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Pratt Lake Trail

Trip

Backpack - Pratt Lake Trail

This will be a loop from Talapus to Olallie, Island, and Pratt Lake and back. Taking advantage of one more backpacking trip while the weather is still cooperating and before the snow will cover our high country. Join myself and co-leader Dick Lambe for a 2 night, 3 day, 20 mile, ~6000', backpacking loop starting and ending at the Talapus/Olallie trailhead at 9 a.m. on Monday 9/27/21. The pace will be moderate+ (with strenuous sections) and elevation gain. We will also stop to enjoy sights, eat remaining berries and explore (such as the Pratt connector trail).

Contacts

Susan Murray
Susan Murray
Primary Leader
  • Moderate/Strenuous
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 20.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 6,000 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 4,600 ft
  • Pace: 2 mph
  • 4 (4 capacity)
  • 2 (2 capacity)
  • Wed, Sep 8, 2021 at 1:18 PM
  • Thu, Sep 23, 2021 at 12:00 PM
  • Cancellation & Refund Policy
  • iCal Google

Leader permission is required.  Please see the questions below to help ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience.  If you answer "no" to any of the questions, or you  do not understand the question, this may not (yet) be the right trip for you.

  • date you were fully vaccinated for COVID
  • other completed backpacking trips during spring/summer including weather, miles and elevation (with or without The Mountaineers)
  • whether you have experience backpacking in cooler and wet/rainy conditions
  • whether you will bring a bear canister or an ursack 
  • your backpack base weight (full backpack for this trip less food, water, fuel) 
  • your estimated food weight
  • your average moving speed on trails that have 500-1000' elevation gain within a mile and with a multiday backpack (example can be Poopoo point or Mount Si) (this question is n/a for this year's graduates of scrambling/climbing)
  • anything else that might be helpful 

All participants and leaders are expected to be fully vaccinated.  Weather can be variable from hot to cloudy, rain, fog and cooler night temperatures.

On day 1 (Mon), we will meet at 9 a.m. "ready to go" from the Talapus Lake Traihead and will stop and have a snack or early lunch on the North side of Olallie Lake and then go up via an informal trail to the trail to Pratt and beautiful Island lake.  We will then continue on to Island lake and may still see many remaining blackberries (and possibly some bear sightings).   This is ~5 miles with total gain 2300', loss 615' and may go through overgrown brush in some places.

On day 2 (Tue), we pack up camp and will make our way to Pratt Lake and set up camp there.  We will then do a group hike to explore the Pratt Connector trail and share about the history and future plans of this trail.  This trail may have some obstacles and light bushwacking.  This day is ~8m with total gain 2000', loss 2800'.

On day 3 (Wed), we will make our way back to the trailhead but via the longer and more formal way. This is ~6m with 1100' gain, 2000' loss.

The trip is subject to change or cancellation if the predicted weather is unusually poor or there is substantial smoke.

Route/Place

Pratt Lake Trail

Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

The Ten Essentials plus overnight gear which includes:

  • Tent with footprint/ground tarp
  • Stove and fuel
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping pad
  • Water filtering system
  • Bear canister or ursack 
  • Cooking pot/pan with plate and utensils
  • Toilet paper and shovel or blue bag to deal with waste
Trip Reports