Local Seattle Backpacking trips to prepare for Machu Picchu.

Michael Hildebrand’s guiding experience and credentials:

Michael worked as a guide in South East Alaska on the trails and in the kayaks for three years, where he also worked on the Skagway Fire Department, and also in Search and Rescue in and around Skagway, AK. He has been taking his clients with Hildebrand Fitness on guided Alaskan trips since 2006, involving both backpacking and kayaking.

Licensed EMT
Wilderness First Aid
Avalanche Safety


Ingalls Creek
June 5-6, 2009

Ingalls Creek offers early-season hiking at its best. For some odd but wonderful reason, this trail is rarely crowded, making it a serene setting to stop and smell the flowers -- carpets of trillium, brightly-colored paintbrush, balsamroot, calypso orchids, glacier lilies, lupine, and many others. Creekside campsites let you be lulled to sleep at night by the sound of raging water. This is the longest wilderness valley remaining in the Central Cascades, gently climbing from low forest to high meadows with stunning views throughout of the Stuart Range. This trail makes an excellent "first backpack" experience! This early season favorite is ideal for getting those legs ready for a season of hiking culminating with the Inca Trail in Peru. Because if it’s early season nature, we’ll make our way up the wildflower meadows as far as the spring snow will allow, finding one of the many perfect campsites along the ever present Ingalls Creek.

Distance: 12-20 miles round trip
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Elev Gain: 1200-2500
Trip cost per person: (for those not already doing the Ultimate Inca Trail package, which is included in that price): $250*

EmeraldRidge Loop
June 26-27, 2009

With old-growth forest, alpine meadows, and a spectacular view of the Tahoma Glacier, the Emerald Ridge Loop leaves little to desire. Westside Road once provided easy access to the trailhead, but after a washout, the Park Service decided not to reopen it. This has kept the crowds to a minimum and the animals wild, but it also means some road walking. On the trail, the loop follows Round Pass Trail and South Emerald Ridge Trail up to Wonderland Trail. Wonderland Trail climbs to Emerald Meadows and Tahoma Glacier. The loop drops to Tahoma Creek Trail and to the lower trailhead. We will be spending one night and two days making our way on this particularly fantastic stretch of the famed Wonderland Loop trail, camping at South Puyallup Camp.

Distance: 16.1 miles
Difficulty: Moderate Elev Gain: 2100 ft.
Trip cost per person: (for those not already doing the Ultimate Inca Trail package, which is included in that price): $250*

Goat Rocks: Pacific Crest trail
July 10-11, 2009

In a state that's hardly short on splendor, Goat Rocks may be the PCT's aesthetic high point. For half of the stretch between White Pass and Walupt Lake, the path straddles a 7,000-foot ridge, affording pinup-quality panoramas of Rainier, Adams, and St. Helens. The scenery closer at hand isn’t so bad, either: You'll cross Cispus Basin, where streams plunge off cliffs amid fireweed, lupine, and pearly everlasting; and Snowgrass Flats, carpeted in its namesake puffy white flowers. PCT thru-hikers consistently say that this, the Goat Rocks, is the most spectacular stretch of trail on the whole border to border to trail. We will spend one night and two days in this dream alpine setting, camping at Sheep lake, and taking in the grandeur of Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. St. Helens.

Distance: 14 miles
Difficulty: Moderate Elev Gain: 1800 ft
Trip cost per person (not already doing The Ultimate Inca Trail package, which is included in that price): $250*

More Guided Backpacking trips for 2009!
(Alternative or additional Training Hikes for those doing the Ultimate Inca Trail package)

Remmel Lake
June 12 – 14, 2009

This remote and pristine protected area contains the wildest and most remote backcountry in all of Washington. We will be likely to find little company on the trail other than the wildlife that includes deer, elk, moose, bobcats, and the endangered woodland caribou and lynx. Massive native trout dart through the regions streams, rivers, and deep ponds that also offer great opportunities for cooling off in the summer heat. We will be camping at Tungsten Creek at mile 8.5 on day one, and continuing on day two up to Remmel Lake at mile 16.5 where we’ll set up camp under views of Remmel Mountain, Cathedral Peak, and Andrews Peak. Day three we’ll make the push back down to the tail head. Note: There is a bit of a drive with this one, but like all things, your patience will be greatly rewarded.

Distance: 33 miles round trip
Difficulty: Moderate Elev Gain: 3400 ft
Trip cost per person: $300*

Kendall Catwalk
June 21, 2009

This path along Kendall Peak offers a remarkable hiking experience. The Catwalk itself at the top, is a narrow shelf of rock 4 or 5 feet wide as it stretches across a vertical cliff face on the ridge between Red Mountain and Kendall Peak. The hike itself offers spectacular views Red Mountain, Kendall Peak, and even Rainier in the distance.

Distance: About 11 miles (spring snow dependant)
Hiking time: Around 7 hours
Difficulty: Moderate/difficult
Elev Gain: 2700 ft Trip
Cost per person: $100*

*One meal and guiding services is included. Transportation to the trailhead is not included.

Click for more information on the Machu Picchu trip

Download the flyer for the Machu Picchu 2009 trip!



How do you register for these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities?
Call Michael @ 206.786.1973
Email: michael@hildebrandfitness.com