Waptus Lake 2025


2025 LL YW/YM Waptus Lake Trip Info


(as of 7/20/2025 - future revisions are possible)

What:  4-day, 3-night Backpacking Adventure

When:  Wednesday, July 23 - Saturday, July 26, 2025

Where: Waptus Lake and Beyond

Who: All LL YW/YM  

Why:  The mountains are calling. And we must answer. 

Theme:  Be Anchored to Christ.

Tasty Meals:  YES!


Youth - Please read through this entire page!


Trip at a Glance:

- All 3 nights will be at Waptus Lake

- 2 Separate Day hikes (out and back) on Thursday 

- Activities at Waptus Lake on Friday

- Leaders will provide homemade freeze-dried dinners (and dessert for all well-behaved campers) for all on Wed, Thurs, Fri nights. Youth are each responsible for all other food for the trip. Meals are 1) Chicken Teriyaki with rice , 2) Pulled pork and rice, 3) Tacos with refried beans, ground beef, rice and tortillas.

- All should bring sandals or water shoes for the river crossing. Link to river crossing photo:  link

- Spiritual Elements - morning devotionals, evening firesides, pondering activity on Friday. 


Pack Check on Monday, July 21, 2025

  • Meet at Bishop Smith's Home - 6-8pm - please aim to arrive at 6pm to finish as soon as possible (it won't take 2 hours, leave when you are done with pack inspection)
  • All campers must bring a fully packed backpack, including food. 
  • Bishop Smith will demonstrate unpacking a backpack - how it should look, what we are looking for.
  • Unpack your backpack, arranging gear neatly for inspection. Parents - please step aside, for this. The youth need to be in charge of their gear!
  • Freeze-dried dinners will be handed out - 3 per camper.
  • Gallon size freezer Ziploc bags will be provided to organize food by day.
  • Repack your backpack. 
  • Weigh your backpack from the handy hanging scale in the garage - have a leader record your pack weight.
  • That's it! All done!
----> Please make special arrangements with a Bishopric member to get your pack checked if you can't make it to this pack check. 


Tips: 

Here are a few tips to help the trip go smoothly for you:

1. Try to fit as much as you can inside your back. If you have something on the outside of your pack, clip it in and secure it with a strap so it can't fall off and so it isn't dangling from your pack. Sleeping pad strapped to the outside can work fine. 

2. Hydrate on the way there. We have a 1 hr, 45 minute car ride. Bring a water bottle to drink on the car ride. Don't start the hike thirsty. 

3. Bring a head bug net and cap. This is in addition to bringing bug spray. Lightweight pants and a lightweight long-sleeve shirt also work great.

4. Meals - heating up water for breakfast is fine each day. Lunch needs to be trail food (no cooking) for Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. On Friday, we may spend most of the day at or near base camp at Waptus Lake. We will have a hot dinner at base camp each night. Don't forget to bring a spoon!

5. Food Bag - each night, everyone needs to hang their food high off the ground to protect against critters and such. To make this easier, each camper should fit all their food (dinners, lunches, snacks, everything) into a food bag that can be clipped to the line that will be raised up in the tree. We will have a group hanging line provided. But each camper should have an easy way to secure their food to the line each night. Yes, more than one food bag is fine, if needed. A drybag style bag is strongly recommended.

6. Lay out all your gear neatly and organized by system (sleeping system, shelter system, clothing, etc). Use a check list and make sure you have what you need. Do this for your food, too. Arrange by food you will eat each day. 

7. If we get our preferred campsite at the south end of the lake, there will be a pit toilet very close by. Don't forget to bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer. 

8. Tent or hammock will work great at our campsites. 

9. The weather forecast looks great (just north of Cle Elum). But develop the habit of checking the forecast for yourself (and pack accordingly).

10. All campers should have at least 1.5 liters of capacity for drinking water. Water bladders are fine. At least one water bottle that is at least 16 oz is super helpful. Disposable, Gatorade style water bottles work great!


Detailed Itinerary:

Wednesday

7am - Meet at the Smith home - 

Welcome and Morning Devotional
Depart by 7:15am

9:30am - Start hiking from the Salmon La Sac Trailhead (north of Cle Elum Lake)

The hike to Waptus Lake is 9.5 miles with approx 1,000 ft of gain (rolling hills with no significant climbs). There is a river crossing at 8.5 miles through very calm water, about 12-18 inches deep. Everyone must bring water shoes for the crossing. We have plenty of time - this hike is very doable for everyone coming on the trip.

Map Link (Salmon La Sac TH to Waptus Lake):  Link

4pm - Arrive at Waptus Lake

6pm - Dinner

8:30pm - Fireside


Thursday

Morning Devotional

Day Hike to Deep Lake/Cathedral Pass or a Shorter hike near Waptus Lake (2 different groups)

6pm - Dinner

8:30pm - Fireside


Friday

Morning Devotional

Activities around Waptus Lake

Pondering Activity

6pm - Dinner

8:30pm - Fireside


Saturday

Morning Devotional

Hike back to TH and drive home


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