Hiker Headlines: Recreate Responsibly Update, Highway 20 Open, Some Trails and State Parks Closed, Changing Air Quality

It's August 12. The #RecreateResponsibly guidelines have been updated. The North Cascades Highway has reopened. A new fire in the Glacier Peak Wilderness remains small, but several trails in the area are closed. Some state parks have temporarily closed due to wildfires. Smokey air could be moving west across Washington this week. Here's some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

The updated #RecreateResponsibly guidelines remind us that we all have a role to play in making the outdoors an inclusive and welcoming place. Photo by Michele Finnegan. 

#RecreateResponsibly updated: The #RecreateResponsliby guidelines, created by WTA and partners, have been updated to emphasize the need for hikers to create a culture of inclusion and personal responsibility in the outdoors. The new guidelines encourage hikers to not only prepare for a safe trip in the outdoors but also build an inclusive outdoors, respect others and take action to protect the places we love.

North Cascades Highway open: The North Cascades Highway is open again (with a 24-mile-long reduced speed zone) after being closed so crews could fight two large wildfires west of Winthrop. Those fires are still burning, and many forest roads and trails in the area remain closed.

Fire in Glacier Peak Wilderness: The Pincer Creek Fire is one of the newest lightning-strike blazes in the state. It has remained relatively small, but prompted the closure of the Cascade River Trail, Middle fork Cascade Trail, South Fork Cascade Trail and the Hidden Lake Trail. Spotting a fire right when it starts makes it much easier for firefighters to control the burn, as one trip reporter found out when they saw smoke from on their hike to Lena Lake in the Olympics and called it in.

Some state park closures: With wildfire season intensifying, some state parks are temporarily closed. Most state parks remain open with normal summer operations but it’s always a good idea to check current conditions before heading out.

Smoke coming to Western Washington: Central and Eastern Washington have been dealing with smokey air for a while now, but air quality experts are predicting that smoke could start moving into Western Washington and the Cascade Crest this week and the air quality could worsen. Check the air quality for your region before heading outside, and consider saving that hike for another day if the air quality is unsafe.

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