Calling all pack mules, oops, I mean Hikers.
SWATS will be conducting a multi-day trail maintenance backpack to Winopee Lake Thursday Aug 14 to Sunday Aug 17 and needs help carrying equipment in on Thursday and out on Sunday. Want to earn some 'good hiker karma points?' Here's your chance. Read details below for particulars.
Distance: Hike in and out ~ 11 miles RT, ~ 4-5 hours hike time. ~1 hour drive time to/from trailhead. ~ 7-8 hours total duration.
Elevation gain/loss: 761 feet of gain
What to bring:
- Ten essentials, water, snack, and proper footwear (no tennis shoes or sandals).
- Pack to carry equipment.
- Bring/wear sun protection clothing and sun screen.
- Bring/wear bug protection clothing and bug spray (reports are that bugs are not bad.)
- Dogs are not allowed on this hike.
Difficulty level: Moderate.
Number of hikers: Max of 8. 4 + Charlie hikers can ride in Charlie's 4WD to trailhead over rough road. Registration is required.
Carpooling: Carpooling can be arranged at the meeting place. If you ride with someone, please donate to their gas fund. Be generous for obvious reasons.
Meeting place: To be determined--coordination with SWATS time
Details: Description provided by SWATS leader Kit Dickey:
The last time the western 2.5m section of Winopee Lake trail was cleared was 2021. That same year we cleared Snowshoe Lake trail to Lower Snowshoe Lake. The last time SSL was cleared to the PCT was 2017, with the note that only the main blockages were cleared, and the trail was hard to follow. We have our work cut out for us!
We have 8 people signed up to backpack in. One can only stay two days. That means we can only work two saws. Still we will need to carry: two saws, two rockbars, two aces, two katanas, wedges and straps - plus all our "living" gear. We did have a packer offer to bring gear in, but he's having equipment issues. Thus Dave and I are soliciting day-hiker support to carry in tools so the overnighters just have to carry their backpacks.
That means Thursday and Sunday we are looking for a couple of people willing to hike the 11 miles in and out, carrying tools in one direction. We can supply you with access to the admin road to the boat-in campground, but you will need a high clearance vehicle to negotiate that road.
The good news is that there is very little elevation gain, and the scenery is beautiful.
We will meet in town at 7 am. And the hikers have to be with us as we will be accessing the site via a locked gate. To get out at the end of the day, and get back in again on Sunday someone in the day hiking only group will have to be responsible for the key.
On Sunday we will plan around whatever support we have available to us. In other words if a group is hiking in to help us carry our gear out, we will be able to work for a few hours and we’ll meet up at whatever time the group estimates they will be arriving at our campsite. My estimate would be that if they met up in town at seven, they start hiking about 830 thus getting to the camp area about 1130.
We will not have any horse pack support at all. Doris and Scott Hills and Dennis are already committed to hiking in on Thursday so a couple more people to help carry tools would be great. On Sunday it’s the same situation, so a couple more people would also be great help. But you don’t have to worry about the key or attending twice.
We will need at least two crosscut saws, two aluminum pry bars, two axes, two katana boys, loppers, and a small shovel. If we have enough support, we would add another saw.
Thank you for your offer of support.
Contact: Charlie Cornish, 206-391-4352
Hike Description and Map:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/winopee-lake-trail--2
