Backpack - Snowgrass Flat & Goat Lake Basin

This is mostly on a well-maintained trail with spectacular scenery. However, the distance and elevation gain over two days may be a challenge to some. We'll stick together and maintain a conversational pace, but we will need to be moving continuously in order to fit everything in... this is not a trip where we'll be stopping to take photos of every single flower. (although there will be some of that!) If you do not think that you can maintain a conversation at 2 MPH on moderately uphill terrain with an overnight pack, this trip might not be for you. We'll take 5-minute breaks for every hour of walking, with longer breaks for lunch and other transitions. 

Here is the plan:

Day 1:

Hike trail 95 along the Goat Ridge to trail 86, making a clockwise loop toward Snowgrass Flats. We will find a suitable campsite at Snowgrass Flats (approximately 8 miles, 3200' of gain). There is a nice site at around 6400' on trail 86 that we can target, that is near an unmaintained trail that leads directly to Old Snowy.

After setting up camp, those who wish to may opt to scramble up Old Snowy, adding  ~4 miles and ~1800' to the day, depending on where we camp. This is an easy scramble that does not require helmets, but boots with good traction are a must - no trail runners. Depending on trip reports leading up to the trip, it may also require microspikes. This portion is entirely optional. Those who do not wish to scramble Old Snowy may stay at camp. There will also be opportunities to stop before the summit if you do not want to continue. The leader reserves the right to turn the group around if unsafe behavior is observed.

After summiting Old Snowy, we will return to camp the way we came.

Day 2: 

We will depart after a relatively early breakfast, hoping to be on trail around 8:30 AM. We will continue clockwise on trail 86 to the trail 96 junction, where we will take a left. After 0.3 miles we will reach the Pacific Crest Trail, where we will take a right toward Cispus Basin. We will travel into Cispus Basin as far as the group desires, stopping to gawk at the incredible views. If Old Snowy and Snowgrass Flats didn't wow us, Cispus Basin certainly will. We'll enjoy second breakfast in the basin before retracing our steps on the PCT. We'll follow trail 96 clockwise back to our cars. Depending on where we camp and how far into the basin we go, we can expect day 2 to be 10-13 miles with maybe 1000' of elevation gain, and 3000' of descent.

In your leader permission request, please state the following:

Recent (this season) backpacking activity with 12 mile, 3000' gain days

How you plan to train for this trip

Whether you are interested in scrambling Old Snowy, and if so, your recent scramble experience

Meet at the Berry Patch trailhead at 8:30 AM. 

Please note that the last 10 miles of road is unpaved and typically very washboarded. It is slow going but a 2WD vehicle can usually make it just fine. Please account for this in your drive time.