Trip Schedule

Trip participants atop Excelsior Mountain,
Hoover Wilderness

Backpack Section trips are organized and led by volunteer leaders from the Section. Leaders must have a current Basic First Aid certificate from an approved program, have co-led on at least one prior trip with an experienced leader, and have been approved by the Section officers. Each leader decides the maximum number of trip participants, destination, logistics, and meal arrangements (individual or group) for his or her trips.

A small fee will be charged on most trips to cover permit fees and the cost of food for group meals.

Participants need not be Section members, but all participants must register in advance with the leader and must obtain the leader's permission to take part in the trip.

All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. If you would like to read the liability waiver before you chose to participate on an outing, please go to: http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms, or contact the Outings Department at (415) 977-5528 for a printed version."

Ohlone Trail Ultralight Overnight.

Saturday will be a short day of 11 miles, plus one or two short scenic detours, Sunday will be a more ambitious 19 miles, with an option to drop out at 10 miles. Some day hiking groups regularly traverse this trail in a day, so an ultralight backpacker should be able to cover it in two! Individual commissary. Limit 7 participants. Through-hike requiring car shuttle. Ultralight trip with maximum base pack weight of 12 lbs.

To Register: Send $7 for camp site registration and a filled-out copy of the Sierra Club Medical Form to the trip leader: Steve Sergeant, 408/937-8116, steve.sergeant(AT)lomaprieta.sierraclub.org

Beginner hike into Sky Camp from Limintour road.

Enjoy a 2-3 mile hike into Sky Camp from Limintour road. Parents with children please describe your family's hiking experience when signing up. Families especially encouraged to sign up. Central commissary breakfasts and dinners. The estimated cost is $2. Leader: Walter Melville

Yosemite Valley to Merced Lake.

Enjoy the Mist Trail and Vernal and Nevada falls to Little Yosemite valley and Merced Lake with the Merced River with spring runoff. The permit is pending. Individual commissary. We camp Thursday night in Yosemite Valley. This trip is planned for photographers and slow to moderate pace 1.5 - 2 miles an hour. Please call Walter Melville at 925 631-0860 or waltermelville at yahoo dot com

Bear Valley to Palo Marin.

This will be a relatively easy backpack trip to get in shape. After dropping off cars at Palomarin, we'll head to the Visitor Center to begin the hike. Up and over Mt. Wittenberg (1,407') then down to Coast Camp. The second day will be relatively flat and will be optional side trips to the secret cave on the shoreline. This trip is scheduled so that lowest of tides (low tode of +.05 or lower) is in the morning. Car shuttle trip. Limit: 8. Cost: $10.00. Central commissary dinners. To reserve, contact Nancy Barlow at nancy dot barlow at fluor dot com

Fremont Lake and beyond.

Journey along West Walker River spending the first at Fremont Lake. Layover Day to explore Chain of Lakes and Long Lakes. Limit 8. Cost $10.00. Central commissary dinners. To reserve, contact Nancy Barlow at nancy dot barlow at fluor dot com

Nature Sounds Recording Field Trip

This trip is being jointly organized with the Nature Sounds Society. Two routes are being considered, depending on conditions. Participants are required to bring and use their own nature sounds recording equipment. For more details, contact steve.sergeant(AT)lomaprieta.sierraclub.org

Highway 49 (near Sierra City) to Bucks Summit (near Bucks Lake).

We'll start this summer's PCT hiking with Section M. 57 miles of day hiking over six days (ranging from 7.6 miles to 12.5 miles each day), with a layover day in the middle. Do as many (or as few) of the hikes as you wish. Camp at Plumas-Eureka SP or stay in a motel near Graeagle or Calpine. Well-behaved dogs are welcome. Limit 12. For reservations and instructions, contact Dorie Stoessel at 650-941-2502 or 530-583-0382 or by sending e-mail to duchess at casaraquel dot com (e-mail preferred).

Lookout Rock south to Sawmill Tom Creek Road.

We'll meet at Sawmill Tom Creek Road and then car shuttle to Lookout Rock. 17 miles of backpacking in two days with an overnight at the Middle Fork Feather River. Hot water commissary at breakfast; full central commissary at dinner. Well-behaved dogs are welcome. Limit 8. For reservations and instructions, contact Dorie Stoessel at 650-941-2502 or 530-583-0382 or by sending e-mail to duchess at casaraquel dot com (e-mail preferred). Note: we will lose 3,000 feet of elevation the first day as we descend to the river, so don't sign up for this trip if you have bad knees. Alternate date for July 19 trip; the final decision for the dates will be based on trip participants preferences.

Upper Truckee River Basin. Big Meadow to Carson Pass.

This moderate trip traverses a volcanic and granite basin, an area supports over 300 species of wildflowers, shrubs, and trees. Let's see how many we can identify on this hike as travel from Big Meadow to Carson Pass. Bring your wildflower books and cameras. There will be plenty opportunities to visit some of lakes that dot route. Bring your mosquito nets and bug juice. Individual commissary. The trip is currently limited to 8 participants. All participants must sign a Sierra Club Liability Waiver. There is no fee for this trip. Sign-ups accepted after April 18th. To sign up please contact the leader Anne Gorby 415-482-9055 (between 5:00 pm-8:00pm) or email anne_gorby at sbcglobal dot net (preferred). Janet Hoffman is the co-leader.

Lookout Rock south to Sawmill Tom Creek Road. (Alternate date.)

We'll meet at Sawmill Tom Creek Road and then car shuttle to Lookout Rock. 17 miles of backpacking in two days with an overnight at the Middle Fork Feather River. Hot water commissary at breakfast; full central commissary at dinner. Well-behaved dogs are welcome. Limit 8. For reservations and instructions, contact Dorie Stoessel at 650-941-2502 or 530-583-0382 or by sending e-mail to duchess at casaraquel dot com (e-mail preferred). Note: we will lose 3,000 feet of elevation the first day as we descend to the river, so don't sign up for this trip if you have bad knees. Alternate date for July 15 trip; the final decision for the dates will be based on trip participants preferences.

Tahoe NF Road 86 south to I-80.

Varies from 2A to 4A (mostly downhill on the 4A day) Description: We'll meet at the Castle Peak trailhead parking off I-80 and then car shuttle to Tahoe NF Road 86. 20 miles of backpacking in 3 hiking days plus a layover day at Paradise Lake for relaxing and/or bagging Castle Peak with its fantastic views of Sugar Bowl and Truckee. Hot water commissary at breakfast; full central commissary at dinner. Well-behaved dogs are welcome. Limit 12. For reservations and instructions, contact Dorie Stoessel at 650-941-2502 or 530-583-0382 or by sending e-mail to duchess at casaraquel dot com (e-mail preferred).

Tahoe NF Road 86 north to Tahoe NF Road 07.

The section of PCT Section L which has eluded me for two years. The third time will be the charm! 11 miles of day hiking in one day -- use this hike as a warm-up for hiking PCT Section I. We'll meet at the road into the East Meadow Campground and then car shuttle to Tahoe NF Road 86. Well-behaved dogs are welcome. Limit 8. For reservations and instructions, contact Dorie Stoessel at 650-941-2502 or 530-583-0382 or by sending e-mail to duchess at casaraquel dot com (e-mail preferred).

Tuolumne Meadows north to Sonora Pass.

Up and down, up and down, as we hike through many deep, spectacular glaciated canyons in northern Yosemite. Most days 3C or 4B. 79 miles of backpacking in nine days plus a layover day at Wilma Lake for relaxing and/or dayhiking. Bear canister(s) sufficient to carry 10 days food required. Hot water commissary at breakfast; full central commissary at dinner. Limit 10. For reservations and instructions, contact Dorie Stoessel at 650-941-2502 or 530-583-0382 or by sending e-mail to duchess at casaraquel dot com (e-mail preferred). Note: this trip is full; check with trip leader for cancellations.

Tuolumne Meadows to Upper Young Lake.

This is a beautiful loop trip out of Tuolumne Meadows to the highest of the Young Lakes . We will hike approximately 7 miles in and gain 1700 feet and set up camp at Upper Young Lake . The next day we will day hike cross country to Roosevelt Lake . On the return we will descend via the Dog Lake trail with spectacular views south to Tuolumne Meadows. Hot water commissary for breakfast and dinner. Limited to 6 trip participants. Trip fee is $8 per participant. Cancellation two weeks prior for full refund. Leader: Renee Rivera; co-leader: Anne Gorby.  To sign up please contact the leader, Renee Rivera at reneemaririvera at yahoo dot com.  Reservations will be taken after May 8th.

Tuolumne Meadow to Red's Meadow.

Let's explore sections 2, 3, & 4 of the John Muir Trail as we head up Lyell Canyon past Donohue Pass (11,056'). We'll pass Thousand Island Lakes and then out at Agnews Meadows. Wonderful view of Ritter Range. Shuttle trip via. YARTS. Limit 8. Central commissary dinners. Cost $20 includes permit fee of $5 pp. Contact Nancy Barlow at nancy dot barlow at fluor dot com

Union Creek Meadows basecamp.

(Details will be posted in July.)

Pioneer Basin and the Upper Mono Recesses.

If Pioneer Basin is on your "must do list" then join us on this strenuous trip (low end of 4C) into a beautiful area. During one of our layover days we will explore the upper basin and perhaps bag a peak enroute. On subsequent days we will explore the Mono Recesses. There are fitness and gear weight limitations. Bear canisters are required. All participants must sign a Sierra Club Liability Waiver. Individual commissary. There is $5 fee per person for this trip to cover the cost permits. Sign-ups accepted after April 18th. Trip is limited to 6 participants. Leader is Anne Gorby and co-leader is Cecily Harris. To sign up please contact the leader Anne Gorby 415-482-9055 (between 5:00 pm-8:00pm) or email anne_gorby at sbcglobal dot net (preferred).

Kennedy Meadows to Leavitt Medows.

Journey along Pacific Crest Trail to Dorothy Lake and beyond to Emigrant Wilderness. Limit 8. Hot water commissary. Shuttle trip -- Kennedy Meadows to Sonora Pass. To reserve contact Nanacy Barlow at nancy dot barlow at fluor dot com

(Details TBA)

Halloween Ultralight Overnight.

(Details will be posted in September.)