The pandemic changed society in more ways than we can count—our health, our finances, our ability to hang without awkwardness at a social gathering. But on Washington hiking trails, the change was one of volume: Starting just after Covid-19 hit, locals flooded outdoor spaces looking for exercise and escape. Parking lots overflowed, mountain meadows turned into conga lines. Camping reservations became more of a thing. Three years on, does that boom look like a short-term trend or a new normal?
It’s hard to say conclusively. Hiking may be Seattle’s unofficial sport (unless pickle ball finally edges it out) but the decentralized and noncommercial aspects of it
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