Trip Report
Basic Backpacking Field Trip - Greenwater, Echo & Lost Lakes
Great beginner backpack trip along the rushing Greenwater River.
Louise Suhr
- Mon, May 31, 2021 — Tue, Jun 1, 2021
- Basic Backpacking Field Trip - Greenwater, Echo & Lost Lakes
- Greenwater, Echo & Lost Lakes
- Backpacking
- Successful
-
- Road suitable for all vehicles
-
Trail in great shape until the fifth river crossing where the bridge is out and the water is high. We forded, please see photo. Water was a few inches higher on the way out as the temps were warming. Above the ford, trail became more rooty. Snow patches higher on way to Lost Lake.
Great trip with a great group of students from the Seattle Backpack course. Hike into camp was a mild 2.5 miles, but involved the fun of problem-solving how to get across the Greenwater where the bridge was out. Teamwork was great on this challenge. Above, located camp at a quieter bend in the River, setting up camp and collecting water before lunch. After lunch, we all headed out on a day hike up to Lost Lake, where we encountered some snow patches, before entering some patches where the Norse Peak Fire burned. We found a lovely grassy point to bask in the sun, before returning to camp.
Dinner was accompanied by lots of interesting conversation, followed by everyone’s first night out backpacking. In the morning, after a leisurely breakfast, waiting for the day’s temperatures to rise, we headed out. The water was a bit higher as the temps were higher. After that, it was an easy and pleasant cruise along the Greenwater Lakes and River back to the TH. The drive home was highlighted by a stop at the Pie Goddess in Enumclaw.