Overview

Join us for our third season on this Lost Trails Found project in the Pasayten Wilderness. This loop route to Horseshoe Meadows needs logs removed and deferred maintenance to be addressed. It'll be a fun and robust project!

About the Area

Located at the northeastern edge of the half-million-acre Pasayten Wilderness is the Albert Camp Trail. Pine and fir dominate the valleys and are surrounded by the open alpine ridges and peaks of the dry side of the Cascades.

North-facing basins are filled with subalpine larch. This wilderness is home to wildlife including deer, elk, bear, wolves and the elusive wolverine. It's truly the back of beyond.

What to Expect

We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference!

Project Description

Our purpose is to address long-deferred maintenance and impacts from that the many fires the Pasayten has seen over the years.

We will focus on log removal and pruning back overgrown vegetation, but we will also tackle any major drainage issues we encounter, or fix damage to the path we're hiking.

Camping and Hiking Information

• Type: backcountry campsites near springs, moving camp as we clear the trail
• Weather: Be prepared for variable conditions including heat, cold, wind and rain

• Initial hike to camp: approximately 5.5 miles at a moderate pace while carrying your backpack fully loaded with all provisions including camping gear and food, plus tools (provided by WTA).
• We will move camp as we progress along the trail. Our goal is to clear the Albert Camp Trail to the Boundary Trail at Sunny Pass, hike toward Iron Gate TH, and then clear the Deer Park Trail to return to Fourteen Mile TH for a loop of approximately 19 miles.

Schedule

• Day 1: Meet the crew rain or shine, then hike in, begin work on the project and set up camp
• Day 2+: Make breakfast and pack a lunch before heading out on trail with the crew by 8:00 AM. Work at your own pace, take plenty of breaks and enjoy lunch on the trail. Arrive back in camp or to next campsite by 4:00 or 5:00 PM for a relaxing evening. Prepare your own dinner and swap stories with the crew.
• Final Day: Break down camp, finish trail project, hike out and say goodbye to the crew at the trailhead

For safety reasons, arriving late or leaving early is not allowed.

Planning Information

Get ready for a challenging backcountry adventure!

What it Takes to Do This Work Party

• A great attitude for working with a team! WTA provides the training and tools you need for the project
• Backpacking gear and food for multiple nights on the trail
• Good physical condition to hike with a fully-loaded backpack and be physically active for about 8-9 hours daily on uneven terrain 
• Backpacking experience including ability to run your own camp following Leave No Trace principles
• Day work party experience recommended
• Flexibility to adapt to changes due to unpredictable weather or land manager requests
• Minimum age: 18

What to Bring

Required:

• Sturdy work or hiking boots. Review our Logout Boot Guide for more details.
• Work gloves 
• Eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, safety glasses, or mesh “bug eyes”. Glasses should have wrapping side shields. ANSI Z87.1+)
• Long pants
• Long sleeve shirt

A hard hat will be provided by WTA if you do not already have a WTA provided hard hat. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own. For safety reasons, certain tasks may be assigned based on the safety level of your footwear. Volunteers who do not have long pants, or sturdy closed toes shoes, will not be able to participate in the work party.

In addition to items listed above, bring the following backpacking gear:

• WTA hard hat
• Work gloves
• Backpack to carry all of your gear
• Tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad
• Cooking gear and enough food (plus a little extra) for the entire trip
• At least two 1-liter water bottles and a way to purify your water
• Rain jacket and rain pants
• Extra warm clothing
• Camp clothing such as shorts, shirt and sandals
• Sun and bug protection
• Headlamp and extra batteries
• Personal items such as medication, hand sanitizer and toiletries
• ​First aid kit
• A sense of fun and adventure for learning new skills and meeting great people!

A hard hat will be provided by WTA if you do not already have a WTA provided hard hat. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own.

More Information

• What to Pack for a Backcountry Response Team
• Frequently Asked Questions
• WTA's Trail Work Guide introduces the type of work you may do
• Contact us at volunteer@wta.org or 206.625.1367

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Partners

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