One Trip Reporter You Otter Get to Know

Fun fact we bet you didn’t know about sea otters: They can climb, like, really steep mountains — and ski back down them. 

Okay, not really. But...kind of.

Introducing River the otter, pro hiking guide. Photo by hikingotter. 

Meet River the otter, aka trip reporter hikingotter. River’s been reporting about trails since 2017, and my oh my, how this little Mustelidae does get out!

Trip reports are incredibly valuable to the hiking community. They give hikers the information the need to stay safe and have fun — and they provide WTA and land managers vital details to help shape public policy and how lands are managed. And sometimes, they also bring joy the world. This otter? It brings a lot of joy. 

River chillin' at  the top of Mount St. Helens before their ski descent. Photo by hikingotter. 

Normally otters like sticking to aquatic habitats — places like lakes, rivers, wetlands and oceans — but not River: They’ve been to the top of Mount St. Helens and hiked the length of the North, Central and South Cascades.

Otters like to hike in all seasons. Photo by hikingotter.

And while most otters munch on a diet of fish and crustaceans, River is a vegetarian who much prefers noshing on the wild berries they often find alongside trail. 

River partaking of his favorite diet staple — wild blueberries. Photo by hikingotter. 

River has an absolute wealth of pro hiking tips tucked away in their fur that they’d just love to share with you. Check out hikingotter’s other trip reports, and if you see them on trail, make sure to give them a flipper high-five! 

River ready to get their swim on. Photo by hikingotter.

Would you like to see an otter out on trail? Check out our list of hikes around the Sound where otters and other wildlife are abundant. 

 
River enjoys a much-deserved rest with a stellar tent view for company. Photo by hikingotter.

• Otter Trivia 101
• · A group of sea otters in the water is called a raft.
• · Otters live on every continent except Antarctica and Australia.
• · By intertwining their feet with others’, otters keep from drifting apart while napping. Aw.
  · Sea otters have the thickest fur of any mammal, and that's what keeps them warm in the chilly ocean. (Or, in River's case, on a mountain peak.)
  

Have you spotted an otter while out hiking recently? File a trip report, and if you can, include pics!

Like what you're seeing here? Consider becoming a WTA member — your donation helps fund the trails that get enjoyed by humans and otters alike. 

You otter enter! WTA's annual Northwest Exposure photo contest is open now. Enter your favorite photos — including otter photos! — for a chance to win great prizes. 

We hope River is taking a photo for WTA's Northwest Exposure photo contest! Photo by hikingotter.