Hiker Headlines: Now Hiring, Earth Day, Meteors, Mount Rainier Permits
WTA is hiring! This Saturday is Earth Day, and parking fees in some areas will be waived. The Lyrids meteor shower will peak this weekend. Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest has new food storage rules. The Washington Department of Natural Resources wants to hear your thoughts about recreation on their Yakima County lands. And, all available Mount Rainier wilderness permits will be available to the general public on April 25.
It’s April 20. WTA is hiring! This Saturday is Earth Day, and parking fees in some areas will be waived. The Lyrids meteor shower will peak this weekend. Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest has new food storage rules. The Washington Department of Natural Resources wants to hear your thoughts about recreation on their Yakima County lands. And, all available Mount Rainier wilderness permits will be available to the general public on April 25. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.
Keep your fingers crossed for a spot of clear sky to see the Lyrids meteor shower this weekend. Photo by Rose Freeman.
Now hiring: WTA is hiring for an outreach coordinator and outreach assistant in Central Washington, as part of a pilot trailhead ambassador in partnership with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The program is a part of WDFW's work to improve visitor experiences and reduce recreation impacts. The positions are part time for the summer. In other WTA hiring news, the priority application deadline for WTA's open communications director position is April 24.
Free day: This Saturday, April 20, is Earth Day! Lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Park Service will waive their parking fees for the day.
Meteor shower: The Lyrids meteor shower is predicted to hit its peak this weekend. Although many places in Washington will likely have significant cloud cover, check out some of our suggestions on where to go if you want to hope for the best.
New food storage rules: Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is now requiring all food to be stored in a “bear resistant manner” and all waste that can attract wildlife to be disposed of appropriately. Food will need to be stored in containers certified through the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, in a closed vehicle or building or suspended at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet from its vertical support. Check the Forest Service's order for more information. Please be prepared to store your food and handle any trash properly when recreating outside.
Public input on Yakima County lands: The Washington Department of Natural Resources wants to hear feedback and comments from the public on the future of public use and recreation of their lands in Yakima County. The meeting is 6 p.m. on April 26 at Yakima Valley College Conference Center.
Mount Rainier wilderness permit general sale opening soon: All Mount Rainier wilderness permits that are still available after the early-access permit lottery will be available to reserve at 7 a.m. on April 25. Permits will be available for trips starting in late May to early October.
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