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Washington Trails Magazine

Bus + Bike + Hike: A summer spent getting to trailheads by transit and mountain bike
Footwear: Shoes, sandals, and socks for a variety of outdoor pursuits
The Quest for a Lake: After seeing a photo on WTA's website, a hiker seeks a lake in British Columbia
A Field Guide to Trail Structures: How to identify common species of trail structures on your next hike
Siberian Trails: Volunteers create a new organization to maintain trails around Russia’s Lake Baikal
Day Packs: Four packs handle all your your stuff for the trail
The Lost Trail: An easy hike has turned into a major expedition, thanks to washouts
A Full Summer of Work: WTA volunteers have many rewarding trail work projects to choose from this summer
Mountain Wildflowers: 57 common species in the Cascades and Olympics
Limiting the Damage: WTA Travels to Washington D.C. to speak up for responsible ORV management
Great Overnights: Seven great backpacking trips to take this summer
Seeking Shelter: Three tents that will keep you and a friend dry in three seasons
Why are Trees Dying?: Spruce budworms and mountain pine beetles hit Cascade forests
Picture the Enchantments: Two writers' perspectives on the magical Enchantments region of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness
A Shovel's Life: A shovel makes its way through WTA's trail maintenance program
High Still Air: The rich history of fire lookouts in Washington state
Get Online and Outside: Web meet-up groups help hikers get together
Stoves for the Trail: We test three of the new lightweight canister stoves
Marmot Tales: Inside the life of those whistling kings of the alpine high country
Forest Service Plans for Dose: Three alternatives proposed for washed-out Dosewallips Road
Walking the Summit: A backpacking trip on the Chelan Summit Trail during fire season
Weekends in the North Cascades: WTA works on trails and helps build friendships in the Mount Baker region
Teen Power: Three teen girls bond on annual backpacking trips
High-Tech Hiking: Geocaching gets techies into the outdoors.
A Sense of Wonder: The joys and challenges of hiking Mount Rainier's Wonderland Trail with kids
Lighten Up: Four lanterns to illuminate your backcountry campsite
The Bear Facts: The secret lives of black bears
Good as Gold: Golden Horn offers a treasure trove of climbing, skiing and hiking
A Royal Trip: A volunteer's tale of a WTA Backcountry Response Team to Royal Basin
The Forest For the Trees: Hiking in a forest ecosystem reveals more than just trees: an intricate web of interdependent nature.
Sisters in Oregon: One of Oregon’s most renowned hikes loops through the Three Sisters Wilderness
Finding the Herds: Not just hunters are fascinated with Washington’s elk
Cleaning Water: A new lightweight filter from MSR, plus other options for clear water
Olympic Feats: Exploring the Queets Trail: Our group had originally intended to do an eight-day trip with three layover days at a base camp 5 miles beyond Pelton Shelter, where the river canyon forms at Service Falls. We were looking to explore a route to the Upper Queets Basin, which would have necessitated getting above the impassable canyon.
Scenic Splendor on the PCT; Rainy to Harts Pass: As is our annual custom for a dozen years now, my brother Keith flew out from Iowa for his annual fix of Seattle seafood, microbrews, and mountain backpacking. Our “to do” list had for some time included the stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from Rainy to Harts Pass, but the relatively easy distance of 31 miles had previously caused us to divert to more challenging trips elsewhere.
A Field Guide to Hard Hats: Why do volunteers wear green, orange or blue hats? The answer can be found at WTA's annual Crew Leader College.
Just Say Howdy: A horsepacker shares advice on what to do when you meet four-legged hikers on the trail
Memories of Ira: A Tribute to Hiking Pioneer Ira Spring
Maintaining the Methow: WTA's trail maintenance program extends across the mountains into the Okanogan National Forest
Drying Out: Dehydrating your own food can be a cheap and tasty alternative to prepackaged backpacking meals
Tool Time: Trail maintenance volunteers get their pick of all sorts of cool tools
Baby on Board: Hiking with little ones can be challenging but fun
Freeze-Dried: WTA tests the good, the bad and the ugly in backpacking meals
Spotting Grizzlies: The excitement of looking for bears in British Columbia's Selkirk Mountains
Water Filters: Our test of products designed to give you clean, safe water in the backcountry
What's in a Name?: The geography of Washington's backcountry is loaded with history
Trails Ravaged: October rains and December winds wreak havoc on the state's trails, bridges and forest roads. And it's still only January ...
Softshells Sell: New materials invade the gear world
A Voice in the Wilderness: Forty Years of Fighting Forewards by Harvey Manning
Washington's Forgotten Mountains: The Kettle Range overflows with beauty and solitude
More Than Just Gear: Avalanche safety courses are essential for exploring winter and spring backcountry safely.
All in a Day's Pack: Three packs that can hold the ten essentials and much more.
Kids Are Volunteers Too: The Cohns make WTA volunteering a family-friendly activity
In for the Long Haul: Five long-distance routes offer challenges for the resilient hiker
Healthy Hiking: Getting fit on the trail is easy, fun, and good for you.
Gear for Your Feet: Boots and other products to pamper your piggies on the trail.
Going Solo: Women hikers confront concerns about being alone in the backcountry
A Lucky Find: Taking a spectacular trip to Horseshoe Basin
Teanaway Magic: Lofty peaks, geologic wonders and great summertime hikes beckon in the Alpine Lakes
Testing the Tents: Four new backpacking tents won't add much weight to your pack
Getting to the Top: Trails to Washington Summits
A Good Night's Sleeping Bag: Three pricey but high-quality bags offer the peak of comfort
Exploring the Dark Divide: Despite its intimidating name, the Dark Divide is a place of sunny ridges and tremendous wildflower meadows.
Fire 'Em Up: Our test of four backpacking stoves that use a variety of fuels
Vegetarian Chow for the Trail: Lipsmackin’ Vegetarian Backpackin’ by Christine and Tim Connors
Into the Deserts: The deserts of Central and Eastern Washington offer three seasons of explorations
Respecting Bird Creek Meadows: WTA helps repair trail on Yakama Indian Nation Land
Outfitting Fido: We review hiking gear for your canine companions
Olympic Event: The Skyline Trail is a test of endurance worthy of the other Olympics
Poet of the Mountains: Danger on Peaks by Gary Snyder
MSR's Evo Snowshoes: Improved design offers more gripping, less tripping
Super Jackets: Six extremely lightweight jackets that keep the wet off
The Map Makers: More than a century of topographic maps
Remembering Greg: We remember the man who made WTA what it is today
Washington's Wildflowers: Searching for early bloomers in the lowlands
Fixing Tiger Mountain: WTA volunteers repair trails in a very popular foothills park
Shoes for the Approach: Four hybrid shoes offer extra grip for hikers who like to scramble
Families Go Hiking: A guide to taking children of all ages on the trail, including a list of kid-friendly hikes, an interview about kids doing trail maintenance, and essays on backpacking as kids.
Hydration Solutions: We review five small packs designed to keep you well-hydrated
Hiking the Inland Northwest: Day hikes and overnight trips in Spokane’s backyard
Sleeping with Synthetics: We review four synthetic-fill sleeping bags with a range of prices
Way Out West: Rugged coast, trail ladders and fresh crab on B.C.’s West Coast Trail
Home Away from Home: WTA tests four 3-season tents, from heavy to lightweight
Going Light: Slimming down your gear to go faster and farther
Wasting Time in the North Cascades: North Cascades National Park offers a wealth of challenging and rewarding overnight trips
Slowing Down in Holden Village: The remote hamlet of Holden offers an escape to new experiences
Packing It All In: We review two full-featured, lightweight overnight packs
A Tough Job: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie trails coordinator faces many challenges
Exploring the Urban Wilderness: A review of The Street-Smart Naturalist by David B. Williams
Natural High: Exploring the Pacific Crest Trail north of Rainy Pass
A Sharp Lookout: Dodger Point Lookout provided eyes on the sky during World War II
Hiking Legends: WTA honors twelve elders who’ve made a huge difference for hiking and wilderness
A Tough Trip Over Easy Pass: Scenery, solitude and challenges in North Cascades National Park
Warm Up This Fall: Lightweight insulation that will keep you dry and toasty
Global Warming and Hiking Part 1: Ozone Polluting the Cascades: Alarming levels of ozone at Mount Rainier may making hiking there bad for you.
Global Warming and Hiking Part 2: Shrinking Glaciers, Dying Lichens: Pollution is destroyinh what we love about wilderness.
Global Warming and Hiking Part 3: Driving Force: Let's admit it: hikers contribute to air pollution.
Building On Badger: Flocks of volunteers build a 1.2-mile trail in a new reserve outside Richland
Wild in Washington: WTA profiles all 30 Wilderness areas in the state, from a tiny island refuge to the vast expanse of Olympic National Park.
Refuge: Discovering the landscape of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Ancient Trails: Hiking to Machu Picchu on Peru's Inca Trail
The Underwear to Wear: We test four sets of mid-weigh base layers
The Douglas Legacy: A review of The Footpaths of Justice William O. Douglas: A Legacy of Place
How to Store Your Gear: A few hours of maintenance can extend the life of your hiking stuff
Toleak by Moonlight: The sights and sounds of the Olympic wilderness coast in winter
Hiking Place Names: The stories behind names in the backcountry.
Light as the Wind: Five wind shirts offer decent rain protection and weigh very little
Breaking Trail at Beacon Rock: WTA volunteers start work on a new route in Southwest Washington
Desert Bloom: Umtanum Ridge is at its best mid-April to mid-May
Waterfalls: Searching for sublime waterfalls of the Cascades
Backcountry Food: From gorp to gourmet, Washington Trails dishes up a special issue of recipes, taste tests, tips and after-hike grub to fuel your next hike.
Taking Stock: Horses, mules and llamas are essential to WTA’s backcountry trail crews
Immersion Hiking: How to Spend 20 Summer Weekends on the Trail
Hiking (Almost) Forever: Hiking beyond age 50: Take your time and pick your hikes carefully
High-Tech Sandals: New technical sandals morph hiking boots with sandals
Getting to Know the Mountain: A journal from the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier
Alpine Lakes Reflections: Thoughts on the past, present and future of the popular wilderness
Mad River Memories: Finding sanity in the Entiat Mountains; plus, how to find soft beds for day hiking adventures.
Backpacking Tents for a Crowd: Roomy, lightweight tents for families, friends and pets
Where to Hike with Kids: A review of Joan Burton's "Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington and Cascades"
Better Sleep On It: Four new sleeping pads offer different strategies for comfort
Mountain Butterflies: Spotting butterflies on the wing in the Cascades and Olympics
Hiking "Round the Mountain": Exploring the slopes of the forgotten volcano: Mount Adams
Greg Ball Trail Completed!: WTA youth crews build a fantastic new trail to Wallace Lake
Traversing the Bailey Range: Solitude and scenery on Olympic National Park's premier high route
British Columbia Hiking: So many reasons for hiking north of the border.
The William O. Douglas Trail: A new 75-mile route celebrates the life of the justice and conservationist
Alpine Fly Fishing: How and where to catch trout in the backcountry
Last Child in the Woods: A review of Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
Lowland Trails: Maintaining suburban trails just as important as the backcountry
Mount St. Helens in Autumn: An overnight trip, day hike suggestions, and an account of a climb to the summit of St. Helens
Choosing Trails to Work On: How WTA creates its work party schedule for the year
Stairway to Heaven: Clear lakes, huckleberries and easy trails make Indian Heaven a delight
Hiking Fiascos: Our readers share their stories of mishaps in the backcountry
After Pinnacle Lake: A special investigation four months after the murders at Pinnacle Lake looks at the issue of law enforcement on the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, the crime scene investigation and also talks with David Stodden.
Washington Trails 2006 Holiday Gift Guide: What to give your favorite hikers for the holidays
A Record Year!: WTA volunteers gave more than 74,000 hours of trail work in 2006
Seeking Sun: The wonders of winter hiking in Arizona’s Superstition Wilderness
Gear the Experts Use: Two gearheads trade notes on the stuff they can’t live without
A Truly Grand Canyon: Hiking into the eighth wonder of the world requires careful planning
Urban Hiking: Snow keeping you from the montains? Try a hike in the city.
Finding the Perfect Underwear: Three brands of “technical” undies for hiking and winter recreation
Getting to the Top is Optional: A Review of No Shortcuts to the Top, by Ed Viesturs
Boots, Balsamroot and a Bottle of Syrah: Pairing fine hikes and fine wine in Yakima’s vineyard country
The Hiker Quiz: Test your wilderness trivia knowledge!
We Survey Hiking Poles: Two brands of poles that will save your knees
New Trails on the Peninsula: WTA weekday crews forge new trails at Miller Peninsula and beyond
Answers to Women's Hiking Questions: WTA's Lauren Braden answers commonly asked questions
Gals' Overnight Out: Backpacking the Hoh rainforest with eleven of my best friends
Women's Lightweight Packs: Three new overnight packs designed specifically for women
After the Storm: WTA has created four printable maps of storm-damaged roads and trails across the Cascades and Olympics.