TITLE:

Olympic National Park Labor Day Backpacking Trip

DATE:

September 1-3, 2007

EVENT DESCRIPTION: 

Backpack the High Divide trail with us on a jewel of a loop hike.  The trail boasts thick forests, lakes, meadows, & amazing views of Bogachiel Peak & Mount Olympus, making this a trip you won’t want to miss! 

We plan to backpack 24 miles roundtrip, which includes an approximate 6 mile side trip (without the big pack) for up close & personal views of Mt. Olympus.  Elevation gain for the trek is 2800 feet.  Participants should be able to jog a couple miles without stopping. 

1. We are passionate about creation and leaving no trace so we will be following several guidelines you might want to check out here at this site http://www.nps.gov/archive/olym/wic/lnt.htm .  You also should consider leaving scented items at home, to help keep bears out of our campsites.  We will be providing bear canisters, so space is limited for your personal items and food.
2. We would love for you to fully engage in some solitude and a break from the busy-ness of life.  On this note, consider leaving your ipods, alcohol, tobacco or anything that might cause you to miss engaging with the trip, environment or trip members.  Please feel free to send us any questions on this aspect. 
3. We are a ministry and will provide opportunities to join an evening discussion/study on Biblical issues or topics two of the nights on the trail.  Attendance is optional for folks, but we hope these times will only deepen the spiritual side of the trip.  More on who we are here:  www.marshillchurch.org/topic/9/WhoWeAre
4. Since we are a ministry, we want to respect and welcome differences in abilities, gender, and religious/non-religious backgrounds.   However, we still have some ground rules.  No guy & gal tent buddies unless you are married or Father/daughter, Mother/son.  Please respect & encourage other participants on the trip. 
5. Any pertinent medical/physical history, allergies, or food restrictions or concerns should be given to us before the trip.  A current WEMT will be on the trip.
6. We will provide Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast & dinner, and Monday breakfast.  This is an effort to keep your costs down, not have multiple camp stoves and fuel on trips, and create community around meals. Meals you will be responsible for are Saturday breakfast & lunch, Sunday lunch, and Monday lunch & dinner.  We may stop on the way home for dinner, so please bring cash if that sounds good to you. 

Rough Itinerary:

Saturday September 1

6am - Meet for carpool

7:10am – Ride the Edmonds/Kingston ferry to Kingston

Mid-morning – arrive at trailhead, gear up & begin backpacking

Sunday September 2

-Continue backpacking in a general loop direction

Monday September 3

-Finish loop & travel back to Seattle again via the Edmonds/Kingston Ferry, arriving back approximately 9pm

COSTS

$30/person, which covers meals (as listed above), camping fees, bear bag rental, and stove fuel  *But Please Note*  The $30 does not cover ferry fees or gas reimbursement for drivers.  The estimated cost for these will be an extra $25, which you will be responsible for at the time of the trip.  The total trip cost is estimated at $55.  You can sign up & reserve your spot for the trip by paying the $30 via Paypal (see checkout button at the top of this page), or if you prefer to pay with check instead, shoot me an e-mail (lisamdale@hotmail.com).