The Traverse
2026 date TBD
Location: Mount Townsend, Olympic Mountains
What is The Traverse?
The Traverse is a two night backpacking trip to Mount Townsend in the Olympic mountains. We will hike a total of 8 miles over three days. The first day we will hike halfway up to Windy Lakes campground, and the second day we will hike all the way up to spend the last night at the top! In addition to learning about the surrounding olympic environment, campers will gain technical backpacking skills such as water filtration, proper use of bear cans, and cooking food in the backcountry. All levels of experience in backpacking are welcome!
Other Trip Details:
Trip size: 12 campers, 5 staff, 3 adult chaperones
Activities: backpacking, hiking, water filtration, bear can usage, whisper light cooking
Trip length: three-days, two-nights
Campers will not have service
Scroll down to see photos from our past Traverse trips!
IMPORTANT INFO FOR OUR 2026 TRAVERSE
A mandatory pre-trip meeting will be held on DATES TBD at 843 Hiawatha Pl S at TIME TBD
We will meet at MEETING PLACE TBD on DATE/TIME TBD
We will return to Seattle at TIME TBD on DATE TBD at PLACE TBD. This time is subject to change, but we will be in communication on our way back.
Payment Details
POST84 is a need-blind organization: we accept all scholarship requests, no questions asked. Please do not let price be a barrier for you.
Based on our budgeting for this trip, The Traverse has been priced at $TBD for our 2026 trip. When you sign up, select the price you are able to pay on our form. We have pricing options from full scholarships, to full trip price + covering a full scholarship for another student. Please choose whatever you are comfortable paying.
Please note that we require a $20 deposit for a full scholarship, which will be reimbursed 3 days after the trip runs to prevent late drop-outs (refer to our cancelation policy for more details). If you are not able to afford the deposit, reach out to the trip lead for an alternative way of signing up.
DISCLAIMER: Signing up does not guarantee you a spot on the trip. The trip lead will reach out after forms have closed in regards to your placement on the trip or the waitlist.
Gear Details
Along with our scholarships, we also provide any necessary gear for our trips! Please make sure to check the packing list to ensure that you have every necessary item to stay warm and safe on the trip! Additionally, if you forgot to fill out the Gear Request Form while signing up or want to request more items, refer to the link below. The gear you request will be distributed on the trip, or our gear heads will communicate with you directly if you need any gear before.
Reach out to gear@post84.org with any questions.
“The Traverse was the best introductory backpacking trip. I am so grateful I got to experience the Olympics!”
Meet our trip lead!
Name: Louis Hoffman
Pronouns: he/him
Email: traverse@post84.org
Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns!
FAQs
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For The Traverse, priority is given to campers who have the least amount of previous backpacking experience. The rest of the spots will be filled by lottery selection. As an organization, we want to give experiences to as many new campers as possible.
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The Traverse is located in the Olympic Mountains, so service may be spotty or nonexistent at times. Given this, we still encourage limiting phone usage to necessary contact with parents/guardians. This is in an effort to prioritize engagement with peers and the outdoors. You are also welcome to leave your devices at home.
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Refer to our Emergency Response Plan, which our trip lead and adult directors have carefully created to ensure safety protocols for any situation. If you have any questions about our safety protocols, please reach out to our trip lead Louis Hoffman at traverse@post84.org