Cuts to staffing and budgets for federal public lands could lead to rougher conditions on many hiking trails this summer. Staff may not be available to do the day-to-day work of cleaning toilets and maintaining trails.
The Washington Trails Association is advising people to be flexible and have back-up plans, in case an obstacle blocks your way – you may have to turn back. The WTA runs volunteer-driven work crews, but has had to reduce their schedule because of frozen federal grants and lack of coordination from federal partners.
WTA’s media liaison Anna Roth said many hikers are asking what they can do to help.
“Bring a trash bag, pick up trash. Bring a couple so you can double bag it. Bring gloves or a grabber or something, hand sanitizer, and don't leave it at the trailhead. You've got to bring it all the way home and throw it away in your own trash because the likelihood that it's going to get picked up at the trailhead is pretty low,” Roth said.
Thousands of people use the WTA website and app to discover hikes and report back on current conditions.
This season, Roth said those trail reports could be more valuable than ever to alert fellow hikers and the limited maintenance crews who are out to obstacles on the trails.
“Definitely take a photo of it, maybe a couple, and file a trip report on WTA.org. And the advantage of that is you've sort of done some scouting that the Forest [Service] might not have capacity for this year.”
She said also be mindful that search and rescue crews may not be as quick to respond this summer. So you might think twice before taking any risks on the trail, like fording a deep stream or trying to climb over a big log while carrying a heavier backpack.
