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Winter 20 Washington Trails A Publication of Washington Trails Association • wta.org Rain gear: From Refuge: Finding Solitude: How to find high-tech to DIY healing in nature a trail less traveled 54 Volunteers, You ... you were there • Wrote neighborhood trip reports when other hiking opportunities were closed. when the hiking • Performed crucial maintenance on trails community needed being hiked more than ever. • Spoke up for trails by taking you this year. advocacy actions. • Stuffed envelopes and transported It’s impossible for us to say thank you enough, but equipment. we’re going to try during Volunteer Appreciation • Stepped into leadership roles so more Week — Dec. 7 –11! Mark your calendars and visit volunteers could get involved. wta.org/party-for-you for more details about the online celebration. Visit wta.org/party-for-you Photo by Troy Mason Front Desk: Chief Executive Officer Washington Trails A Publication of Washington Trails Association Board of Directors President | Jenny Faubion Everyone Needs Trails Secretary | Mike Dunning Treasurer | Charlie Lieu as there been a year in recent memory where trails — VP, Philanthropy | Matt Martinez and their healing connections to nature — have been VP, Board Development | Susan Queary needed more by everyone? I don’t think so. VP, Advocacy | Ashley Fontaine The bedrock of WTA’s mission and work is the core Hbelief that time in nature enriches our lives in innumerable ways and Directors at Large that everyone should have the opportunity to discover hiking’s many Bruce Burger • Ethan Evans benefits. Thomas Goldstein • Joe Gregg • Ken Helm Titti Ringström • Arun Sambataro And yet, 2020’s spotlight on racial injustice reminds us that inequities Ken Myer • Mason White • Britt Provost pervade all aspects of life, including access to trails and the outdoors. Jennifer Surapisitchat The experiences of Christian Cooper, the Black birder in Central Park, and the multiracial family who were threatened while camping WTA Leadership on the Olympic Peninsula, as well as many others that don’t garner widespread attention, show us that Black hikers and other people of Chief Executive Officer color often face unique dangers and unwarranted suspicion in outdoor Jill Simmons spaces. WTA has always believed that nature is for everyone but in recent years Washington Trails Staff we have realized that believing is not enough. We will not achieve Washington Trails Editor | Jessi Loerch our vision of Trails for Everyone, Forever unless we actively work to Hiking Content Manager | Anna Roth undo the systemic barriers that stand in the way of the outdoors being Graphic Designer | Jenica Nordstrom accessible, safe and welcoming for everyone, regardless of identity and Copy Editor | Cassandra Overby life experience. It is this commitment to action that gives rise to WTA’s Trails for Volunteers Everyone campaign, which works in concert with our other campaigns Contributors | Celese Brune, — Lost Trails Found, Trails Rebooted and The Trail Next Door — to Doug Diekema, Craig Romano, create trails that stand the test of time and connect everyone to nature’s Sandra Saathoff, Luis Villa splendor. Proofreaders | Jim Cavin, Rebecca Kettwig The focus of the Trails for Everyone campaign reminds us that people Trail Team | Lindsay Leffelman, Mike are at the heart of our work for trails, and that building a strong and Morrison, Craig Romano, Anna Roth inclusive hiking community will create a better future for trails and for people. Lowering the barriers to getting outside isn’t easy and it takes time, but the same can be said of the work to protect and preserve trails. WTA is equally committed to the long-term stewardship of both, and I know our community is too. Together, we can create trails that are rewarding for everyone and build a community that’s welcoming to all. Washington Trails Association 705 Second Avenue, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98104 Jill Simmons| Chief executive officer | [email protected] 206-625-1367 • wta.org General Information | [email protected] Membership & Donations | [email protected] Editorial Submissions | [email protected] Meet all our staff atwta.org/staff Washington Trails / Winter 2020 / wta.org 3 Winter 2020: Contents 16 Trails for Everyone The benefits of trails should be easily accessible to all of us. Discover how WTA is deepening our commitment to this important work with our new campaign. Features Winter 20 Washington Trails 24 Finding Refuge A Publication of Washington Trails Association • wta.org Chevon Powell knew people of color need a place to feel at home in the outdoors. She’s Rain gear: From Refuge: Finding Solitude: How to find high-tech to DIY healing in nature a trail less traveled helping to create that. 27 Perspectives from the trail Luis Villa of Latino Outdoors explores the connections between social and Rain must fall environmental movements. Washington hikers 30 The trail less traveled On the cover know to expect rain but Craig Romano shares his advice for 33 picking the right rain finding less popular trails where hikers Jenica Nordstrom, gear can be tricky. An expert breaks down can experience beautiful places and WTA’s graphic the different options for keeping yourself designer, created enjoy some solitude. this cover art to dry on trail. Winter fun celebrate the power 36 of trails and WTA’s 40 Fuel your adventures Cross-country skiing is magical — just make vision of Trails for We ate a lot of backpacking food — and sure you’re prepared. Everyone, Forever. we have recommendations for you. Donna Chung, Patel, Nisarg Photos: Stock Adobe 4 Washington Trails / Winter 2020 / wta.org Signpost: Editor Departments 3 Front Desk Greetings from our chief executive officer and Washington Trails editor With Gratitude and Hope 6 Community n October, I made a last-minute plan to head out on a solo Thank you to all the volunteers who made a backpacking trip. I picked Round Lake and Lost Creek Ridge, off hard year into something beautiful of the Mountain Loop Highway. I knew it would be a challenging 8 Trail Talk hike, and I chose it on purpose. A few times along the way I What you need to know for winter camping, Iregretted that choice — particularly when my knees hurt and when a an easier route to nature in Ridgefield mass of hornets attacked me. Mostly, however, I was happy. At one point, I stopped to look up a hillside covered in huckleberries to the blue sky 34 Trail Mix Photography, rain gear, food above — one of my favorite views — and I found that I was crying. I felt ridiculous, but it was just such a relief to be outside and — for the first 44 Hike It time in a long time — for my mind to stop spinning. Find a bit of rejuvenation by hitting our state’s beautiful trails this winter I came home and was sore for days, but I had so much more energy in every other way. I’m so thankful for that time on trail. And I’m so thankful 50 Flora & Fauna to work at WTA, where every day I see all the ways so many people are Cougar and licorice fern working to make it easier for everyone to experience the power of trails. 51 Snapshot As I wrap up production of this magazine, I’m so grateful to all of the The story behind our favorite photos talented, giving people (mostly volunteers) who make this magazine possible — especially this year, when everything has had new challenges. Reflecting on this community also inspires and energizes me. A huge crew of writers, photographers, mapmakers, editors and more help us POWERED BY YOU share the stories of trails. I hope you find pieces that speak to your own Washington Trails Association is a experiences and also articles that show you a new way to look at trails nonprofit supported by a community and the hiking community. of hikers like you. By mobilizing hikers to be explorers, stewards and This magazine is the official launch of our Trails for Everyone campaign. champions for trails and public lands, together, we will ensure that there I’m so excited for you to read about it — and to read the stories of people are trails for everyone, forever. working to make trails for everyone a reality. Chevon Powell, the creator of Refuge, talks about why a space for people of color to come together outside is so important, especially this year WTA was founded by Louise B. (page 24). Luis Villa, the executive director of Latino Outdoors, shares Marshall (1915–2005). Ira Spring (1918–2003) was its primary supporter. a story of a hike that changed his perspective on the environment and Greg Ball (1944–2004) founded the social justice (page 27). And Charlie Lieu, one of our board members, volunteer trail maintenance program. talks about how her understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion has Their spirit continues today through evolved over the years (page 22). contributions from thousands of WTA members and volunteers. These stories give me joy and hope — and leave me excited for the work we still have to do. Even if that work is going to be hard. I can’t wait to dig in more. Winter 2020 | Volume 55, Issue 4 Washington Trails (ISSN 1534-6366) is published Thank you for all you do to support trails. It’s an honor to share the four times per year by Washington Trails stories of all that you make possible. Association, 705 2nd Avenue, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98104. Annual membership, which includes a subscription to Washington Trails magazine, is $20. Happy hiking! Single copy price is $4.50. Periodicals postage paid at Seattle, WA, and at additional mailing locations.