It wasn't all about the pizza, adult beverages, door prizes and hike schedules, though. Gary Paull, Wilderness and Trails Coordinator for the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, was there to present the latest news and pictures of current trail and road conditions and closures. It was a grim but timely reminder to us all to check and double-check road and trail conditions before leading a hike we haven't been able to scout.
Following are several resources you might investigate before hiking on your own:
- Each National Forest maintains its own website with the USDA (http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/pdx/forests.shtml#washington), and each website has an Alerts & Notices section that has the most current road and trail conditions. You can and should call the Ranger's Station for the district you're visiting. The rangers may not have actually hiked the trail lately, but they should be able to give you the current conditions as reported to them.
- Each National Park has similar information available through their respective websites at www.nps.gov.
- Hindered as they are by budgetary constraints, the rangers at Washington State Parks often have the most current trail information because they have actually hiked the trails. A park directory is found here: www.parks.wa.gov
- Oftentimes the most current information is found in trip reports posted by volunteer contributors on the Washington Trails Association website at www.wta.org. Create an account and share your trip reports and photos today!
- WTA also maintains a directory for each land manager here: http://www.wta.org/hiking-info/ranger-station-info
Check before you hike, and stay safe out there!
--Steve
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