Hiker Headlines: Lots of Trail Work, Lots of Smoke, Free Days and More

It’s June 6. WTA volunteers gave back to trails in a big way on National Trails Day. A large fire has meant terrible air quality in Eastern Washington. A emergency drill is planned out at the Big Four Ice Caves. This weekend, lots of public lands won't require a pass to park. And avalanche forecasting season is over, but snow lingers in the high country. 

Here’s some hiker news you might have missed while out on trail this week.

Volunteers making the new Westberg reroute a reality on National Trails Day 2019. Photos by Anna Roth (l) and Beth Macinko (r).

All about the trails: Over the weekend, WTA and hikers celebrated National Trails Day. We were out on trails around the state with enthusiastic volunteers. Thank you to all of you who gave back to trails. And if you’d like to volunteers this summer, we’d love to have you.

So much smoke: The first large fire of the year, in Grant County, has meant terrible air quality for the Spokane area. Some people were forced to evacuate. It’s a reminder, yet again, that this is likely to be a rough year for fires. Do what Smokey Bear would tell you, and be safe out there. 

Just a drill: Crews from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest will be training on Friday and Saturday at the Big Four Ice Caves off of the Mountain Loop Highway. Access to the parking lots for the trailhead will be limited. There will be first-responder vehicles and aircraft in the area.

Explore a new place: Get outside this weekend, without the need for a pass to park. On Saturday, no pass will be required on U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management land, in honor of National Get Outdoors Day. Washington State Parks won’t require a pass on Saturday or Sunday; it’s also a free fishing day in Washington. Fee free days are a great opportunity to explore your lands and learn why a pass is worth having! Not sure what pass is required where you want to hike? Just check out our Hiking Guide.

That’s a wrap: The Northwest Avalanche Center has finished posting daily updates on avalanche conditions for the season. But, that doesn’t mean there’s no risk of avalanche — when there’s snow, there can be avalanches. So continue to be careful out there.