Backcountry Response Teams
Backcountry Response Teams (BCRTs)
- A 3-person crew visits Dumbell Lake as part of BCRT in 2007
Because many of WTA's one-day and weekend work parties are only able to address the first few miles of trail, there is a need to have extended 3-4 day work parties to address maintenance needs of trails that head further into the backcountry.
WTA's Backcountry Response Teams (BCRTs), trail crews consisting of 4 - 12 people, are a means to do this. Intended for experienced backcountry hikers, trips will require each individual to carry his or her own provisions for the duration, as well as have the ability to camp without supervision.
These trips will follow WTA's work party guidelines and will be led by a WTA crew leader. Due to the more arduous nature of these work parties, BCRT volunteers must be in good physical condition and will be expected to be equipped and able to carry all gear required for an overnight stay including:
- tent
- sleeping bag
- cooking gear
- food for the entire trip
Volunteers will also be asked to carry heavy work tools which may include loppers, pulaskis, shovels, grub hoes and crosscut saws. We encourage you to share some general gear with others in the group (stoves, cookware, etc), and we can try to facilitate this consolidation of equipment via e-mail and at the trailhead.
Before you sign up:
Read through our FAQs for our Backcountry Response Teams
2008 BCRT Schedule
Duckabush Trail: May 16 - 19
Spaces Remaining: FULL!
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Location: The Brothers Wilderness in Olympic National Forest
Distance: Approximately 5 miles to base camp.
Elevation Gain: 1,300' to camp
Maps: Custom Correct - The Brothers, Mt. Anderson Green Trails - Mt. Steele, The Brothers
Description: The trail leads to O'Neil Pass after 20 miles. It starts on an old logging road and climbs to Little Hump, leaving the road and entering The Brothers Wilderness at about 1 mile. After descending Little Hump it follows the river for about 1.5 miles and then climbs Big Hump. The switchbacks through Big Hump are spectacular. Beyond Big Hump old growth dominates the forest. The trail is a great early season trip with its starting elevation of 500'. The projects will include logout, busting rock to flatten some slippery slopes on switchbacks, and a reroute that we need to finesse.
For More Information: Robert L. Wood's "Olympic Mountains Trail Guide"
Tunnel Creek (Olympic Peninsula): June 13 - 15
Spaces Remaining: 6
- Views of Mt Constance from 50/50 Pass
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Location: Buckhorn Wilderness, Olympic National Forest
Distance: Camp will be at the trailhead.
Elevation Gain: This is a steep trail
Maps: Green Trails - The Brothers, Tyler Peak
Description: Olympic National Forest. This hiker-only trail traverses the Buckhorn Wilderness, climbing to Fifty-Fifty Pass at 5050 feet at the head of the South Fork of Tunnel Creek. This is a Backcountry Response Trip, so please be prepared for a more strenuous, but rewarding, weekend - you will be gaining elevation while carrying tools and a day pack. We'll work on logging out the trail from the trailhead up.
Duckabush Trail: June 20 - 22
Spaces Remaining: 6
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Location: The Brothers Wilderness in Olympic National Forest
Distance: Approximately 5 miles to base camp.
Elevation Gain: 1,300' to camp
Maps: Custom Correct - The Brothers, Mt. Anderson Green Trails - Mt. Steele, The Brothers
Description: The trail leads to O'Neil Pass after 20 miles. It starts on an old logging road and climbs to Little Hump, leaving the road and entering The Brothers Wilderness at about 1 mile. After descending Little Hump it follows the river for about 1.5 miles and then climbs Big Hump. The switchbacks through Big Hump are spectacular. Beyond Big Hump old growth dominates the forest. The trail is a great early season trip with its starting elevation of 500'. The projects will include logout (continuing where we left off from the previous trip), busting rock to flatten some slippery slopes on switchbacks, and some tread work.
For More Information: Robert L. Wood's "Olympic Mountains Trail Guide"
Huckleberry Mountain: July 4 - 7
Spaces Remaining: FULL!
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Location: Darrington Ranger District off Suiattle River Road
Distance: 2.75 miles to campsite
Elevation Gain: Minimal gain to Trailhead, but up to 2,500' to worksite
Maps: Green Trails: Snowking Mt #79
Description: Due to road washouts this trailhead now lies two miles beyond the end of the Suiattle River road. Camp will be at the Buck Creek campground another ¾ mile down the road. This will be a great opportunity to bring your mountain bike for traveling up and down this now empty road. The trail itself climbs the south slopes of Huckleberry Mountain attaining the ridge crest and then traversing open country above Boulder and Pear Lakes. The work will focus on backlog maintenance including logout, heavy brushing and tread repair.
Devil's Dome: July 25 - 29
- Jack Mountain from Devil's Dome
Spaces Remaining: FULL!
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Location: Pasayten Wilderness
Distance: 26 mile loop
Elevation Gain: 7,500'
Maps: Green trails – Ross Lake #16, Jack Mountain #17, Mt. Logan #49
Description: This is a 26 mile backpacking trip starting with a boat ride on Ross Lake to Devils Junction camp. From the landing it will be ll miles to Devils Pass on the Devils Dome trail and then another 15 miles through Devils and McMillan Parks on the Jackita Ridge trail (738) to the Canyon Creek trailhead. The route encircles spectacular Jack Mountain, “King of the Skagit”. This will be a log out trip with camp moving as the sawyers make there way along the route.
Colchuck Lake Trail: Aug 1 - 4
This trip is made possible by the Spring Trail Trust
- Colchuck Lake with Dragontail Peak in the background
Spaces Remaining: FULL!
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Location: Wenatchee River Ranger District
Distance: 4.5 miles to camp
Elevation Gain: 2,130' to camp
Maps: Green Trails Maps #177 Chiwaukum Mnts; #209 Mount Stuart
Description:
The hike begins on the Stuart Lake trail #1599 and climbs gently as it enters the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. At 2½ miles you'll arrive at the junction with Colchuck Lake Trail #1599.1. Cross Mountaineers Creek on a fine log foot-bridge built some time ago by WTA. The trail passes among a boulder field following the creek and soon returns to open forest with just enough shade to protect you from melting on a hot summer day as it climbs up through switchbacks lined with granite. You'll gain another 1000' elevation over the next 2 miles before the trail reaches the lake at its northwestern shore. The project will include rock work, tread work and brushing on the section of trail below Colchuck Lake.
Island Lake: Aug 29 - Sept 1
Spaces Remaining: FULL!
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Location:Alpine LakesWilderness
Distance: 5 miles to camp
Elevation Gain: 1,600'
Maps: Green Trails Bandera #206
Description: Nestled on the north side of Bandera Mountain is beautiful Island Lake our campsite for this trip. It is reached using the Talapus Lake trail (1039), Pratt Lake trail (1007) and Mt. Defiance trail (1009). Surrounding lakes include Rainbow, Blazer, Mason, Little Mason and Kulla Kulla, making this area a showcase of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The work will focus on the realignment of the Island Lake access trail to avoid several boggy areas and enhance resource protection.
Goat Lake - Elliot Creek Sept 12 - 15
- Goat lake looking to foggy peak range in the back ground.
Spaces Remaining: FULL!
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Location: Henry M. Jackson Wilderness, Darrington Ranger District
Distance: 5 miles to camp
Elevation Gain: 1,300'
Maps: Green Trails Maps: Sloan Peak #111
Description: The route to Goat Lake starts as two separate trails, one an old wagon road, traversing the north side of Elliot Creek. At a little over three miles the trails join together and continue 1½ miles to the lake. Goat Lake is nestled below Foggy, Cadet and Monte Cristo Peaks and has an impressive waterfall tumbling to the shoreline. We will set up camp at the lake and work the section of trail back towards the intersection. The work will concentrate on backlog maintenance and will include repairing tread damage, improving drainage and brushing.
