Arizona Backpackers Club (ABC)

Strenuous day hike!
Location: Leavenworth, WA
Length: 20 miles, one-way
Elevation gain: 4,500 feet
Highest point: 7,800 feet
Calculated difficulty: Hard
No dogs allowed
Highlights: alpine lakes, waterfalls, mountain goats, ridges/passes.

https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/enchantment-lakes#hike-full-description

The Enchantment Lakes are a stunning alpine paradise with crystal-clear lakes, smooth granite, towering peaks, vibrant larches, and friendly mountain goats. They're often considered the highlight of hiking in Washington. The thru-hike is typically done from the Stuart Lake trailhead, because it reduces the total elevation gain by 2,600 feet relative to going the opposite direction (although it still takes in the punishing climb up Aasgard Pass, which rises 1,900 feet in less than a mile).

Serious inquiries only. I'm looking to get a group of at least four to six people for this trip. It's going to cost about $300 to $400 each, not including the flights to Washington. Once I know how many people are going, I'll share the final price per person.

Zelle: mjmartinez1220@yahoo.com
Venmo: @mamar45

The Plan:
Friday, August 8:
• Fly into Seattle Tacoma International Airport. I plan to fly out in the evening after work.
• Pick up a rental car.
• Check into a hotel located a few miles from the airport.

Saturday, August 9:
• Check out of the hotel in Seattle.
• Drive approximately two hours to Leavenworth, Washington.
• Check into the hotel in Leavenworth.
• Spend the rest of the day sightseeing or relaxing as desired.

Sunday, August 10:
• Wake up early.
• Drop off the rental car at the ending point.
• Meet the shuttle company for transportation to the starting point of the hike.
• Complete our thru-hike (yay).

Monday, August 11:
• Check out of the hotel in Leavenworth.
• Drive back to Seattle Tacoma International Airport.
• Return the rental car.
• Fly home.

I've been fortunate to hike and backpack through some of the most breathtaking wilderness areas in the Southwest, each with its own unique beauty. Yet, one place keeps pulling me back, continuing to surprise and inspire no matter how many times I return: Idaho.

Come along on a two-part backpacking journey through this underrated gem of the American West. We'll explore two distinct regions, both known for world-class trails that draw adventurers from across the country and around the globe.

Alaska Basin
(14 miles with approximately 2,900 feet of AEG – Aug. 16th thru the 17th)
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/alaska-basin-trail

Tucked just east of Driggs, Idaho, this sub-alpine basin features a stunning 16-mile loop that hugs the western edge of Grand Teton National Park. I would prefer to do this one as a two or three night adventure but as a warm-up for the Sawtooths we’ll work this trip into the mix as an out and back hike. The trip will begin with from the Teton Trailhead with the destination to the Basin Lakes in the upper end of Alaska Basin. The next morning we’ll leisurely take our time and hike back out to the trailhead, which is all down hill. Even though we’re cutting out some of the more epic views below Mount Meek and from the Teton Shelf, we’re still going to have incredibly rewarding views at the basin lakes giving us good exposure to the area.

Alice-Toxaway
(19 miles with approximately 4,000 feet of AEG – Aug. 18th thru the 21st)
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/idaho/tin-cup-hiker

Situated between Ketchum to the south and Stanley to the north, and split by the Salmon River, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area is surrounded by rugged beauty. With the Sawtooths rising sharply to the west and the White Clouds spread out to the east, this area has, in my opinion, some of the best loop hikes in the west. You may not have heard of Alaska Basin, but chances are the Sawtooths ring a bell and for good reason. This is just one of many spots in the region that are worth exploring.

The Alice-Toxaway Loop begins at the Tin Cup Trailhead near Pettit Lake. We’ll be hiking it counterclockwise, starting with the Pettit Lake Cutoff that links us to the Yellow Belly Trail. From there, the real climbing begins as we work our way up to 8156 Lake, where we’ll set up camp for two nights.

The next day offers a choice: take a dip in the lake or explore the trails around the area. It’s up to you do what feels right. This trip is just as much about unwinding as it is about taking in the sights.

On day three we'll be getting started early to the crown jewel of the loop Alice Lake. Nestled just below the striking silhouette of El Capitan, one of the most iconic peaks in the Sawtooths, Alice Lake spans roughly 71 acres at an elevation just shy of 8,500 feet. Campsites ring the lake, each offering rewarding views with no bad picks. While many choose to spend their first night at Alice, I’ve always preferred saving it for the last night, it's a fantastic sendoff that’s hard to beat.

Day four starts with a mostly downhill stretch that follows the creek flowing from the upper lakes, gradually leading us back to our starting point at the Tin Cup Trailhead.

Flights/Hotel/Trip
I've booked my flight from Mesa Gateway to Idaho Falls Regional Airport and will be backpacking with two others who aren't part of this meetup. My lodging and transportation are already arranged. If you're interested in joining for one or both of the trips, please complete the questions in the RSVP and let me know if you'd like assistance with travel planning. I'm asking anyone interested to respond by the end of June.

I have a permit for 6 to go to one of my favorite destinations along the John Muir Trail in California’s Sierra’s. This will be a difficult trip with 6500' of accumulated elevation gain (AEG) 🥵 and require a week of your time. This trip will be in the Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Park which are west of Independence, CA. We’ll do 2 nights of camping at 9000’+ to get used to the thinner mountain air. Then 4 nights out on the trail and at higher elevations.

We’ll meet early on Friday 9/5 and make the long drive (10 hours) in one day 🏎️We’ll drive partially up the Sierra’s eastern side to Onion Valley and the TH where the trail up to Kearsarge Pass begins (9200'). We'll be ending our trip here so no need to shuttle cars. Here we’ll camp for two nights to get used to the higher elevation. On our full day at the campground I plan for us to day hike to nearby lakes to pass the time.

We’ll start our trip on Sunday with a climb up and over Kearsarge Pass (117000') which is 2500’ AEG from the TH. We'll then drop down to Kearsarge Lake (10600') where we will camp. This will be a 6 “ish” mile day with plenty of time left to explore around the lake.

The next day we’ll hike 6-7 miles up and over Glen Pass (12000') and down to Rae Lakes (10500'). I’ve spent a few days exploring these lakes and have a secluded campsite in mind. You’ll have to trust me on this one, it’s off trail to get to but nothing crazy 😜 We’ll spend two nights at Rae Lakes. On our down day I intend on hiking into the somewhat close by Sixty Lakes Basin. You can stay at Rae Lakes instead and chill if you'd like. You do need a permit to fish 🐟

We’ll pack up the next day, climb back up and over Glen Pass and camp at Kearsarge Lakes or at one of the lakes closer to Onion Valley. It’s about 13 miles from Rae Lakes to our vehicles. I once was forced into hiking out in one day and then riding all the way back to Phoenix. It was the worst drive I was ever in, I don't recommend it, it ruined the trip 😡 Instead we'll have somewhere between a 2-6 mile hike out on the last day before the drive back. If anyone is interested, I'm planning on a short two night backpack after this trip near Bishop. I just found out about a restored ghost town 👻 in a nearby mountain range. It's a 3000' hike up.

Things I forgot to mention:
*Due to the unpredictable fire season 🔥 this trip maybe cancelled last minute. If that happens we will do another trip but in Colorado.
* There's a fee 💰 for this trip to cover the permit and campground costs, it’s $110 divided by the number of participants. There will be other costs such as gas and a restaurant stop or two.
*Bear canisters 🧸 are required.
* I'll be wait listing everyone.
*This is a near end of season trip so the nights will be chilly 🥶 but it should be warm enough to go for mid day dips into the lakes.

I'm by no means a professional guide but have spent hundreds of nights out on backpacking trips. I don't do this for profit but instead for the satisfaction of bringing people together and creating new friendships. Most of the places I venture to are remote with help being many hours and sometimes days away. When you attend my trips you must realize that you are responsible for yourself and bad things can happen. I intend on using good judgement when leading but won't be with you at all times. In an event that something bad happens, I intend on giving help and our getting help as soon as its safely possible. I expect the same in return, I watch your back and you watch mine.