This one weekend a year, the North Cascades Highway is (unofficially) just for bikes Washington State Route 20 is closed while crews remove months of snow and ice from the scenic drive through the Cascades. But one weekend a year, cyclists pedal through the mountains with the road all to themselves. Casey Martin
Unkept trails, cancelled programs. Washington state feels the impact of federal forest cuts Dozens of people across Washington state who worked at national parks and forests have lost their jobs in recent weeks, as part of sweeping overhaul of the federal workforce by President Donald Trump. Those firings could cause ripple effects across state programs that benefit hikers, backpackers, and mountain bikers. Casey Martin
Cleanup at Seattle's Green Lake targets abandoned fishing lines that can ensnare wildlife Abandoned fishing lines are the focus of a volunteer cleanup effort at Seattle’s Green Lake this weekend. The stray lines are blamed for killing two owls along the water’s edge in recent years. Amy Radil
The steep climb to unionize REI The successful union drives at REI, Starbucks, and other companies that were historically seen as too difficult to unionize have revived a rusting labor movement. But whether that momentum is sustainable remains to be seen, particularly as organized labor becomes more polarized. Monica Nickelsburg
'Green vest’ workers fight for union representation on REI board Unionized REI employees are determined to have a seat at the table of board directors at the beloved outdoor gear company. Monica Nickelsburg
How rich Seattleites can lease public land through a program meant to protect it The city program to manage public shoreline street ends is funded with the fees that industrial interests and wealthy Seattleites pay to encroach on them. Katie Campbell
Beat the heat at Seattle's 'hidden beaches,' the pearls of the city's shoreline Seattle has about 140 shoreline street ends, literally where the city’s streets meet the shore. Some end in small parks, others in pristine little beaches. Katie Campbell
Hot hiking tips: How to find the trails less traveled in Washington state Washington's trails are filling up, but all is not hopeless. Patricia Murphy
Almost all of the 300 mountain goats moved from Olympics to the Cascades have died Starting in 2018, state and federal officials began moving over 300 mountain goats from the Olympic Peninsula to the North Cascades. It was a joint project with local tribes, the Olympic National Park, Washington Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Forest Service. Now, more than five years later, reporting from the Everett Herald indicates the project has had mixed success. Hans Anderson Play AudioListen 13 mins
Quick tips for avoiding the crowds and enjoying the great outdoors in the PNW Whether you’re getting ready to hit the trails for the first time, or you’re a seasoned outdoors aficionado — Soundside is here to help you get prepped for hot hiking summer in the Pacific Northwest. Libby Denkmann Play AudioListen 17 mins
