Backpacking Building Blocks Student-Only Backpack

Field trip: Backpacking Building Blocks (B3) Course

Backpacking Building Blocks Student-Only Backpack - Chelan Lakeshore Trail

This field trip will give B3 students the opportunity to try out gear and new skills on a moderate, 2-night backpack. This trip is initially open to students in Susan and Christy's mentor group. After April 15, others may email the leader to request permission to join.

  • Moderate/Strenuous
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 17.5 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 4,850 ft
  • Pace: 1.5-2.0

Meet at the Field's Point Landing in Chelan by 8:30 a.m.  The Lady Express Ferry leaves at 9:20 a.m. (This is the only ferry available that day.) Parking is $7/day.  Participants will each be responsible for their own ferry and parking fees. Ferry tickets are $43 from Fields Point to Stehekin and either $43 or $25 from Stehekin to Fields Point, depending on which ferry you reserve. Reserve tickets here

It is about 3 hours and 45 minutes to Chelan from Seattle. Those who wish to may join us at the Lake Chelan State Park campground on Wednesday night for car camping. It is a 15-minute drive from the park to Field's Point.  The leader has reserved a site and campers will be asked to help cover the cost of the reservation (which was a total of $40). 

We’ll hike along the lovely Chelan Lakeshore Trail at a moderate pace (1.5-2 mph) enjoying craggy, snow-capped peaks, a sapphire-blue lake, and abundant wildflowers (and maybe some rattlesnakes to make things fun). You can find an excellent description of this backpack on the Washington Trails Association website.

Day 1: Arrive at the Field's Point Landing Dock by 8:30 a.m. The ferry departs at 9:20. You will need time to pay for parking, board the boat, etc. Arrive at Prince Creek at 11:00. Hike 6.7 miles from Prince Creek to Meadow Creek Shelter. We may not have easy access to water on this stretch of the hike, so plan to carry at least 2 liters of water.

Day 2: Hike 6.5 miles from Meadow Creek to Flint Creek. Camp at Flint Creek. (If there isn't room at Flint Creek, we'll scout around or hike into Stehekin and camp there.)  

Day 3: If we camp at Flint Creek, we'll hike 3.6 miles into Stehekin, making an early start so we have time to explore the town. You have a choice of two ferries. 1) Board the Lady Express at 12:00, departing at 12:30, arriving at Fields Point Landing at 3:00 pm. OR 2) Board the Lady of the Lake, departing at 2:00, arriving at Field's Point around 5:00.

If you wish to stay an extra night, you can explore staying at a local campground or another local lodging option.

The trip is initially open to Susan and Christy's mentor group through April 15.
(Members of that group do not need to request permission to sign up.)  All others must request the leader's permission. Students in the B3 Backpacking Class have priority.

Route/Place

Chelan Lakeshore Trail


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

The Ten Essentials, plus overnight gear as specified by the trip leader.

Trip Reports