Green Trails Maps and Rely on Them to Orient Myself in the Backcountry
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Summer 19 Washington Trails A Publication of Washington Trails Association • wta.org Connections Trail Tips from a Wheelchair Hiker How to Create Your Own Loop Hike A New Path for Popular Trails Built for hiking, drawn to water, Choprock is a specialized, highly technical trail-fi rst shoe that thrives near water. Any water. With draining technology, quick-dry materials and Choprock a sticky sole made specifi cally to grip wet trails, it’s the most capable hydro hiker we’ve ever made. And it’s what Zsa Peru Travel Blogger Zsa and her friends trusted to wear exploring the Millpu Zsa Zsa Pools in Peru. To learn more about Zsa Zsa and the Choprock, visit merrell.com/choprock Photo by Anna Roth Front Desk: Executive Director Washington Trails A Publication of Washington Trails Association Board of Directors President | Susan Queary Secretary | Ken Myer Treasurer | Geoff Martin VP, Philanthropy | Matt Martinez VP, Board Development | Mike Dunning VP, Advocacy | Jenny Faubion Directors at Large Andrea Baines • Bruce Burger • Ethan Evans Ashley Fontaine • Thomas Goldstein Joe Gregg • Ken Helm • Jonathan Lau Charlie Lieu • Titti Ringström Supporting Popular Trails Arun Sambataro • Mason White If you’re a Puget Sound hiker, I’m willing to bet you’ve hiked to Snow Lake. Not only is it stunningly beautiful from start to finish, it’s also easily WTA Leadership accessible out of Snoqualmie Pass. So it’s no surprise that the trail has become very popular. Executive Director Jill Simmons Nowhere is our state’s burgeoning hiking community on greater display. When I first hiked to Snow Lake about 15 years ago, I saw maybe 30 other hikers, a lot by the standards of the day. When I hiked it on a Saturday last August, I passed at Washington Trails Staff least five times as many, and a ranger I talked to estimated there were close to Washington Trails Editor | Jessi Loerch 800 hikers throughout the day. Hiking Content Manager | Anna Roth As one who usually hikes in search of solitude, I confess that I was hesitant about Graphic Designer | Jenica Wilkie last summer’s trip to Snow Lake. So, imagine my surprise when my apprehension Copy Editor | Cassandra Overby quickly turned to joy; what I thought would be annoying instead put a smile on my face. Volunteers All around me were others who were also enjoying time with friends and family amid scenery that is often only found far in the backcountry. Trails like Snow Contributors | Andrew Coghill, Lake are gateways for people to discover our natural wonders, often providing Joan Hong, Andrea Laughery, that spark that turns a first-time explorer into a lifelong hiker and a champion for Shannon Leader, Lindsay Leffelman, trails and public lands. Cassandra Overby, Korey Peterson, Julie Popper, Jenny Schmitz, Gale Straub To be clear, it wasn’t all roses. Trailhead parking was kind of a mess and there Proofreaders | Jim Cavin, Rebecca Kettwig were long lines to use the toilet. And, with that many hikers, we need to be sure we enjoy the wilderness landscape without degrading it. But I believe these are Trail Team | Alan Gibbs, Matt Kite, infrastructure and education problems, not people problems. Shannon Leader, Steve Payne, Craig Romano That’s why I’m excited to announce WTA’s new Trails Rebooted campaign (page 14) to support our popular trails at every turn. Trails Rebooted will bring the power of hikers — from maintaining and building trails, to advocating for trailhead investment to promoting hiking best practices and much more — to ensure that we enjoy first-class trails and hiking experiences near Washington’s population centers. Sure, most of my hiking will still seek solitude, but Snow Lake taught me that’s not all that I want. I also want to enjoy close-to-home trails where I can walk alongside our diverse and growing hiking community. Through Trails Rebooted, Washington Trails Association let’s work together to preserve and expand these front-country hiking experiences 705 Second Avenue, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98104 far into the future. 206-625-1367 • wta.org General Information | [email protected] Membership Information | [email protected] Editorial Submissions | [email protected] Meet all our staff atwta.org/staff Jill Simmons| Executive Director | [email protected] Washington Trails / Summer 2019 / wta.org 3 Summer 2019: Contents Trails Rebooted Trails don’t just happen. They take work and 14 thoughtful planning. So — with your help and support — we’re launching a new campaign to care for our state’s most popular hiking areas. 40 16 Features 26 Building Community Joan Hong helped start Outdoor Asian to connect to her heritage and her larger community. Building 30 Exploring by Wheel Connections How one hiker adapted to using a How WTA is connecting wheelchair — and her advice on getting 22 hikers and trails — and outside for other wheelchair hikers. leading the way to a sustainable trail system in Southwest Washington. 32 Loop Hikes On the cover How to create your own loops, from a chill 36 Memorial Hikes Paloma Ayala took day trip to an epic backpacking adventure. this photo on the Spending time on trail is a powerful way Little Maui Trail in to honor a loved one's memory. 34 Motivating Kids the Columbia River 7 tips to help your young hiker — and you — Gorge. Paloma’s son 38 UP North Loop have a fun time on trails. and his friend were in their element. Two adventurous hikers have created a new long-distance trail in the Northwest. Photo by Sean Downes, Illustration courtesy Sean Freepik by Downes, Photo 4 Washington Trails / Summer 2019 / wta.org Signpost: Editor Departments 3 Front Desk Greetings from our executive director and Washington Trails editor 6 Community Hiking with dogs — we’re all in it together Beginnings 10 Trail Talk New maps on wta.org, a big win for love beginnings. The first few steps on a new trail are always public lands, charting the future for full of so much potential and excitement, as I dream about roads to trails all the things that are yet to come. This magazine is a new beginning, too, and it’s just as exciting as starting down a 43 Trail Mix Books, gear & photography Ibrand new trail. For this issue of the magazine, you’ve probably noticed a new look 46 NW Weekend Explore the Alpine Lakes from a base camp and a slightly different feel. The magazine is now eight pages longer. in cozy cabins We’ve updated the cover of the magazine, which was last refreshed in 2012. We’ve also changed some of our fonts and other design 50 Hike it Short or long — 5 trails that can be a cozy elements. ramble or a challenging backpack All of this is for one purpose. We want you to know the stories of 58 Flora & Fauna Washington’s trails, and we want those stories to be easy, educational Meet the moose and elephant’s-head and pleasurable to read. We also want to inspire you and make it even easier for you to help us do more to shape the future of trails. 59 Snapshot A hiking cat with a powerful story The look may be different, but that goal is the same as it’s always been. This issue of the magazine tells stories of how trails connect us — to each other and to special places. It also has stories of beginnings, most specifically the launch of ourTrails Rebooted campaign, which will help connect people and trails in new and exciting ways (Page POWERED BY YOU 14). You’ll also find stories about how WTA is making connections in Washington Trails Association the Southwest part of Washington (page 22), all to improve trails and is a nonprofit supported by a conditions for hikers. I hope these stories help you understand and community of hikers like you. By connect to the work we’re doing, with your help, all across the state. mobilizing hikers to be explorers, stewards and champions for trails And, of course, I hope the information in this magazine helps launch and public lands, together, we will you on a summer of outdoor adventures. Maybe you need our tips on ensure that there are trails for everyone, forever. how to motivate your kids to hike. Or maybe you’ll appreciate advice on making your own loop trip, from easy to epic. Whatever it is, I hope this summer you connect to trails in new and fulfilling ways. See you outside! Summer 2019 | Volume 54, Issue 3 Washington Trails (ISSN 1534-6366) is published by Washington Trails Association, 705 2nd Avenue, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98104. Annual membership dues, which include a subscription to Washington Trails magazine, are $50. Single copy price is $4.50. Periodicals postage paid at Seattle, WA, and at additional mailing locations. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Jessi Loerch | Washington Trails editor | [email protected] Washington Trails Association, 705 2nd Ave., Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98104. P.S. This magazine is the kick-off to our new quarterly schedule for Washington Trails magazine. Watch for your next magazine in CLEAR August. And, of course, find us online anytime at wta.org. AREA Washington Trails / Summer 2019 / wta.org 5 Community Dogs on trail: It’s a hot topic. But it doesn’t have to be if we all do our part to take care of each other. Perspectives The Dog Divide Whether you hike It’s a Ruff Issue to Tame. By Loren Drummond with dogs or not, we all share the trail. We “He’s friendly,” they shouted at me as are tough to trail-proof.