Overview

Join this All Womens crew to complete 5 days of trailwork in rugged terrain with a group of other women. High, wild and remote, the Entiat is an under-visited gem of Washington. It has suffered from multiple fires over the past two decades, and was most recently hit by the Sugarloaf Fire in 2025.

This crew will build on past work and focus on clearing the Entiat River Trail as far as possible. This crew may also work on the Snowybrushy trail or Cow Creek Lakes trail, depending on snow levels.

About the Area

The Entiat River Trail follows the Entiat River from Cottonwood Campground to the headwall of the Entiat Valley. The headwall is home to the Entiat Glacier as well as three 9,000-foot peaks: Mount Maude, Seven Finger Jack and Mount Fernow. The trail is 15 miles in length, and 11 miles of it is located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness.

Branching off from the main river trail are several ways to reach high mountain basins including Ice Lakes, Larch Lakes, and Cow Creek Meadows.

Ridgeline trails provide connections between all the basins. The network of trails here is extensive and beautiful, and needs lots of maintenance to keep it safe for visitors.

What to Expect

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

Project Description

For the last 5 years, WTA has focused heavily on clearing fallen trees in this area. This year, the crew will focus primarily on repairing damaged tread and improving drainage.

The crew may also use crosscut saws, hand saws, and axes to clear fallen logs. No experience with these tools is neccesary. One of our certified Assistant Crew Leaders will teach you how to saw safely.

You may also prune back overgrown vegetation, dig channels for water to flow off trail, or repair the trail surface from fallen debris. The first several miles of the main Entiat River trail will be cleared by other crews, so the focus of this trip is on side trails that provide access to high basins.

Camping and Hiking Information

• Type: Backcountry Camp
• Location: Entiat Meadow (about 5 miles from the trailhead)
• Weather: Be prepared for variable conditions including heat, cold, wind, rain, and snow cover.

• Campsite: Entiat Meadow
• Initial hike to camp: 5 miles with 1000 feet of gain at a moderate pace while carrying your backpack fully loaded with all provisions including camping gear and food, plus WTA-provided tools.
• Expected daily hike: 2 to 4 miles with up to 1500 feet of gain at a moderate pace while carrying your backpack fully loaded with all provisions plus tools

Schedule

• Day 1: Meet the crew rain or shine, then hike in, begin work on the project and set up camp
• Day 2+: Make a lunch and pack your day pack 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. Return to camp by 4:00 or 5:00 PM for a relaxing evening. Prepare your own dinner and swap stories with the crew. This trip may include a day of moving camp.
• 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 closed-toe shoes
• Work gloves 
• Eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, or safety glasses)
• Long pants

Recommended: 

• Sturdy work or hiking boots (required for crosscut use) –review our Logout Boot Guide for more details.
• Long sleeved shirt (required for crosscut use)

A hard hat will be provided by WTA. 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 and/or sturdy closed toed 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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