Hiker Headlines: Washington Trails Day, Cascade River Road Closed, Fire Damage Averted, Hike-a-Thon
Washington's official state hiking holiday, Washington Trails Day is coming up this weekend. The Cascade River Road is closed again after recent storm damage. The recent fire at Lyle Cherry Orchard doesn't appear to have damaged new trails. Hike-a-Thon has officially kicked off, but it's not too late to join in. Catch the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. A fire near Granite Mountain should be avoided.
It's August 5. Washington's official state hiking holiday, Washington Trails Day is coming up this weekend. The Cascade River Road is closed again after recent storm damage. The recent fire at Lyle Cherry Orchard doesn't appear to have damaged new trails. Hike-a-Thon has officially kicked off, but it's not too late to join in. Catch the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. A fire near Granite Mountain should be avoided.
A one-way loop trail at Lyle Cherry Orchard. One of the Lyle Cherry trails recently acted as a fire break. Photo by Gabe Smith.
Cascade River Road closed again: Just after it had reopened, recent storm damage has caused the closure of the Cascade River Road at milepost 20 to all traffic, both vehicle and foot. Park staff are working to repair the damage and remove cars and hikers from the area, but for now plan to avoid the road until it can be repaired again by selecting alternate hikes.
Celebrate Washington Trails Day: August 7 is Washington Trails Day, an official state holiday that celebrates the importance of hiking and public lands. You can take part in the celebrations by taking a hike, signing our petition to let legislators know the importance of trails in your life, or donating to WTA's efforts to create and advocate for a sustainable trail system.
Fire damage to new trails limited: The damage report from the recent fire at Lyle Cherry Orchard wasn't as bad as we feared thanks to the work of firefighters and, it turns out, trails. WTA has done extensive work building two new loops with our partners there in the last few years, and it appears that one of those trails acted as a fire break. Check out the dramatic photos and get the latest on the area in the blog from our partners Friends of the Columbia Gorge. (The Lyle Cherry Orchard trail will remain closed until fire personnel have deemed the area safe to use.)
Hike-a-Thon kicks off: WTA's biggest annual hiking event has officially kicked off, but it's not too late to take part or donate to your favorite Hike-a-Thon team or hiker. Hike-a-Thon is an easy way to get out and give back by doing what we all love to do: hike. Get more info and register, or find a team to support this month!
Enjoy the Perseids: The annual Perseids meteor shower will be at peak strength on August 12 for anyone wanting to catch a spectacular night view. You might have to stay up late to catch them at full strength, but it's a very rewarding sight. We even have a handy resource that can help you choose where to view them.
Fire near Granite Mountain: If you were planning on hiking Granite Mountain, consider an alternative destination, since a small fire flared up near the trail. Crews are working on containing the blaze but ask that hikers don't interfere with firefighting operations. Avoid the area for now while they work to get it under control.
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