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June
18, 2003
The
trail starts on the west side of the parking lot. In about 200 feet
there is a junction with Cooper
River Trail 1311 that goes to the left. Waptus River Trail goes
straight. For the next 2 miles gradual descends take turns with
gradual ascends. The trail crosses a creek, evens up and in 1.5
mile reaches Hour Creek. Look for fallen tree about 50 feet down
the creek. There is a campsite here. Pass creek crossing there is
Hour Creek Camp that is quite big with the backcountry toilet on
the south side.
From the camp the trail continues on with some elevation change,
it crosses two small creeks and in 1.5 mile brings you to a nice
campsite on the Waptus River bank. In 0.2 mile the trail crosses
another creek. Be careful for the rocks are very slippery. This
creek crossing can be a challenge in high water. In 0.1 mile there
is one more nice campsite situated on the top of a rocky cliff over
Waptus River. About 0.5 mile from this place a short spur goes to
the right leading to several campsites by the river. The river is
so wide and calm in here that you can't really hear it.
The trail continues
for about 1 mile to another camp near the river and in 0.5 mile
it reaches a junction with the Trail Creek Trail 1322 that goes
to the right. The trail ascends going away from the river and in
0.8 mile comes to a junction. Waptus Pass Trail 1329 and Waptus
Horse Ford Trail 1329.1 go straight. Main trail turns right and
in 0.2 mile it reaches Waptus River bridge crossing  .
About 0.3 mile from the bridge there is a junction with Spinola
Creek Ford that leads straight, Waptus River Trail turns right,
crosses a bridge over Spinola Creek and in 0.1 mile meets with Spinola
Creek Trail 1310.1.
Main trail continues
to the left and in 0.3 mile reaches a camp on the Waptus Lake shore.
Beautiful Chief Mountain raises up over the north side of the lake
.
Passing several campsites the trail goes along the north shore of
the lake. In 0.5 mile it meets with Spade Lake Trail 1337. Next
0.6 mile leads you to a creek crossing. If the water is high look
for a fallen tree that is a short way up the creek near the campsites.
For the next 0.9 mile the trail gradually ascends through the trees
to the junction with PCT not far from Spade Creek.
Taking PCT west
(left) will bring you to the junction with Dutch Miller Gap Trail
1362 that leads to Lake
Ivanhoe.
Taking PCT east
(right) and following it for 1.2 mile will bring you to the junction
with Spade Creek Trail 1337. Continuing on the PCT for another mile
leads to Spinola Creek Trail
1310.1.
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