Washington Trails magazine, spring 2025

Washington Trails

Finding hope in a changing climate

How WTA is helping hikers, trails and landscapes

Building trails that are ready for the future

What to do when your hiking plans go sideways

Hike more, drive less: 14 hikes for spring

Washington Trails

A Publication of Washington Trails Association

Board of Directors

President | Ken Myer

Secretary | Bhavna Chauhan

Treasurer | Anson Fatland

VP Development | Halley Knigge

VP Governance | Todd Dunfield

Directors at Large

Bryce Bolen • Jared Jonson • Paul Kundtz

Chris Liu • Matt Martinez • Sully Moreno

Arun Sambataro • Ashleigh Shoecraft

Kelsey Vaughn

WTA Leadership

Chief executive officer Jaime Loucky

Washington Trails Staff

Magazine editor | Jessi Loerch

Communications director | Doreese Norman

Hiking content | Tiffany Chou

Graphic designer | Jenica Nordstrom

Copy editor | Cassandra Overby

Contributors

Writers | Loren Drummond, Joseph Gonzalez, David Hale, Jessi Loerch, Erin McQuin, Emory Ranes, Craig Romano, Anna Roth, Sandra Saathoff, Kelsey Vaughn, Catherine Vine, Andrea Waite

Proofreader | Rebecca Kettwig

Designers | Lisa Holmes, Victoria Obermeyer

Trail team | Chris Burke, Lindsay Leffelman, Craig Romano, Susan Saul, Holly Weiler

Making a difference in a time of change

The start of the new year is an opportunity to reflect on what’s important, to look back on the prior year and to look ahead to what the future may bring. This January, however, in addition to spending time with friends and family, I found myself faced with a disorienting split-screen: watching Los Angeles burn while we enjoyed blue skies and crisp winter air here in the Northwest. While it was wintry here, the images of the LA wildfires reminded me of the threats of climate change. And it made me think about the ways the landscapes in Washington state are being reshaped.

The past few years have given us a steady stream of extreme weather events: the 2021 Heat Dome, which shattered temperature records in the Pacific Northwest; Canada’s record-setting wildfires in 2023; hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024; even the recent “bomb cyclone” that hit the Puget Sound in November.

At a time when the challenges of climate change seem bigger than ever, we at WTA remain steadfast in our mission to protect trails and public lands. This requires us to think about the long-term health and sustainability of our trail systems and how our work can contribute to a more climate resilient future. Here are a few examples.

Over the past 5 years, we have learned how to equip and deploy professional trail crews with the tools, skills and knowledge needed to restore landscapes impacted by wildfires. This entails highly technical logout and tree felling work in difficult-to-reach areas. This work is complemented by volunteer trail crews who can then come in to restore tread and ensure that the trails themselves are in good shape.

Our website and Hiking Guide — which average up to 2 million visitors per month in the summer — allow us to share up-to-date information on wildfire activity, air quality and road closures, helping people plan their outdoor activities safely year-round.

And our advocacy team, supported by more than 60,000 Trail Action Network members, has helped unlock millions of dollars of investment in public lands, including investments in local parks and green spaces that provide urban neighborhoods with easy access to nature and cool shaded places.

It can sometimes feel overwhelming to think of a challenge as big and complex as climate change, but as Mr. Rogers once said, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” At WTA, we are honored to be part of a community of people coming together to help trails and public lands. And together, we are making a difference.

Sincerely,

Washington Trails Association

705 Second Avenue, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98104

206-625-1367 • wta.org

General information | wta@wta.org

Membership & donations | membership@wta.org

Editorial submissions | editor@wta.org

Meet all our staff at wta.org/staff

Jaime Loucky | Chief executive officer | jaimel@wta.org

A changing climate requires more resilient trails. WTA is helping build them.

Features

6 Make a backup plan ... or two

How to plan a big trip that allows you to pivot on short notice if conditions change.

22 The future isn’t written

Why taking a hike should be the first step to protecting trails from climate change.

26 Awe, wonder and action

The climate crisis weighs heavily on youth. But time in nature paired with action can spark a sense of hope and belonging for youth, families and all of us.

34 Is that a bear rump?

Yellow jacket chases and frolicking cubs — Craig Romano finds joy in being bear aware and spotting bruins on trail.

On the cover

Cheryl loves how her sister, who was visiting from Wisconsin,

the

This road trip rocks

Two geology fans embark on a journey that covers hundreds of miles and thousands (and thousands) of years.

Photos by Matt Christian, Juan Aguilera

Cheryl Jagiello took this photo of her sister, Susan Gilbert, while on a hike at Chain Lakes.

shows

scale of the beautiful landscape.

3 Front Desk

Greetings from our chief executive officer and magazine editor.

12 Trail Talk

Join WTA and the Northwest Symphony Orchestra for the second year of live music set to beautiful photos of Washington.

16 Community

J. “Booby” Miles found more than hiking in Washington. He found an opportunity to connect youth with the outdoors.

38 Trail Mix

Let your light shine. What you need to know about headlamps and other lighting options for your next outdoor trip.

42 Hike It

Find inspiration for your next hike.

POWERED BY YOU

Washington Trails Association is a nonprofit supported by a community of hikers like you. By mobilizing hikers to be explorers, stewards and champions for trails and public lands, together, we will ensure that there are trails for everyone, forever.

Hope Thrives Outside

In January, I went backpacking with a friend along the Dosewallips River. It was gorgeous, but frigid. We both wore a ridiculous number of layers and cuddled with Nalgenes filled with hot water when we went to bed. I was excited to get out on the trail, in part because I’d been planning to hike it over the summer but a fire forced me to change my plans. And when I planned a trip to visit Mount St. Helens that same summer, we had to plan around the fact that the road to the Johnston Ridge Observatory was closed by a massive landslide.

My story is nothing unique; hikers in Washington are already getting accustomed to the reality of hiking in a changing climate. More fire, more smoke, more extreme weather, more trail and road washouts.

The problem feels huge and overwhelming, and it is. But there’s also room for hope — there has to be to keep doing this work. While working on this magazine, I found hope in the work WTA is doing to protect trails and ecosystems (page 18), both on the ground and through our advocacy and education work. I hope you will find hope, too.

Things are going to keep changing, and we have to keep adapting. As people who love to get outside, we have to think differently. In this issue, we share insight from a climate scientist who has a clear view of all that is happening — but also emphasizes through all of that how vital it is to keep getting outside (page 22). And, using my own experiences and those of my coworkers, we offer some advice to pivot your plans quickly if your big adventures get derailed by smoke or weather (page 6).

WTA was founded by Louise B. Marshall (1915–2005). Ira Spring (1918–2003) was its primary supporter. Greg Ball (1944–2004) founded the volunteer trail maintenance program. Their spirit continues today through contributions from thousands of WTA members and volunteers.

Spring 2025 | Volume 60, Issue 1

Washington Trails (ISSN 1534-6366) is published four times per year by Washington Trails Association, 705 2nd Avenue, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98104. An annual subscription for a physical copy of Washington Trails magazine is $20. Single copy price is $4.50. Periodicals postage paid at Seattle, WA, and at additional mailing locations.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Washington Trails Association, 705 2nd Ave., Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98104.

We also have stories of how young people are finding hope and leading the way toward a better future (page 26). And if you want to think about climate over a much longer scale, check out our travel piece on how to hike your way through the history of the Ice Age Floods (page 30).

I hope you find some inspiration and hope in these stories, too. And I hope that, when the world feels overwhelming, you find some peace outdoors — and the energy to take the next step that can make a difference.

Happy hiking,

Jessi Loerch | Washington Trails editor | jessi@wta.org

A last-minute change of plans due to snow conditions allowed WTA staffers Anna Roth and Rachel Wendling to admire

Plan for the Unplannable

Tips to create flexible itineraries so you can pivot quickly and still have fun.

By Jessi Loerch

Last August, my backpacking plans — which had been carefully crafted for months — fell apart 2 days before I was set to leave. I had the food, the gear, the permit and a willing volunteer to help me with a car shuttle. The was only one problem — the trail I wanted to hike had just caught on fire.

Several of my friends and coworkers encountered the same problem that month. Many carefully planned trips had to be scrapped at the last minute.

When I started backpacking in Western Washington, summer weather was relatively reliable. That has steadily changed over the years as we’ve faced more wildfires and more smoke. Now, when I plan a trip, I do it with my fingers crossed. And I also make a backup plan (or two).

It can be hard to reschedule time off (to say nothing of rescheduling with other adults). So how do we ensure that — when fire, weather or other challenges arise — we can still enjoy the outdoor experiences we’re craving?

Here’s how to plan for big trips so that when something unexpected happens, you can pivot to a new destination on short notice.

Plan multiple trips: This is particularly important for longer backpacking trips. I love to daydream about trips this time of year. If you also like spending a lot of time with maps and WTA’s Hiking Guide (wta.org/hikingguide), I recommend using that time to sketch out the logistics for a few trips. Think about where you will camp, how you will get there, whether you need permits, and whether the trail will be clear of snow and obstacles at the time you’re planning to go. Even if you don’t end up needing it as an alternative destination, the research time won’t be a waste; you can always use the trip plans another time.

Think statewide: Picking out trips in different areas of the state gives you more options if you have to change your plans for weather or fire conditions. Even if your preferred trail isn’t on fire, trails near fires may close as firefighting efforts unfold, and air quality can be terrible even far from a wildfire.

this stunning view on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Photos by Anna Roth

Think about permits: If you want to backpack in an area that requires permits (wta.org/permits), do that planning early. (It’s likely too late to nab advanced Enchantments or Wonderland permits for this year.) It’s easiest to plan backup trips in areas that don’t require permits. However, you can also try getting last-minute permits in areas where that’s possible — you’ll just also want to have a nearby backup location that doesn’t require permits if the last-minute one doesn’t pan out.

Consider trip types: If you have to change your plans last-minute, trips that start and leave from the same point will make for easier logistics and less coordination with other drivers. You can, of course, plan an out-and-back trip, but also look for loops and lollipops (wta.org/ loop-trips).

Alert your contacts: If you have multiple possible itineraries, make sure your emergency contacts know about them. And make a plan for how you will alert those contacts if your plans change. Think about whether you’ll have cell service to update them. Consider bringing a satellite messenger if you won’t have any cell service, or make the call to change itineraries before you leave town (wta.org/hike-itinerary).

Think about bail-out options: Before your trip, review maps of the area. If a fire suddenly starts or an unexpected storm washes out a trail, you’ll need to know how to get out of the area, and where you’ll be when you exit. Again, this is another case in which a satellite messenger could be helpful.

Create a WTA My Backpack account: This allows you to save trails that you would like to hike in the future. Then, if plans change, you already have a short list of trails that you know you are interested in. And after you save your first few hikes, our Hike Recommender will suggest other trails that you might enjoy (wta.org/ mybackpack).

When smoky conditions forced me and my friend to cancel a backpacking trip, we pivoted to a day hike on Mount Townsend in the Olympics.

Browse the Hike Finder Map: In the summer months, our map at wta.org or on our app, WTA Trailblazer, has overlays that show where wildfires are, as well as the air quality index. And if you zoom in on the Hike Finder Map, you can look for trails near the one you are planning to hike (wta.org/ hikefinder).

Read trip reports: These hikersubmitted reports have all the info you need to know what to expect on trail. You can also search for features you want to look for or avoid (ripe berries, wildflowers, bugs, snow, etc.) When you’re back, take a few minutes to write a report of your own. You’ll have the most current information about the trail you visited (wta.org/tripreports).

Check the weather: There’s a link to the trailhead forecast in every Hiking Guide entry. For more detailed information like road conditions, pass forecasts and avalanche risk — especially while snow is still a factor — check out wta.org/winterforecasts.

For day hikes

If your plan for a day trip has to change at the last minute, here are some WTA tips and tools to help you pivot.

Look nearby: In our Trailblazer app, use “Hikes Near Me” to find nearby trails. This can be helpful if you get to a hike only to discover that the trail is closed or the parking lot is full.

Review your My Backpack: This is a quick, easy way to find hikes you’ve already decided you’re interested in doing. You can even leave yourself notes about why you want to do them and make your list public to share it with your friends.

Share a story

Memorable moments from WTA’s online community

As a WTA ambassador and trail maintenance volunteer, I am extremely grateful to the WTA community for being so inclusive and welcoming. This work is my small return to this amazing community, to help it grow bigger and stronger. My goal in 2025 is to involve my hiking community with WTA through trip reports, Hike-a-Thon and trail maintenance.

I started hiking as a way to explore Pacific Northwest scenery and improve my physical fitness. As I immersed myself in nature, I slowly realized I was not just discovering the beauty around me, but also a deeper understanding

of myself. Trails and the surrounding environment brought out my truest self. This connection inspired me to start Kritikal Adventures, a club dedicated to helping others experience the magic of hiking. Through guided hikes and a commitment to sustainability, we provide opportunities for everyone to discover themselves, build community and reconnect with nature.

I started capturing my experiences on social media as a way to share the beauty, joy and transformation I felt while hiking. I hope to encourage others to embrace the outdoors responsibly and create their own memories.

As a way to encourage new hikers, we offer themed hikes and one of them included berry picking. It was also a fun way to educate people about Leave No Trace. We made berry pancakes on the trail (pictured above). We carried all the equipment we needed, or at least we thought so. As we started making pancakes, we realized that we forgot a spatula. Oops! We ended up using a spoon to flip the pancakes. This is the kind of silly memory that forms lasting relationships on the trails and beyond.

— Krithika Sankaranarayanan, @kritikaladventures on Instagram

Photo by Venkatesh Bingi

Highlights

A quick look at what WTA is accomplishing on trails around the state

An Elephant-Sized Job

WTA recently wrapped up work at the St. Cloud dayuse area on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area. The area has been on WTA’s radar since 2014, when WTA learned that the ADA-accessible trail was no longer wheelchair friendly. Due to budget cuts, the Forest Service has had a difficult time maintaining the area, and in fall of 2024 WTA stepped up to help restore the St. Cloud Accessible Trail. Over the course of 11 work parties, volunteers restored the trail, moving and compacting over 90 tons of gravel weighing the equivalent of 13-15 full-sized elephants. Read more at wta.org/st-cloud-work.

Speaking Up for Trails

On March 18, WTA will be in Olympia for Hiker Rally Day. Dozens of hikers are joining us to ask lawmakers to prioritize trails and the state’s public lands. Watch for updates after the event at wta.org/signpost. And if you’d like to help right now, join our Trail Action Network and you’ll be the first to know about important ways you can use your voice to support the trails we love. wta.org/tan

Welcome to New Emerging Leaders

WTA is excited to welcome the fifth cohort of our Emerging Leaders Program (ELP). The paid professional development opportunity, which began in 2021, brings together a diverse group of people to learn technical trail maintenance skills and gain valuable experience and connections in the outdoor industry. Over 14 weeks, the cohort learns and does trail maintenance, connects with WTA community partner organizations and develops professional skills, getting the opportunity to practice new skills, build their resumes and share discussions with career professionals.

Through ELP, WTA aims to create systemic change in the outdoor industry by creating entry points for these underrepresented communities, which have historically had inequitable access to the outdoors, including BIPOC individuals. We’re excited to celebrate 5 years of working toward a more equitable outdoor industry!

New Trails Near Spokane

In 2025, WTA will continue a partnership with the Kalispel Tribe to add to the trail network on their land at Indian Creek Community Forest. The trails showcase forest-management methods and connect to the Colville National Forest. wta.org/indian-creek-work

Photos by Angelic Friday, Stasia Honnold

Help WTA Save Vital Funding for Public Lands

By Melani Baker

he 2025 state legislative session runs from Jan. 13 to April 27. This year, like every year, WTA will show up to work with elected officials, land management agencies and conservation partners to secure — and maintain — funding for our public lands.

This year’s state budget is tighter than we have seen in years. A large portion of the budget is constitutionally protected or would require a change in existing state law to reduce funding. But state parks and other recreation lands are not included, leaving funding for the outdoors vulnerable to reductions or eliminations. While we don’t know what the outcome will be for our state’s parks

and recreation lands yet, we know it’s time to rally and defend the funding that helps us to get outdoors.

With an active presence during the state’s legislative session every year for nearly 30 years, WTA has grown as an influential voice in Olympia for outdoor recreation. Building relationships with legislators and agency staff has been instrumental in WTA’s success. Our Trail Action Network, which has more than 60,000 members, has also been vital. Join WTA in this effort at wta.org/tan. You’ll receive action alerts (1–2 per month) during the legislative session and beyond.

In 2022, through the Trail Action Network, over 900 hikers contacted their state representatives and helped secure a new

source of funding for trails — $5 million annually to reduce the maintenance backlog for each of our state’s three largest land management agencies: the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Washington State Parks.

“Truly incredible” and “kind of unbelievable” are how Andrea Martin, statewide recreation manager at DNR, described this new funding.

For more than a decade, funding for the maintenance backlog on state parks and recreation lands had been static while the costs to perform work kept rising. In 2020, WTA led a project with the Trust for Public Land, legislators and other

Crews work to replace a bridge at Walker Valley Forest, on Department of Natural Resources land. When DNR has dedicated maintenance funding, it means they can tackle larger projects, like this bridge.

stakeholders to determine potential new funding sources. We learned that the best opportunity at that time for additional funding was from the state’s operating budget. Advocacy is critical to increase funding for the recreation maintenance backlog on DNR, WDFW and Washington State Parks lands. That’s where a partner like WTA can come in.

“WTA and others were instrumental in securing this funding,” said Sam Hensold, DNR’s state recreation operations manager. “They educated their deep networks of recreation advocates, who clearly articulated the need for this ongoing, dedicated maintenance funding to state legislators.”

WTA’s Trail Action Network, partner advocates and legislative champions like Rep. Cindy Ryu and Sen. T’wina Nobles all helped make this funding a reality.

If you’ve hiked Mount Si, camped at Fort Flagler or visited the Methow Wildlife Area in the past couple of years, you’ve benefited from this funding. Those are just a few of the places where DNR, WDFW and Washington State Parks have been using this regular source of maintenance dollars to improve trails, upgrade bathrooms, fill potholes and perform other fixes.

This past December, Gov. Jay Inslee’s proposed budget included significant cuts to this maintenance funding

for DNR and WDFW. That’s why WTA and hikers like you are going to Hiker Rally Day in Olympia on March 18, to ask that our state’s leaders protect recreation and maintain funding at existing levels.

Land managers know intimately what fixes are needed on their lands. For example, the current maintenance backlog for Washington State Parks is $400 million, even with this additional annual funding.

Land managers report that regular maintenance can save the state money in the long run.

“Regular maintenance reduces the need to catch up with more expensive capital projects when a facility or system fails,” said Owen Rowe, former policy and governmental affairs director at Washington State Parks who know works in the governor’s office.

This is similar to the way that regular car maintenance can prevent the need for costly repairs down the line. Sam said, “This (also) results in recreation trails and facilities that are cleaner, safer and more enjoyable for the public.”

WTA has been and remains an important partner in securing maintenance funding for Washington’s public lands.

— Ben Anderson, WDFW communications manager

Washington State Parks estimates that this new funding is 20% of their current on-the-ground maintenance spending. DNR estimates it to be 40% of their maintenance budget, and WDFW estimates this funding to be nearly 50% of their maintenance spending. With land managers and hikers now relying on this funding to keep state lands safe and enjoyable to visit, we know we have to preserve this win, which is at risk this year.

“WTA has been and remains an important partner in securing maintenance funding for Washington’s public lands, advocating at the legislative level and supporting outdoor recreation at public lands across Washington,” said Ben Anderson, WDFW communications manager.

This year’s budget shortfall puts this hard-earned and much-needed maintenance funding at risk. WTA is advocating for trails during the state legislative session and working to maintain this crucial funding. We’d love your help. Sign up at wta.org/tan to be part of big wins for trails.

Regular maintenance funding allows land managers to respond to unexpected weather events, like the monthlong cleanup to get Deception Pass ready for summer 2024 visitation after a storm.

Music & Nature

Join WTA for an evening of stunning images accompanied by a symphony orchestra.

By Catherine Vine

Last spring, more than 1,800 people filled Benaroya Hall in Seattle. They were there to celebrate Washington’s iconic beauty and the joy of spending time outside. This concert, the first collaboration between Washington Trails Association and the Northwest Symphony Orchestra (NWSO), was a success by all measures and raised important funds to support WTA’s work. Attendees enjoyed stunning photographs from WTA’s annual Northwest Exposure Photo Contest, set to live music performed by the orchestra. WTA is excited to partner with NWSO again to host “Crescendo: A Symphonic Celebration of Washington Landscapes.”

The concert is on April 25, 2025, and will feature all new photos from the 2024 WTA photo contest, paired with symphonic pieces by Vivaldi, Copland, Delius and more. The orchestra will also perform Samuel Jones’ “Mount Rainier Overture,” paired with hikers’ photos of the mountain itself.

The Musical Mountaineers will make a return appearance with a new musical film. The concert will also feature an award-winning violin soloist, 16-yearold Hana Gottesman. Hana grew up in Washington, and this will be her second season performing as a soloist with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra.

This year’s concert promises to be a wonderful way to welcome spring, with musical selections including Antonio Vivaldi’s “Spring” and Edward Elgar’s “Chanson de Matin” (“Song of the Morning”).

“Nature has inspired the creation of so much music throughout history,” said Anthony Spain, NWSO’s music director. “Much of this music was created or influenced by what we refer to as the ‘Romantic’ period in music. This was a period when vivid emotions and the influence of nature infused all art forms. Many composers during this period actively engaged in nature through various activities to be inspired and to

Photos from WTA’s Northwest Exposure Photo Contest will be shown on the big screen as the orchestra plays live on stage.

Photo courtesy of Northwest Symphony Orchestra

When I go hiking, original melodies come to me.

write the music that they composed. As such, this music is descriptive and pictorial. It is a natural fit for us to perform this music alongside stunning photos provided by the WTA community.”

and I find it so uplifting for my spirit. When I go hiking, original melodies come to me. Of course, I am just experiencing what numerous composers have experienced. Like so many of us, I feel fortunate to be able to experience the nature and expansive mountains we have in our beautiful state.”

During last year’s concert, attendees clearly felt this connection between nature and music. As striking images panned across the screen and magnificent music filled the auditorium, the audience repeatedly gasped and sighed with awe and delight — particularly when any pika appeared on the screen.

WTA is looking forward to another memorable evening of music and imagery in April. We hope you’re able to join us as we celebrate what makes Washington special and why we cherish our public lands and trails.

Guests at this year’s concert will see photos from across the state — from the alpine backcountry to mossy forests and local parks that provide much-needed oases in urban areas. Concertgoers will also have the opportunity to connect with WTA staff and ambassadors in the lobby and to learn about additional ways they can support trails. Part of the proceeds from the concert will benefit WTA’s work to provide free resources to hikers, advocate for public lands, reduce barriers to getting outside and maintain trails for everyone, forever.

Washington Trails Association and the Northwest Symphony Orchestra present … “Crescendo: A Symphonic Celebration of Washington Landscapes”

Photo by Leonard

As a composer himself, Anthony can relate to being inspired by nature.

“One of my favorite activities is to get outdoors and go hiking in the mountains,” he said. “Nature is so conducive for finding a place of solace,

Friday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall (Seattle) $35–$64

Purchase your tickets and learn more at wta.org/ symphony.

Thank you to our presenting sponsors, Western Washington Honda Dealers and Microsoft.

Share your own images of Washington’s beauty

This year’s Northwest Exposure Photo Contest will welcome photos Aug. 11–Oct. 6. Start snapping photos now and learn more at wta.org/photocontest.

A Case for Hiking Near Home

By Anna Roth

Hiking is one of my go-to ways to exercise and de-stress, but there’s nothing like traffic to instantly evaporate the happiness I feel on trail. For that reason, there are places and times of year I won’t hike anymore. Holiday weekends? Nope. Anything off Highway 2, ever? Forget it; the traffic jams heading west are the stuff of legend.

It’s not that I’m not hiking — I am. I’m just more likely to stay closer to home now. In the same amount of time it would take to get to a remote trail, I can hike farther and spend less time in the car. And I have extra time to spend in my community and neighborhood. My neighbor and I visit each other.

I’m keeping a garden alive and taking classes I’ve always been interested in. I’m volunteering in town more. I have time after a hike to do more than drag my stuff inside and plop on the couch. Plus, my trip to a remote trailhead may not contribute significantly to climate change (compared to various industries), but sitting in traffic watching heat waves against a backdrop of mountains without their snowy caps is demoralizing.

Of course, it's easy to default to hiking every weekend when a dramatic horizon is visible every time you step outside. But I’ve realized that just because the mountains are calling doesn’t mean you have to go all the way into them.

Walking around the city can offer beautiful juxtapositions of nature with human-built structures, like this cherry tree against a building on Seattle University’s campus.

I think about it in terms of hiking pace. If I hike at 2 miles per hour, and spend 2 hours driving to a trail (or waiting in line to get into a national park), that’s 4 miles I could have hiked! Now double those hours to factor in the drive home, and a modest day hike that’s 2 hours away turns into an all-day affair, and the time spent in the car equals almost 8 miles of potential hiking.

When I realized this, I began recalculating my outings. I developed a personal formula: A hike must be at least twice as long one-way, in miles, as the hours I spend driving to it.

With this formula, suddenly local trails I’d whizzed by on my way elsewhere became compelling. Just 40 minutes from my door, I can do well over 10 miles in a morning. I save money because I use less gas; the shorter time commitment means it’s easier to get friends to come along and I get home with enough time for other activities.

More often these days, I opt to simply not hike in favor of investing in where I live. Spending time in your neighborhood and your community makes the days you do get out on trail even sweeter. I had some of the best trips of my life this summer, partially because the high I felt after not being on trail every weekend was closer to what originally made me love hiking.

I recommend giving it a shot. Try staying closer to home one weekend a month (or, if that sounds out of the question, once a quarter). You can use WTA’s Trailblazer app to find parks near you. Use the time you save for an in-community activity with yourself, your family or friends. Get a coffee. Help a friend move. Read a book. Craft something. Just sit around. And then see how it feels the next time you venture farther out. I’d love to read about it in a trip report.

Photo by Anna Roth

Youth

WTA’s Outdoor Leadership Training program empowers educators and youth program facilitators with training, gear and resources to lead outdoor trips for youth. At a workshop, learn and practice the skills you need to lead a safe, fun and inclusive youth outdoor experience. Our Outdoor Leadership Training workshop schedule for 2025 is now available online; register today.

HIKING

April 12 – Point Defiance, Tacoma

October 18 – Tolt-MacDonald Park, Carnation

CAMPING

June 14 – Dash Point State Park, Federal Way

BACKPACKING

July 18–20 – Olympic National Park

by

Photo

Zyanya Alvarez

Miles, Smiles and Community

Miles Hike Club gets out on trail with hikers of all ages — and WTA helped them get there.

By Joseph Gonzalez

J. “Booby” Miles has lived all across the United States but didn’t fall in love with hiking until he moved to Washington in 2016. He was always interested in fitness and entrepreneurship, however. All three passions eventually melded together, starting when a friend invited him to hike Little Si.

“Hiking isn’t in the culture of some of the other places I’ve lived,” Booby said. “There’s also the stigma that hiking and the outdoors aren’t for Black people. Then I went on a hike with a friend to Little Si and absolutely fell in love with it.”

Booby began putting together hiking trips, often pulling in friends from different social circles to visit his favorite trails. When a good friend and fellow entrepreneur recommended Booby turn his passion into a business, everything

clicked. Booby created a page on Airbnb Experiences, and on Jan. 19, 2019, Miles Hike Club was born. The club’s mission is “to enlighten, inspire and foster memorable bonds as we unlock the adventurer in those exploring the great outdoors.” And throughout 2019, that’s what it did, offering scheduled group itineraries to stunning destinations on Washington’s trails.

Then the pandemic hit. Folks wanted to get outside more than ever, and in July of 2020, Amazon reached out to Booby with a request to lead corporate hikes. Miles Hike Club immediately added private and corporate hikes to their offerings so hikers and communities could continue to gather safely outdoors.

Things continued to evolve. While hosting a booth at the Columbia City Night

Whether you’re searching for a mountaintop experience or to get your kiddo outside, Miles Hike Club, led by Booby Miles (second from left), has an offering for just about anyone.

When

these kids get older, they will have fond memories of being outside and can start breaking down stereotypes that the outdoors are only for a subset of people.

Market, Booby was asked by a marketgoer if he ran programs for kids. At the time, he did not, but he liked the idea. It would give the club a chance to reach more people.

Stacey Kinney, the marketgoer who had asked the question, was a kindergarten teacher at St. Therese Catholic Academy in Seattle. The academy was running a 9-week after-school enrichment program to connect Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) students with the outdoors. Booby quickly developed a curriculum and began offering youth programs across Seattle in places like Seward Park, Kubota Garden and Madrona Park. Time and logistics prevented the kids from traveling too far from home, but Booby was able to build a connection between the youth and their trails next door.

Booby soon discovered that youth programs and trips for adults have different needs. Miles Hike Club’s first outing with St. Therese Catholic Academy was designed to educate the youth about trees, highlighting six local species and how to identify them.

“By the end of the day, they only truly remembered one, and I was only really able to teach them about three. But it was still the perfect day. With kids, you have about 2 hours max to keep them entertained and educate them a bit,” he said.

In 2023, Booby became a father. He says that being a parent has helped him slow down and reframe the way he interacts with kids.

Other trips have included teaching kids how to read a map and lead a hike. Fostering connections between youth and local parks is a key part of trips. Booby estimates that in one group of 10 kids, only one of them had actually been to the park they were visiting, despite living in the same neighborhood.

“Our youth programs are really about building that beautiful relationship with nature so when these kids get older, they will have fond memories of being outside and can start breaking down stereotypes that the outdoors are only for a subset of people,” he said.

Booby met WTA CEO Jaime Loucky at a

Washington state tourism conference in October 2022. Jaime connected Booby with WTA’s Outdoor Leadership Training program, which offers workshops for educators and youth program facilitators as well as other resources to help lead outdoor programs. Soon after, Booby attended a WTA snowshoeing workshop, picking up more skills to work with youth.

WTA provided financial assistance and REI lent gear to support Booby’s youth outings. That allowed him and his team to focus on nurturing relationships with green spaces, rather

Getting outside is a great way find inspiration and build connections with friends, for hikers young and old.

Get outside with kids

Are you an educator or youth program facilitator who is looking to get outside with the kids you work with? Check out WTA’s Outdoor Leadership Training program at wta.org/olt to lead trips of your own.

than worry about the cost for the club or participants. Students only had to pay for transportation.

Since that first experience with St. Therese Catholic Academy, Miles Hike Club has worked regularly with the Academy for Creating Excellence, an institution dedicated to empowering Black male youth and adults through community and educational programs. Miles Hike Club has also expanded to more schools and now works with elementary kids up to third grade.

Learn more about Miles Hike Club and their offerings at mileshikeclub.com.

Photos courtesy

Booby Miles

Trails for a WorldChanging

Washington needs resilient trail systems — WTA is building trails to stand the test of climate change. By Andrea Waite

Washington Trails Association’s work to care for our trail system means overcoming a lot of challenges. Increasingly, one of those challenges is climate change, which is affecting trails and the ecosystems they pass through.

While trail work won’t stop climate change, thoughtful trail design can go a long way toward maintaining access to the backcountry and preserving its health in the face of a changing climate. And for hikers who want to make a difference in a problem that can feel overwhelming, joining WTA in that work is a tangible way to make a difference.

If predictions hold, backcountry use will increase in the coming years. Sustainable

Learn more

backcountry trails protect ecosystems by keeping people on established routes, preventing the creation of damaging informal trails. They also provide access to wild places. Spending time in the backcountry encourages appreciation, stewardship and conservation. People are more likely to care about and protect what they know and experience.

WTA is working across the state to ensure continued access to trails, while building a system that can withstand climate change and protect delicate habitats.

Combating erosion

One of the challenges of climate change is increased erosion, which means WTA’s focus on designing trails that

For the research on how trails and ecosystems are affected by climate change, go to wta.org/climate-trail-work.

hold up will be increasingly important. Drier soil erodes faster and more easily. That means erosion will accelerate as summers become hotter, longer and drier. Additionally, forest fires fell trees and can permanently damage soils. Fewer standing trees mean fewer leaves on the ground. With fewer leaves to decompose, the amount of available rich soil lessens.

The North Cascades watersheds are also projected to become rainier — rather than snowy — and flooding increases runoff. Increased erosion and runoff can lead to more sediment in streams, which affects the plants and animals that rely on clear water, such as salmon.

Perhaps counterintuitively, it will also be important to maintain drainage, since ensuring the water has somewhere to go will reduce the chances of a trail washing away during heavy rains and in spring runoff.

The U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station says that soil loss is important because soil creation is so slow. Once it’s gone, “it is essentially permanent.”

Reducing risks for plants and wildlife

Backcountry plants and wildlife are also affected by climate change, in particular by rising temperatures, changes in precipitation and disturbances like wildfires. Species are moving farther north and to higher elevations. As a result, remote backcountry locations could become habitat for more or different species than have typically lived in these areas. Climate change is also driving shifts in events like the hibernation and breeding of animals, and the fruiting and loss of leaves for plants.

As more people visit the backcountry due to the longer snow-free seasons that come with climate change, human and animal encounters will likely increase. Well-established and maintained trails could reduce the overall impact on plants and wildlife by encouraging people to stay in the trail corridor, rather than follow social trails. That limits the impact on vegetation and keeps hikers in a more predictable area for wildlife.

by Brandon Tigner

Photo

Leadership & Innovation

In 2023, WTA crews worked at Mount Pilchuck, a popular hike along the Mountain Loop Highway. They worked to create a sustainable trail surfaces, including this turnpike, to prevent erosion and keep hikers on trail.

lasting trails

Designing for the future

Ongoing maintenance and sustainable trail design also address our aging trail networks. For example, a broken bridge sitting in a creek means hikers have to find an alternate route across water. This can create a social trail through a sensitive area, and the presence of non-natural wood in the creek can affect the aquatic ecosystem. Building a reroute or repairing the bridge restores sustainability of the route and reduces the impacts on the environment. Many trails, built decades ago, no longer meet modern sustainability standards, and aging trails continue to deteriorate and intensify climate sensitivity.

How WTA is doing the work

WTA’s extensive backcountry trail maintenance program operates two types of crews:

WTA’s Lost Trails Found crews: These professional crews are paid seasonal staff who spend their summer in the backcountry. They focus on those areas that are the hardest to reach and trails that are at risk of disappearing entirely due to natural disasters, lack of maintenance and funding, or other existential threats.

Backcountry response teams (BCRT): These volunteer-based crews take on multiday trips that combine backpacking with trail maintenance. They work across the state and focus on routine upkeep, updating aging infrastructure and tackling projects beyond the reach of one-day work parties.

We can’t do it alone

WTA has extensive partnerships with the Forest Service and other land agencies in Washington to

A volunteer works on a project at Gothic Basin. Before volunteers start work, WTA makes careful plans to ensure long-

that limit the impact on sensitive ecosystems.

tackle issues exacerbated by climate change with sustainable trail work. But those agencies don’t have the funding they need.

If you are in the backcountry, the odds are good you are on land managed by the Forest Service — the Forest Service manages more miles of trail than any other public lands agency in the state. Right now, a funding and staffing crisis has meant workforce cuts that will put Forest Service trail services critical to climate resilience at risk.

We need the advocacy of hikers and continued action by Congress to direct funding to repair access to public lands and fund the necessary positions at the Forest Service, including trail crews to enable efforts toward climate resiliency.

How you can help

The impacts of climate change in the backcountry affect us all — whether it’s your favorite meadow disappearing or the destructive, increased intensity and scale of wildfires in your region.

Improving Washington’s backcountry trails is a tangible step toward climate resiliency. Here’s how you can get involved:

• Volunteer with us on trail! Join a WTA BCRT. Check out our schedule of BCRTs and day work parties at wta.org/volunteer

• Support our advocacy work and Lost Trails Found crews with a donation today. wta.org/give

• Sign up for our Trail Action Network to help call for more trail maintenance funding at the state and federal level. wta.org/tan

Volunteers on a BCRT restored severely eroded trail surfaces at Mason and Rainbow lakes.

How WTA builds trails for

climate resiliency

Soil assessment: Place trails to avoid sensitive soils. Look for soils with good drainage for long-term trail stability.

Mind the grade: Keep trails from getting too steep — steeper trails erode faster.

Winding route: Switchbacks hold up better than steep, straight trails. Routing trails through dense vegetation can keep hikers from widening trails or creating informal routes.

Hydrology assessment: Climate change will shift how much and where water will flow. We always ask: “What would water do?”

Tread slope: To keep water from standing on or flowing down the trail, the outer edge should gently slope away from the hillside and the

tread should undulate, rather than constantly climb.

Sustainable construction:

Building drainage, ditches and structures like turnpikes directs water away from the trail and reduces erosion and runoff. Turnpikes also keep hikers from going off trail to avoid wet areas.

Species assessment: Trails are routed to minimize impacts on wildlife, by avoiding nesting areas, for instance. We also consider how species could shift as the climate changes.

For a more detailed look, including diagrams and more photos, at how we build trails that can hold up to the challenges of climate change, go to wta.org/ climate-trail-work.

by

Photos

Matt Christian, James Alexander, Alison Gale

Keep What We Love

Climate change is already impacting hikers and campers in Washington. It’s time to act.

By Loren Drummond

As wildfires and lower snowpack increasingly impact places like alpine meadows, the joy we find in these places can fuel our passion to protect them.

Photo by

Photos by Carly Long, Amber Parucha

Most people who love nature really hate climate impact talks,” jokes Jason Vogel.

That’s why, when Jason does talk about the climate, he doesn’t start with the hard news. Instead, the first thing he will tell you is to keep tapping into the joy and wonder of spending time in wild places.

Jason is a hiker, a backpacker, a mountain biker, a backcountry snowboarder and a mushroom forager based in Bellingham. On weekends, he teaches his kids to ski. In his professional life, he is the interim director of the Climate Impacts Group and co-director of the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative at the University of Washington. When you talk to him, he’s very clear that climate change has been shaping recreation and public lands across our region for years, but that we’re starting to feel the bigger impacts of that change.

“People think we are a climate haven, a safe spot. It’s just not true.”

For hikers in Washington, that means two things. One: As the landscape shifts under our feet, we need to build new skills and awareness about how we hike. Two: We must act. According to Jason and his colleagues, we still have plenty of sway to protect the places we love. The important thing is to do something — and to do it now.

Counting losses across the state

On Dec. 17, 2012, rangers and Cama Beach State Park visitors watched the waters of a 12.9-foot king tide wash over the seawall. Water pushed into the boathouse and bathed the foundations of the iconic cabins along the beach. Twelve years later, during a major storm on Feb. 26, 2024, seawater bled into the septic, water and electrical systems.

When park staff evaluated their options, they were clear-eyed. Park staff pointed out that there have been seven 50-year storms in the last 20 years. By 2050, there’s a 50 percent chance most of the cabins would have their feet in the drink. Late last year, they decided not to reopen the beloved cabins in their current locations.

In March of 2024, Olympic National Park demolished seven cabins at Kalaloch Beach, after coastal erosion undercutting the bluff made them

unsafe. The pressure and cost of climate change played a major role in both decisions.

Big shifts from sea to summit

According to Jason and his fellow researchers, coastal impacts are just one of the climate outcomes that we can expect to affect Pacific Northwest recreation.

We’ll see less snow and more winter rain. That spells longer, drier summers with bigger wildfire and smoke risk. The researchers say that heavy rain events are also expected to be more intense, and the resulting flooding, landslides and washouts are likely to make trail, road and campground access more difficult.

In May of 2023, after a massive landslide destroyed SR 504, a key access road to Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mount St. Helens, Gifford Pinchot National Forest said that “hot weather and associated rapid snowmelt in the days leading up the event” were a contributing factor.

Trip reports track changes in real time

Posting a simple trip report does more than help hikers. It documents a shifting world for land managers and researchers.

Trip reports give essential data to scientists trying to make sense of what’s going on across the landscape and how to protect it.

Trip reports are even helping health officials track the creep of ticks across the state.

With more than 4,500 trails in Washington, this has to be the work of community, not just WTA staff or an agency like the Forest Service.

The latest estimate for hikers being able to access the popular area again is summer of 2027.

Sea change, extreme weather, landslides, glacial melt, drier summers, fire and flood. We’re used to thinking about these kinds of landscape changes in the future, as “what ifs.” But we are already dealing with the impacts of climate change, many of which don’t make the news.

Both Olympic and North Cascades national parks have said that trail and road washouts from flooding and landslides are a big concern in their climate change vulnerability assessments.

It’s 2025, this is our world, and it’s changing fast. So, what’s a hiker to do?

Hiking in a new age

There are many reasons to keep putting one foot in front of the other on our trails. Spending time in the wild places we love generates the energy we need to care for the ecosystems and people who share those places with us.

We’re also going to have to pay closer attention. Seasonal markers are moving around; snow might come later or melt earlier. Smoke season is a reality we need to account for when planning trips. Experienced snowshoers and skiers need to relearn their expectations of familiar avalanche terrain. (See page 6 for tips for planning trips in unpredictable times.)

We can also put some of our trail time to work: volunteering for trail work, contributing to a people-powered science monitoring program or even becoming a search-and-rescue volunteer. Our combined time and energy adds up in a powerful way and knits together our community.

Build new skills and rethink old ones

Joe Hall is one of the WTA staff who sends backcountry trail crews out

to clear and restore trails in danger of falling off the map, and he makes sure those crews are equipped with something even more important than the right sleeping bag or saws.

“They need a set of skills to navigate unexpected situations in the field, and increasingly that includes knowing how to evaluate and react to heat spikes, heavy rains and wildfires. Our crews are working in rugged places like the Pasayten and Glacier Peak wilderness areas, places like Schneider Springs burn area near Naches, where entire trail networks have seen big, hot fires. They need to know how to travel and work safely in those landscapes,” Joe said.

In recent years, Washington Trails Association has amped up planning and created extra safety protocols for our crew leaders and professional trail crews, building a nimble approach to keep trail crews and volunteers safe (page 18).

“In old fire burn areas, sudden wind and rain storms have much higher consequences for hikers than in a healthy forest. Conditions can change quickly, and it’s important to know safe evacuation routes in case of a flood or landslide event,” said Erin McMillin, who helps plan backcountry work for WTA.

While hikers may not need the same level of preparation, they can take a page from the pros by deepening an understanding of weather, risk management and avalanche forecasts.

The future isn’t written

Climate scientists are clear: While we’re already experiencing climate change impacts on trails and in campgrounds, we still have a lot of power to influence just how bad things get. One piece of that puzzle is influencing policy makers to enact climate-friendly policies to protect the places we love.

Hikers will need to be a strong voice for more funding for trails and public lands. Researchers warn that as

snowpack melts out earlier, there will be more boots on trail, even as wildfires and washouts choke off access to trails.

“Many people don’t think about infrastructure as part of the hiking experience, but it is,” said Andrea Imler, WTA’s advocacy director. “Roads, trails, parking lots — even backcountry bridges and toilets. They all support the incredible trail network connecting public lands in Washington. And all of those things require funding. One major washout, like at Mount St. Helens, can cut off an entire area to access. A giant wildfire destroys a trail, and brings down trees for a decade or more, requiring years of annual work to keep it open. And that doesn’t even account for the public lands staff who build and maintain all of that infrastructure.”

It is likely to take 3 years and millions of dollars to repair the damage done in a single day to SR 504 at Mount St. Helens.

Shoring up key infrastructure makes sense in the long run. But the costs can add up, even for something as small as a trail.

Take action on trail funding

Ask for Congress to renew the Legacy Restoration Fund at wta.org/takeaction.

In the late summer of 2021, the Schneider Springs Fire burned an area about half the size of nearby Mount Rainier National Park. That fall, Congress passed a law providing extra funding to rehabilitate national forests burned from 2019 to 2021. That gave the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest resources to repair the trails impacted by the fire. They tapped WTA to help repair 75 miles of trails in 2024 and 2025.

In 2025, Congress has the opportunity to reauthorize the Great American Outdoors Act’s Legacy Restoration

Fund, which has directed more than $149 million across the country to help reduce the maintenance backlog on national forest trails over the last 4 years.

“These are the kinds of essential funding opportunities that we need hikers to speak up for,” Andrea said. “They’re essential to protecting our iconic trails now and a decade from now.”

If we want the places we call home to be as livable as possible for all people and animals — if we want trail experiences full of ferns, fish and snow-fed wildflower meadows, then we need to keep hiking and we need to act. In big and small ways, starting right now.

by

A WTA trail crew clear trails after a wildfire in the Entiat Wilderness.

Photo

Austin Easter

Fighting Climate Grief With Hope and Action

Time outside helps the youth with Climate Action Families in their work to advance climate justice. By Emory Ranes

he first time I joined a hike with Climate Action Families (CAF), my heart was pounding. I was 8 years old, the shy new kid in the group, and wasn’t sure I’d fit in. But everything changed on that trail at Snoqualmie Pass when an adult volunteer pointed out a cluster of glowing mushrooms on a mossy tree stump. They explained how these fungi were bioluminescent, and we all crowded around, shining our black lights in the dim forest. That moment of awe — and many others since — became the fuel that keeps me working against climate change.

I’m in college now, and I’ve been with CAF for more than half my life. CAF is a youth and family-led organization committed to advancing climate justice from every angle. For 12 years, the group has empowered young people and their families to make a real impact, from personal transformations to reshaping government policies and even our power grid.

One of the main ways we do this is by staying connected to the places we’re fighting for. At CAF, we regularly acknowledge that most of us are newcomers to this land, and honor

the Coast Salish peoples and their deep knowledge of this special place. We know we’re here to learn. That’s why we spend so much time together in nature — hiking, snowshoeing and cultivating a sense of awe for the world around us.

Our outdoor adventures have been transformative for me. We’ve hiked through Discovery Park’s serene trails, explored the rugged beauty of Snoqualmie Pass, and marveled at everything from edible berries to slime molds and spotted banana slugs. Though I’ve been on other field trips and personal expeditions in nature, I’m especially grateful for all the wild places I’ve experienced with CAF across Washington. Of course, facing the weight of the climate crisis is hard. Right now, fires are raging in LA and 6 million people are at risk. It can often feel overwhelming. Exploring the outdoors with others reminds me that, while the challenges are huge, we are in this together. Over time, I’ve gone from hesitantly showing up for hikes to leading outdoor events as a youth organizer. Learning how to guide a group safely showed me that every one of us can be a mentor for the next generation. CAF helped me build that confidence and now I’ve seen countless young people find their voices and realize how much they can do.

It’s still painful to watch climate change impact the trails we love. Reduced snowpack and wildfire scars are turning

Maddie (5) holds a new mushroom friend on a CAF trip to Port Gamble Tree Farm.

our healing forests into places of worry. The bomb cyclone that tore through Western Washington last November dropped two beloved trees onto my family’s home in North Seattle. CAF doesn’t just notice these shifts; we take action.

Yes, it can be daunting, but at CAF, we make sure to find joy and celebration along the way. Taking the time to watch a Puget Sound sunset or admire alpine wildflowers reminds us of the beauty and life we’re protecting. These moments ground us and refuel our passion for a better future.

Energized by that inspiration, we’ve taken countless steps for climate action. We’ve testified in front of local councils, challenged state and federal agencies in court on their climate commitments, and even spoken at the United Nations. Seriously — we’re that determined. We helped organize the Youth Climate Strikes in 2018

and 2019, worked to ban new fossil fuel infrastructure in our county and shut down banks funding fossil fuel extraction. We also get creative together. We’ve written subversive holiday carols, painted murals and busked for donations to plant trees. We work to keep the air we all breathe clean, informing the public about the pollution from Amazon trucks and monitoring the air pollution in members’ homes during wildfires.

Now more than ever, protecting and appreciating trails is essential as the climate crisis grows. They are places of inspiration, resilience, and, for me, they’ve been a springboard to action. I hope everyone takes the chance to explore Washington’s trails, support organizations like WTA, and get involved in climate advocacy. It’s in these shared outdoor spaces that we find common ground and the spark we need to create real change.

Learn more at climateactionfamilies.org.

CAF youth take a break on a trip in 2019. Across the top is Zoe (13), Alex (12), Emory (14), and below is Allie (6). All are still part of the CAF family.

Photos courtesy of Climate Action Families

Building Connections to Nature

By Erin McQuin

“For me, nature photography means capturing plants, wildlife and natural material equally, because nature cannot exist if one of those things is not there. I want my photography to make people think about how dense and alive the world around them is. I want to capture things that people wouldn’t even think to look for and would probably step over if they were hiking. I want to capture the perspective that a wild animal or a bug would see. I like close-up shots where you can see every beautiful detail of the subject.”

— A youth participant in the Wonder in Nature photography camp at Woodland Park Zoo

Woodland Park Zoo is a leading expert in wildlife conservation and in using empathy-based curriculum in their education programs. Empathy for wildlife is a priority for the zoo, something they have worked to encourage locally and nationally, because if people feel empathy for wildlife and natural environments, they are more likely to protect them.

One of the ways the zoo has been building empathy since 2021 is through the Community Collaborative, which partners with South Seattle communities.

The Wonder in Nature photography camp, which WTA supports through our gear lending library, is one of their programs. To ensure the youth are comfortable outside during the February camp, WTA lends the youth backpacks, rain gear, warm layers and hiking boots. And instructors in the program

have joined our Outdoor Leadership Training workshops.

From the beginning, the Community Collaborative has worked to build long-term, authentic relationships and create programs that respond to the priorities and interests of local communities.

“Centering community voices has paved the way for the zoo to participate in equitable partnerships that reflect a shared vision,” said Melia Paguirigan of the Community Collaborative.

The camp was developed with eight community-serving organizations and has evolved to ensure an equitable partnership. The camp helps middle and high school students explore nature through the lens of photography.

Many youth who attend the photography camp have limited access to art education at school. The camp offers an outlet for self-expression while fostering an understanding of and empathy for the natural world. With the expertise of partners in the community, the camp helps students build skills and discover the potential of photography to inspire social and environmental change.

“Empathy is woven throughout the program, from how we interact with each other to the places we explore, the wildlife and plants we come across, the activities we do and the stories we share through photographs,” Melia said.

Participants in the Wonder in Nature photography camp take photos of fungi.

“Photography often forces us to slow down and observe things we may not notice on a regular basis. It encourages us to consider perspectives that may differ from our own and consider what and whose stories are being told,” she said. During the camp, youth explore nature through the lens of their own identities, likes and cultural history. Guest speakers from environmental and art organizations visit to talk to the youth.

Victoria Obermeyer, a videographer and executive producer for the documentary “Coextinction,” who now works at WTA, was one of those speakers. She spoke about the power of storytelling to make positive changes for the planet.

“It was an incredible experience, not only to meet so many excited, passionate young people, but to see them make their own connections to nature through their work and expand the possibilities for their future careers,” Victoria said.

The camp takes field trips to Seward Park and locations in South Seattle like Othello Playground and Martha Washington Park.

“I do not like going outside a lot, so when I went on nature hikes at camp, I was able to experience nature and find joy in taking photos of the outdoors, which got me to temporarily like being outside and the photos that I took,” a youth participant said. “It helped me to see the nice uniqueness of the outdoors.”

At the end of the camp, the high school

Camp participants explore Seward Park with WTA’s backpacks to hold their gear and supplies. Below: Youth in the camp explore empathy and nature through art.

students curate photo gallery exhibits and the middle school students design a magazine layout for their photos. Everyone writes artist statements to share their personal story and relationship to nature.

“I loved seeing them create these stunning displays and tell their own really powerful stories,” Victoria said. “A picture is worth a thousand words. There are so many emotions that can be explained more succinctly, and often more powerfully, when using visual storytelling techniques like photo or video. I think wildlife and nature are especially powerful when seen with your own eyes. It gives the viewer so much more power in deciding what they want to take away from the story.”

The work of the Collaborative to create a culturally responsive curriculum has led to changes in other programs at Woodland Park Zoo. For example, thanks to feedback from the Cham Muslim community, prayer accommodations are now available for zoo programs. Building trust has been a cornerstone of

the Community Collaborative’s success, which makes it easier for them to do their work and to support their partners.

“When we first started this work, the zoo did not have a strong presence in South Seattle; now our many partners consider us trusted neighbors and members of the community,” Melia said.

The Community Collaborative, which was formerly known as the Empathy Collaborative, continues to be guided by the belief that empathy can drive meaningful change. The Community Collaborative has created a model for fostering connection — to one another, to nature and to the world around us.

And, importantly, this camp allows the youth to be their unique selves. As one youth participant said, “I learned how to have fun and be myself.”

Woodland Park Zoo helps more than a million visitors each year, inspiring them to make conservation a priority. The zoo is working on more than 35 projects, in the Northwest and worldwide, to save animals and their habitats. zoo.org.

Photos courtesy of Community Collaborative

Chasing the Ice Age Floods

A guide to hiking and exploring some of Washington’s most fascinating geology.

By David Hale and Kelsey Vaughn

Kelsey and her friend Kelly on an outcropping high above the Dry Falls canyon.

As a hiker in Washington, you have endless opportunities to see evidence of the massive geologic forces that have shaped the views from your favorite trails. The testaments of volcanism, tectonic collision or glacial carving are everywhere. Mount Rainier’s volcanic cone and the Olympic Mountains’ sawtooth silhouette show the power of plate tectonics. The graceful golden hills of the Palouse and U-shaped valleys of the Cascades show the history of glacial bulldozers carving rock. But those classic examples aren’t the only place to learn about Washington’s fascinating geological history. When we look closely, we can discover less obvious, but no less interesting, examples. And we can appreciate how fortunate we are to live in such a dynamic landscape.

One of the powerful, but perhaps lesser-known, forces that shaped our state is surprising. There was once a waterfall in Washington state four times larger than Niagara Falls. It was 3.5 miles across, with a volume 10 times the combined flow of all the rivers of the Earth. The Dry Falls canyon that remains today is just one part of the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail — a unique trail you may not know about unless you are a fellow geology nerd. The “trail” is actually a set of national monuments, state parks and other points of interest that illustrate the impact of the Ice Age Floods on our landscapes. The trail starts in Montana and cuts a path across northern Idaho, parts of Oregon and Washington from Spokane to Cape Disappointment.

A (very) quick overview of the Ice Age Floods

Let’s briefly explain the processes of the floods. Space constraints require a simplified description, so we encourage you to dive into the resources provided with this story and learn about the geologists who have pieced together the story of the floods, especially J. Harlan Bretz.

During Earth’s last glacial period, enormous ice sheets pushed down from what is now Canada into Washington, Idaho and Montana (among other places). One lobe of the glacier created gigantic ice dams, about 2,500 feet high, that blocked the flow of the Clark Fork drainage in Idaho and Montana. Massive amounts of water backed up to the east, creating Glacial Lake Missoula. The lake covered about 3,000 square miles, the size of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie combined. Over time, the pressure of the water burst the ice dam, and all that water rushed out. The lake drained in just a couple of days.

The 400-foot-tall wall of water traveled at 60 miles per hour and slammed into Eastern Washington. The water continued down the Columbia River. It scoured away animals, trees, earth and boulders and left behind a massively changed landscape from central Montana to the Pacific Ocean. Bottlenecks at places like Wallula Gap created even more enormous lakes. Eventually, the flow made its way to the Pacific Ocean and as far down as present-day Eugene.

This process was repeated 40 or more times over several thousand years as the ice dam re-formed and broke.

To learn more

Find more details and more resources at wta.org/iceagefloods. Washington State Department of Natural Resources: go.WTA.org/ice-age-floods-map

WTA Hiking Guide: wta.org/hikingguide

Ice Age Floods Institute interactive map of flood features: iafi.org/features-map

Glacial Lake Missoula: glaciallakemissoula.org

Huge Floods website: hugefloods.com

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacial_Lake_Missoula

We hiked in coulees, gorges and scablands that are evidence of a series of catastrophic floods between 12,000 and 18,000 years ago. We had seen many of these geologic features in the past, but knew little about their origin and the geologists who unlocked their mysteries. We’re sharing some of our favorite stops along the trail. Read the overview of the area’s geologic history (previous page). Then, with the stage set, let’s begin our tour of a few amazing places you can hike to read the stories our landscape tells about the mind-boggling scale of the floods.

Mount Sentinel — Missoula, Montana

The Ice Age Floods began when the ice dam holding back Glacial Lake Missoula began to fail, sending the first floodwaters into Eastern Washington. Desiring to see where it all started, we enjoyed a short but steep hike up Mount Sentinel to the “M” on the University of Montana campus. From this vantage point, we saw the “bathtub rings,” or strandlines, that mark the various shorelines of Glacial Lake Missoula. At its deepest, the lake is believed to have been approximately 2,000 feet deep. By comparison, Crater Lake is currently the deepest lake in the United States (and 11th in the world) at 1,943 feet deep.

While in the area: If you’re in Missoula in the summer heat, raft the Clark Fork River with a local outfitter. Back in town, you can stroll the “Hip Strip” across the river from downtown Missoula, where you’ll find independent boutique shops, cafes and restaurants.

Sun Lakes–Dry Falls State Park — Grant County,

From Missoula, the floodwaters roared west, carving channels across Eastern Washington and creating the barren landscape known as the channeled scablands. The jewel of the scablands is Dry Falls. After a beautiful drive along the canyons, we stood on a rock outcrop hundreds of feet above where that colossal waterfall once raged, envisioning a wall of water moving at 60 miles per hour, scouring out the 400-foot-deep chasm in front of us. The Dry Falls Visitor Center has an excellent exhibit about the Ice Age Floods and is worth a stop.

While in the area: If you go in the spring or early summer, try hiking the Umatilla Rock Trail for up-close views of the desert landscape and rock formations. Or check out the potholes around Deep Lake. Spinning floodwaters, or kolks, removed chunks of basalt columns, leaving these distinctive potholes behind. Steamboat Rock State Park is also nearby and features a steep hike with 650 feet of elevation gain.

Frenchman Coulee — Quincy, Washington

While we had “rocked out” at the Gorge Amphitheatre many times, we were really blown away by the scale of the show just a few miles away at Frenchman Coulee, off the Silica Road exit on I-90. Here, you’ll find towering basalt columns that the floodwaters eroded into a box-shaped valley, or coulee, for miles back from the Columbia River. The resulting landscape of gigantic exposed columns is a playground for rock climbers. We intended to hike down into the coulee to see the

seasonal waterfall. Instead, we got drawn into the festival-like atmosphere and scrambled around watching the climbers. While in the area: Cave B Estate Winery is only 8 miles away, next door to the Gorge Amphitheater. You can find wine by the glass and light snacks in its tasting room. Folks believe that the soil deposited by the floods is what gives Washington wines their amazing flavor.

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park — Vantage, Washington

Including this on the Ice Age Floods trail is a bit of a cheat. (The focus is not on the flood as much as what the flood exposed.) But we keep mentioning the basalt rock exposed by the floods, so we should explain where that basalt came from. Millions of years before the Ice Age Floods, hundreds of basalt lava flows were moving across Washington. We learned at the park’s interpretive center that petrified wood is not commonly found with basalt lava flows. But in this case, near Vantage, ancient forests were waterlogged and buried in mud when the flow arrived, protecting them from being destroyed by the molten lava. Instead, the lava encased the buried wood and the chemical processes of petrification began. Some of the petrified trees we saw while hiking on the Trees of Stone Interpretive Trail were exposed when the floods scoured away the overlying basalt. The park also offers an excellent viewpoint of the Columbia River Gorge.

While in the area: The Ginkgo Petrified Forest Interpretive Center, also in Vantage, has displays and a series of short films explaining the history of the petrified forest and how the Ice Age Floods

shaped the landscape. Eight miles south of the park in Mattawa, the Wanapum Heritage Center (free admission) provides an opportunity to learn about the Wanapum people, their culture and traditions.

Beacon Rock — Bonneville, Washington

We had previously visited this iconic spot on the Columbia River Gorge but didn’t know about its geologic backstory. On our most recent visit, as we scaled the 52 switchbacks on Beacon Rock, we now understood it was a “volcanic neck” — the core of an ancient volcano stripped bare by the floods. The trail leads to a spectacular view. From the top, we could see Bonneville Dam far below, which would have been under hundreds of feet of water at the time of the floods, nearly reaching where we stood 840 feet above.

While in the area: If you need provisions, just head a few miles down the road. From outdoor wear at the impeccably curated Out and About to craft beer and a hot pretzel at Walking Man Brewery, the small town of Stevenson has you covered. For more hiking, consider taking a stroll at St. Cloud day-use area, west of Beacon Rock. WTA has recently finished improvements to the trail there.

2025 visit list

We covered a lot of ground on the Ice Age Floods Trail last year. Even so, three stops eluded us: Palouse Falls, Drumheller Channels and Cape Disappointment.

Palouse Falls is off the beaten path in Eastern Washington. The effort required to get there may be part of the appeal, and it’s the only remaining running waterfall from the floodpath. Trails down into the canyon are permanently closed, but you’ll find several overlook spots accessible from Palouse Falls State Park.

Drumheller Channels is thought by some to be a quintessential stop to see stark evidence of the floods.

Cape Disappointment marks the spot where the floodwaters reached the Pacific Ocean, near Astoria. We plan to camp and explore the park’s 2 miles of saltwater shoreline, imagining when all that water finally rushed into the Pacific after traveling over 3,300 miles.

Planning to follow the path of the Ice Age Floods?

Washington State Parks has great campgrounds along the route for car and trailer/van camping.

Riverside State Park

Sun Lakes - Dry Falls State Park

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park

Potholes State Park

Palouse Falls State Park

Beacon Rock State Park

Cape Disappointment State Park

Frenchman Coulee. Middle: Many large petrified trees are on display and found in situ at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. Right: Beacon Rock is an old “volcanic neck” that was exposed by the Ice Age Floods.

Photos by Kelsey Vaughn, David Hale.

Hey, Bear

My years of thrilling bear encounters on trail

By Craig Romano

n a hike this past spring at Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, my streak of encountering bears on trail continued. I saw bear warnings posted, but I assumed they were left over from last fall. I was finishing up my last mile, sauntering along mudflats, and then, just like that, a young bear crossed the trail ahead of me. And just like that, the youngster disappeared into the forest, leaving me fumbling with my phone, thrilled at the sighting but bummed at the missed photo opportunity.

I love seeing bears out on trail. Seeing a bear reminds me that there are still wild lands out there — and many close to our population centers. But I understand that not everyone loves seeing a bear on the trail and many hikers find the notion frightening. I’ve talked to many hikers who have never seen one in the wild and are envious that I’ve seen so many. They’re curious why I’ve been so fortunate.

I attribute my bear sightings to a few things. One is simply the amount of time I spend on trail (more than 2,000 miles a year).

Two, I spend a lot of time on trail alone. This increases bear (and other wildlife) sightings, as I’m not making noise by talking and I’m focused on my surroundings instead of engaged in conversation. If you’re hiking in a group, the sound of voices will warn bears of your approach and send them skedaddling. I also spend a lot of time on trails less taken, where there’s perhaps more bear use than human use. And finally, I love being on trail early in the morning and later in the evening — prime times for bear sightings. Many of my bruin meetups have also occurred in national parks, where hunting is prohibited.

I’ve seen bears on my hikes from Maine to Alaska. Let me share with you some of my most memorable encounters. While out on a trail run with my wife in Alberta’s Jasper National Park, we spotted a cute grizzly cub in the distance, wading across the channels of the Athabasca River. It soon dawned on us that mom must be someplace close — and she was! As we turned away from the river,

Spray Park at Mount Rainier.

Photo by Bryan Carroll

she was right there in the trail! It happened so fast — luckily we weren’t between the mom and her cub. She gave a quick grunt and moved toward her cub. We came to a quick stop with hearts racing! After she moved on, our run continued, boosted by a surge of newfound adrenaline!

In Kelowna (which actually means grizzly bear), British Columbia, while I was pushing my son in a jogging stroller on the wonderful Mission Creek Greenway, we saw a young black bear right in the city limits. My son got to count his first bear encounter on trail when he was a mere 8 months old!

On an ultra-trail run on Mount Rainier’s Northern Loop, a young black bear forced me and my running companion Grady (a WTA employee!) to take a break. Grady was up ahead while I lagged behind, noting a plethora of bear signs — fresh scat and lots of tree scrapings. I finally caught up as Grady was coming back toward me. I asked if he’d noticed all of the bear signs and he said, “Yep, and the bear is just ahead on the trail.” We spent some time talking to this curious little

Be bear aware

Bears are wild animals, and while there is a potential risk to encountering them on trail, being prepared can help a lot. In spring, bears will start to become more active, and it’s a good idea to watch for them. All of my encounters have worked out well for both me and the bear. To have positive encounters with bears, it’s imperative to be bear aware while hiking and backcountry camping. This also means engaging in behaviors that will keep you and bears safe. Keep a clean camp, keep your distance from bears, make noise if you’re in an area where you might surprise a bear (like a densely vegetated section of trail), keep pets on a leash, and stay well away from cubs if you see them. Carrying, and knowing how to use, bear spray is also wise.

It is also important to remember that, as the climate changes, bear activity may also change. Just because you’ve never seen a bear in a certain area or at a certain time, don’t assume that will always be the case.

Learn more at wta.org/bears

by

Bear tracks at Cradle Lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Photo

Craig Romano

fellow until it moved on so we could complete our challenging 33-mile day. It seems that even when I’m in an area that closes trails because of bear activity, I still see bears. Last summer, while I was hiking at British Columbia’s Mount Revelstoke National Park, park personnel closed some of the trails due to bear activity. No problem, I thought, I’ll enjoy the other summit trails. Within a few minutes, I hiked past a big old black bear munching away in a patch of huckleberries. It appeared the bear was avoiding the closures as well. I ended up encountering two more black bears on that 6-mile loop. Where there are berries, there are bears. It’s usually later in the season when I see the most bears, and it’s almost always in areas of high huckleberry concentrations.

Bears are opportunists and will eat a variety of things. Once while I was hiking down the lonely Schaefer Lake Trail in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, I spotted half a bear on the side of the trail. Yep,

it was just the bear’s rump sticking into the air. Its snout was deep in the ground, slurping up larvae from a yellow jacket nest. I clapped a couple of times to let it know I was passing. It popped its head out of the ground, took one look at me and hightailed it down the mountain, a swarm of angry yellow jackets in pursuit! It was definitely one of my more unique bear sightings.

On a solo hike near Windy Pass, below Cashmere Mountain, I watched a young black bear, feeling as if I was working on a documentary. I was downwind from it and behind some shrubs as I watched it play, frolic, roll and stand on its hind legs. It dawned on me that this could go on forever and daylight was at a premium, so I clapped and announced my presence. The bear cleared the way, and I passed in peace.

For sheer number of bear sightings, nothing beats Olympic National Park. My bear encounters there have been epic, including seeing 13 on a single hike. That was on a 3-day backpack to Lake

LaCrosse, in the heart of the park. At the Home Sweet Home camp, we had a resident bear, which made for cautious trips to the privy in the dark of night.

But it was on a 2-day backpacking trip at High Divide that I had one of my most cherished bear sightings. It was 35 years ago, on my first solo backpacking trip. I was dealing with a period of darkness, and a pair of bears brought me so much joy. While eating lunch on Bogachiel Peak, I heard splashing from a tarn below (the tarn no longer exists). Curious, I headed to a ledge, where I watched a sow and her cub playfully splashing before a spectacular backdrop of Mount Olympus, with its glistening glaciers. It’s one of my most cherished backcountry memories. That trip was a turning point, and the wildlife encounters, which included seeings seven bears, are permanently etched in my mind’s eye.

I look forward to another hiking season of bear encounters. I can’t bear to think of hiking without these beautiful animals!

by Craig Romano

This curious bear made an appearance during a trip to Windy Pass in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Photo

PRESENTING PARTNER | $100,000+

Find out if your company matches charitable gifts. Your donation could go twice as far! To learn more about supporting WTA’s work, email amichelbach@wta.org.

$50,000+

$25,000+

$10,000+

$5,000+

$2,500+

Night Lights

A

headlamp is a must-have — and just the start of lighting options to make your next trip fun and cozy.

By Sandra Saathoff

Film director and author Aaron Rose once said, “In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.”

When we walk away from daily life to find adventure in the forest, we’re generally leaving behind modern conveniences like electricity, but good lighting is essential. Whether for navigation after dark, meal prep or reading before bedtime, we can’t count on the sun to be up when we need it. More than that, lighting can transform a spot in the woods into a fun fantasy land. Whether your next trip is to a state park campground or a snowy ridge in the backcountry, this guide will give you some fun options and practical tips to help you choose the perfect lighting for your adventure.

Headlamps

Headlamps are indispensable for any trip. Their hands-free design and directional lighting make them ideal for setting up tents, preparing meals and nighttime trips to the bathroom. Here are some key features to consider.

Brightness: Lumens are a measure of brightness — 150-400 is typically sufficient for camp and trail needs.

Adjustability: Look for adjustable straps, beam angles and color. A red-light option is kinder to your night vision. Power source: Options include disposable batteries, rechargeable batteries or solar-power chargers. Rechargeable or solar may be more cost-effective in the long run, but make

The right lighting for your next outdoor adventure can be both practical and fun.

sure you have enough charge or charging opportunities for your needs. Fresh disposable batteries will likely last for a weeklong trip, but extra batteries can be helpful just in case. And keep in mind that batteries drain faster in the cold. If your device is rechargeable, consider bringing a backup battery.

Lanterns

Lanterns provide ambient, 360-degree lighting, making them ideal for group settings and larger areas. They can be great for illuminating tents, picnic areas and campsites after dark for meals, games or ghost stories. Here are a few options to consider.

Battery-powered lanterns: These come in a variety of sizes and can be a great option for car camping. Modern LED versions can run for 100+ hours on a single set of batteries and often feature multiple brightness settings. Some models include night vision-saving red-light modes, which also avoid attracting insects!

Rechargeable lanterns: These come in various sizes and eliminate the battery-swapping requirement, often proving more cost-effective in the long run. Many feature USB-charging capability for pre-trip prep and built-in power banks to charge up devices while you’re on the go.

Solar-powered LED lanterns: These have revolutionized ecofriendly camp lighting and have several advantages over the other two options — but a cloudy week in the spring may not be

the best conditions for this option. Some solar options include dual-charging capabilities — USB being a secondary charging option — for reliability. They are generally lightweight and can even be collapsible to save pack space. Some models even float. Gas-powered: While gas-powered lanterns are an option, they are not ideal due to fire concerns in most seasons.

String lights

Now we get to the fun stuff! String lights can add charm to campsites, transforming them into woodsy fairylands. They can also be practical, illuminating shared spaces and defining pathways. Depending on the product, they may be more appropriate for car camping than backpacking, but there are some smaller, lighter options that could be suitable for a weekend backpacking trip. (Just don’t forget to take them down when you leave and ensure the light won’t bother your neighbors.) Here are some things to consider.

Light output: Many models offer two or three brightness settings. LED models can provide comfortable ambient lighting without harsh glare and come in white or color options.

Power source: Solar and battery-powered options are available. Solar models often include backup USB charging. Battery versions often run 20 to 40 hours on AA or AAA batteries. Some newer models feature rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

Durability: Waterproof designs are important for outdoor use, especially when good weather is not guaranteed. Commercialgrade wire coating helps prevent UV damage over time.

Portability: Look for models with storage bags or built-in spools to prevent tangles.

Tent lighting

Soft, diffused light can transform a tent into a cozy cave, providing a comfortable environment for reading, organizing gear or socializing. Popular configurations include integrated LED strip systems that run along tent seams, battery-powered light bars that attach to tent poles, rechargeable hanging panels

and flexible LED ropes. Considerations include the following.

Weight: Tent lighting options do add weight to the camp system. When car camping, this is not a big deal. It can be when backpacking, so look at the product specs before purchasing.

Light distribution: Think about your goals for adding tent lighting. LED strips can offer consistent coverage. Diffused covers provide soft, ambient light. Adjustable positioning can help to direct light where it is needed.

Mounting options: Some lights are integrated into specific tent models. Others are add-ons. In that case, adjustable hooks or clips, adhesive strips or hanging loops can help with setup.

Mix it up

When car camping, especially with kids, it can be fun to mix and match. Using a combination of lighting types — headlamps for tasks, lanterns for ambiance, string lights for decoration — can make for a cozy campsite. Additional lighting options like shake or crank lights or batterypowered glow lights can be fun for children — and adults.

Lighting can make or break an outdoor adventure. By understanding the various options and choosing the ones appropriate for your situational needs, you’ll set yourself up for a fun and safe trip. Whether you’re backpacking through rugged terrain or enjoying a weekend family camping trip, the right illumination options can make your trip extraordinary.

Photos by Andres Caldera, Devanee Chapman

Art is an Expression

of Hope

Artist Claire Giordano created these paintings as part of “Terminus: A Glacier Memorial Project” in Olympic National Park. They show the location of the Lillian Glacier — as it appeared in 1905 and 2015 and as imagined in 2125.

“My paintings are of changing landscapes. And while they contain grief and loss, I also want people to see them and feel hope,” she said. “With all of my work, my goal is to inspire someone to create connections with and love for the places that we call home and visit. If we are going to have any meaningful change, it will have to be from a place of hope.”

Read more about the work of Claire and other artists finding hope amid a changing climate at wta.org/climate-art.

Springtime is here! As we leave winter behind and think about traveling farther to hit the trail, don’t forget that there are alternatives to driving deep into the mountains for all of your hikes — carpooling, taking public transit or heading to trails close to home. Here are some fun trails to explore this spring, many of which offer you the option of spending less on fuel and more time in nature. Get info on all these hikes and more at wta.org/hikingguide.

Washougal River Greenway Trail

Vancouver

Bring your binoculars on this hike through a birding hotspot, where 116 species have been seen. Watch for deer and other wildlife, too.

By Susan Saul

Enjoy a family-friendly paved path along the Washougal River near its confluence with the Columbia River. This is a good hike for kids because there’s so much to look at without steep grades or narrow places Although surrounded by industrial areas, the greenway feels peaceful and remote thanks to the buffer of riparian forest.

The highlight of the hike is the large arched footbridge spanning the Washougal River. Looking downriver, you can just glimpse the smokestacks at the paper mill. The trail also crosses a seasonal wetland on a boardwalk and passes by three ponds (two at high water) that are former gravel quarries now managed as fish and wildlife habitats. Benches along the way provide places to pause and enjoy the scenery.

The eastern end of the trail is located away from the river on a grassy upland with impressively large Oregon white oak trees.

Signs along the trail warn that swimming is prohibited to protect sensitive wildlife. If you want to swim, the historic Sandy Swimming Hole Park upstream on North Shepherd Road provides a swimming beach, picnic tables and restrooms.

The trail is designed to be wheelchair accessible with gentle grades, paved paths to picnic tables and accessible parking at the trailheads. Tree roots are pushing up sections of the trail, which may provide travel difficulties.

Tip: Read up on the birds you might come across on your hike on eBird.org.

TRAIL DETAILS

Distance: 2.2 miles roundtrip

Elevation gain: 70 feet

Highest point: 50 feet

Permit: None

Dogs: Leashed

Trailhead: From Vancouver, drive east on SR 14. Take exit 12 for Camas/NW 6th Avenue - City Center. Keep straight at the roundabout for NW 6th Avenue/City Center. In 1.1 miles, turn right on Adams Street. In 0.1 mile, turn left on NE 3rd Ave. Go 0.8 miles and at the traffic light after crossing Lacamas Creek, turn right on NE 3rd Loop. Drive 0.1 mile to paved parking on the right at Baz Riverfront Park.

Transit: C-Tran Route 92 stops on NE 3rd Ave near the Baz Riverfront Park trailhead on NE 3rd Loop.

NEARBY HIKES

Take Transit

Lacamas Park – Lacamas Creek: This lovely urban hike takes hikers to a waterfall, Round Lake and Lacamas Creek. As a bonus, it’s also easily accessible via C-Tran route 92. (4.5 miles roundtrip, 350 feet of elevation gain)

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge: Looking for another great birdwatching spot? This refuge has you covered with over 200 species of birds recorded here. And C-Tran Route 92 stops nearby too, just a few minutes away from the refuge. (6.8 miles roundtrip, 55 feet of elevation gain)

by Susan Saul

Photo

Wheelchair Friendly

Coweeman River Trail

Long Beach

Walk on a dike next to a usually quiet river through the outskirts of Kelso.

By Chris Burke

Not every trail gives a wilderness experience. Sometimes you want a close-in hike to walk the pup or a leg stretcher to break up a long drive. The Coweeman River Trail fits the bill. This is a relatively flat walk on a gravel-topped dike, though it is unfortunately not very suitable for wheelchairs. From the Allen Street trailhead, start walking on the dike after passing through a gate. Reach the Coweeman River in a quarter mile. On the north side of the river, you first pass an RV park, then Tam O’Shanter Park, Kelso’s biggest park. The far side of the river presents a more bucolic scene, with a few houses and fields, but mostly forested hills in view. This is the most popular part of the trail.

After 1.5 miles, pass under I-5, and pass a few restaurants in quick succession. Now the trail’s character changes. Pass under I-5 again and walk in a narrow strip of land between the freeway and the river. The other side of the river is prime riparian habitat and you might see some ducks. This section of trail also has a west-of-I-5 alternate on a closed dirt road.

After a third crossing under I-5, the trail, still on the dike, goes between the river on the east and an industrial park to the west. This part of the trail is less used. Eventually, you will reach the southern trailhead on Talley Way, just before the Coweeman flows into the Cowlitz. Here you are quite likely to see a train on the Union Pacific mainline, which crosses the Coweeman on a trestle right at the mouth of the river. Return the way you came. Please do not access the river from the trail as the trail is located on a levee.

Tip: During flood season, the Coweeman River can be a raging torrent and walking along its dikes can be hazardous.

Distance: 8 miles roundtrip

Elevation gain: Minimal

Highest point: 30 feet

Permit: None

Dogs: Leashed

Map: go.wta.org/coweemanmap

Trailhead: From the Allen Street exit off I-5 in Kelso, drive east 1 mile on Allen Street to the northern Coweeman River trailhead. Parking is available. There is also a bus stop here; the RiverCities Transit bus Route 57 comes by once an hour.

NEARBY HIKES

Pacific Way Trail: This trail runs atop a dike system in Longview. RiverCities Transit Route 33 stops nearby. (5 miles roundtrip, 20 feet of elevation gain)

Lake Sacajawea Park: This park in downtown Longview has been a fine urban park for 100 years. Multiple bus lines stop near the park, including RiverCities Transit Routes 32 and 44. (4 miles roundtrip, minimal elevation gain)

Photo by Chris Burke

Take Transit

Z Lake

Z Lake is a short hike to a small, narrow lake surrounded by shrub-steppe habitat teeming with wildlife and wildflowers.

By Holly Weiler

Z Lake is located within the 21,000-acre Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area, an area that boasts many wetlands and incredible wildlife habitat (particularly for waterfowl) but has few established trails. The short trail to Z Lake is actually an old farm road leading past the site of a former homestead on its way to the lake, making it a short and easy introduction to the larger area. The trail is 1.2 miles each way, with very little elevation change, and it passes a few additional wetlands along the way. Bring a pair of binoculars, as this is a great area for birdwatching at the wetlands. Z Lake is also occasionally stocked for walk-in trout fishing. There is even a firstcome, first-served loaner rowboat at the lake. Be sure to bring your own personal flotation device and take a tour of the lake by the water!

The trail ends at Z Lake, but the surrounding landscape consists mostly of sagebrush, bunchgrass and other low-growing shrub-steppe plants. This area is also adjacent to Bureau of Land Management land if you are interested in additional exploration on the surrounding public land. Since the area is former farm and range land, you might encounter some old barbed-wire fence lines as you explore.

Tip: In the spring, the area has fantastic wildflower displays. Note that both ticks and rattlesnakes live here, so be mindful when enjoying this space.

Distance: 2.4 miles roundtrip

Elevation gain: 93 feet

Highest point: 2,235 feet

Permit: Discover Pass

Dogs: Leashed

Maps: USGS Rocklyn SW, BLM

Spokane District Telford Recreation Area

Trailhead: From Highway 2 at Telford, turn south onto Telford Road. Travel 9 miles to a small pull-off and parking area located on the west side of Telford Road. Please do not block the gate.

NEARBY HIKES

Twin Lakes: Lakes, wetlands and shrub-steppe await adventurous explorers on this strip of Bureau of Land Management land, impacted by the 2020 Whitney Fire. (9.25 miles roundtrip, 800 feet of elevation gain)

Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area – Hawk Creek: Spring is the perfect time to visit this creek, as the low water levels allow hikers to explore the beaches early in the season. (4.5 miles roundtrip, 900 feet of elevation gain)

by

Grand Coulee

Photo

Holly Weiler

Tolt Pipeline – Sammamish River Loop

Seattle-Tacoma area

This 10-mile loop hike through various parks in the suburbs northeast of Lake Washington is close in, always open and a trail for most of the way.

By Chris Burke

The Park at Bothell Landing, which has plenty of parking, is a good place to start. The instructions make it seem like a complicated route, but it’s fairly straightforward on the ground, especially if you’re using any sort of navigation aid.

Begin by crossing the pedestrian bridge over the Sammamish River at the east end of the park. Turn right on the paved Sammamish River Trail and walk a short mile to Blyth Park. Continue through the parking lot onto a gravel road, closed to vehicles. Where the road bends right, go straight ahead into the forest, aiming toward a disc golf tee. Go uphill into the woods, staying on the main path, and eventually start switchbacking up through the forest. After a half mile or so, reach the Tolt Pipeline clearing, which also has power lines.

Cross the swath diagonally and re-enter the woods. Keep left at a couple of intersections and go up more switchbacks. About 2 miles from the start, return to the pipeline and reach the top of the hill. There is a bench here to rest and admire the Olympics, visible on a clear day. Follow the pipeline clearing downhill to the east. The path ends at a housing development. Turn left and go uphill on a road, then turn right on another road and reach Juanita-Woodinville Way Northeast. Go left and cross the bridge over I-405.

Turn right on 116th Avenue Northeast and walk a short distance to the resumption of the Tolt Pipeline Trail. Walk west, crossing a few roads and going over a hill. From the crest of the hill, before you drop into the Sammamish River Valley, you can see the Cascades. On the way down to the valley, you can also see the one and only view of the Tolt Pipeline itself.

Near the bottom, cross the Eastrail route, currently closed. Go a little farther, cross Highway 202, and walk a paved path past some wineries and down to the Sammamish River. Meet the Sammamish River Trail here and head north. You can walk this paved trail along the peaceful Sammamish River all the way back to Bothell Landing. Stay out of the way of the many bicycles!

Distance: 10 miles roundtrip

Elevation gain: 900 feet

Highest point: 450 feet

Permit: None

Dogs: Leashed

Map: go.wta.org/toltsammamish-loop

Trailhead: Bothell Landing is about a mile west from the SR 522/I-405 interchange in Bothell on SR 522. The turn-off for the park is a few hundred feet to the west of the junction with Bothell Way NE.

King County Metro routes 372 and 522 stop at Bothell Way NE, right at the park at Bothell Landing. Route 372 also stops at Bothell Way NE & 96th Ave NE, which is just a 0.4-mile hike along the Sammamish River and Burke Gilman trails (crossing the Sammamish River) to Blyth Park.

NEARBY HIKES

Parking is also available at Blyth Park in Bothell (reachable via Route 372) and Wilmot Gateway Park (reachable via Route 231) in Woodinville. Both are along this route.

Photo by Chris Burke

Cornwall Memorial Park

Bellingham

Located in the heart of Bellingham, this transit-accessible pocket of nature in the city has a little something for everyone.

By Lindsay Leffelman

In 1909, a majority of the park’s current 70 acres were donated by the Cornwall family in honor of industrialist and philanthropist Pierre Barlow Cornwall. In its early years, the park was a popular car-camping destination. Though no longer open to overnight visitors, the park is still a popular day-use destination. With trails, playgrounds, disc golf and multiple sports courts, there is no shortage of recreation opportunities at Cornwall Park.

A series of interconnected trails wind their way through the park, passing open fields, forested areas and Squalicum Creek. Most of the trails that encircle the park are paved, wide and wheelchair-friendly. The trails themselves are unnamed, and while there are trail maps posted at a few key locations in the park, the trail junctions are unsigned. Despite the lack of signs, there are plenty of landmarks to keep you oriented. You can choose your own adventure and connect the trails in any way you like, but please take care to stay on the trail to protect this beautiful yet sensitive habitat. Depending on the time of year, the park’s trails are perfect for dodging the winter snow at higher elevations, admiring the abundant mushrooms in the fall and magnolias in the spring, or escaping the summer heat by cooling off in the shade of the forest canopy.

After visiting Cornwall Park, if you’re itching to get more miles under your belt, consider adding on a stop at other nearby parks — Sunset Pond, Squalicum Creek and Elizabeth Park are good options.

Distance: 1.5 miles of trails

Elevation gain: Minimal

Highest point: 78 feet

Permit: None

Map: bit.ly/cob-cornwall-park

Dogs: Leashed

Trailhead: From I-5, take exit 256 (256A if coming from the south). Turn south onto Meridian Street (left if coming from the south, right if coming from the north). In 0.6 mile, turn left into the park.

You can also take public transit to the park. Take Whatcom Transportation Authority Route 15 to Meridian Street at Victor Street. Walk east down W Victor Street a few hundred feet — a trail heading into the park will be on your left. You can also take Route 4 to Birchwood Ave at Meridian Street. There is an entrance to the park on the south side of the road here.

NEARBY HIKES

Bay-to-Baker Trail: Part of an in-progress rails-totrails conversion, this trail will eventually lead from Bellingham to the Mt. Baker Ski Area. For now, you can start at Little Squalicum Park and walk a path connecting several of Bellingham’s parks. Little Squalicum Park trailhead is reachable via Whatcom Transportation Authority Route 3. (3.6 miles roundtrip, 114 feet of elevation gain)

Squalicum Creek Trail: Connecting two neighborhoods in Bellingham, this short trail passes Bug Lake and Sunset Pond as it follows the course of Squalicum Creek. Reachable via Whatcom Transportation Authority routes 4, 232, 331 (1.3 miles one way, 50 feet of elevation gain)

Photo courtesy of Bellingham Parks and Recreation

Take Transit

Trails Less Traveled with Craig Romano

Dosewallips State Park – Maple Valley and Steam Donkey Loop

Hood Canal

This park consists of more than 1,000 acres along the Dosewallips River at its delta on Hood Canal. Along with a popular year-round campground, the park contains nearly 5 miles of trails. A nice family- and dog-friendly 3.6-mile loop can be made by following the Maple Valley and Steam Donkey trails.

By Craig Romano

Start by following the Maple Valley Trail, which starts near the Meadow group camp. The trail soon reaches the Dosewallips River and continues along it through a forest of cedars, cottonwoods and — of course — maples, both bigleaf and vine. Watch for elk; they’re prolific here. Pass the Rhody Cut-Off Trail, which you’ll be returning on for this loop. The Maple Valley Trail descends to a bridged crossing of Phantom Creek before leaving the river to climb a short, steep bluff.

The trail bends southward along the park’s boundary and reaches a fire road. Cross the road and now continue on the Steam Donkey Trail. Steam donkeys were steam-powered winches used by loggers in the early 20th century for moving and loading timber. Parallel to the Steam Donkey Trail, and reached by walking a short distance east on the fire road, is the Izett Grade Trail, which follows a half-mile stretch of an old logging railroad grade.

The Steam Donkey Trail continues through maturing second growth along the park boundary. It then crosses Phantom Creek and shortly afterward comes to a small bridge whimsically named On Your Arse Crossing. The trail spans another cascading creek before beginning a long, gentle descent. After passing the southern end of the Izett Grade Trail, the loop reaches a small dammed pool that once provided water to power the Izett Logging Company’s steam donkeys.

Cross the fire road again and continue straight, passing another stretch of old railroad bed. Descend into a gulch and bear left onto the Rhody Cut-Off Trail. Cross a creek and climb a low ridge draped with rhododendrons, in bloom come May. The Rhody Cut-Off Trail descends to the Maple Valley Trail close to where you started your hike.

Distance: 3.6 miles roundtrip

Elevation gain: 550 feet

Highest point: 425 feet

Book: “Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula” (Mountaineers Books)

Permit: Discover Pass Dogs: Leashed

Trailhead: From Quilcene, drive south on Hwy 101 for 12 miles to the state park entrance at milepost 307. Turn right and proceed 0.3 mile to parking near the ranger station. Additional parking is available in the dayuse area.

You can also take Jefferson Transit Authority Route 1 to the Dosewallips Campground.

by Craig

Photo

Romano

Take Transit

When I think about what I want to support after I’m gone, WTA’s mission is perfectly aligned. I’m not sure what the world will be like then, or what the needs will be, but I know the outdoors will still be there, will still be important and will still need our love.

— Bruce Burger, WTA Legacy Circle member

Your legacy for trails

You know the incredible benefits that trails have brought to your own life. Imagine if you could help ensure trails for everyone, forever. You can when you include WTA in your will or estate plan.

It’s not too soon to start planning your legacy for the things you value most. A future where everyone who seeks nature’s splendor can quickly find themselves outdoors. A future where trails are so abundant and high quality that anyone can use them safely and enjoyably. A future where our shared wild spaces are cherished and protected. A future where hiking benefits the hearts, minds and bodies of everyone.

Help secure your vision for the future and join the Legacy Circle today. By adding as little as one sentence to your will, you can get this done.

Learn more about your planned giving options at wta.org/legacy or contact Jenn Seva at jseva@wta.org or 206-557-3404.

Photo by Kirk Lilley

A Perfect Day for a Second Try

When Alden Ryno headed for a winter summit of Tomyhoi Peak in the North Cascades, it was his second attempt. His first attempt he did solo, and he ran out of time and had to turn around.

As a peakbagger, Alden found Tomyhoi, with its 2,000 feet of prominence, appealing. He wanted to try again, but this time with friends. The group waited impatiently for a cold, clear day.

They finally got their day and the trip went beautifully. Conditions were ideal with firm snow, clear skies and little wind.

“While I already knew that partners help break trail and can provide great conversation, my first trip reinforced that a trip this big should have partners to make it more practical to get to the top,” Alden said. “Thankfully, I have a trustworthy group of friends who also enjoy these types of ‘fun.’”

Alden loves spending time outside for the sense of awe he finds there.

“Whether in an old-growth forest, on an alpine ridge or navigating crevasses on a glacier, the scale and beauty of nature strikes a chord in me,” he said. “As incredible as humanity is, we’ve not yet created anything that compares to the world that’s been around us all along.”

Follow along with other hikers’ adventures and share your own at wta.org/tripreports.

It’s more than just trail work

Each year, WTA backcountry volunteer crews steward trails in some of Washington’s most beautiful locations. With a variety of multiday trips available, there’s a way for everyone to connect to something bigger, give back and enjoy a few nights under the stars. Register today to make a difference and create lasting memories in the backcountry!

Photo by Kesia Lee