Some buddies of mine are planning on meeting up in Seattle in Fall of 2013. Wanted to get some ideas rolling so we could start hatching out some preliminary plans. (Just for reference, the last time we met up we did a 3 day backpack out of the Sol Duc trailhead, up around Heart Lake).

In any case, looking for something 3-4 days, probably no longer 30-50 miles total. Class 2 with some Class 3 ok. Preferably within a 2 hour drive from Seattle to the trailhead.

Had contemplated possibly looping around Rainier, but not sure how long that would take.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,

Gusto

Within a two-hour radius from Seattle, that probably restricts you to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area to Mt. Rainier and rules out the North Cascades. Still, there are a lot of opportunities for backpacking and scrambling in that radius. Good camping destinations might be Spectacle Lake, with a scramble of Chikamin Peak. Other possible destinations might be Robin Lakes with scrambles of Granite and Trico Mountains. Another possibility would be a backpack to Lake Augusta with scrambles of Big Jim and Big Lou mountains. All of these scrambles are mainly Class 2. There are actually countless opportunities, but I've listed three quick ones. Always have a Plan B in case the weather is bad. The Teanaway region could be dry even if the western slopes are wet, and you could camp up in Bean Creek Basin and climb Bean, Earl, Mary's, Judy's, Bills, Iron, and Teanaway.

Why the 2 hour drive time limit? If you're going to be out for 3-4 days, why not drive the extra hour or so to reach the North Cascades or somewhere really awesome?

awilsondc wrote:Why the 2 hour drive time limit? If you're going to be out for 3-4 days, why not drive the extra hour or so to reach the North Cascades or somewhere really awesome?

That's a good question! My familiarity with the area is limited at best. More or less, I was looking at not taking up a full day just getting to/getting back to Seattle. (My friend is getting married and our time is limited to the week before the wedding). If there are greater destinations just outside the 2 hour window from Seattle, I would definitely be open to that. I just didn't want a 5-6 hour one-way drive to get to where we end up going.

How long to get to the Cascades? Recs for that area?

Thanks, by the way,

Gusto

MCGusto wrote:

awilsondc wrote: If there are greater destinations just outside the 2 hour window from Seattle, I would definitely be open to that. I just didn't want a 5-6 hour one-way drive to get to where we end up going.

How long to get to the Cascades? Recs for that area?

Thanks, by the way,

Gusto

North Cascades are a pretty big area. From Seattle you can be in the Verlot Monte Cristo area in about 2 hours, which is about the closest of the North Cascades to Seattle. Cascade Pass area is about a 4 hour drive. Anything on Highway 20 toward Rainy Pass or Washington Pass is 4 hours or more. The Baker area on Highway 542 can be reached in about 3 hours.

Confining your excursion to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the drive can be as little as an hour (Snoqualmie Pass), 2 hours to the Leavenworth area, 3 hours to the end of the Icicle Creek Road. All sides of Rainier should be within 2.5 hours.

etsnyd wrote:

MCGusto wrote:

awilsondc wrote: If there are greater destinations just outside the 2 hour window from Seattle, I would definitely be open to that. I just didn't want a 5-6 hour one-way drive to get to where we end up going.

How long to get to the Cascades? Recs for that area?

Thanks, by the way,

Gusto

North Cascades are a pretty big area. From Seattle you can be in the Verlot Monte Cristo area in about 2 hours, which is about the closest of the North Cascades to Seattle. Cascade Pass area is about a 4 hour drive. Anything on Highway 20 toward Rainy Pass or Washington Pass is 4 hours or more. The Baker area on Highway 542 can be reached in about 3 hours.

Confining your excursion to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the drive can be as little as an hour (Snoqualmie Pass), 2 hours to the Leavenworth area, 3 hours to the end of the Icicle Creek Road. All sides of Rainier should be within 2.5 hours.

Both Cascade Pass and Rainy/Washington Pass are a 3 hour drive. Not sure where you're getting the 4 hours from.

I'd look into a trip into the Enchantments:

http://www.summitpost.org/enchantments/170944

Awesome area, especially if you're going in fall. The only problem is that the area is super popular and permits are limited and hard to come by. You'll have to apply far in advance (February - March) and hope to get a permit. Info here:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=fsbdev3_053607

awilsondc wrote:I'd look into a trip into the Enchantments:

http://www.summitpost.org/enchantments/170944

Awesome area, especially if you're going in fall. The only problem is that the area is super popular and permits are limited and hard to come by. You'll have to apply far in advance (February - March) and hope to get a permit. Info here:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=fsbdev3_053607

Awesome links! Thanks!

Gusto