Our group had originally intended to do an eight-day trip with three layover days at a base camp 5 miles beyond Pelton Shelter, where the river canyon forms at Service Falls. We were looking to explore a route to the Upper Queets Basin, which would have necessitated getting above the impassable canyon.
As is our annual custom for a dozen years now, my brother Keith flew out from Iowa for his annual fix of Seattle seafood, microbrews, and mountain backpacking. Our “to do” list had for some time included the stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from Rainy to Harts Pass, but the relatively easy distance of 31 miles had previously caused us to divert to more challenging trips elsewhere.
Why do volunteers wear green, orange or blue hats? The answer can be found at WTA's annual Crew Leader College.
A horsepacker shares advice on what to do when you meet four-legged hikers on the trail
A Tribute to Hiking Pioneer Ira Spring
WTA's trail maintenance program extends across the mountains into the Okanogan National Forest
Dehydrating your own food can be a cheap and tasty alternative to prepackaged backpacking meals
Trail maintenance volunteers get their pick of all sorts of cool tools
Hiking with little ones can be challenging but fun
WTA tests the good, the bad and the ugly in backpacking meals
The excitement of looking for bears in British Columbia's Selkirk Mountains
Our test of products designed to give you clean, safe water in the backcountry
The geography of Washington's backcountry is loaded with history
October rains and December winds wreak havoc on the state's trails, bridges and forest roads. And it's still only January ...
New materials invade the gear world
Forty Years of Fighting Forewards by Harvey Manning
The Kettle Range overflows with beauty and solitude
Avalanche safety courses are essential for exploring winter and spring backcountry safely.
Three packs that can hold the ten essentials and much more.
The Cohns make WTA volunteering a family-friendly activity