Sorting through 750 photos to find the best 24 is no easy task.

But our talented and hard-working panel of judges in WTA's Northwest Exposure photo contest managed to do just that. One evening last month, we sat in a darkened room, watched an LCD slide show and picked our favorites. It wasn't easy--there are a lot of gorgeous places in Washington's backcountry, and we're lucky to have talented photographers out there capturing that beauty.

We've notified the winners and contacted those of you who entered but didn't win. Now we're working on getting those winning images into the January/February 2008 issue of Washington Trails, plus having them printed and framed for a gallery show at the National Parks Conservation Association Gallery in Seattle's Pioneer Square. Mark your calendars for the "First Thursday" opening on Thurs. Dec. 6 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. The gallery is at 313-A First Avenue South.

If you're interested in getting a quick dose of great outdoor photography, visit NPCA's gallery now to see the show "Beyond the Mountains," by photographers DJ Bradley, Jay Stillwell and photographers from the National Park Service. The show highlights the lesser-known national parks of the Northwest. The show runs through Nov. 30 and hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues. through Fri. and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.

Photo: Northwest Exposure honorable mention winner, "Mount Shuksan in a Droplet," by Jonathan Brenner.

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Sorry for the gap in the Signpost blog , I've been wrestling with a yucky virus ('tis the season!).

While I was away, Congressman Dave Reichert introduced legislation that would add about 22,000 acres of the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Read the story in the Seattle Times here. The bill would protect lands in the I-90 corridor and the Pratt River Valley east of Seattle. Some of the proposed lands include previously unprotected areas near the Ira Spring and Granite Mountain Trails, plus most of the Pratt River, which drains into the Middle Fork Snoqualmie.

This is a good proposal and you should ask your congressional representatives and senators (here and here) to support it. Puget Sound area population continues to grow, and we need wilderness areas to preserve wildlife, protect ecosystems, provide clean water and to offer opportunities for active recreation-- including hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. While you're contacting your lawmakers, please remind them of the need to find funds to fix $65 million in damage to mountain roads and trails damaged in last fall's storms.

One thing I'm curious about in this Alpine Lakes proposal. The map on Congressman Reichert's website shows a trail from Pratt Lake north into the Pratt River Valley. Does this trail actually exist? Has anyone out there hiked it recently, or remember hiking it at one time? Currently, there is no trail access to the Pratt River from the north. That connector trail from the Middle Fork Snoqualmie has long been a missing link. It would be great to know if hikers will be able to explore these fine additions to the Alpine Lakes via either the Middle Fork or Pratt Lake.

Photo of Congressman Dave Reichert and supporters of additions to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness courtesy Dave Reichert's office.

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WTA's web site is about to have a whole new look.

Programmers and WTA staff have been hard at work preparing for the launch of WTA's new site, which will premiere late next week. The new design looks fantastic: it's easier to navigate, includes more photos, and allows WTA staff to easily update content. That means a more up-to-date, effective tool for hikers.

Why change? We know hikers depend on WTA's website for hiking information, and we know that hikers really like the existing site. And we know the adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." But it's clearly time for an update...the current site has been around since 2002, and is in need of a fresh look.

And the time is right...now that volunteer webguru Bill "Cynazgai" Sunderland is moving on to bigger and better things (among them his pursuit to spend more hours fixing trails than Gary Zink and Jim Knoke combined). We've moved our site to a new server, and we're working with OneNorthwest, a contractor that specializing in websites for environmental nonprofits, in creating a  more dynamic web site.

Some things will remain the same (at least initially). Trip reports, the online Trail Guide, our photo gallery and work party sign-ups will all function much as they do now. So what's exciting about the new site?

• New navigation and home page. The front page looks substantially different. The dropdown menus are more intuitive, allowing you to get to content with fewer clicks.

• Hike of the Week. We'll be profiling a select hike each week, to give you more trail ideas for the weekend.

• New families pages. We've incorporated more information about hiking with children and families.

• Action for Trails. Our completely revamped advocacy pages will help you take action to protect and fund our trails. Later in 2008, we'll have online tools to help you contact your elected officials directly from WTA's web site.

• More Suggested Hikes. Our new web content manager, Susan Elderkin, has been hard at work adding new lists of hikes--from great winter hikes to river walks--to our site. These lists will continue to expand and grow, giving you even more ideas for outdoor adventures.

• Searching. Yes! Now you can search all of WTA's site! Previously, we've had the ability to search trip reports and photo galleries, but no overall search feature.

• New blog features. The Signpost Blog will look slightly different, and in 2008 we'll be adding advanced features to better allow access previous posts and see most recent comments.
  

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It was one year ago today that a little "Pineapple express" storm hit the Cascades and Olympics.

You may remember hearing us talk about this storm, which did upwards of $65 million in damage to roads and trails, closed Mount Rainier National Park for six months, and left many popular trails--from Big 4 Ice Caves to Foss Lakes--hard to reach or inaccessible.

A lot has happened in a year. A coalition of organizations, including Washington Trails Association, came together to recruit volunteers and urge increased funds for repairs. WTA broke its record for total volunteer hours this year, with two months still to go. The park service reopened Mount Rainier National Park and announced the 97-mile Wonderland Trail had been repaired. Our congressional delegation, including Congressman Norm Dicks, chairman of the Interior Appropriations committee in the House, urged Congress to fund storm damage repair in the Northwest. WTA created an interactive storm damage map to help you sort out which trails are still accessible.

One year later, we can take pride in over 77,000 volunteer hours on our trails by over 1,800 volunteers. Many of you came out on your first trail work party this year because of the unprecedented damage. Thank you. We hope you had fun, and we hope you'll join us again soon.

Because the work is far from complete.

Many storm-damaged trails will be added to our volunteer schedule next year, particularly in the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, which was still recovering from storms of 2003 when the rains hit on Nov. 7, 2006. Funding is still far from secure, particularly for national forests, including the Mount Baker Snoqualmie and Gifford Pinchot. Next year, Mount Rainier National Park will investigate whether to repair the Carbon River Road again, and we'll likely learn the Forest Service's plans for the White Chuck River Road, damaged in 2003.

Thanks to all who helped respond to a true crisis for our trails system. We'll need your help in 2008 and beyond to keep the state's fantastic high country open for hikers.

Photos: Top: washout on Forest Road 81, Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Courtesy U.S. Forest Service.
Left: Matt Contorchick gives a safety talk for volunteers from REI at Mount Rainier National Park.

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For those of us who hike, cross country ski, or snowshoe, we depend on the kindness of strangers if we get into trouble in the woods.

In this month's issue of Washington Trails magazine, we take a look at the Search and Rescue system across the state. You may not realize it, but SAR is largely a volunteer effort. Hundreds of dedicated volunteers are on call, and when a hiker is reported injured or missing, a complex rescue effort is set in motion.

In one article, WTA board member Michele Coad describes her experience being rescued from Tiger Mountain after breaking her ankle. In another, Seattle Mountain Rescue chairman Timmy Williams outlines how the search and rescue system works, from the moment a hiker is reported missing or an injured hiker calls 911.

The system works extremely well--one has only to remember the case of a hiker lost earlier this fall in the North Cascades who was found after 7 days in the wild.

Of course, it's crucial that do your part to prevent getting lost get lost (by staying on trails, knowing your limits, and bringing along map and compass, and knowing how to use them). Also, it's important that you have the 10 essentials with you on any outdoor expedition, no matter how short. It's also important to remember to stay put if you do get lost. It's easier for SAR searchers to find you if you stay in one place.

Because these critical services are volunteer-based, they depend on donations to keep their operations going. Have a look at King County Search and Rescue Association's website for more info and consider making a donation. Or visit this site to find links to other SAR organizations throughout the state.

They just might save your life some day.

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