I shared in a previous post about how I am working towards hitting the 200 mark for trip reports shared over on the Washington Trails Association hike guide website, the best resource for up-to-date information on trail conditions in Washington State.
Well, after my first year of doing so I was invited to be a member of their Hike Guide Correspondents and help write trail descriptions for the catalog of trails on their website that needed to be added or updated. It has been the most rewarding experience and a way to help me fine tune my writing skills. It is a different thing to write for someone else and know that what you share will be used by thousands of people to get outdoors. Not to mention, past correspondents include such well known guidebook authors like Tami Asars, Eli Boschetto and Craig Romano!
At the beginning of the year, they put out a spreadsheet to the correspondents of descriptions they want to update and we can choose the ones we want to write up. We commit to writing at least five, I try to pick hikes I have wanted to do or will be close to places I plan to visit during the year. It is flexible, too. Sometimes a fire will close a trail before you get to hike it or after you write a description up the editor may decide to take a different angle on a trail. It has definitely been a learning experience and I absolutely love it.
Some of the pages I have here on my blog include more basic trip reports because I knew I would be writing a more detailed description for Washington Trails Association (they would get the good stuff). I’m pretty proud of the work I have been doing and look forward to improving my craft and exploring more of the beauty here in my own state. I invite you to head over and read some of the trail descriptions yourself (and notice my name in the byline). You may even see some of my pictures featured!
Evan and Boardman Lakes
This is a hike up the Mountain Loop Highway that I had previously snowshoed so I chose it so I could see what I looked like during the summer! https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/boardman-lake.
Rock Mountain Via Rock Lake
This hike was one that I was always being asked whether or not I had hiked it. My answer was always no. I had passed the trailhead a million times while traveling over Stevens Pass on HWY 2, now was the time to check it out. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/rock-mountain.
Meadow Creek To Pear Lake
Everyone who knows me knows this is my favorite place in the Cascades. God willing, my ashes will be here some day. So, when I saw that Pear Lake was on the list I naturally had to claim it. It was a bit challenging as there are 4 ways to approach this gem, but my preferred entrance is one of the least taken off the Beckler River Road on HWY 2. It was a joy to write about this option, a truly beautiful area. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/meadow-creek-1.
Silver Falls National Recreational Trail
My friend Kristin recently moved to the Entiat River Valley and I chose this hike as an excuse to visit her and learn more about hiking on the other side of the mountains AKA Eastern Washington. I hiked this stunning waterfall loop along with the Entiat River Trail that day but didn’t complete it because Kristin had reached her turn around point before the end of the trail. I had planned to return the next month but then the entire area was closed due to wildfire! Oh well, there will have to be next year. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/silver-falls.
Imus Creek
I had written a trip report for this petite hike above the landing in Stehekin of North Cascades National Park for the last two years, so the editor asked me if I would go ahead and do the guide description, too. Sure, why not? https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/imus-creek-trail.
The Kettles Trail System of Whidbey Island
I am trying to expand my winter and rainy day hikes and Whidbey Island is perfect for this. I had, also, read about the unique geological features of this trail system that butts up against Ebey State Park and the Pacific Northwest Trail and wanted to see what it was all about. But the real reason I chose this hike was I had one hike left to do for the year and I had broken my shoulder the month before. I needed a stroll… https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/the-kettles-trail-system-of-whidbey-island.
Cispus Braille Trail
The next two hikes are along SR 12 to White Pass, close to where I go car camping every Memorial Day Weekend. They were just the right jaunt in between roasting hotdogs on the campfire. This one is ADA designed… https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/cispus-Braille.
South Swofford Pond Trail
…and this one sits near a popular fishing area. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/swofford-pond.
Beacon State Park-Hadley Trail
I hadn’t signed up to write the next two hikes but I wrote them up as trip reports while I was down along the Columbia Gorge for a Pacific Crest Trail Trail Skills College in 2017. That summer the Gorge was lit on fire by careless fireworks and very few trails were left untouched. So, I was asked to write up these up to increase the awareness of options in the area. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/hadley-trail.
Beacon State Park-Little Beacon Trail
The Hadley Trail and Little Beacon Rock feed into one another, kind of a two-for-one. You can stay at the campground here and do them both! https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/little-beacon-trail.
Dry Creek Falls
This Columbia Gorge hike I had chosen to write up as I had found out that when I hiked the Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail, I had passed by this lovely waterfall without even knowing it was there! This gave me a reason to go back and see what I had missed. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/dry-creek-falls.
I hope maybe you will find a new hike to you among these descriptions and I am looking forward to next year and the hikes I will write descriptions for. Think that writing trail descriptions for Washington trails would be fun? You can do it, too! You don’t have to be a Hike Guide correspondent to contribute to Washington Trails Association. Anyone who hikes trail in Washington State and wants to provide recent trail information or help update an hike description page can do so.
Just create a personal account and get to sharing what you know. There is a description page for each hike that includes information about the hike and a place to add your own trip report. There is even a button to click if you want to submit changes to the hike description or create one for a trail that you have hiked but can’t find. The more we share the safer it is for those who get out and it helps keep folks from crowding up the same two or three hikes by letting everyone know about the thousands of trail our beautiful state has to offer. Head on over to Washington Trails Association to find out more!
Editor’s Note: WTA now has an application for becoming a hike guide correspondent! It is super easy to apply and you too can help write up hike descriptions for the largest hike database in Washington State.
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