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Off-Trail Backpacking - Field Trip

Field trip: Off-Trail Backpacking

Off-Trail Backpacking - Field Trip - Banks Lake

To complete the course, participants must complete the lecture and one of the two available field trips. Two field trips will be offered in April following the lecture. Both of these trips include easy to moderately difficult off-trail travel in open sagebrush, sand dunes and/or rocky terrain. See the trip postings for more details. If these field trip dates cannot work for you, the trips are full or end up being cancelled due to foul weather, etc., participants can substitute participation in any other Mountaineers backpack trip that include off-trail travel of at least a mile or more. The course leader will be offering several other trips in 2025 with off-trail travel sections that will be open to all Mountaineers that qualify. Some other Mountaineers leaders also offer this type of trip. **************************************************************************************************************** Desert backpack trip along a lovely lakeshore in Central Washington (near Grand Coulee Dam). Expect a super lakeside camp, off-trail exploring, excellent views, interesting rock-formations, wildlife and a cave. Much of Day 2 will be off-trail travel with some moderate to more challenging sections--rewarded by excellent views and great sense of accomplishment.

Contacts

Rob Erickson
Rob Erickson
Primary Leader
  • Moderate/Strenuous
  • Challenging
  • Mileage: 20.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 3,500 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 2,000 ft
  • Pace: 1.5 MPH up, 2.25 MPH down

Meet at 10:00 AM at Dry Falls Overlook near Sun Lakes State Park.  The Overlook is about 1 mile south of the jct. of HWY 2 and 17 near the south end of Banks Lake. We will caravan from there to the TH (about 45 minutes beyond).  The road near the TH is good gravel.  The total travel time to the TH is about four hours from Seattle.

Dry Falls Overlook has restrooms, visitor center and amazing views .

Discover Pass is required at the Dry Falls Overlook meet up spot and at the TH.

Banks Lake and in particular the area we will traverse is an amazing Spring destination.  We will hike in a shortways the first day and set up camp by a lovely bay.  We will spend two nights here. We will likely do some exploration in the late afternoon/early evening that first day.  On the middle day we will take light packs and spend the entire day exploring several peninsulas and  "fiords" and such with amazing rock formations and intricate bays.   This is great place to see birds and other wildlife.  We will be traveling mostly off-trail and will be climbing on/over and around some rocky areas and ridges (low exposure).  We may need to use our hands in crossing these ridges.   On the final day we will head back to the car(s) somewhat early--but there is a bonus hike that I will offer that starts just down the road to an amazing large basalt-cliff cave with a waterfall,, This bonus hike is optional.  An Ursack or Bear Can as well as trekking poles are required.  The final day of this trip is Easter Sunday when many have family plans.  Please make sure you are free of other obligations when signing up for this trip. 

 Here is the Gaia route:  https://www.gaiagps.com/public/y0mWRRVLxlfTrlzuWLEjrQOl/

Route/Place

Banks Lake

Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

Trekking poles and an Ursack or Bear Canister

Trip Reports