Beyond the Basin You have the opportunity to opt in for four days on the trial, three days, or all seven days! The hike(s) begins at Chinook Pass, follows the Pacific Crest Trail for four days and then takes a break at White Pass (we call this the Pass to Pass section). At this point you can opt out, or opt in for the next three days, or if you been with us so far, hangout that night at a condominium, use the hot tub and pool, and continue on the next day. From White Pass we will head on to McCall Basin at the foot of Old Snowy and then on to the Tieton River Trailhead. The Pass-to-Pass section is roughly thirty miles of the Cascade Mountain Range. The McCall Basin section is about twenty-five miles. Altogether, we will experience hundreds of square miles of country ceded by the fourteen tribes and bands of the Yakama Nation in the Treaty of 1855. Though not overly strenuous, the hike does require you to be in good shape and to have regular day hiking practice. (Backpacking experience is required for the full seven days. While not required otherwise, please call and let’s talk.) Backpacking styles come in many ways. Our style of hiking kind of goes like this: We wake in the morning, pack our packs, and start down the trail. An hour or so later (or when we get hungry) we stop and have breakfast. Then back on the trail and walk until lunch (with breaks in the meantime). After lunch we continue until supper, make camp, have supper, and call it a day. In fewer words, we get up in the morning and take a walk that lasts the day. We have an idea where we will make camp at the end of the day, but we don’t make it a requirement. Our goal is to have reflective time while walking the land.
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Hiking towards Wholeness Mount Phato is a sacred mountain on the far western edges of the Yakama Nation. One portion of the east-facing mountain has been reserved by the Yakamas for non-citizens of the tribe to find renewal. We arrive at our base camp at Bench Lake, about 4900', Monday afternoon. We setup camp and then if there is time we take a short hike up through Roaring Creek Meadows. We begin our day hiking experiences Tuesday morning. Our morning hikes are uphill and the afternoons are downhill...you know, it’s kinda like hiking a mountain! Tuesday morning will take us to Rebecca's Cave at about 7200' where we have lunch. Some of us will stay there and enjoy the views that go on for hundreds of miles, while others may venture to Mike's Point or to glacial lakes. That afternoon we hike down through Bird Creek Meadows, arriving back at camp in the late afternoon for a time of wading or swimming or just washing some of the mountain off. Wednesday we will hike past waterfalls, through an ancient lava bed, to Kara's Knob. Here we eat lunch while enjoying a southern view into Oregon and Mount Hood. Oh, and we eat! Meals are done in a community style and there is always plenty of food! Sometimes misquitoes join in, so we try to bring plenty for them, maybe they will give us a break. But just in case, bring a little bug repellent isn't a bad thing! Hikes range from 5700' to 8000' feet. We take our time, so most anyone can participate! There is no, "we have to make it to..." but there is the requirement to take care of self. The time is about relaxing, enjoying the world around you, and finding a bit of peace. This may mean lots of hiking or it may mean a day at the lake while everyone else is hiking? Our hope is this is a time when self and community work together for the spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing of all. |
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Denali A late summer experience that will never be forgotten! Fly into Anchorage on a Saturday and then drive to one of the most pristine refuges on earth! This hike is a combination of day hikes and backpacking. Since vehicles are not allowed in the park everyone must carry a backpack to travel the park. All travel in the park is by shuttle bus. For those who want the day hiking experience backpacks are carried to and from the campgrounds and the shuttle buses. For those who wish to pack pack into backcountry, the shuttles will drop us off along the roadside and we will head to the backcountry from road. Whether day hiking or backpacking you will experience phenomenal views are all around! Since this is one of our favorite hikes, all the Mission staff want to participate! So, there will be staff who have hiked the park before, hiking with you whether you decide for day hiking or backpacking! Elevation changes are minimal! Expect five nights in the park. Those who are in the backcountry will be out for no more than three nights. Saturday night and Wednesday night day hikers and backcountry-ers will camp together. Thursday night we will all stay together at a hostel just down the road from the park. Friday we will slowly make our way back to Anchorage stopping along the way to enjoy views and tourist-ing a town or two! Normally our flights out of Alaska are late Friday night or early Saturday morning (like 1am or 2am!), so it is a long day (of course, you haven't experienced more than a couple of hours of darkness each day till now anyway! And that is only if you have been awake at 2am after a full day of hiking!). Register for this hiking experience early! Our goal is to have all arrangements flights, hostel, vehicles reserved by the first of the year.
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