Peshastin Creek Watershed Field Trip
This field trip will explore glaciation and its effects on landforms; different rock types that have shaped landforms and vegetation patterns in the northern Wenatchee Range, Peshastin Creek Watershed area, and the history and landscape impacts of mining at the Blewett ghost town.
We will follow a segment of US 97 that we have traveled, but not fully explored, on several previous IAFI field trips. We will focus on the Peshastin Creek Watershed portion of the US 97 corridor in the northern Wenatchee Range. Because of difficulties in crossing US 97 to safe roadside stops, we will do the trip in reverse.
Our first stop will be on the Wenatchee River near Peshastin. From there, we will work our way upstream exploring: glaciation and its effects on landforms near the mouth of Ingalls Creek; different rock types that have shaped landforms and vegetation patterns in the area; and history and landscape impacts of mining at the Blewett ghost town. Our final stop will be atop Table Mountain where we will explore the headwaters of Peshastin Creek, the margins of the Columbia River Basalts, huge landslides, and unique rock glaciers. Join us!
Logistics:
- bring lunch/snacks, drinks, and appropriate footwear and clothes for predicted weather. Our last stop will involve a short, gentle ~0.25 mile hike at about 6000′ elevation.
- transportation is via car pool. An all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended to travel on gravel roads to and from our final stop near Windy Gully. You will also need a Washington State Discover Pass (or Washington Division of Fish & Wildlife Vehicle Access Pass) and a Northwest Forest Pass for several of our stops.
Tentative Schedule:
10:00 Depart CWU
11:00 Stop 1—Wenatchee River Fishing Access, Peshastin (see instructions on how to get there in upcoming field guide)
– Pit toilet
– Washington Discover Pass or WA DFW Access Pass required
11:30 Depart
11:45 Stop 2—Old Blewett Road
12:15 Depart
12:30 Stop 3–Ingalls Creek Trailhead
– Pit toilet
– Northwest Forest Pass required
1:15 Depart
1:30 Stop 4—Blewett Site
2:45 Depart
3:00 Stop 5—Near Milepost 172, US 97
3:30 Depart
4:00 Stop 6—Windy Gully, Table Mountain
– Pit toilet enroute
5:00 Depart
6:00 Arrive at CWU