Bring along your best friend Fall is one of the most popular hiking seasons, and for good reason. As you head out to enjoy the incredible foliage, you may be tempted to bring along your four legged best friend. Hiking with your pooch can be a great activity for both of you, but there are a few tips to keep in mind before you hit the trail.
Check the rulesDifferent trails have different regulations when it comes to dogs. On many trails dogs are allowed if they are leashed, but there are some trails they are prohibited. Hiking on a prohibited trail with your dog could result in an expensive fine. Before you drive an hour for a hike, make sure your dog is allowed.
Keep your dog leashedRegardless of posted [...]
How to practice wildlife safety Wildlife safety is vitally important both for you and for wildlife. You should be concerned not only about your own well-being, but the preservation of the environment wildlife calls home. It is true that most wildlife prefer to avoid humans; however, wildlife will attack when they feel threatened. Before we talk about precautions for specific types of wildlife, there are a few general rules of wildlife safety to follow.
Keep your distanceComing home with that perfect may be enticing, but when it comes to wildlife it’s important to maintain your distance. When you’re exploring, stick to trails, especially in the early morning, evening or at night. Wildlife typically understands trails to be high human traffic areas and avoids them.
Distance is especially important if you run into [...]
We’re all rejoicing on the re-opening up of outdoor recreation following Coronovirus restrictions. Trails and have started to open up again across Washington (for a list of open parks please visit here). However, in order to keep yourself and others healthy, there are some tips for hygienic hiking that are wise to follow. Before hitting the trails make sure you’re prepared to do that wisely and safely.
Tip #1 – Bring a face coveringWhen passing others closely or when in crowded areas, you will want some sort of mask or face covering to use. If you’re within 6 feet, cover-up. You can choose to use a cloth mask with elastic straps or ties, a bandana or a buff. For a bandana, fold a clean bandanna into a triangle, creating two layers of [...]
The precautions and restrictions recommended in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 seem to rapidly change each day. There are a few things that are clear:
- It’s important to keep up with current government and CDC recommendations.
- Social distancing is incredibly important at this time.
- Time outdoors is still strongly recommended for personal health.
At the current moment, many state parks remain open for day visits. However, there are some changes to services. For example, many visitor centers and campgrounds may be closed to aid in social distancing. Before going anywhere to hike, it’s important to check the most up to date information about closures and restrictions. Washington State Parks is frequently updating their COVID-19 response.
Why Hiking is RecommendedThere are many benefits to being outdoors in light of the current [...]
We’re blessed to live in a region of the country with countless glorious hikes. Before hitting your next trail, though, make sure you’re following the common rules of hiking etiquette.
Clean it up & Pack it outIt’s important to clean up all litter and debris while you’re hiking. This clean-up duty includes dog poop. Nobody wants to step in dog poo while they’re enjoying the great outdoors. However, even worse than leaving a pile is bagging the poo and then leaving the bag behind. Any kind of plastic bag poses a threat.
Heed all signs & postingsWhile a sign of a trail closure or detour may be a frustrating addition to your day in nature, those signs are there for a reason. Someone may have harmed themselves or the property. Rangers may be [...]
