News Brief: Youth in the Outdoors
What New Study Reveals About Youth and the Outdoors Written for Washington Trails magazine Visit the published article here The Outdoor Foundation released its 2014 Outdoor Recreation Participation Topline Report in May. The report is the only detailed study of its kind tracking American participation trends in outdoor recreation and focuses on youth, young adults and the future of the outdoors. The data came from 19,240 online interviews carried out with a nationwide sample and uncovered some encouraging trends. Major takeaways include these positives: A record 142.6 million Americans participated in at least one outdoor activity in 2013—that’s 49.2% of the population. Collectively, people went on 12.1 billion outdoor outings. Outdoor...
News Brief: “Lightning Bill” Austin
“Lightning Bill” Moves From Goat Peak to Leecher Lookout Written for Washington Trails magazine Visit the published article here OKANOGAN–WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST – Those hoping to catch a glimpse of U.S. Forest Service lookout legend “Lightning Bill” Austin will find him in a new spot this year. After a 19-year tenure at Goat Peak in Mazama, Austin has been reassigned to the Leecher Mountain Lookout southeast of Twisp. The move comes amid a shrinking Forest Service budget and shifting firefighting resources. Austin, who lives in Bridgeport when he’s not watching for forest fires, is the only full-time seasonal fire lookout remaining in the Methow Valley Ranger District. But that’s not his only claim to fame. During his time at the Goat Peak...