Field trip: Backpacking Building Blocks (B3) Course
Backpacking Building Blocks Student-Only Backpack - Snowgrass Flat & Goat Lake Basin
A hike through meadows, rocky alpine trails to camp on an alpine lake at the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Hopefully we'll even get to see marmots! Preference will be given to Luis&Karla's mentor group until April 15
Contacts
- Sat, Aug 15, 2026 — Mon, Aug 17, 2026
- Foothills Backpacking Committee
- Backpacking
- All Who Qualify, Adults
- Strenuous
- Challenging
- Mileage: 18.0 mi
- Elevation Gain: 3,045 ft
- Pace: 1.5 mph
- 2 (6 capacity)
- FULL (2 capacity)
- Thu, Apr 2, 2026 at 9:09 PM
- Thu, Aug 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
- iCal Google
We will hike both under canopy and on rocky alpine trails.
The trip consists of hiking into camp on Day 1 to set up a base camp. Day 2 we will explore the PCT, go into Packwood glacier, follow to Goat Lake and summit Hawkeye Point. We will go back to camp via Lily Basin Trail. On Day 3 we will exit, doing a small detour to the PCT, hiking south and then going back into the original trail.
- Average high: 78F
- Average Low: 42F
Most days in August are sunny, but this place has had rain and snow in August.
My trips tend to have a "slow and steady pace" with few breaks apart from those for taking in the views or pictures.
Things that might cancel/reschedule the trip:
Thunderstorms, active fires nearby, unhealthy air quality, precipitation of over an inch per day or gale force winds in the forecast.
Berry Patch Trailhead (46.466664, -121.527575) at 7:30.
There is a first-come, first-served campground next to Chambers Lake
NW Forest Pass required.
Elevations listed: gains and losses along the hike.
Day 1: 4.8 +1787ft, -207ft
Hike from Trailhead to Camp.
Day 2: 8.5 mi +2800ft, -2800ft
Go into the PCT, hike to Packwood Glacier, Goat Lake and Hawkeye Point. Hike back to camp.
Day 3: 5.7 mi +30ft, -2000ft
Exit to trailhead with a small detour on the PCT.
Snowgrass Flat & Goat Lake Basin
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Green Trails Goat Rocks William O Douglas Wilderness No. 303S
Green Trails White Pass No. 303
Green Trails Packwood No. 302
USGS Hamilton Buttes
USGS Walupt Lake
USGS Packwood Lake
USGS Old Snowy Mountain - See full route/place details.
Required Equipment
The Ten Essentials, plus overnight gear as specified by the trip leader