Field trip: Backpacking Building Blocks (B3) Course

Backpacking Building Blocks Student-Only Backpack - Spade & Venus Lakes

This field trip will give B3 students the opportunity to try out gear and new skills on an easy overnight backpack with an experienced mentor.

Contacts

Luis Zuniga

Primary Leader

Sat, Aug 31, 2024 — Mon, Sep 2, 2024
Committee: Foothills Backpacking Committee
Activity Type: Backpacking
Audience: Adults

Difficulty: Strenuous
Leader Rating: Moderate
Mileage: 26.3 mi
Elevation Gain: 4,900 ft
Pace: 1.5 - 2.0 mph

Availability: 4 (6 capacity)
Instructor Availability: FULL (3 capacity)
Cancellation & Refund Policy

Meeting place and time

Salmon La Sac Trailhead at 8:00

NW Forest Pass required

Leader's notes

We will hike to Waptus Lake on the first day and setup a base camp there. On day two we will day hike to (and hopefully swim in!) the very alpine looking Spade Lake and Venus Lake. Have lunch, relax, and hike back to our base camp. Break camp and hike back on the third day.

Trail stats

Day 1: 9 mi mi 1400 ft of gain

Day 2: 8.3 mi 3500 ft of gain

Day 3: 9 mi 900 ft of gain

Map can be found here

Trip cancellation criteria

Leader's illness
Heavy precipitation leading to > 1 inch per day
30+ mph winds.
Over 100F weather forecast. I would pass out there :)

Route/Place

Waptus & Spade Lakes and Polallie Ridge

Recommended Maps:
Green Trails Stevens Pass No. 176
Green Trails Kachess Lake No. 208
Green Trails Alpine Lakes East (Stuart Range) No. 208SX
Green Trails Alpine Lakes West (Stevens Pass) No. 176S
See full route/place details.