 2020
Burn off cabin fever and build strength for hiking season while sticking close to home.
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10 Webcams for Your Nature Fix
Mar 26, 2020
Stream nature scenes from the comfort of your couch.
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Hiker Headlines: Marmot vs Pika, Closures, Burns Take a Backseat, Outdoor Companies Shift Gears
Mar 26, 2020
It’s March 26. Tonight is the final tense/adorable round-one contest between pikas and marmots in our own version of March Madness. Agencies temporarily close parks and trails across the state. The Forest Service curtails prescribed burns to help people with vulnerable lungs. Gear companies try to help with the medical supplies shortage.
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Jay Inslee to Washingtonians: Stay Home, Stay Healthy
Mar 23, 2020
How the order affects hiker: stick close to home and hike with who you live with.
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3 Trail-Worthy Skills to Teach Your Hiking Pup at Home
Mar 23, 2020
Here are three essential skills that all good hiking dogs need to know when you hit the trails. They are surprisingly easy to work on in your living room or on strolls around the blog.
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Keep Your Distance On Trails and In Parks, Stay in Your Neighborhood
Mar 23, 2020
These three things are essential right now: stay 6 feet apart, only go outside with people in your household and hike with extra caution. Also, stay close to home for your outdoor time.
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5 Tips To Turn Your Neighborhood Stroll Into An Adventure
Mar 22, 2020
Hunkering down in your neighborhood? Here are some ways to turn your neighborhood walk into a unique outing.
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Hiker Headlines: OK to Hike Right Now? Some Good News for Trails, Coronavirus & WTA
Mar 19, 2020
It’s March 19. Coronavirus is dominating the news. Our thoughts are with our community and everyone who is being affected. With the need to distance from other folks, we have some advice on how to get outside responsibly and safely. And, in these challenging, uncertain times, we’re happy to share a bit of good news from the state legislature. Here’s some news you might have missed with everything else going on this week.
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9 Ways to Bring Outdoor Joy Into Your Life Right Now
Mar 18, 2020
A list of ways to harness the joy of the outdoors even when you're stuck inside.
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What Do I Need for a Close-to-Home Hike?
Mar 17, 2020
For a walk in your local greenspace, packing along the Ten Essentials may feel like overkill — but then where does that lead us?
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Some Good News. Outdoor Recreation Wins in the State Budget
Mar 16, 2020
The 2020 state legislative session is over and there were lots of wins for public lands and outdoor recreation. Our lawmakers supported everything from sustainable funding sources and Discover Passes in libraries to State Parks and No Child Left Inside. Take a moment to thank them.
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Our Community & Coronavirus
Mar 13, 2020
How we're working to keep our community safe. Updates on cancelled and rescheduled trail work parties and workshops. We are here for you: how we hope to be a source for moments of joy and inspiration.
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Hiker Headlines: Sentate Introduces Key Federal Funding Bill, Upcoming Permit Applications
Mar 12, 2020
Funding for LWCF and federal trail maintenance backlog could be in reach. And a lot of backcountry permits open up soon, including Mount Rainier and North Cascades national parks and Mount St. Helens.
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Landmark Legislation Puts Funding for LWCF and Federal Trail Maintenance Backlog in Reach
Mar 12, 2020
Landmark legislation for federal public lands has been introduced in the Senate. The Great American Outdoors Act includes both permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and billions of dollars to address the maintenance backlog on federal lands. Keep up-to-date on this historic moment!
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We Hike to Heal Celebrates Women, Nature and Community
Mar 09, 2020
The monthlong event culminates with a virtual event with hiking, meditation and journaling.
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Hiker Headlines: Discover Passes in Libraries and Science Shows We Need Nature
Mar 05, 2020
It's March 5. A bill passed the Legislature to provide Discover Passes to libraries. A new study reinforces the importance of nature to people's health, especially in urban areas. The Cowiche Canyon area needs help. And King County will offer transit passes, which cover Trailhead Direct, to people making below the poverty level.
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The State of the State Budget
Mar 02, 2020
We are already entering the home stretch of the 2020 legislative session. Last week, the state Senate and House of Representatives released their proposed budgets, giving us our first look at how the Legislature will fund our priorities with this year’s supplemental budget. Here’s an update on key budget items for hikers to know.
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Hiker Headlines: Rainer Re-Opens, Dog Mountain Permits, Middle Fork Snoqualmie by Mid-Summer?
Feb 27, 2020
You can visit Longmire and Paradise in Mount Rainier again. And if you’d like to hike Dog Mountain on a spring weekend, you’ll need to get a permit. Officials say mid-summer is the earliest the Middle Fork Snoqualmie landslide damage will be repaired. Our youth ambassadors talk to legislators.
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Making Sure No Child Is Left Inside
Feb 25, 2020
The No Child Left Inside program provides important grants to outdoor education and recreation programs for youth in Washington. Learn more about the program and how you can ensure its continued success.
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