Avalanche Kills Two Snowmobilers Near Esmeralda Peak
The two men were from Bonney Lake; one was a police officer.
Washington Trails
Washington Trails
Washington, located in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S., is dominated by high peaks. The Olympic Mountains cover the far northwest, the Coastal Mountain Range extends into Oregon to the south, the snow-capped Cascades lie further east, the Rockies cut across the northeast into Canada, and the Columbia Mountains form deep valleys in the southeast.
Washington is home to Mountain Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic national parks. Mount Rainier National Park encompasses the 14,000-foot namesake peak, North Cascades National Park has some of the best camping in the state, and Olympic National Park encompasses nearly one million acres of rugged wilderness.
Washington also marks the beginning (or end) of the 2,663-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail, a National Scenic Trail that runs from the United States-Mexico border through California, Oregon, and Washington, where it reaches its northern terminus at the United States-Canada border.
Washington, located in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S., is dominated by high peaks. The Olympic Mountains cover the far northwest, the Coastal Mountain Range extends into Oregon to the south, the snow-capped Cascades lie further east, the Rockies cut across the northeast into Canada, and the Columbia Mountains form deep valleys in the southeast. Washington is home to Mountain Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic national parks. Mount Rainier National Park encompasses the 14,000-foot namesake peak, North Cascades National Park has some of the best camping in the state, and Olympic National Park encompasses nearly one million acres of rugged wilderness. Washington also marks the beginning (or end) of the 2,663-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail, a National Scenic Trail that runs from the United States-Mexico border through California, Oregon, and Washington, where it reaches its northern terminus at the United States-Canada border.
Beware Avalanches After Cascades Storm, Experts Warn
This week's snowfall means danger will rise on Thursday.
Stampede Pass Avalanche Kills 1, Injures Others
A group of snowmobilers were having lunch last Sunday when the slide buried them.
Missing Teen Snowshoers Found Dead Near Alpental
The pair were reported missing last Sunday night amidst heavy snow.
Olympic's Spruce Railroad Trail Construction Resumes March 1
The project aims to make 10 miles of trail along Lake Crescent at Olympic National Park universally accessible by 2019.
Seattle’s Top 10 Dayhikes
The best local trails, as selected by BACKPACKER Local scouts Anastasia Allison and Jason Bickford.
Mt. St. Helens Permits Back on Sale
After huge demand overwhelmed the online system last month, a new vendor is ready for business Monday morning.
Giant Blowdown at Olympic Perplexes Scientists
A mysterious wind event in January toppled more than 100 old-growth trees at Lake Quinault.
Mt. Rainer to Accept Online Backcountry Permit Requests
The reservation system opens March 15.
Jail Time for 2 Men Who Cut Down a Tree at Olympic National Park
The men sold the bigleaf maple to a local music wood supplier.
911 Calls Offer Details of Mt. Hood Climbing Tragedy
Other climbers worked with dispatchers to save a fallen man for hours.
Meet Anastasia Allison and Jason Bickford, Backpacker's Seattle Trail Scouts
Get the best of the Pacific Northwest with a little help from Backpacker's trail experts.
Climber Dies in Fall on Mt. Hood
Seven others were rescued after becoming stranded on Oregon's highest peak.
Mt. Rainier Welcomes New Superintendent
Chip Jenkins, a 31-year park service veteran, takes the helm.
Huge Jump in Demand for Mt. St. Helens Permits Crashes Website
More than 10,500 people tried for volcano climbing permit this year.
New State Bill Would Increase Protections for Orcas
State Senator Kevin Ranker introduced the whale measure as part of his broader Salish Sea Protection package.
Heavy Rain in the Forecast Expected to Close Mt. Baker
Precipitation and warm weather means the ski resort plans to temporarily shut down.
Mother Nature Makes it Harder and Harder to Get to Olympic NP
Repeat floods and rockslides have closed multiple roads into the national park in recent months.
How the Shutdown Will Affect Washington's National Parks
Some areas will remain accessible while other services come to a halt.
Spirit Lake Breach Would Be Catastrophic, New Study Says
Flooding from the Mt. St. Helens lake is unlikely, but consequences are high.
At Lookout Pass, Win Your Wife's Weight in Cash
The ski resort's annual wife-carrying contest draws fierce competition.
Rattlesnake Ridge Landslide Likely a Few Weeks Away
Gov. Inslee toured the slow-moving slide outside Yakima.
New Superintendent Named at Mt. Rainier
Tracy Swartout takes the reins as acting superintendent of the national park this week.
Mt. St. Helens Quake 2nd-Largest Since 1981
This week's 3.9 earthquake rattled windows from Portland to Puget Sound.
Sea Stars Slowly Returning After Mysterious Die-off
Washington's sea star numbers are up in the aftermath of a four-year wasting syndrome epidemic.
Driver Rescued After Getting Stuck in Olympic National Forest
Officials tried three times to tow a motorist out of deep snow on a remote wilderness road.
Growing Elk Herd Raises Worries in Central Washington
Locals fear the 6,500-strong Colockum Herd poses risks to drivers and ranchers.
Mt. Rainier Announces Winter Hours
Get the scoop on new visitor center and inn operating hours, plus winter ranger programs.
Olympic NP's Mules Run Amok in Sequim
The animals broke free from their winter pasture and trotted through town before police helped round them up.
Kayaker Who Drowned in Bellingham Bay Identified
The 24-year-old died after falling off his sit-on-top boat.
New King County Trailhead Shuttle Looking for Riders
The Trailhead Direct shuttle, which serves popular trailheads in the Issaquah area, attracted about 900 hikers in its debut season.
LA Wildfires Make for Hazy Skies in Seattle
Smoke from this week's Southern California wildfires is riding a high-pressure system to the Northwest.
Snoqualmie at Summit West Open for Skiing
Seattle's closest resort is ready for winter.
Future of Elwha River Road Uncertain After Multiple Floods
November storms wiped out the Olympic National Park road for the second time in two years.
Polar Express Comes to Mt. Rainier Railroad
Santa and cookies add seasonal fun to the scenic train ride.
Storms Close Major Roads at Olympic National Park
Flooding and a landslide have shuttered the Elwha Valley, Hoh Road, and Staircase Road.
Seahawks Linebacker Helps Train Recovering Addicts for Rainier
Terence Garvin worked with Team Mission, which uses mountaineering as therapy.
NPS Extends Comment Period for Fee Increase
The proposed changes would raise entrance fees to $70 at 17 super-popular national parks.
A Look Back at Washington's Pioneering Female Mountaineers
Women made up a huge part of The Mountaineers' Everett chapter from 1911 on.
Search Resumes for Missing Snowboarders
The two Bellingham men disappeared from the Mt. Baker backcountry.
Mountain Loop Highway Phone to Be Removed, Raising Safety Worries
The Verlot pay phone has been used to call 911 25 times in the last two years.
Fall Kills Hiker on Olympic National Park Peak
A 21-year-old Oregon man fell while descending Mt. Storm King.
Seattle Times Profiles Northwest Ski Legend Lowell Skoog
The 61-year-old is a ski historian, author, founder of Northwest Mountaineering Journal, and lifelong lover of the mountains.
Visit Washington Parks for Free This Weekend
Entrance fees are waived nationwide for Veterans Day, November 11 and 12.
Legendary Mountaineer Fred Beckey Dies
The climber, guidebook author, environmentalist, and historian notched a long string of first ascents in his illustrious mountaineering career.
UPDATE: Lake Serene Could Be "Dramatically Changed for Decades"
The popular Lake Serene Trail traverses through Weyerhauser property, and now they want to cash in.
Car Found at Sauk Trailhead Belongs to Missing Person
Two hikers reported a vehicle in the parking lot after completing a hike on Sauk Mountain. Officials connected it to a missing man.
Update: PCT Search and Rescue
Two hikers on the PCT in Chelan County are safe.
NPS Fee Hikes Could Equal $70 To Visit Rainier
The National Park Service is considering a fee hike in more than a dozen of the system's most popular parks.
Cameras, Texts, and Social Media Help Officials Crack Poaching Ring
Since August, eight people have been charged with 191 criminal counts in a huge poaching case in southeast Washington.
New Cabins At Log Cabin Resort on Lake Crescent
Olympic National Park awarded a $2.2-million contract to demolish and rebuild cabins at Log Cabin Resort.
Snow Geese Arrive in Skagit Valley
Some 50,000 birds stop off here for winter nesting after flying in from Alaska or Siberia.
Five Lessons From the Northwest's Salmon
A series of reports show how far we've come in protecting salmon in the Northwest—and how far we still need to go.
REI Buys $50M Bellevue Warehouse for New HQ
REI just closed the deal on a $49.3 million property in Bellevue's Spring District—the future site of its headquarters.
Warm Waters in Pacific Spell Hard Times for Salmon
A mass of warm water—known as "the blob"—has had lingering effects on numbers of juvenile salmon.
Goat Update 2: Olympic National Park
The population of mountain goats has gone from 20 to the thousands to 300 to 623 at last count. The NPS wants to airlift them out.
Man Dies After Going Over Wallace Falls
Rescuers recovered the body of a 32-year-old who fell near the middle falls.
Rainier Earthquake Swarm Doesn't Mean Eruption is Near
More than two dozen small earthquakes shook Rainier this past week, but there's no need to worry, say seismologists.
White River and Sunrise Reopen
After being closed because of fires, the White River and Sunrise areas of Mount Rainier National Park are now open again.
Video of Black Bear Itching on a Tree Goes Viral
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife captured a bear scratching his itch.
12 Rabid Bats Found in August, Highest Number in Decade
A dozen rabid bats were found this August on sidewalks and in homes and public parks in Washington, bring the yearly count to 21.
Crystal Mountain Will Remain Closed Until Ski Season
Though the Norse Peak Fire has mellowed, it's still too unpredictable to reopen Crystal.
Whales, Fishers Stay on State Endangered List
Five whale species, the yellow-billed cuckoo bird, the loggerhead sea turtle, and the fisher are on Washington's endangered list.
Video: Our Seattle Scout and Friend Scale Peak—with Violin and Keyboard
Want a dose of pure beauty? Check out Anastasia Allison (scout, violin) and Rose Freeman (mountaineer, piano) performing summit "Ashokan Farewell."
New Memorial at Mount Rainier National Park
The Valor Memorial honors four people who died in the park while saving others.
Ski or Walk the Italian Way
Check out BACKPACKER Contributors and Editors's author page.
Wildfire Threatens Crystal Mountain Resort, Closes Parts of Rainier
The Norse Peak Fire has forced the closure of all the backcountry trails on the east side of Mount Rainier National Park.
Untold Thousands of Farmed Atlantic Salmon Spill into Puget Sound
Officials are asking anyone and everyone to catch as many fish as possible after devastating breach in a net that contained 305,000 salmon.
Ellensburg Men Scale Washington's Five Tallest Volcanoes in Five Days
Nick Burson, 31, and Marc McPhereson, 43—both cops in Ellensburg—summitted Adams, St. Helens, Rainier, Baker and Glacier Peak in just five days.
Hiking Mt. St. Helens, 41 Years After the Blast
Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington
Women Set New Unsupported Speed Record on Wonderland Trail
Allison Macsas and Mallory Brooks complete 93 miles in 29 hours.
Permit Now Required to Pick Huckleberries in Gifford Pinchot
Want to bring home berries from the central and south Cascades? Even amateurs need a permit this year.
Paint the Peninsula Brings Artists to Olympic National Park
Twenty-two artists from around North America are spending the week in plein air, painting the beauty of the Olympics.
Active Duty Air Force Major Dies on Mount Baker
Maj. Mario Cooper, 37, of SeaTac, fell several hundred feet and landed in a glacial crevasse.
The Best Day Hike in America: Winchester Mountain Lookout
Mt. Baker Wilderness, Washington
Pioneer Square Could Redefine the National Park
Seattle's very urban Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park has an important lesson: relevance.
"Is That Dog Vomit on the Hiking Trail? No, It’s Slime Mold"
Slime mold comes in many forms. But this one is the most...memorable.
Backpacking to Stehekin: 19 Miles to an Isolated North Cascades Village
The Bridge Creek-McAlester Pass Trail takes you all the way from Highway 20 to legendary, gigantic cinnamon rolls and cold beer.
Washington State Agencies Working to Simplify Recreation Fees, Permits
There are more than 20 different permits and passes to use public lands in Washington. Soon, that may change for the better.
Rainier is Most Dangerous Cascade Volcano, Say Geologists
The world's top volcanologists will gather in Portland the week of August 14 to talk eruptions, risks, mud slurries, hot gas.