After filling up my bottle, I didnt drink any more of that water. Most were new to trail work, but none to hard work. (CLOSED due to construction) There were tangles of trees just west of, The Associations new Regional Coordinator, Sterling Collins-Hill sketched out the upcoming season for PNTAs, Most critical would be the site of their first projects. Photo by Sterling Collins-Hill. Easy 4.6 (1065) Saranac Lakes Wild Forest. Right away, I noticed some insect-like creatures swimming in the water. The plan of work for the Associations trail crew based in the Eastern Pasayten was simple and ambitious. / , "2022 in a Nutshell" blog post link in profile, plus a pano shot from last year's season opener /2022, Full Moon Rising + Scimitar Knoll by Castle Peak + Lightning Lake / , Hozomeen Mountain South Peak via Hozomeen Lake / , Hozomeen Mountain 8066 by Canada via Skyline II Trail / , Castle Peak by Full Moon Rising in Pasayten via Manning Park / , Soaring Eagle Regional Park via Hazel Wolf Wetlands / , Platts Lookout by Cherry Creek Falls in Marckworth State Forest / , Mount Madron by Kamilche Hill and Capitol State Forest / , Second Base by Young Love in Marckworth State Forest / , Cherry Creek Falls in Marckworth State Forest by King Benchmark / . More than 600 miles of trails provide access to the Wilderness, many of them deceptively gentle at the start and become progressively labor-intensive as they climb up multiple switchbacks into the higher elevations. Bauerman Ridge, where we came from, was still visible. This horse trail goes nearly to the top and the views include most of the Pasayten Wilderness. ) or https:// means you've safely The trail spans the width of the Pasayten Wilderness and is part of the much larger Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. Soon, we found a decent spot on Sunny Pass and settled in for the night. Boundary Trail in Pasayten Wilderness by the Canadian border is part of the vast Pacific Northwest Trail network. By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Boundary Trail in Pasayten Wilderness by the Canadian border is part of the vast Pacific Northwest Trail network. ( The plan of work for the Associations trail crew based in the Eastern Pasayten was simple and ambitious. It was an area of the Okanogan Highlands that the three high-school aged students from Tonasket were familiar with. (509) 548-2550, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen/recreation/recarea/?recid=59551&actid=64, From the town of Loomis, travel north on County road #9425 for 2 miles to junction of #9425 and County Road #4066. Contributions to WTA are tax deductible, and we are committed to making the best use of every donation to our mission. Pressed up against the jagged peaks that guard our northern border between the arid Okanogan and the glacier-clad ranges of the North Cascades lies the 531,000-acre Pasayten Wilderness. (509) 653-1401, Wenatchee River Ranger District Sullivan discovered a massive fir had fallen lengthwise along the trail blocking the descent toward the surreal waters of Ross Lake, among dozens of other downed trees. United States. Fallentrees have littered the trail200 or more in some sectionswhile erosion and brush have madeareas of the trail all but disappearand have stopped horse packers in their tracks. Many fantastic scenic views of the surrounding mountains and meadows are evident along the trail. Thanks for the support of Western Washington Honda Dealers and our other corporate sponsors. The eastern section of the trail is an easy trail for all hikers or horseback riders. Hiking out via the West Fork Pasayten Trail exits near Slate Peak. (509) 996-4000, Naches Ranger District The trail follows Windy Creek through fire damaged lodgepole pine up to the ridge to the Windy Peak Trail #342. Crew member Adonis lives near the PNT in Tonasket, Washington. Help protect your wilderness by following wildernessregulations and usingLeave No Trace principles. Since the 2003 wildfire the trail beyond Black Lake has many, many down trees making trail very difficult for hikers and impassable to stock. Photo by Thomas Gingrich. But we didnt see much of the sun as the smoke hovered over. Photo by Thomas Gingrich. We hiked to the northeast slopes from the saddle, primarily giant boulders and slabs. Like all designated wilderness areas, this stunning roadless expanse may only be accessed by muscle power. It was obvious that significant resources would be needed to restore access and change the fate of this scenic highlight of the, Jason Ridlon, an experienced packer, sawyer, and Vice President of the, The team identified several areas of concern. One of its most iconic trails is also the hardest to reach. On this hitch, it was, It takes real determination to overcome obstacles like these. , they sign on to work up to 80 hours in a single hitch which begins when the crew piles into a work van and starts the long drive toward a distant trailhead. Although the trail junction is not yet marked with the emblem of the young National Scenic Trail, from Holman Pass, the Pacific Northwest Trail continues west toward a skyline studded with peaks and North Cascades National Park. Photo by Sean Miller. 600 Sherbourne So soon, most peaks here were no longer visible. The original plan was to cross the Pasayten, then follow the old Boundary Trail over to the Middle fork, Head up the middle fork, then up and over Robinson Pass, ending at the Robinson creek trailhead. It took us an hour to find our way through the mess. We traversed the ridgeline to cover high points that looked equal in height. 2) Then drive for 29 miles to the Thirtymile Trailhead (~3600' elevation). Sean Miller, a seasoned crew leader whos worked trails from Florida to New York to Nevada, led the on-the-ground effort to log-out the Boundary Trail. The Pasayten Wilderness is a 531,539 acres (215,106 ha) protected area located within Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and Mount Baker National Forest in Washington state, centered on the Three Forks ( 485402N 1203801W) of the Pasayten River, a tributary of the Similkameen River. (509) 664-9200, Chelan Ranger District Chelan, WA 98816 Photo by Michael Sawiel. Along the way, the PNT crosses three national parks, seven national forests, and two other national scenic trails. Some trailheads on the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest require a valid recreation pass. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. Despite the layer of ash, we needed them to hold us over until the lake. Washington Trails Association The self-issuing permits are free and are available at trailheads and Forest Service Ranger Stations. #534, the Chewuch Tr. Its diverse forest changes from fir, cedar, western hemlock in the west to fir, pine, and larch in the east. PNTA is proud to work with corporate partners to build a world-class experience for all who wander along the Pacific Northwest Trail. Length: 44.7 mi Elevation Gain: 4,900 ft High Point: 7,800 ft Land Manager: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests Pasayten Wilderness, Methow Valley Ranger District (OWNF) Parking Permit Required: Northwest Forest Pass Recommended Party Size: 12 Maximum Party Size: 12 Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12 Map Activities Trip Reports Titles Resources The popularity and heavy use, however, has been particularly hard on the area. Learn more. Soon, we went up to Teapot Dome, our third stop, and caught the last light. Our Eastern Pasayten Trail Crew was resupplied by our partners at the U.S. Forest Service Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The iconic 80-mile Boundary Trail spans almost the entire length of the Pasayten Wilderness and is part of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. Haig Mountain is higher, but Teapot Dome at 7,610 feet is just a half-mile from the Boundary Trail. Turn West on County road #4066 which becomes Forest Service Road #39. Over the last 19 years, nine major fires have crawled across the Pasayten Wilderness causing massive damage to trails. . Learn how your comment data is processed. We passed more dry stream beds and a decent campsite with dry pools en route. Eastern-side trails are usually free of snow by early July. We still had another half-hour of daylight, so I decided to continue. Plus, high points east of here had also become hard to discern. In this photo, the crew camps at a remote Airstrip in the Pasayten Wilderness. campaign last year helped to provide funding for an additional trail crew this season meaning more work was performed on the Pacific Northwest Trail in places like the Pasayten Wilderness, and more youth and young adults were able to spend a summer working and learning outdoors. Since wed spend most of the time on the beaten path, I wore hiking boots and had no foot issues. Wilderness permits required in the Pasayten Wilderness. Those that do find work take part-time service jobs that impart soft skills and offer part-time scheduling. compounding those challenges is a vanishingly short season interrupted by summer storms and regularly cut short by wildfire. Photo by Michael Sawiel. Photo by Michael Sawiel. Soon, from Rock Mountains north side, we went up 600 to the top marked by a giant boulder. Signing up to labor in service to our public lands is a commendable act unto itself. So fires werent of any concern. The fireweed was in bloom, temperatures soared and the younger crew members had found their rhythm with the saw. After enduring some soggy hitches clearing the Pacific Northwest Trail in temperate rainforests west of the Cascade Crest, sweeping views and fair weather in the high Pasayten were a welcome reward. This Giving Tuesday, you can help us empower youth from gateway communities to protect trails. Under the shadeless skies of the snag forests where they toiled, Augusts afternoon heat rose to an uncomfortable peak that the team aimed to avoid. After we entered the area, the Forest Service placed a blockade at the trailhead. Hiking the Boundary Trail is an adventure on many a hikers bucket list. The six-person crew will spend the next few months improving trails within three stunning wilderness areas on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. More to the point, it wasnt very much fun to hike. Continuing westward over mostly open terrain with views, the Tungsten Mine is reached at 21 miles. The Boundary Trail begins in the southeast corner of the Wilderness and meanders north and west for over 73 miles near the Canadian border to eventually join the Pacific Crest Trail. Whether it was to be their first seasonal summer job or their last, it was bound to be an experience they would never forget. Lead Packer, Kurt Langlois cinched down the saddlebags on his mount and prepared for the 22 mile ride back from the Pasayten Airstrip where he and Wilderness Ranger with the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Gregg Bafundo had rendezvoused with Sean Miller and the rest of the PNTA trail crew working at Bunker Hill. At the same time, the sun was trying hard to let in more light. Until the crew arrived on the scene no one really knew how many new trees had fallen across the Boundary Trail that winter. highs 90s lows 30-40s. On Your Back, Boundary Trail, Blue Mountain Summit Loop. There wasnt much to see past Bauerman Ridge. While logging out the trail was their first charge, they accomplished a significant amount of tread and drainage repair while clearing over 400 trees from the trail. There were tangles of trees just west of Louden Lake, long stretches damaged by wildfire through burn areas, and there was plenty of work needed around Spanish Camp. It was only mid-morning, but smoke had moved in from the west. Several rusty mining relics can be found near the trail. Two special trail crews from opposite sides of the Cascades were assembled for the ambitious project. For these young people, the unique responsibilities of a trail crew member would be learned at their first summer job. Yet, by virtue of its geography, its trails can be as difficult to access as any in the lower 48. Castle Pass trail is completely closed. When you reach Apex Pass a few miles farther, youre presented with your first views of craggy Cathedral Peak, unlike anything else in the Pasayten. The extensive Boundary Trail spans almost the entire length of the vast and remote Pasayten Wildernessoffering miles of expansive views, a peek at Washington's arctic tundra and unbeatable opportunities for solitude. Snow falls between October and May, and the hard packed snow may block the high western-side trails sometimes until early August. Feeling dehydrated after scouring for water gully after gully, we left the trail and scrambled northeast. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. How many trails are in Pasayten Wilderness? The pup and I started walking at 5:30 PM, with over two hours to sunset from the empty lot at the Cathedral Driveway Trailhead. #504, the Larch Crk Tr. Once considered a rite of passage, only a third of students spend the summer break working today half as many as did a generation ago. Pasayten Wilderness. to help pack in gear and supplies from the Goodenough Trailhead to the "Fireplace" backcountry camp on the Boundary TR 533, at the foot of Haig Mountain. On a PNTA Performance Trail Crew, they sign on to work up to 80 hours in a single hitch which begins when the crew piles into a work van and starts the long drive toward a distant trailhead. Washington Trails Association is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This is followed by a long descent to the log crossing over the Ashnola River at 38 miles. 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