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Shoulder-Season Backpacking Field Trip - Black Canyon (Umtanum Ridge)

Field trip: Shoulder-Season Backpacking

Shoulder-Season Backpacking Field Trip - Black Canyon (Umtanum Ridge)

Two field trips will be offered for the Shoulder Season Backpacking course. Both trip options will 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, if the trips are full, or if they 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. In addition to these included field trip options, the course leader will also be offering several other trips with off-trail travel sections that will be open to all Mountaineers that qualify, and can satisfy the field trip requirement. Some other Mountaineers leaders also offer this type of backpack trips. **************************************************************************************************************** Black Canyon and Oasis Spring Field Trip--This is a one night shuttle-loop backpacking trip. We will camp up high on Umtanum Ridge near a wooded spring. We will travel on some easier off-trail routes, some jeep tracks and some trails. Expect early spring wildflowers, steppe--sagebrush and grass hills, wide-open views and cool to cold night-time temps. See the Leader's Note for details.

Contacts

Rob Erickson
Rob Erickson
Primary Leader
  • Moderate
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 13.2 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 2,800 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 4,000 ft
  • Pace: 1.5 MPH up, 2.0 MPH down

Meet at 9 AM at TBD location in the town of Selah, WA (directions to follow).  The two trailheads for this field trip are both just off of North Wenas Road about 14 and 18 miles respectively north of Selah.  We will meet at town of Selah and caravan north first the Black Canyon TH (our endpoint) and drop-off two cars and then the remaining cars and all students backtrack to the starting TH at Kelley Hollows.  We will need a minimum of four cars for this trip for a group size larger than five.

Discover Passes are required at both THs.

I have done this trip several times and several different ways.  It is a great example of early desert trips and has a good water source, nice campsite, an interesting canyon walk and views.  At 4,000' elevation, the camp can be cool to cold at night--bring extra warm clothes, gloves, hat, long-underwear, etc.  We likely have a fire.  There are trees that you may be able to hang a food bag from.  I will be bringing my Ursack.  There should be about 10-11 hours of darkness.  Please plan for occupying yourself in your tent for a few hours if you don't sleep that long.  Hopefully we will have an hour or more by the fire after sun-down.  This trip is moderately difficult with 2000' of gain in the first day as we ascend to the ridge crest. Please self-assess if this is something you can comfortable do--particularly early in the season.  Please be in condition for this trip by doing prior day-hikes or other conditioning activities before this trip.

Thanks.  Rob

Route/Place

Black Canyon (Umtanum Ridge)

Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

Ten-essentials, plus

All backpacking gears: tent, pad(s), sleeping bag

water filtration, all food. stove, fuel etc.

Food storage: hanging bag and rope or Ursack or Bear Canister

Extra warm clothes for the likely coldish night.

Sun protection--hat-sun glasses

Bring a second head-lamp or extra batteries if you can

Fire starter if you have some

Trekking poles are recommended.

Trip Reports