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Backpacking Building Blocks Student-Only Backpack

Field trip: Backpacking Building Blocks (B3) Course

Backpacking Building Blocks Student-Only Backpack - Buck Creek Pass

This 32 mile loop trip will give B3 students the opportunity to apply their B3 skills on a challenging but rewarding four day alpine backpack with experienced mentors. Water crossings and snow travel included. Leader permission required; email hess@whidbey.com to request permission to signup on the trip roster. B3 students in Sarah/Renee's mentor group have priority signup from July 25 at 9am to August 1 at 9am. Then leader permission is open to any physically qualified and skilled B3 student until August 10 at 9am, priority to students needing trips to graduate. Registration will reopen Sept 6-22 at 9am if space is available.

Info
COVID-19: Learn about our most up-to-date guidance for participants and leaders on our COVID-19 Response page. All participants and leaders must agree to the COVID-19 Code of Conduct before participating in this Mountaineers activity.

Contacts

Sarah Hess
Sarah Hess
Primary Leader
  • Strenuous
  • Challenging
  • Mileage: 32.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 7,540 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 7,100 ft
  • Pace: 2 mph

Meet at the Phelps Creek campground at the end of the Chiwawa River Road (via hwy 2 and Lake Wenatchee) at 9am Thursday morning.  We`ll set up a short shuttle to our end trailhead and depart asap.

Day 1: Ten miles to Buck Creek Pass, +3100 feet on a steady grade to the pass.  A great kickoff to further adventures.

Day 2: Eleven miles over ridges and creeks to Suiattle and Cloudy passes.  Then we`ll descend and camp near lower Lyman Lake; -3240, +2840.

Day 3: Ascend to the Lyman snowfield and cross Spider Gap at our high point of 7100.  Then descend to our camp at 6400 at the toe of the Spider Glacier.  +1600, -700, 4 miles.

Day 4: Continue down to Spider Meadows and walk along Phelps Creek to our car shuttle at the trailhead. 7 1/2 miles, -2600.

Trip data: +7540, -6540, 32 miles.  These will be long but wonderful days!

Route/Place

Chiwawa River, Red Mountain & Buck Creek Pass

Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

The Ten Essentials, micro-spikes, plus overnight gear as specified by the trip leader

Trip Reports