Panther Creek Falls

Waterfalls 101 and Where to Find 12 of the State’s Best

As the spring thaw brings water rushing down our mountainsides, get ready for the peak of waterfall season!

Our friends at the Washington Trails Association can help you understand the basic classifications of waterfalls and find examples of each with its Waterfall Field Guide: 12 Hikes to 4 Types of Falls.

We’ll get you started with the image above of Panther Creek Falls, which is known as a “horsetail” waterfall because of the way it descends along a near-vertical face while staying in contact with the rock face as it falls.

This is a great stop along the Columbia River Gorge for hikers at any level, at just 0.16 miles and a nice viewing deck for the falls. Read more and plan your visit at wta.org.

ALLtech Hike-a-Thon Team Awarded a Top Fundraiser

The ALLtech team took its passion for wellness to the trails during Hike-a-Thon this August, raising the most by a company team for the annual event that supports the Washington Trails Association (WTA). Together the 10 ALLtech team members raised $7,056, contributing to the total raised during Hike-a-Thon to a new record of $229,671.

ALLtech team member Kristi Gray also was awarded for Most Miles Hiked by a Thru Hiker at 324.9 miles. These were among the record-breaking statistics announced at the culmination of the event that gives hikers the opportunity to both support and enjoy the trails they love. This year’s ground-breaking numbers include:

  • Hike-a-Thoners registered: 587
  • Teams registered: 68
  • Miles hiked: 14,903
  • Elevation gained: 2,512,831 feet

To view more statistics and other information about the 2021 Hike-a-Thon, please flip through the above Hike-a-Thon Hall of Fame presentation or view the WTA blog post Miles the Marmot Reports Back on a Record-Breaking Year for Hike-a-Thon.

Why ALLtech Supports Hike-a-Thon and Washington Trails Association

At ALLtech, we believe that connecting with nature is critical to everyone’s mental and physical health, and we know that supporting Washington Trails Association will help ensure there are trails for everyone, forever.

In addition to participating as a team, ALLtech also was a sponsor of the 2021 Hike-a-Thon, along with partners:

To learn more, please watch our below video: Trails for Everyone, Forever.

Welcome Autumn with a Walk in the Woods

The first day of fall is coming up on September 22 this year, but that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to summer quite yet.

To support you on your journey to wellness, ALLtech often turns to the Washington Trails Association (WTA) to help encourage Washingtonians to take advantage of our state’s extensive trail systems. You can get your hike on and hold on to summer with the WTA’s Not Over Yet! Hikes to Stretch Your Summer from its Fall Hikes page. Indeed, the roundup of late summer hikes reminds us that: “September is summer in Washington, and it also happens to be one of the best hiking months in Washington.”

If you’re yearning more for signs that autumn is nearly upon us, check out some of WTA’s other fall hike roundups, which include:

With the changing season comes changing safety recommendations, which WTA highlights with Five Tips for Fall Hiking. In a nutshell:

  • Pack an extra layer. The days are shorter and weather is less predicable this time of year, so be sure you add warm clothes, rain gear and put fresh batteries in your headlamp when you pack your 10 Essentials.
  • Pack it in, pack it out. It’s the end of a big hiking season. Help leave things better than you found them. Go beyond, and pick up trash along one of the routes.
  • Stay safe in hunting season. Where to hike and what to wear (bright colors!) to safely share the trails during hunting season.

Happy hiking!

Head to Lake Ingalls for the Last Weekend of Hike-a-Thon 2021

The ALLtech Hike-a-Thon team has been busy wracking up the miles and the donations this August to support Washington Trails Association, and we wanted to remind you that there’s still time to join the monthlong fundraiser.

With the last weekend of the Hike-a-Thon fast approaching, we wanted to offer one more trail recommendation from ALLtech Trustee Ken Myer to help inspire you to get outside and get active.

“If COVID has taught us anything, it’s that we really do cherish the time we spend out on the trails and in nature,” Ken says in the above video. “It’s good for the heart – physically – and good for the soul.

“And at ALLtech, we really want to support you in your efforts to be as healthy as possible.”

In the video, Ken recommends Lake Ingalls in the Teanaway, a 9-mile hike described beautifully by Washington Trails Association (WTA): “The lake is a spectacular sky-blue and surrounded by rocks that fall in giant slabs into the water’s sandy floor. Ingalls Peaks reach high above the lake on the one side, while Mount Stuart stands majestically to its northeast. There are few places as lovely as this.”

WTA also points out that Lake Ingalls can be crowded on weekends, so be sure to plan accordingly. While you’re at it, you might want to check out the the Trail Smarts section on the WTA’s site for hiking tips appropriate for all levels and specific to the seasons.

Join or Donate to the ALLtech Hike-a-Thon Team

Join the ALLtech Hike-a-Thon Team graphicAt ALLtech, we believe that connecting with nature is critical to everyone’s mental and physical health, and we know that supporting Washington Trails Association will help ensure there are trails for everyone, forever. We hope you’ll consider joining the challenge or just be inspired to enjoy the amazing trail system that spans throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Even though Hike-a-Thon officially ends on August 31, you can join or donate anytime until then, and you have until September 7 to complete your mileage log. For more information or to register, visit the Hike-a-Thon website and check out their resources including the Hike-a-Thon Toolkit and FAQ.

More importantly, if you’re looking for a team to join or to donate to, please consider the ALLtech team!

Thank you for your support and we hope to see you on the trails!

Looking for a Hike This Weekend? Check Out Lake Ann

Whether you’re participating in Hike-a-Thon or are just looking for an outdoor getaway this weekend, ALLtech Trustee Ken Myer is ready to help with the above video recommending one of his favorite hikes: Lake Ann in the North Cascades.

“You’ll get an absolutely stunning view of Mount Shuksan,” Ken says about the 8.2-mile hike, which he also explains starts with a downgrade and ends with an upgrade.

For more specific directions and other tips, check out the Lake Ann hiking guide from the Washington Trails Association, whose Hike-a-Thon fundraiser is taking place throughout the month of August.

You can read more about ALLtech’s participation in the event in our article ALLtech Sponsors Hike-a-Thon to Support Washington Trails. Ken also sums it up nicely in his Lake Ann video: “We’re here to help you live the most healthy lifestyle you can.”

Want to join the Hike-a-Thon challenge to help support trails for everyone, forever? It’s easy to register with plenty of resources including the Hike-a-Thon Toolkit and FAQ. And we’d gladly take you on the ALLtech team!

Keep an eye on our ALLtech News or Twitter feed for hiking tips and more in the weeks to come. We’ll see you on the trails!

ALLtech Rallies for Support of Trails for Everyone, Forever, in New Video

Today launches the start of the Hike-a-Thon fundraiser to support the Washington Trails Association, and ALLtech is rallying for support of the cause with its above video: Trails for Everyone, Forever.

For the third year in a row, ALLtech is taking its support of health and wellness to the trails by joining the challenge, and this year ALLtech also is sponsoring the event along with partners Regence BlueShield, Delta Dental of Washington, Associated Industries Management Services and Advanced Professionals Insurance & Benefit Solutions.

Join the ALLtech Hike-a-Thon Team graphicConnecting with nature is critical to everyone’s mental and physical health, and the ALLtech team and its partners believe that supporting Washington Trails Association through Hike-a-Thon will help ensure there are trails for everyone, forever.

We hope you’ll consider joining us for the challenge if you haven’t already. It’s easy to register with plenty of resources including the Hike-a-Thon Toolkit and FAQ. And we’d gladly take you on the ALLtech team!

Keep an eye on our ALLtech News or Twitter feed for hiking tips and more in the weeks to come. We’ll see you on the trails!

Group of hikers.

ALLtech Partner Advanced Professionals Highlights Support of Hike-a-Thon

The ALLtech Benefits Trust has a little help in its support of the Washington Trails Association (WTA). In addition to ALLtech sponsoring the WTA’s annual Hike-a-Thon fundraiser, its dedicated partners also are donating to the cause.

Advanced Professionals Insurance & Benefit Solutions, the managing general agent for ALLtech, has highlighted its sponsorship of Hike-a-Thon in the article Advanced Professionals Team is Hiking for a Good Cause this Summer. Additional ALLtech partners sponsoring the event include:

Join the ALLtech Hike-a-Thon Team graphicThe ALLtech Hike-a-Thon team also is getting a little help from Advanced Professionals, who once again will be hiking throughout August in further support of Hike-a-Thon.

“We’re thrilled to join our ALLtech partners both on and off the trails to help support this event and the Washington Trails Association,” says Keith VanderZanden, Executive Vice President and Practice Leader of Advanced Professionals. “As a team, we value health and wellness not only for our clients and customers, but also for our own well-being.”

You can read more about Advanced Professionals’ sponsorship and dedication to Work, Love, Play in the article, and remember that there’s still time to register for Hike-a-Thon and join the ALLtech team!

Kettlebell workout class.

Get Fit at a Discount as a Member of ALLtech

As gyms open back up again, ALLtech wants to help keep members active with discounted access to Active&Fit Direct™. Get moving at the gym or at home with flexible fitness options starting at just $25 a month, with the added bonus of a $0 enrollment fee for the Standard Fitness Centers in July and August 2021.

With the Active&Fit Direct program, participants have access to:

  • 11,000+ Standard Fitness Centers and Studios
  • 5,000+ NEW Premium Exercise Studios and Fitness Centers (fees will vary based on fitness center selection)
  • 4,000+ Digital Workout Videos
  • NEW Enroll Your Spouse (or domestic partner)
  • Lifestyle Coaching
  • No Long-Term Contracts
  • All starting at just $25 a month

To learn more or sign up for the Active&Fit Direct program, go to Regence.com/advantages or Asuris.com/advantages, then click on Activities and Fitness. Members must sign in to register for the program.

Please take note that monthly fees are not prorated (e.g. fees paid on 7/1/21 pay for the month of July. Fees paid on 7/31/21 pay for the month of July), and the $0 enrollment fee offer is valid from July 1, 2021-August 31, 2021. You can learn more about the $0 enrollment offer for Active&Fit Direct in the following flyers for ALLtech members enrolled in medical through Regence BlueShield or Asuris Northwest Health.

For additional questions, please reference the Active&Fit Direct FAQ.

Join the ALLtech Hike-a-Thon Team graphic

Hike-a-Thon Registration is Now Open! Want to Join the ALLtech Team?

The ALLtech team is getting ready to hike our hearts out in August, and we hope you’ll consider joining us as a participant in Hike-a-Thon. Registration is now open for the annual fundraiser for the Washington Trails Association, and for the third year in a row, ALLtech is taking its support of health and wellness to the trails by joining the challenge.

Connecting with nature is critical to everyone’s mental and physical health, and the ALLtech team knows that supporting Washington Trails Association (WTA) through Hike-a-Thon will help ensure there are trails for everyone, forever.

What is Hike-a-Thon?

Hike-a-Thon is a community fundraising event that gives participants the opportunity to hike, share stories of their outdoor adventures, and raise funds that directly support trails in Washington.

It’s easy (and free!) to sign up, then you can set up and customize your own fundraising webpage (provided by WTA) to share the page with friends, family, or anyone else wanting to support trails in Washington. Participants can raise one time donations or receive donations per mile or per hike.

Once you are registered, you can choose whether to hike as an individual or to create or join a team of two to 10 hikers. Consider forming a team with your family, friends or colleagues, and of course you’re always welcome to join the ALLtech team! Check out the Hike-a-Thon Toolkit for tips on how to get started.

We hope to see you on the trails!

Rialto Beach in the Olympic Peninsula.

Tips to Celebrate Independence Day with a Walk in the Woods

If you prefer the chirp of birds to the boom of fireworks, the upcoming long Fourth of July weekend might be your perfect opportunity to escape into the Washington wilderness.

We turn to our friends at the Washington Trails Association (WTA) for recommendations to take advantage of the summer season:

Wilderness Washington: Hike 12 Wilderness Areas

Did you know Washington state boasts 31 wilderness areas, the majority of which are within 100 miles of a major metropolitan area? That makes our state’s wilderness among the most accessible in the nation, explains the Washington Trails Association, which also offers tips to help you make the most of your visit to these protected areas.

Check out WTA’s tips for hiking in wilderness and 12 recommendations, which include Rialto Beach and Hole-in-the Wall in the Olympic Peninsula, shown above.

Read the article.

Half a Day or Farther Away: 11 Hikes for Summer

The Washington Trails Association has recommendations for every corner of the state, giving you the opportunity to travel near or far depending on your location.

Consider Mount Finlayson on the San Juan Islands, an easy 3.5-mile trail with scenes of the Olympics and Whidbey Island. Or maybe Crescent Lake in the Central Cascades for something with a bit more distance, at 12 miles including a 1,600-foot elevation gain in the first two miles.

Read the article.

More Summer Hikes from WTA

We know it’s hot out there and want to remind you that Washington Trails Association also has some ideas to help keep you cool in its Summer Hikes section, including:

Please stay cool and stay safe in the coming days!

We also hope you’ll consider joining us for the upcoming Hike-a-Thon this August, where you can log your hikes to help raise money for the Washington Trails Association. You can register (for free!) starting July 1, so it’s time to start considering whether you’d like to register as a team and planning your hikes. Of course, you’re always welcome to join the ALLtech team, who is a proud sponsor of the annual fundraiser this year.

More tips and other resources are coming your way in the weeks to come, so be sure to follow us on Twitter to keep up on the latest. We’ll see you on the trails!