Field trip: Introduction to Backpacking
Intro to Backpacking Field Trip - Ancient & Dusty Lakes
*Trip initially open to Tacoma backpacking students April 8-26, 2026. Trip will open for registration to all Mountaineers April 27, 2026. Overnight Backpacking Field trip to a great easy spring backpack site; a great backpack for anyone who is new to backpacking and wants to check out their gear! This is also a good first backpack for the year for anyone to check out any gear that is old. :-)
Contacts
- Fri, May 22, 2026 — Sat, May 23, 2026
- Tacoma Hiking & Backpacking Committee
- Backpacking
- All Who Qualify, Adults
- Easy
- Easy
- Mileage: 8.0 mi
- Elevation Gain: 700 ft
- Pace: 1.5
- 6 (6 capacity)
- 1 (2 capacity)
- Mon, Apr 6, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- Mon, Apr 27, 2026
- Wed, May 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
- iCal Google
I meet at 11am since the initial hike in is only 1.5 miles and then when we get to the camp site we eat lunch and then set up camp. Once we set up camp there is an optional about 3 to 5 mile hike to explore the area and check out any remaining spring flowers on the east part of the mountains. Then we get back to camp, enjoy dinner and a possible fire that night (depending upon finding wood or having time to go back to my car for wood). Then we sleep, wake up the next day, eat breakfast, break camp, then then hike out before lunch to get home in the afternoon. Look forward to a fun possibly first overnight of the backpacking season!
11am at the trailhead west of Columbia River. Details of were to meet will be sent in the email 2 to 3 days prior to this backpack trip.
Required Equipment
To be discussed at lecture