Rescheduled: Mellow Backpack in the Blue Lake Basin

Note: The meetup location is only a rendezvous point. I wouldn’t recommend parking a vehicle there overnight. We will caravan to the trailhead. Prior to the trip, attendees can organize ride share independently, arrange for a drop off and pick up, or follow in your own car to the trailhead.

Please read the following carefully.

THIS TRIP REQUIRES PREPARING for overnight in the wilderness yet would be good for a beginner who would like to sample a backpacking experience. The appropriate gear is needed, your own provisions, and be able to hike with a full pack. If you want to share gear, arrangements would have to be made between members. TIP: For more comfortable wilderness foot travel, be cognitive about the weight of your pack. I recommend targeting 30 pounds or less including food and water.

Itinerary:
Day one: Hike 2.3 miles, elevation loss of 640 feet, to Blue Lake and pitch camp for two nights. In the afternoon we can take a short side hike to nearby Beal Lake.

Day two: Leave our full packs at the Blue Lake base camp and hike to Island Lake with visits to Horseshoe and Pear Lakes along the way. Round-trip mileage is 6.4 with a gradual elevation gain. Include in your gear a minimalist day or lumbar pack.

Day three: After a leisurely morning, we will pack up for our return hike. The 640 feet of gain back to the trailhead isn’t steep, but might be challenging for some carrying a full pack combined with hiking at a higher elevation. However, there will be plenty of time to take a mellow pace over the short 2.3 miles.

MEMBERS FROM KLAMATH FALLS DIRECTION, meet at the Blue Lake Trailhead at 10:30 am. Below is the link to a Google Map.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Klamath+Falls,+OR/Blue+Canyon+Trailhead,+3770,+Klamath+Falls,+OR/@42.2917256,-122.4328603,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x54c8d45968f20ee3:0xf48d7ff528b99726!2m2!1d-121.7816704!2d42.224867!1m5!1m1!1s0x54cf53b0f3bfcb5d:0xa75e2742b8ed9c9!2m2!1d-122.2974014!2d42.5303769!3e0?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDkyNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

GEAR: The contents on the list are general.

LATE SEASON NIGHTS IN THE MOUNTAINS CAN BE CHILLY. Prepare accordingly with warm layers for possible night time temperature around 37 degrees. TIP: If needed you may want to pair your sleeping bag with a liner to boost the warmth.

Sleep system: tent, sleeping bag, and pad.
Layers: clothes to sleep in, extra pair of socks, hat, gloves, and jacket. If there is a chance of precipitation, bring a rain shell.
Toiletries in small quantities: dental hygiene items, pain reliever, meds, lip balm, sun screen, and some rolled up toilet paper in a ZipLoc bag.
Cooking essentials: cooking pot, stove, fuel, lighter, cup, and utensil.
Meals: Friday lunch – Sunday lunch
Remember: Reliable source of light with fresh batteries, first-aid, water purification system, and bottles for at least a 2-liter capacity. If you don’t have an Ursack, Bear Vault, or similar container, bring 30-50 feet of cord for suspending your provisions out of reach of bears and other denizens of the woods. Also, include a minimalist day or lumbar pack.
Optional items: trekking poles helps with stability, a pair of light weight camp shoes, and a bandana can come in handy.