Backpacking Building Blocks Student-Only Backpack

Field trip: Backpacking Building Blocks (B3) Course

Backpacking Building Blocks Student-Only Backpack - Rainy Pass to Snowy Lakes

Experience the Pacific Crest Trail and the North Cascades crest at their finest. Follow the PCT north from Rainy Pass on this 23 mile round trip with a 2,700 foot gain over Cutthroat and Granite Pass to two lovely alpine lakes in the shadow of the Golden Horn. Kat and Caroline's mentor group has priority signup until June 24, 2024. If space is still available on the trip, other interested and qualified B3 students can email the leaders after June 24, 2024 to ask for permission to sign up. Registration will close August 9, 2024. .

  • Strenuous
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 23.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 2,700 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 6,900 ft
  • Pace: 2.0 mph

Meeting Time and Place: Meet Saturday, September 7th, at Rainy Pass Trailhead (TH) at 8:00am (WTA Co-ordinates: 48.5156, -120.7362).  We are meeting at the north side Rainy Pass TH. If north TH parking full, you can try to park on the south side TH, or on the highway shoulder and come meet us.

Trip Plan:   We will hike about 10 miles to Lower Snowy Lakes.  From there, we can scout for our site at either Lower or Upper Snowy Lakes.  Although this will be a day of elevation, we will have plenty of time and good water sources for the first four miles up to Cutthroat Pass.  There will be no water sources from Cutthroat Pass at mile 4, so be prepared to use your 3 liter carrying capacity to carry water from Cutthroat Pass to Snowy Lakes. 

Day two we will return to Rainy Pass TH at about 2pm, leaving plenty of time to get home.

More information will be provided to the participants by the leader via a Hello Hiker email before the trip.  At this time wildfires do not appear to be a risk, but we will re-route if smoke becomes a concern.    

Route/Place

Rainy Pass to Snowy Lakes


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

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

Trip Reports