Trip departs from the Rinehart house @ 6:00 A.M. on Sun., July 26 & Returns @ 4:30 P.M. on Tue., August 4
Preliminary Meetings:
Meeting #1, Saturday, May 9th (9 – Noon) @ Chaparral School Multi Purpose Room: Overview of program, equipment show, equipment checklist, equipment sale & rental, and a brief physical endurance test (You will be expected to jog 1.5 miles in less than 14 minutes. WEAR RUNNING SHOES!)
Meeting #2, Saturday, May 30th (9 – Noon) @ Chaparral School Multi Purpose Room: The balance of the fee is due. Completed Medical Form due, and signed on both sides. Freeze-dried food demonstration, menu planning, group formation, leader assignments, and trail snack demonstration. (NOTE: Trail snacks are not included in fee.)
Meeting #3, Friday, July 24th OR Saturday, July 25th [time TBA on May 30th depending on section] @ the Rinehart’s house (13710 Utopia Rd., Poway): This meeting is the day before the trip. We rebag food, try out stoves & tents, pack & weigh backpacks, and take care of last minute reminders & information. Bring your packed backpack to this meeting and please be on time, according to the schedule announced at 2nd meeting.
Other details & information about the trips
For all trips, the cooking/sleeping groups are formed on the basis of individual choice. Except for backpacks, sleeping bags, and trail snacks, all other equipment, meals (including fast food on the way home), and leadership provided by Poway Backpackers.
Backpacks and sleeping bags are available to rent, ($35/$40). Please note: These trips are independent of the PUSD.
All questions should be directed to Scott Rinehart @ Cell: (858) 735-3434 Home: (858) 679-9667.
NOTE: Sign-ups are first-come first-served. Please complete the form on the front and deliver or mail it to Scott Rinehart, 13710 Utopia Rd., Poway, CA 92064. A $200 registration deposit is required and is refundable until May 29th. The balance of $440 is due at the 2nd meeting, on May 30th (Call me if you need more time.) After May 29th, refunds are only made if a suitable replacement backpacker can be enrolled. Attendance at the three preliminary meetings is very important and is therefore MANDATORY (except the 1st meeting for ‘returning’ backpackers). Meeting locations and times are listed above. Get a pen NOW and mark your calendar so you won’t miss any of the meetings.
SECTION A “Mammoth Loop” grades 6* (12 participants, 3 leaders per section)
This section is designed for beginning and intermediate backpackers. The total backpacking distance is only 30 miles, so there will be abundant opportunities to fish, swim, explore, and day hike along the famous John Muir Trail. Everyone spends the first & last nights camping in the Mammoth area. At the May 30th meeting, participants are divided into cooking/sleeping groups of four, with an experienced leader for each middle school group, to provide leadership and coaching, on the backpack trip, and during the planning meetings.
SECTION B1 & B2 “Crossing the Sierra” grades 6-8* (12 participants, 3 leaders per section)
This section is designed for beginning and intermediate backpackers. Both sections will start in the Mammoth area and end in Yosemite Valley, after walking 60 miles. They will camp at some of the most beautiful locations in the Sierra and have a chance to climb Half Dome. B1 will cross two forks of the San Joaquin River and enter Yosemite at Isberg Pass, at the headwaters of the Merced River. B2 will follow the John Muir Trail via Donahue Pass and Tuolumne Meadows. At the May 30th meeting, participants are divided into cooking/sleeping groups of four, with an experienced leader for each middle school group, to provide leadership and coaching, on the backpack trip, and during the planning meetings.
SECTION C “Big Pine North Fork to Mt. Whitney” grades 9 & up*(13 participants, 2 leaders)
Most C trip participants have been backpacking before. Experienced adults, in a ratio of 1:6, lead this group. Big Pine North Fork trail goes to the popular First through Seventh Lakes. This trail also offers views of Temple Crag and the Palisade Glacier. The hike begins at First Falls in the shade of Jeffrey pine and aspen and quickly climbs across sage and manzanita covered slopes to enter the wilderness boundary near Second Falls. As the trail climbs past the chain of Big Pine Lakes there are many opportunities to observe the effects of glacial activity before joining the John Muir Trail. It will then follow the JMT to the summit of Mount Whitney. Whitney Portal is now a mere 15 mile jaunt to civilization.
SECTION D “Duck Pass to Agnew Meadows” grades 9 & up*(13 participants, 2 leaders)
Most D trip participants have been backpacking before. Experienced adults, in a ratio of 1:6, lead this group. This section is designed for backpackers that want to take it easy, have extra time in camp to explore, fish, or bag a peak. This trip will start in the Mammoth area and head north to the beautiful John Muir Trail stopping at Rosalie, Laura, Altha, Ruby, and Summit Lakes before exiting at Agnew meadows.
Please note, that no one is allowed to go on this trip without attending the three meetings listed at the top. Returning backpackers can skip Meeting #1, unless they wish to rent, or buy, equipment.
*The recommended grades indicated are flexible. If you are interested in any section, call me.
